“Are you really going to forgive me?”
“You’ve had a hard time. I must have made it tough for you, right?”
“Compared to the pain of the Grand Duchess, I couldn’t even dare to compare.”
“You don’t have to lower yourself like that anymore. I’m acknowledging you as my husband.”
“Really… is that so?”
If the story that went off track from the beginning had flowed as the wind intended, perhaps it would have turned out like this.
A past that ended with a small atonement could have brought about a bright future… right?
Of course, I don’t know what kind of future lies ahead for you now…
“Yes. Here.”
I would have reached out my hand that always sought help and taken yours.
“Thank you… truly, thank you…!”
“Hoho. There’s no need for that anymore, you know?”
“Then, what should I call you now?”
“Before names, shouldn’t we speak more comfortably?”
From this point on, it would be the real beginning, right?
Our story.
Perhaps I wasn’t really concerned about the reflections of others.
All I needed was your reflection, and perhaps that’s why I clung to you so desperately.
Denying your withdrawal and obsessively trying to reveal that it was a lie stemmed from the fact that a Betrothal Contest without you held no meaning, which is probably why I was so stubborn about it.
“Ease… are you saying I should talk comfortably?”
“Yes. We’re ‘married’ now.”
“Married…?”
“You’re my husband; I’m your wife. So, speak comfortably. Now it’s my turn to refer to you with honor.”
Isn’t it funny?
The thought that I, a bystander to your severe abuse, was harboring a bright future with you without even realizing it?
I used to think it was ridiculous to consider a case where a hostage felt love for their captor… is that what I was experiencing?
I thought it was nonsense, but maybe… I was like that too?
“L-Lumia?”
“Yes, my love.”
“Y-You mean…!”
*Puhut.*
It’s amusing to see you, with that fierce face, making such clumsy expressions.
Back at the academy, your face was so intimidating that just looking at you was frightful.
“Hohoho. Is that so surprising? It’s the ordinary title between spouses.”
“Kuhk…! Thank you, Lumia. I’ll truly do my best!”
*Flash!*
“Kyaah! L-Let go of me—!”
Originally, I should have been held like this at our wedding, but I don’t feel regret.
Just the fact that we can write a happy story now is enough.
Proving that my choices and decisions were not wrong is sufficient.
“Waaah! Waaah! Waaah!”
“Oh! My love, can you hear that resounding cheer?”
“Hohoho. Do you like it that much?”
“Of course! Seeing this courageous cry and the beautiful appearance, it seems like our child takes after both of us equally.”
“Hoho. I hope they take more after you.”
“Hahaha! I hope they take more after you?”
…This must be it.
Our beginning and end, and yet another beginning.
This must be it.
The transformed you and the transformed me.
A child that carries our strengths would rewrite our story anew.
Right?
But it’s funny, really.
How wonderful it would have been if I had known these plans sooner.
If I had realized that every plan was laid out for you, could I have snatched the clouds that kept drifting away?
If I had noticed my foolishness sooner, could I have reassembled the flawed beginning?
No.
Looking back now, I think it might have been better not to try to catch the clouds drifting away.
It might have been better not to try to reassemble the flawed beginning.
After all, perhaps the curse of the chieftain began right after setting off to the academy.
Who knows, maybe this curse was biding its time for the present, thinking it would be over by now?
It seems loneliness suits those cursed.
Even now, right?
I don’t deserve to be loved, nor do I deserve to love.
How could someone who causes pain and hardship to others dare to dream of such things?
People are said to live according to their station.
It’s only natural that the fate of those who dream of love and happiness should end up as miserable and tragic as this.
“Haha. What should we name our child?”
“Since it’s a daughter, how about combining your ‘El’ with my ‘R’ to make ‘Elr’?”
“Oh! That sounds really nice. I hope our Elr grows up beautifully like her mother.”
“Hohoho. How sweet.”
It was an extravagant dream for me.
A wish that didn’t match my station.
So, thank you.
Thank you for coming into my dream like this.
Thank you for showing me what I had hoped for.
Thank you for…
Making me smile.
I’m truly grateful for letting me dream of a life I could stay eternally trapped in.
Even though I don’t want to wake up, even though I wish to remain here forever, it feels like the moment has come for me to awaken.
“My love? What are you thinking about?”
“I’m sorry, darling.”
“What do you mean…?”
“I’m sorry for holding on.”
Stubbornly clinging on.
Being obstinate for no reason.
“M-My love—!!”
You move forward just as you are now.
I’ll step back just like this.
I’m really sorry.
“My lady! Are you coming to your senses?!”
Goodbye.
—
“……”
It felt as if I had just awakened from an eternity of sleep.
A sense of having slept well for the first time in ages.
A refreshingly bright morning welcomed me after such a long time.
Awakening, Lumia leaned back against the headboard of the bed, weakly sitting up.
“…”
Lumia glanced at her left hand.
The bandage was still wrapped around it.
With a swift motion, she unwrapped the bandage.
Four fingernail marks had healed cleanly.
As if they had never existed in the first place.
“Are you… okay?”
Marien asked, observing her complexion, and Lumia responded by rubbing her palm.
“How long… was I asleep?”
Feeling that it had been quite a while, she asked, and when she received the answer, she confirmed that her feeling was indeed correct.
“…Three days.”
Three days.
It had already been three days since the night she laughed while crying in the rain.
If the Betrothal Contest had proceeded smoothly, tomorrow would be the day the grand event commenced.
“What happened…?”
It couldn’t have been quiet in the Grand Ducal Palace during those three days I was asleep.
She asked once more.
“The Grand Duke arrived two days ago.”
Lumia felt her intuition wasn’t wrong.
“My father…?”
“Yes. He didn’t go to the capital; he returned here.”
“I see…”
It seems Gelwood sent an urgent letter.
It was probably a letter pleading to prevent the rampage of the Third Northern Duchess and her downfall.
And the one who arrived at the Grand Ducal Palace was certainly not just her father.
“And… Duke Felon Caelid and Marquis Widen Rosfell also arrived yesterday. My lady, what on earth happened…?”
Lumia, with a bitter smile, sipped her winter-blossom tea.
A warm sensation filled her hollow heart that had been empty for three days.
She looked down at her reflection in the tea, her face flickering like that of someone emaciated by a thirst for knowledge, as it was on that day.
“It’s all over.”
“Huh…?”
“I don’t want revenge, or liberation anymore. I’ve revealed all their sins and my own.”
“R-Really…? Then the thing you said you would do that night…”
“That’s right. It was I who summoned Duke Felon and Marquis Widen.”
“…….”
Marien, at a loss for words, merely gazed at her mistress with wide eyes.
She could guess from the resolution behind it all what kind of determination had led to this.
However, she didn’t know whether to comfort her or offer encouragement.
No words would reach the lady.
“Did your father… say anything in particular?”
“Ah, well, the Grand Duke asked to be informed once you wake up.”
Marien stood up from her seat.
But…
“It’s fine.”
She had to urgently support her mistress, who was trying to rise.
“Ah, my lady, you can’t move right now!”
“I’m okay. I’ll go myself.”
Lumia resisted her assistance and struggled to get up.
It was hard to take a step with her trembling legs, but she had to go.
A sinner must do so.
“Ah, my lady…”
“I’ll be back.”
Though Marien fidgeted behind her, Lumia continued to move forward, step by step.
—
Knock, knock.
Lumia knocked on the office door and stepped inside.
She saw her father standing by the window, gazing outside.
He must have recognized that his youngest daughter had come, yet he merely stood there with his hands behind his back.
Lumia dropped to her knees suddenly.
“I’m sorry….”
That was all she could say.
Just words of acceptance for any punishment he would bestow, for any decision he would make.
And from behind her father’s massive back came the news of the events that had transpired over the three days and the stained conclusion of the Betrothal Contest.
“No need to say more. Tomorrow, you will engage to Deron Caelid. So please be aware of that.”
Her father didn’t even spare a glance at her, who had awakened after three days.
He commanded her to marry the one responsible for the torment she had endured for the past three years.
Even aware of everything, her father said nothing about the pain endured that day.
Lumia thought it truly fitting for someone like her, who deserved neither love nor comfort.
“Yes…”
She could only respond so sorrowfully.
And then,
She thought it was truly a fortunate ending.
That she could at least keep the grand festival of the northern regions alive.
That she could protect the laughter of children and the joy of adults.
For that, she considered it an extravagant ending to sink along with the instigator.
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