Chapter 67
67. Seems Like I’ve Been Mulling It Over
2022.04.21.
Earlier, did you say something about pretending to be lovers?
Honestly, I can’t deny that I had it somewhat in mind…
But that’s not my style.
I just plan to clear up that misunderstanding for you.
Even if I don’t, you’ll learn the truth soon enough anyway.
Better than it turning into some dramatic scene at an unexpected moment.
I intend to make sure it doesn’t blow up by explaining it properly myself.
It’s better to know before things become irreversible.
I’m someone who acts for Sir Arthur’s sake,
but personally, I hope the lady can remain safe and happy if possible.
Sir Arthur is the greatest man I know.
But I believe a place away from Sir Arthur’s side
would bring the lady more happiness.
The lady has a family she needs to protect,
and she’s not prepared to get caught up in life-or-death political intrigue, right?
You protect her.
As you suspected, Sir Arthur is shaken by her,
but if you can make her happy,
he’ll eventually send her back safely.
If your feelings for her are genuine, don’t give up.
I’ll help you.
Crackle.
A spark popped from the fireplace.
The dim chill permeating the dark room was being dyed red by the glow from the fireplace and candelabras.
It was lighting he didn’t need,
but Arthur quietly lifted the candelabrum and lit each candle one by one.
Whoooosh….
The autumn night air was thick.
As if rain was coming soon, a humid night breeze tapped against the windowpanes.
Even with the windows closed, cold air seeped through the cracks.
Reina curled up in her sleep, as if feeling the chill.
Arthur pulled back the curtains over the window and approached the bed, carefully draping the blanket over her.
“…….”
Reina quietly woke from her sleep.
The sky was pitch black.
In the darkness, the fireplace burned.
Firelight flickered and danced over Arthur’s gray eyes and black hair.
“…….”
“…….”
Their eyes met, and he sent her a smile.
He was sitting within arm’s reach.
Reina looked quietly into his eyes and spoke.
“……It’s the middle of the night.”
Arthur grinned and set down the book he was holding.
“Were you tired? You slept for a long time.”
“Were you waiting for me?”
Arthur replied.
“Yeah. It felt like I should wait as long as you waited for me.”
Reina chuckled softly.
“Thank you. But time is precious…. Next time, wake me if I’m asleep.”
Arthur looked away with a smile.
“Got it. Next time, I’ll wake you. As long as you don’t look too exhausted.”
Reina laughed as she gazed up at him.
Arthur ran his fingers through her hair.
Reina comfortably accepted his touch and shifted a little.
“Were you waiting for me?”
Reina smiled.
“Yeah. A little.”
So next time, if you’re coming late or can’t make it, let me know ahead of time.
Got it.
Reina gazed at him steadily, then murmured softly.
“You’re really… handsome.”
“…….”
Arthur gazed at her steadily.
“Ah, sorry. I must still be half-asleep.”
Perhaps the darkness hid her flushed face.
Reina managed to play it cool fairly successfully.
But Arthur noticed her throat and ears heating up as she let out a tiny fake cough, and he chuckled.
“You looked incredibly beautiful today, too. Your dress was more glamorous than usual. Your hair was braided…. And you wore earrings.”
As he gently ran his fingers through her hair, still marked from the braids, he asked.
“Why don’t you dress up like this when you’re with me?”
“…….”
The sensation of his fingers on her scalp felt good.
Reina closed her eyes.
Perhaps because she’d laid everything bare, an unusually honest answer came easily.
“I didn’t want to seem… presumptuous, like I was getting ahead of myself.”
Arthur spoke softly as he undid her hair.
“I’ve never seen you dressed up like this before, so I thought you didn’t like doing it.”
With her eyes closed, feeling his touch, Reina replied.
“I don’t hate dressing up. But it’s not mine.”
After a brief pause, Arthur asked.
“Why did you make yourself so pretty today?”
Reina answered slowly.
“Brody did it for me today. I didn’t even ask her to…”
The maid did?
Yeah. I guess I looked down in the dumps.
She probably thought it would lift my spirits.
…She’s a kind friend.
“……Was it because I didn’t come that you were feeling down?”
“…….”
Reina fell silent for a moment, then said quietly.
“……Yeah, but… it wasn’t because I had any other expectations.”
“…….”
“It just felt like we parted without even a proper goodbye. Pretty silly, huh.”
And then Reina went on unnecessarily at length about how diligently Brody had dolled her up.
“I see.”
Arthur’s voice echoed in the room.
“……I was wondering why you made yourself so pretty.”
With her eyes still closed, Reina smiled faintly.
“……I won’t dress up like that from now on.”
Arthur said calmly.
“No. Do it. Make yourself as pretty as you want.”
“…….”
“When you meet Taylor Lorenson, dress up pretty for him.”
“…….”
Reina opened her eyes.
She could barely make out Arthur’s face.
His voice continued.
“But when you’re with me, too. Dress up as pretty as you want.”
“…….”
The candle flames burned quietly.
“I don’t want you thinking it’s presumptuous.”
Her throat felt parched for some reason.
Reina averted her gaze from him and stared quietly at the burning candle.
His voice went on.
“Shall we get you a new dress? One for you. Winter’s coming soon.”
Crackle. Crackle.
The sound of the logs burning was serene.
Sparks quietly drifted inside the fireplace.
Reina smiled and replied.
“Shall we?”
Fine raindrops rattled the window.
Arthur asked.
“Are your ears okay?”
Reina answered softly, so her voice wouldn’t sound hoarse.
“Yes.”
His fingers brushed her ear.
“Are you going to keep wearing earrings? Or let them heal?”
“I will.”
I want to leave a little mark like that.
If I’m going to try dressing up in front of you.
With a smile on her face as she gazed at the fireplace, Reina quietly opened her mouth.
Sir Arthur.
Yeah.
This might be an unnecessary explanation.
Yeah.
No other meaning, just…
Since Sir Kay seems to have the wrong idea, I thought I’d mention it just in case…
Taylor isn’t my lover.
As Arthur stroked her hair, he said.
“……Yeah. I heard.”
Arthur spoke.
“……I was the one who misunderstood.”
“…….”
After a pause, Reina replied.
“Yes……. I wondered if that was the case. Sir Kay misunderstood, too.”
A brief silence flowed.
Arthur said.
“I didn’t realize it was about wanting to know your family’s safety.”
And he smiled, a touch apologetic.
“I don’t have family. So I didn’t think of it.”
He apologized plainly.
But with slightly stiff lips, he drew an awkward smile.
“I’ll make sure you can meet your grandmother anytime. No…. Kay already told you all that.”
Kay. Good work.
Arthur just murmured that.
“…….”
“…….”
After a short silence, Arthur spoke again.
“I must have come across like I was threatening you by holding your family hostage. Saying I wouldn’t let you meet them, things like that.”
“…….”
Reina seemed to mull over whether she’d felt that way.
“……I’m not sure. I think I was out of it myself at the time.”
“Really?”
He smiled.
“……I’m the one who should apologize for not explaining sooner. It felt… presumptuous to even bring it up.”
“…….”
Silence lingered for a while.
Then Arthur quietly spoke.
“Did you read the marriage contract I gave you?”
“…….”
Arthur gazed at the fireplace as if reminiscing about the distant past.
“……My fate hung on that war.”
He began his story.
“The contract stated that if I achieved merit in the war, the imperial family would recognize me as one of their own and grant me a dukedom. If I accomplished feats glorious enough to elevate the name of ‘Julius,’ it would acknowledge me as a co-ruler within the house equal to the family head, with the imperial family guaranteeing it. And if I died honorably, it said I’d be buried in the imperial tomb as the imperial family’s son.”
“…….”
“But if I failed to achieve merit or died dishonorably, the marriage would be treated as never having happened. The imperial family would stay silent about me, and there was a clause for the full secret return of Julius’s dowry.”
“…….”
“A lot was riding on the edge of my sword.”
His voice was low,
like the sound of wind,
like dry logs burning.
“…….”
Arthur smiled faintly and bowed his head slightly to look down at his fingertips.
“For a long time, the idea that a life like Ryan Dalton’s wouldn’t be so bad was quite a comfort to me.”
“…….”
“At first, I didn’t think much of it…. But it started crossing my mind more and more often.”
Once in a while, by chance.
More frequently.
And at some point, quite often.
After tough battles, you could say always.
“…….”
He hadn’t wanted to become Ryan Dalton,
but those words came to mind.
That someone had said them to him.
“…….”
Arthur smiled plainly.
“The Roas Barony is the house that raised me, and I wouldn’t be who I am without them. But they never made me feel familial affection.”
“…….”
“Roas always said I had to reclaim my honor, rights, and status.”
“…….”
“Of course, I’m grateful. It was for my sake.”
Arthur smiled plainly.
“But no one ever told me it was okay to throw everything away and run for my life.”
“…….”
So,
Arthur looked at Reina.
“Seems like I’ve been mulling over your words.”
