Episode 16
“Let’s do that.”
It was an unexpected answer. As I stared blankly at him, Eden spoke.
“You must’ve forgotten, but I need to secure an heir through this marriage. Honestly, I’m the one who’d be in trouble without Miss Echo. And of course, I’ll take full responsibility. I promise.”
As he said that, he lightly tapped the ring finger of his left hand. My eyes unconsciously followed, and I saw a white bandage wrapped around it.
A humble makeshift engagement ring—one that didn’t quite match the mood. I couldn’t help but let out a small, helpless laugh and murmured,
“That’s… oddly reassuring.”
“I’m glad you think so. Makes all the effort worth it,” he replied with a playful smile, then pulled out a watch from his coat to check the time. It seemed he really had to go now.
“We can talk more about the rest later…”
Just as he lowered his gaze from the watch, he paused. A slow smile formed on his lips.
“Looks like there’s one more person I need to negotiate with.”
“Huh? Who…?”
I turned my head in the direction he was looking. Not far away, Echo was standing there.
I had sent her back to the room to calm down, thinking she must’ve been more shocked than me. Why did she come back out?
At that moment, our eyes met. Echo flinched slightly. Strangely, she looked uneasy.
After Eden left, silence filled the room. Echo hesitated. The question she wanted to ask was clearly on the tip of her tongue, but for some reason, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
“Echo.”
Just then, Godel called out to her in a low voice. Echo flinched again without realizing it.
“How are you feeling? Are you okay?”
“…Yes, I’m fine. What about you, Lord Godel?”
“I’m fine too.”
Godel smiled gently. It was a soft smile, but Echo couldn’t smile back.
When someone smiled at her, it usually meant they wanted something. Lewis had done it. Godel in the past had done it. No one smiled kindly without a reason.
“Echo, could you come over here?”
“…….”
Sure enough, Godel spoke in that calm voice again. Echo hesitated, then cautiously walked over to where he was sitting.
“Sit here.”
He gestured to the spot beside him. Was it really okay to sit next to him? After a moment of doubt, Echo sat down.
After a brief silence, Godel slowly began to speak.
“Echo, I’m sure you’ve guessed… I’m going to marry Duke Verternon.”
Echo instinctively clutched the hem of her dress. She had known this was coming, but her heart still dropped.
When she had asked before, Godel made it seem like he wouldn’t get married.
But it looked like he had changed his mind.
Well, from his perspective, there was no reason not to.
To Godel, the situation he was in felt like hell—and now, his savior had appeared. There was no reason not to take his hand.
She had seen it with her own eyes—how Eden had stood up to Louis and protected Godel.
And if that wasn’t enough, he even made sure Louis could no longer use the family’s name. If she were in Godel’s place, she’d fall for Eden too.
“…I’m happy for you,” Echo said, forcing a smile.
“He seems like a good man. I’m sure the Duke will make you very happy.”
That thought, at least, was honest. The two of them talking together, looking at each other—they looked like they truly belonged together.
And in that picture of happiness, there was no place for her.
Echo spoke in the brightest voice she could manage.
“So, when should I pack? I don’t have much, but it’s probably better to finish quickly, right?”
“…What?”
Godel repeated the word, confused, but Echo avoided her gaze. She wasn’t used to smiling, and if she looked Godel in the eye, she might not be able to hide the lie.
“You seem like you’re in a hurry. I just don’t want to mess up your schedule, so I thought I should—”
“Echo.”
Godel cut her off. Her voice was cold. Echo flinched and looked up at her.
Godel looked slightly angry. Echo was familiar with that face—she had seen Godel make it at her so many times before.
But this time, it felt different. Godel looked upset… but also somehow sad.
Why? Echo forgot she was supposed to avoid her and looked straight at Godel. Then Godel said:
“I’m taking you with me.”
“…What?”
“If I can’t take you with me, I won’t marry anyone.”
Her voice was firm, like a declaration. Echo was silent for a moment.
Why? Why would you do that? Those were the questions that came to mind.
But instead, Echo blurted something else out:
“I’m… just a burden.”
It was the first time she had said those words aloud—her truth.
What noble family would accept an unmarried woman who brings along a child nearly of age? For their happy marriage to happen, she had to disappear.
“I’m just a burden to you, Godel.”
“……”
“Someone like me, who’s no help to you, it’d be better if you just left me behind…”
Her voice began to tremble. She had only thought about it before, but saying it aloud made the despair feel so much more real. Her head hung lower and lower.
“…I should’ve said this a long time ago.”
Godel muttered in a choked voice. Echo’s heart dropped.
It was what she had expected. She imagined hearing words like, “I should’ve left you sooner,” or “You don’t belong here anymore.” Her mind was filled with them like a prisoner waiting for a sentence.
Then—
“Echo.”
A gentle voice and a warm hand took hers. Echo’s eyes flew open. She looked up, stunned.
“…Godel…?”
“I’m sorry, Echo.”
There was sadness in Godel’s eyes as she looked at her.
“I’m truly sorry.”
No—there was more than just sadness. It was guilt.
“Why… why are you saying this, Godel?”
Echo looked at her in confusion, more worried about Godel’s expression than her own pain.
Godel bit her lip.
It was her fault Echo thought of herself as someone who needed to be left behind. And instead of apologizing, she had feared Echo might not want to stay with her.
But she was wrong. Even now, Echo was thinking of her—of Godel, the one who had hurt her. Echo didn’t even seem to care about being left alone.
Maybe Louis wasn’t the foolish one—maybe it was her.
“I’ve done a lot of wrong things to you. I should’ve apologized long ago, but I didn’t.”
“……”
“I’m really sorry, Echo.”
Her voice was filled with sorrow. Echo’s lips trembled, but she forced a stiff smile.
“It’s okay. You don’t… need to say sorry. You weren’t wrong…”
She stuttered over her words. Godel didn’t need to apologize. Everything she said was true. Everyone knew Echo was a burden.
But—
Her eyes suddenly burned, and tears blurred her vision. A drop ran down her pale cheek.
“S-Sorry… I don’t know why I’m crying…”
She touched her face in shock. Her hands fumbled to wipe her tears, but they wouldn’t stop.
After a moment, Godel reached out and gently hugged her. Her warm arms wrapped around Echo, and her hand patted her shoulder awkwardly but softly.
Echo bit her lip.
When Gilbert died, she couldn’t cry.
The house was already full of grief and blame from Louis and Godel.
So she had hidden in a dark corner of her room and swallowed her tears in silence. The only thing that comforted her then was suffocating darkness.
Maybe that’s why—this clumsy, warm touch made her cry even more.
“…I should’ve said sorry much sooner.”
It’s okay. She wanted to say it, but her throat felt too full. So instead, she shook her head hard.
Godel gently patted her head.
“I know you don’t fully trust me yet.”
“……”
“But I can promise you this—I’ll never leave you behind.”
Echo slowly looked up. Her eyes were still filled with tears as she met Godel’s gaze.
“So… will you come with me, Echo?”
“……”
Echo’s eyes flickered.
She had thought it was okay if she couldn’t go with her. That it was just her fate, something she could never change.
But Godel was asking what she wanted—something even she had never asked herself.
Tears still in her eyes, Echo nodded slowly.
“…Yes.”
With that single word, it felt like all the pain melted away.
Godel hugged her again. Echo hesitated for a moment, then reached out and wrapped her arms around Godel’s waist. Godel’s own eyes welled with tears, knowing just how much courage that small gesture took.
They stayed like that for a while.
As the crying began to calm down, Echo sniffled. Her fingers twitched a little—she was starting to feel shy.
“You’ll wake up tomorrow with puffy eyes,” Godel said teasingly.
Echo flinched, sat up, and clumsily wiped her eyes. She gave a small, awkward smile.
“Sorry… I cried like a baby…”
“It’s okay. You are a baby.”
She was still young. It was too soon to think crying was wrong. If not now, then when?
“Being able to cry is a good thing. It means you’re being honest with your feelings.”
Godel wanted Echo to feel all kinds of emotions—to cry, to laugh, to feel joy.
“So if you’re ever sad, or going through something hard… tell me.”
“……”
“Can you promise me that?”
Echo nodded slowly. Good girl. Godel smiled gently and patted her head again.
And then—
Growl.
A very unromantic sound cut through the moment. Echo’s stomach growled.
Her face turned bright red.
Oh, right. Neither of them had eaten yet because of what happened with Louis.
