Chapter 90
“Why won’t you go? We’ve resolved everything. You can learn painting in Lapland. If you don’t want the Royal Academy, I’ll assign you a top-tier artist.”
His smooth brows furrowed in bewilderment at her stubbornness.
“No. I like it here.”
As expected, she refused. Her refusal, without a hint of hesitation, made Franz feel irritated.
Her firm stance seemed to say she didn’t need him anymore. Even if that wasn’t her intention, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being rejected.
“What’s so good about it here?”
“Everything is good. I want to start anew here.”
“Start anew?”
Franz couldn’t quite grasp Iella’s words.
Had she suffered so much in Lapland that she wanted an ending? Was he the cause of that suffering?
The phrase “start anew” somehow sounded like regret.
Was she regretting the time she had spent with him?
As this thought settled in, an empty hollowness washed over him, even stronger than the sense of betrayal he had felt toward Iella.
There was no falseness in Iella’s firm denial. He hadn’t understood why she remained so consistently calm and serene, but now he thought he might have a small idea.
“Do you regret it? Signing the contract with me?”
“No.”
Her immediate denial brought him some relief.
Then her calm voice softly resonated in his heart.
“I don’t feel that way at all. I was the one who made mistakes, and I’ve always felt guilty for not being honest. But the prince was always so kind to me—I only have memories of your kindness.”
“Then why—”
“If those incidents gave me any reason not to come here, that would be a lie. But staying here is my choice. I came seeking more studies and opportunities, so please understand my heart.”
How could someone, even a person, not feel resentment? It was frustrating, yet what could he do? His affection for her outweighed anything else.
So he had never regretted it. Every moment, from the beginning to now, had been precious and memorable.
“Thank you. The beautiful memories in Grenville—I will never forget them.”
There was nothing more to say. Iella, thinking this was the last time, smiled brighter than ever and stood up.
Franz, who watched her walk away with eyes flashing as if she had no lingering attachments, caught up to her in just a few steps. In a swift motion, he grabbed her wrist and turned her back toward him.
Startled by his firm grip, Iella almost let out a scream.
“Wow, Your Highness?”
“You really won’t go? Are we ending it just like this?”
The words slipped out of his mouth unconsciously. Franz was shocked at how honestly he had spoken without realizing it.
‘Is this really the end?’
It was something he had often heard whenever he tried to say goodbye.
Ah, damn it. Is this what karma feels like?
The blue eyes looking down at Iella hardened with confusion.
Iella blinked, alternating her gaze between his gripping hand and his tense face, then softened her eyes. Yet she pulled her wrist away decisively. The more she resisted, the tighter Franz held on.
“You, Your Highness… ending it before it even began.”
“What?”
Her words struck him like a heavy stone falling on his head. In that instant, he reacted instinctively in the same way.
“Fine. Go. Do as you please!”
She threw the hand he had been holding back, but somehow, a corner of his heart felt empty.
“Then goodbye.”
After her perfectly polite and flawless farewell, there was no longer a reason to stop her. Watching her back as she walked away, it felt distant and unreachable.
Iella smiled politely at Hans, who was at the salon entrance, and erased the smile from her lips as she passed. Once she left the salon, Betty, waiting in the lobby, hurried over, her already pale face turning even whiter.
“Miss, are you alright?”
“Mm. Let’s go quickly.”
Bianca, sensing the tense atmosphere, quickly followed them out of the hotel.
“Bianca, I’d like to just go home today.”
“Alright. It’s not a special day anyway.”
They left the city and headed straight home. Iella, who had remained silent all the way, locked herself in her room as soon as they arrived.
Each day in Rouen was a struggle, forcing herself to adapt to her new life while trying to push aside thoughts of the prince. Yet the memories of him surfaced unexpectedly, leaving her with an inescapable emptiness.
Though she pretended to be unaffected in front of him, she actually felt significant pain. No matter how much she liked him, she couldn’t simply give up overnight.
But she didn’t want to show any lingering feelings. Unrequited love must end as such to be preserved even as a memory.
She had left for a life without the prince, but she feared getting caught up in someone else’s life again and losing her path.
Extreme helplessness lasted for days. She didn’t think about anything, didn’t want to do anything, and stayed confined to her hotel room.
Though she still didn’t understand it fully, she had at least accepted Iella’s decision. Once the confusion settled, an inexplicable sense of loss came over her.
“Should I bring her back?”
Hans, unable to contain himself, interjected, but Franz dismissed him irritably.
“No. She said no. Why force someone who doesn’t want to go?”
Hans was surprised by Franz’s nonchalant tone.
“Why… why is that?”
“She must dislike me.”
Saying it out loud, he felt a new sense of confusion.
What is this feeling?
“Did she really say that?”
“Not exactly. But ‘I want to start anew here’ is what that means. So prepare to depart as planned.”
‘How does that mean that?’
Hans was surprised. He had assumed she would go with him, but now it was the opposite; he was the one feeling regret.
Even if she said no, Franz would normally force her, yet now he looked as wounded as someone rejected in love. And somehow, he didn’t realize it himself.
It was understandable, but Hans asked again.
“Are you really okay with this?”
“Of course I’m okay.”
He swallowed the sigh rising in his chest.
He was definitely pretending to be fine while he wasn’t. It was a defense mechanism to protect his pride.
He was bound to get sick from bottling it all up. How could he not know his own heart?
Ugh! It was so frustrating. Why not just say he came honestly to bring her back?
No doubt, he had made some excuse. After the prince said so much, there was no way Clarence left so carefree.
How sentimental she must be.
Even if she didn’t know Iella’s heart, Franz’s feelings were obvious. Being close to him for so long, it was naturally clear.
He was definitely different from before. Though he acted the same, something was different.
But since the situation was already over, Hans couldn’t interfere. Some realizations must come from within; telling someone what to feel has no meaning.
It seemed Franz still had a hard time recognizing his own feelings. Hans only hoped it wouldn’t take too long.
In the end, they had no choice but to return to Lapland empty-handed. Franz remained a chaotic mess, his heart shredded.
Even on the day they returned, the next day, and the day after, Iella’s final image and words replayed in his mind. Franz, normally intolerant of anything that drained him, threw himself into alcohol voluntarily.
He would drink, groan in pain, and fall asleep, only to wake up tormented by the same thoughts. He couldn’t calm down. It was despair he had never experienced.
His emotions were erratic, reasoning impossible, everything in disarray. He vented his directionless anger on alcohol, punishing himself.
Skipping meals, living only on alcohol and cigarettes, his sleep quality deteriorated, and dark circles reached his jaw, turning him into a wreck.
By this point, even Murray, Hans, and the rest of the family worried about Franz’s health. Though he ignored them and acted as he pleased, their nagging grew day by day.
He had left to avoid thinking about anything or receiving interference, yet the club buzzed with news of Iella.
“Did Miss Clarence really leave for Paris?”
“That’s what they say.”
“Wait, what? Weren’t she and Prince Franz getting along well?”
“Apparently not. If they had, Franz wouldn’t let a girl leave without payback. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth—he’s like that.”
“True. She wouldn’t go all the way to Paris without rejecting Franz.”
“Anyway, the guys who tried courting her were wasting their time.”
Even whispered, the conversation carried. Hans couldn’t ignore it.
Damn. Should they leave Lapland?
Franz downed a strong sip of whiskey, as if taking revenge on his twisted life.
“Ugh. Strong,” he muttered, tilting the bottle impatiently. Another full glass disappeared in one gulp.
Feeling miserable, he needed this outlet. The heat rushing down his throat strangely eased his aching insides.
Franz leaned back on the sofa with an indifferent expression, drinking whiskey endlessly.
“What’s wrong, Franz? Are you still like this?”
“Why is he acting like that after coming out for the first time in a while?”
Richard and Marco emerged from the card room, muttering, then plopped into their seats. Initially indifferent, they were now curious as Franz sat all day, staring blankly while drinking.
