~Chapter 68~
“Something to say?”
What was he trying to tell me?
The sudden serious mood made me tense without realizing it.
Wudian, no longer smiling, nodded.
“Maybe you won’t believe me… but while I was abroad, I thought of you a lot.”
Wait. That line—
I instantly knew where this was going.
This was the signal for a confession.
But after only two days of meeting again? Wasn’t that way too fast?
Still, the atmosphere didn’t allow me to cover his mouth, so I stayed silent.
“I didn’t send letters because I knew… if you replied, I’d want to come back to the Empire right away.”
“Ah, really? I see…”
I reacted like a rookie idol losing her cool on stage. Wudian didn’t seem to care.
“But now that I’ve met you again, I know exactly how I feel. Amelie.”
He called my name firmly, his face faintly red.
The words to follow were obvious.
‘What should I say?’
I was sure I’d reject him, but I hadn’t prepared the words.
To buy time, I avoided answering, but Wudian didn’t wait.
“Amelie. The engagement we made as children—why don’t we make it real?”
“E-Engagement?”
Not just a confession… a proposal?
He skipped past “I like you” or “be my lover” straight to marriage.
And after only two days.
“We could—”
Rustle.
A sound of leaves behind us.
“Is this why you avoided seeing me?”
The voice that followed made me whip around in shock.
Richard.
After so long, he was standing here.
“R-Richard.”
As I whispered his name, he strode toward me.
The closer he came, the clearer I saw his face and golden hair.
He looked angry as I expected—
but far more than that, he looked… hurt.
“Your Highness.”
Wudian muttered stiffly, bowing with formal respect.
“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Wudian Montreux.”
“What’s going on here?”
“Your Highness, I—”
“I wasn’t asking you, Montreux. Amelie Garnet—answer me.”
Richard didn’t spare Wudian a glance. His burning gaze stayed locked on me.
It hurt.
“Was avoiding me with the excuse of a false engagement… really just to protect this engagement of yours?”
Each word carried pain, as if he chewed through them.
I couldn’t imagine how much my refusals had piled up inside him.
“I…”
I should answer. But nothing came out.
Maybe… if I let him misunderstand, we’d drift apart naturally.
Wouldn’t that be better?
Less pain for him. Less conflict for me.
As I wavered, Richard gave a bitter smile.
“So my guess was right. If I’d known sooner, then maybe…”
His words trailed off.
Then he shut his mouth and looked away from me entirely.
“Richard…”
“I understand your feelings. I won’t trouble you anymore.”
He turned away, cold as when we first met.
Each step he took farther away made my chest pound.
“Is this really how it should end, Amelie Garnet?”
Leave him hurt and misunderstood?
Was that truly what I wanted?
Memories of our time together flickered through my mind, like a lantern flashing before it dies.
“…No. This isn’t it.”
I hate misunderstandings the most!
I turned in his direction.
At that instant, Wudian grabbed my wrist.
“Amelie!”
His face twisted with emotion.
“I’m sorry. But… I have to go to Richard.”
I twisted my hand free. At last, his grip loosened, and I ran.
His coat slipped from my shoulders to the ground, but I didn’t stop.
“Where did he go already…”
I retraced the paths of forest and alleys, but Richard was gone.
The memory of his wounded face stung, and tears threatened to fall.
“What do I do… he really left…”
I reached an empty clearing, nowhere else to go.
My legs gave out. I felt crushed.
Alone, the sorrow broke free.
“And you just walk away like that, you bastard…!”
I sat down and shouted.
He was heartless. Cruel.
Though the cruelest one was me.
I cursed myself silently until my sight went dark.
Was it tears? No… even after rubbing my eyes, the ground looked shadowed.
Like someone was standing over me.
“Did you just call me a bastard? Seriously?”
The voice I longed for.
I looked up.
Richard stood there, golden hair damp with sweat, chest heaving, his face dazzlingly close.
“Why are you so fast! I nearly died running after you!”
I swallowed my tears, blaming him instead.
Richard silently draped his coat over me and helped me up.
“You drove me away, yet now you scold me? Pretty sure I’m the victim here.”
“I know! I’m just… sorry. Really sorry… ah!”
Walking with his support, I tripped on a stone and nearly fell.
Embarrassment burned hotter than fear.
Damn. First I screamed, now this?
But Richard didn’t laugh. Instead, he lifted me up.
“Fall, and you’d cry right away.”
Once again, I was in his arms.
My heart thumped wildly—whether from him or from stumbling, I couldn’t tell.
“I’m not crying. Why would I cry.”
“Good. You’ve done nothing right, so don’t cry.”
I muttered out of shame, and he replied bluntly.
This guy… but fine, I deserved it.
“Alright, alright. I was wrong. I’m sorry.”
“Then say what you’re sorry for. And don’t leave out anything about Montreux.”
His words were curt, but his arms holding me were warm.
“Okay. I’ll tell you everything. And I’ll apologize properly.”
Leaning against Richard, who had returned to the man I knew, I felt a little calmer.
