TLVGAJ 67

~Chapter 67~

“Wait!”

“…?”

Feeling Albert’s gaze, I turned to Emily.

“H-how about you pour His Highness’s tea as an apology, Emily?”

‘Ah, I messed up.’

As soon as I said it, I regretted it.

It was just that in my past life, I remembered how people made peace—by pouring drinks for each other.

‘But maybe this is pushing it too far…’

When I glanced at Albert, his eyebrow twitched as if he thought my words were strange.

I grew nervous, but then he said:

“Alright, do it.”

Albert gestured to the maid, who handed the teapot to Emily and stepped back.

Emily, startled, took the pot with trembling hands. She rose and carefully walked toward Albert.

‘Don’t make a mistake this time, heroine.’

Honestly, I didn’t think she would fail again.

Yes, she might be nervous in front of the Crown Prince, but drop the cup twice? Impossible.

Besides, in the novel Emily was a strong person—never this weak.

‘I believe in you, Emily!’

But just then—

“…Huh?”

The saying goes, “what you fear comes true.”

Right before my eyes, Emily missed her grip on the teapot.

—Crash!

“Kyaa! I-I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“……”

Emily stepped back in shock, bowing her head.

Albert’s pants were wet again. His expression was dumbfounded.

I looked blankly at Emily.

‘Are you crazy, heroine…?’

Later.

I walked out of the Crown Prince’s palace, silent and heavy-footed. Emily followed behind me with her head lowered.

The carriage waited to take us back to the duke’s estate.

The moment I got in and the door closed, I turned sharply to Emily.

“Youuuu…!”

“I-I’m sorry…! Sob…”

Emily flinched and lowered her head.

‘Is this a joke?’

No matter how much I set things up, she always failed.

I had worked so hard to prepare this chance with Albert, and she ruined it—again.

It was almost like Emily wanted to make him dislike her.

For the first time, I truly felt frustrated with her.

Emily wiped her tears and whispered:

“It’s because I’m lacking. You’ve cared for me so much, My Lady…”

“……”

“I know you wished for me and Harry to do well together. I’m sorry I didn’t live up to your expectations.”

My heart dropped. My eyes widened.

“…You knew? That I made you and Harry do the cleaning together on purpose?”

“Yes…”

Emily nodded shyly.

“But please don’t do that anymore. I don’t plan to have romance.”

“……”

“Not with Harry, nor with Sir Eric, nor even with His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“……”

‘What…’

Why did she understand my intentions so clearly?

It almost felt like I’d been caught in a lie.

Was I really that obvious?

‘Wait… were her mistakes with Albert actually on purpose?’

I sighed.

Harry, Eric, Albert… none of them were interested in Emily.

No—that wasn’t it. Emily herself had no interest in romance!

‘My romance-watching life…’

All my plans had failed completely. I had no choice but to admit it.

A few days later.

As Albert had said, a priest from the Harmen Temple came to visit the Hartmann estate.

The priest examined me with the tools he brought.

Of course, I already knew the result, but I quietly let him check.

‘I really don’t want these tests, but…’

I had already agreed. And Albert had ordered it.

After a while, the priest finally spoke.

“…Yes. The mana has clumped in your chest. It’s so dense now that it shows no sign of dispersing.”

He showed a familiar type of mana test sheet.

“Among people born with mana, this illness is extremely rare—only one in tens of thousands. It seems you were unlucky enough to have it. I’m sorry.”

“Then… is there any way to cure it?”

Albert, sitting nearby, pressed the priest impatiently.

But the priest shook his head.

“I’m afraid… there’s nothing that can be done. When mana clumps like this, it gains resistance itself. The temple’s healing won’t work.”

“……”

“Perhaps… if you ask the Magic Tower, they might have a different approach. They could try another method.”

In short, the temple could not heal me.

I bit my lip.

“…Huu…”

At that, my mother, the Duchess, began to cry.

Albert sighed lightly.

“…I understand. Then we’ll look for another way.”

“Albert.”

After the priest left, Albert comforted my mother for a while. Then, as he was about to leave, I stopped him.

He turned back from his carriage.

“Irene.”

Thinking I was worried, he strode toward me.

“You’ve had a hard day. I’ll find another way, so don’t worry. Just wait a little…”

“No, that’s not it.”

“…?”

“You see… I really don’t need treatment. Please stop.”

I felt I needed to say it properly again.

Maybe it had seemed like I agreed because of Emily, but I really hadn’t.

I still had no intention of being dragged around for treatment.

“I’m sorry for being harsh before. I’m even willing to be friends again. But continuing treatment like this… I don’t want it.”

At this point, things with Emily and the male leads were all broken anyway.

I didn’t need to keep pushing Albert away for her sake.

Still—I didn’t want to cling to false hope.

I wouldn’t waste my remaining time chasing something impossible.

So I looked at him firmly, making it clear I wouldn’t step back.

But—

“…I’m sorry, Irene. I can’t give up.”

Albert’s answer was the same.

“Friends? You don’t need to force yourself to be my friend if you don’t want to. I won’t push you to make up with me.”

“……”

“Just live. That’s all I want.”

With that, he turned toward the carriage again.

I bit my lip hard, staring at his back, then shouted:

“Why are you so selfish?!”