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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: A Good Person
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My jaw dropped, and I strode over to him. Then, I snatched it from his hand.
“Th-that’s someone else’s—!”
“It didn’t seem to be.”
Eric scoffed. I asked in a hushed voice.
“Don’t tell me you read what’s inside?”
“Would you believe me if I said I didn’t?”
Right, so he read it.
I clamped my mouth shut.
“…If you insisted…”
After a moment’s thought, I shook my head.
“I couldn’t believe you. Ugh, why did you have to go and read it…”
“I saw this, too.”
Eric held out a crumpled note.
…Just get the money and get out.
Damn it.
I always get caught with things like this.
I took the note and stared at my mother's familiar handwriting.
‘I killed your father.’
Helena’s devastated voice rang vividly in my ears. I felt something welling up inside me.
I glared at Eric.
At his clear, honest eyes.
What would this principled man think of the note’s contents? Of us, who see another's pain as a useful tool for blackmail.
Of us, who can only survive by stealing, taking, and backstabbing others.
But you know what? If we had known any other way, we would have chosen it.
“You’ve seen it all… so what are you going to do now?”
I asked, my voice deliberately cold. Eric didn’t answer.
“Can you really continue this fraudulent marriage with someone like me, who’s always preparing to swindle others? When I’m such a wretched person? I have no dignity, not a shred of nobility, and as it turns out, I was born a commoner…”
“You said family is supposed to protect each other.”
Eric said, gesturing to the diary.
“You said you wanted to protect me, didn't you?”
‘I want to protect him.’
I realized Eric had eavesdropped on my conversation with Helena.
I stared, wide-eyed.
“You… you… you…”
“And you did protect me.”
“What are you talking about? When did I ever protect…”
Eric said calmly, tucking the diary into his coat.
“The fact that you didn't want me to see this. That feeling alone…”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I could have betrayed my mother and you and run away. It was risky, but it was one of my options…”
“You wouldn’t run away. You’re not that kind of person.”
Eric’s red eyes watched me steadfastly. My vision blurred once more.
What do you know?
I am that kind of person.
I…
I killed Violode.
You said a twelve-year-old can’t kill their own father. You think that’s common sense.
But I am that person. The one who stands outside that common sense.
But those words never left my lips.
With his now-free hands, Eric gripped mine tightly.
“Look up, Imeline.”
I shook my head. I was trembling, my head bowed.
“You grew up well. You’re a decent person. A bit strange, but you have your own sense of morality…”
“Bullshit…”
I choked out, overcome with emotion.
But Eric just gave a hearty laugh and didn’t comment on my rudeness. Instead, he said this:
“Do you know what you call someone who doesn’t run away, who protects others, protects their hearts?”
I looked up.
Eric was staring right at me. His red eyes were unmistakably…
trembling.
“A good person.”
Eric said firmly.
“That’s what you call a good person. You may not be a kind person, but you are a good person, Imeline.”
The hand that held mine trembled slightly, just like his eyes.
✵ ✵ ✵
I sat in a corner of the princess’s palace garden, dabbing ointment on Eric’s lips. It was only then that I noticed his hands were also wrapped tightly in bandages.
“What happened to your hands?”
“Hm…?”
Eric subtly hid his hands.
Only then did I recall Eric swinging a whip at the West Tower earlier.
“Ah, that door! You hurt yourself trying to break it down, didn't you?”
“Ah… well…”
Eric stammered, looking troubled.
What’s with him?
Honestly. Getting himself hurt trying to break down a mithril alloy door…
“You couldn’t break the door, could you? The princess opened it from the outside, right?”
Breaking mithril alloy? Does that even make sense? It’s not like he’s some legendary aura swordsman.
At my chiding words, Eric quickly nodded.
“R-right.”
“Getting your hands hurt for nothing. For a knight commander, you don’t seem to be much of a fighter…”
I gently applied the ointment to Eric’s red lips.
At first, I focused blankly on the wound from Philip’s punch. But as his red lips began to glisten with the ointment, my attention drifted to the soft touch of them against my fingers.
They’re so soft…
Come to think of it, earlier…
‘That’s not how you kiss.’
For a first time, it was quite dazzling.
Good times…
I couldn't tear my eyes from Eric's lips, my inner thoughts sounding like something Philip would say.
Just then, Eric picked up the ointment pot and muttered.
“Where did you steal this from?”
Snapping back to my senses, I finally managed to pull my gaze away from his lips.
I snatched the pot back and said.
“Steal? I just… borrowed it from the apothecary waaaay over there.”
Eric chuckled lightly at my shameless words.
“Borrowing without asking is called stealing.”
“Hmm, that’s strange. My family calls it borrowing.”
Eric pressed a hand to his forehead as if his future looked bleak.
“With you like this, can we really start living at the ducal manor tomorrow?”
“Oh, come on… it’s only for ten months, at most. Until our little Rose comes into the world…”
I said, stroking my belly with a wistful look. Eric pointed at my eyes and said.
“Could you please not make that face? Even Sir Lily is getting suspicious.”
“This is why this kind of acting skill is necessary. We’ll need it when we play the part of newlyweds! Got it, Eric?”
“E… ric…?”
Eric’s expression stiffened. I watched him with an amused smirk.
“We’re married now, so should I keep calling you Young Master?”
And here you are, subtly calling me Imeline for a while now.
“I-I suppose so…?”
“Of course. It would be strange, wouldn't it? A couple who married in a whirlwind romance that set the capital abuzz not even calling each other by their names.”
Eric seemed to ponder this for a moment, then nodded.
“That’s true.”
“Right? E… ric.”
I deliberately pronounced his name slowly.
A faint smile spread across Eric’s face, as if he were tickled.
Watching him, I felt a tickle in my own heart. I unknowingly squeezed the ointment pot.
I felt like I had to hold on to something tightly, or I’d be swept away.
By a huge wave.
Or a huge heart.
This is what they call a honey trap, isn’t it? A honey trap.
Just then, Eric pointed at my face and said.
“You smiled.”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head.
“When did I…? Hey, you’re the one who was smiling!”
“You smiled too.”
I smiled? When…?
“Lies.”
“You’re the one who’s good at lying.”
I pursed my lips.
I don’t think I smiled.
Eric kept insisting I had smiled, unable to wipe the grin off his own face. Watching him, I felt my heart might just give out.
“You know what…? If you ever get married a second time, don’t smile at your wife too much.”
“…What are you talking about?”
She might die young. From heart failure.
…I probably shouldn’t say that out loud, right?
While I was barely managing to control my gushing inner self, Eric spoke in a low voice.
“There won’t be a second marriage for me.”
My eyes widened.
“Why? Don’t tell me it’s because of me? Because marrying me has become a stain on your record?”
I thought of the person who would be the best match for Eric if he were to marry again. Someone like Princess Ella?
That woman seems like she’ll become the ruler of this country by any means necessary, which would make Eric the queen… no, the king’s husband. Why would he turn down a position like that?
“Don’t worry. Whoever she is, I’ll be sure to tell her. We only kissed once.”
We hugged, too. But I won’t mention that.
For some reason… I feel like I shouldn’t talk about that.
It feels even more off-limits than the kiss.
While I was lost in such thoughts, Eric said with a calm, subdued expression.
“It’s not that…”
