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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Harrison Side Story 3
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After talking with the girl.
I felt a strange sense of relief and gratitude at the same time.
So I wanted to repay her somehow.
Of course, as a girl, she had no idea why I was doing this.
‘Ah, I can just say it’s a gift to apologize.’
I had a perfect excuse since I’d hurt her.
I couldn’t remember the last time my heart felt this light.
Only after preparing a heap of thank-you gifts disguised as apology presents.
‘But how do I give them to her?’
That’s when I realized I didn’t even know her name.
There was no way to meet her again.
Remembering that we’d met at the apple market, I spent the entire day wandering around when it opened next.
I couldn’t find the girl that day.
Well, hardly anyone visited the apple market every time.
Fortunately, I ran into her at the next apple market day.
“Ah! You’re the one who helped that young lady back then…….”
The girl’s servant said something odd.
Then, from the girl’s shout that followed, I realized I’d lied about the situation when she got hurt.
I didn’t like lying.
But I played along with the girl’s words, mumbling vaguely.
And only then did I learn who she was.
The lady of the Samuel Count Family.
‘Crown Prince Luciano’s one and only friend.’
How could such a bizarre twist of fate happen?
I was so flustered that my reason felt numb.
I refused the invitation and shoved the prepared gifts at her.
Lady Espin tried to accept them innocently, thinking they were apology gifts.
“No, how old are you to be making moves on our young lady!”
“!”
Lady Espin’s servant jumped to a shocking misunderstanding.
“Can’t you tell that guy isn’t my type just by looking at him!”
I even heard a strange declaration blurted out in the heat of the moment.
“…….”
It was definitely nothing that should cause a misunderstanding.
And I hadn’t approached her with those intentions.
It was an indescribably odd feeling.
In any case, as Crown Prince’s friend, she seemed to understand him well.
“Apologies only get worse the longer you put them off. I saw you picking out apology gifts last time, so you still haven’t apologized to that person, right?”
When I asked, Lady Espin gave her usual straightforward answer.
Her words urging me to hurry made my heart grow heavy.
‘How can she think so clearly and concisely?’
“What if they don’t accept the apology?”
I couldn’t bring myself to ask outright if she wasn’t afraid of rejection.
“Then it’s simple. You keep going back until they forgive you.”
Her nonchalant attitude left me stunned.
“You’re just scared right now. Scared of hearing something bad, so you can’t apologize.”
She said it plainly.
“…….”
“If you truly did wrong and want forgiveness, you have to try. Keep going back until they accept it.”
Lady Espin was right about everything.
Her words hit so close to home that I felt ashamed, barely able to lift my head.
And yet.
A final hesitation lingered.
Was it really okay to go to the Crown Prince like this?
“Even if they refuse?”
“Yes, even if they refuse. You keep trying until you can.”
Her unwavering tone gave me courage.
It even brought a pressure that today had to be the day.
I steeled myself, thinking I had to try no matter how much he scolded or pushed me away.
“I’ve come to see Your Highness.”
“What are you doing here?”
Surprisingly, the Crown Prince recognized me immediately.
His face paled as if he’d seen a ghost, proving it.
“I’ve come to apologize. Have you been well?”
Only then did he snap out of it and reply coldly.
“Did I say you could come?”
It was so cold it felt frozen.
“What nerve you have showing up like this. Get out!”
His attitude left no room for talk.
I’d expected it, but it still stung.
And that’s when I met Lady Espin again.
I hadn’t anticipated running into her here, so she looked flustered too.
“Don’t come back. And don’t shove that trash at me!”
The Crown Prince spat sharp words to the end.
They felt like they were gutting my heart.
‘I decided to keep apologizing until he forgives me.’
I visited the Crown Prince over and over.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to come?”
“I don’t want to see your face!”
“Talk? Get lost!”
Every day brought only rejection.
The tiny spark of courage I’d mustered faded quickly.
The more I saw the Crown Prince, the more I doubted if this was the right way.
“I’ve come to see Your Highness.”
The moment I greeted him upon arrival.
Crown Prince Luciano’s face twisted in anguish.
His rejection choked me.
And as much as it hurt me.
“Don’t you get it? How many times have I told you not to come!”
The Crown Prince looked tormented too.
His expression said facing me was unbearable.
“That’s not it at all. I always respect Your Highness’s words. It’s just…….”
“Respect? Unbelievable. I never thought I’d hear that from Orlando’s bloodline.”
Dread crawled up my spine.
I needed to speak, but his rage-filled red eyes sealed my lips shut.
“Do you say that knowing what your father did to me!”
His words burst out, and my heart plummeted.
I felt Crown Prince Luciano’s last thread of patience snap.
During my visits, he’d never mentioned my father.
I realized that was his minimal consideration.
My father was the fragile line between us.
And now it was broken.
My breath caught, and the courage I’d barely held crumbled completely.
Weak as I was, I started rationalizing for myself.
Yes, he looks so pained.
I should stop hurting him.
“I’m sorry. Truly sorry.”
I spat out that apology and fled.
I was sorry I could only apologize like this.
Sorry I couldn’t do it properly to the end.
This was who I was.
Weak, just like my father.
Selfish and vile, caring only for myself.
Lost in self-loathing as I walked powerlessly, that’s when I ran into Lady Espin striding confidently toward me.
Her steps always carried cheer and boldness.
Lady Espin was amazing.
She always looked people straight in the eye without flinching.
Full of unwavering confidence.
“I felt like I’d been inconveniencing you every time, so I wanted to apologize properly.”
It felt like the last time, so I had to apologize.
It was the polite thing to do for the person who’d advised me.
Lady Espin stared intently with her brown eyes tinged red.
“You’re giving up?”
She guessed my resolve from just a few words.
I’d felt it before, but she was incredibly mature.
Poised, relaxed, compassionate.
She didn’t seem her age at all.
That made me even more ashamed.
“You really think you tried enough, until you thought it was truly over?”
Her words pierced right to the core, chilling my heart.
“I told you to keep trying until you could, even if refused!”
Her scolding jolted me awake.
“It took me a long time too.”
Crown Prince Luciano treated me and Lady Espin very differently.
It sometimes made me envious.
So her words surprised me even more.
Well, it made sense if I thought about it.
They must not have been close at first, since she met him when he was pushing people away.
“The Crown Prince is just slower and more cautious about trusting people than others. Keep knocking, and it’ll open eventually.”
Her urging to try harder moistened my chest.
It was such warm comfort.
‘Yes, no time for half-hearted gloom—let’s try harder.’
Her words gave me hope that someday I too would earn the Crown Prince’s recognition.
Lady Espin offered even kinder, warmer comfort.
She was consistently like sunshine.
Appearing when I was downcast, giving brilliant advice.
She didn’t feel years younger than me.
What an incredible person.
‘No wonder the Crown Prince trusts and relies on her.’
There was no set time for forgiveness.
But when I asked if I should at least try as long as she had.
“Me? It took a little over a year!”
……She said it brightly, like a year flew by.
* * *
“Truly fed up.”
Crown Prince Luciano spotted Harrison before even a greeting and spat in disgust.
The daily visits brought daily coldness.
His attitude hadn’t changed a bit, but my mindset had, so even this contempt was bearable.
‘Lady Espin, smaller and younger than me, endured a full year…….’
Quitting now would be too spineless.
“I want to apologize for my father’s actions. As atonement, please allow me to serve Your Highness.”
Words I’d struggled to say before now came out boldly.
Not because I felt guiltless.
But because I realized ignoring it would keep me stuck.
“Ha! Ridiculous. Enough nonsense.”
I could endure the contemptuous glare.
Because I truly wanted forgiveness.
It wasn’t a lack of courage; my desire to atone was real.
“My life is Yours, Your Highness. I’ll dedicate it to protecting you.”
It was a life I owed to him.
So naturally, it belonged to him.
But upon hearing my resolve, the Crown Prince twisted one corner of his mouth.
“Do you know?”
His red eyes gleamed sharply with hatred.
“Your father said the same.”
No matter how calmly I tried to act.
There was no excusing this.
My head bowed, and he turned away as if done with me.
But.
‘I can endure this much.’
A year was still far off—plenty left.
I gathered my shrinking courage.
* * *
Crown Prince Luciano’s birthday party was held.
The nobles’ murmurs about how unusual it was weighed on my heart.
For royalty, a birthday party was special.
‘How many here truly care for Crown Prince Luciano?’
As I scanned the attending nobles and swallowed a sneer.
Crash!
A plate shattering made my head turn instinctively.
Just a common mistake, I thought to brush it off.
“My, sorry. Didn’t see properly.”
I had to stop.
Lady Espin stood before the apologizer.
I grasped the situation instantly.
Servants should have rushed in to clean such a mess.
But the servants didn’t move.
Children were shooting warning glares at the servants.
It was organized bullying.
I knew nobles could be like this, but children too?
‘Fed up.’
Lady Espin seemed to catch on, a flash of anger crossing her face.
But.
“Be careful next time.”
She tried to let it go nicely.
It would have ended there if not provoked further.
“But are you okay? Your dress is fine, but those shoes…….”
As she said, chocolate cream smeared blatantly on her white shoes.
Lady Espin’s face twisted.
She’d dressed up for the party, so it must have upset her.
Children her age giggled.
The majority enjoying one’s plight.
And the ringleader, thrilled beyond measure.
“Here, I’ll lend you my handkerchief?”
She dangled it tauntingly.
‘No noble pride!’
Even for kids, I couldn’t watch this petty act anymore.
“No, we don’t need it.”
I stepped forward firmly.
Lady Espin’s eyes widened upon spotting me.
Her expressions were always varied, but today they seemed even more honest.
‘She’s subtly cute. Almost like a peer.’
I strode up, taking position beside Lady Espin.
“My handkerchief is enough to clean the lady’s shoes.”
I shot a warning glare at the troublemakers.
Even my gaze demanding they feel shame only sparked curiosity and excitement at the sudden change among the onlookers.
“You’re late, my lady.”
I greeted as politely as possible.
Lady Espin looked flustered, not grasping the situation.
But she was quick—she’d play along.
“You’re here?”
She responded naturally, as expected of her.
“I’ll clean them for you.”
Harrison knelt unhesitatingly before Lady Espin.
“Eek!”
“Gasp!”
Shock rippled through the onlookers.
To nobles who blushed at mere bows, this was outrageous.
But to me, it was nothing.
Lady Espin deserved respect.
I placed her shoe on my knee, pulled out my handkerchief, and wiped carefully.
It was exaggerated, hard to say without intent.
A warning: she’s not someone you can treat lightly.
“Thanks for cleaning them.”
Even flustered, she expressed calm gratitude—such character.
“Caring for you is my joy.”
Her cheeks flushed pink, pleased, and I couldn’t help smiling at how cute it was.
“You—what business is it of yours? Why interfere!”
Without that mood-ruiner, it would have been perfect.
No sense to slink away quietly?
“If I say I’ll protect my lady, what’s it to you?”
Should matter if it does.
Not a full knight yet, but knights chose their ladies.
In my life, if serving someone, obviously Crown Prince Luciano.
But the lady I wanted to protect? Obviously Lady Espin.
No one else like her.
Others’ shock didn’t matter.
Moving aside, Lady Espin thanked me freely.
“That was really cool earlier.”
Her sparkling eyes warmed my face.
I’d thought it natural, yet here was praise.
Mumbling it off led to talk of becoming a knight.
“You seem like you’d protect people well as a knight.”
Her kind words filled me with knightly pride already.
Hard to believe someone trusted and cheered me so fully.
My heart swelled.
‘Her purity makes her say things like this.’
“I’ll protect you too, my lady.”
The words slipped out unbidden.
I was surprised even after saying them.
I hadn’t realized I felt this way.
But voicing it clarified the vague emotion.
“Yes?”
Lady Espin’s confusion transmitted fully.
I realized it could sound different.
But I didn’t mind.
I envied her boldness.
Grateful for her kindness.
Small and sun-like.
“If you wish it, my lady, I’ll protect you.”
I wanted to keep her shining like this.
Surely that was all.
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