Chapter 511
Looking at Sera’s hand gripping mine made me smile for no reason. I had held this hand countless times while being friends with Sera, and ever since I’d heard her confession, I was honestly too scared to touch it. Touching her hand after she took the leap to confess would be a real faux pas.
It’s kind of unfortunate that while Sera and Sister Zenobia were off in their own worlds, completely ignoring that fact, they just snatched my hand like it was no big deal.
‘It was just a normal hand-holding before.’
Anyway, as we walked side by side, I couldn’t help but stare at our joined hands. Nothing about Sera or me had changed. It was still the same hand, the same face.
Yet, these days, Sera felt different. My eyes and mind said nothing had changed, but my heart was singing a different tune.
‘Is it really all about the heart?’
Once I recognized Sera not just as a friend but as a woman, my heart raced, and thinking of her as my fiancée made everything feel so much more comfortable. It was just the relationship between us that shifted, but it felt like everything had changed, which was quite fascinating.
Or maybe I shouldn’t downplay that change? You really have to have experienced a relationship to understand.
‘Relationship.’
Thinking of that word, which feels so distant from my life, made me let out a snigger. The first time I ever had a crush on someone was with Louise, and even that was only a short-lived one-sided love that lasted six months. When it comes to my 19 years of life, that’s hardly the blink of an eye.
And here I am, engaged. To not just one, but two!
And I even proposed myself!
“Erich?”
Sera tilted her head in confusion when she caught me chuckling to myself.
I guess it’s a pretty odd sight for someone dragged to training to suddenly burst out laughing. I would’ve kept my distance if I were her, but her holding onto my hand shows her kind heart.
“Just… wondering why it took so long to realize how great this is.”
Pulling Sera closer, I couldn’t help but notice her face turning bright red.
That was the response I was aiming for, but it also felt genuine. Accepting Sera’s heart—and Sister Zenobia’s—made me feel this good. It makes no sense why I’d been conscious of their feelings until now, instead of listening to my own heart.
‘Was I scared?’
Maybe I was afraid of establishing a new relationship that wasn’t just with a close friend or sister. I didn’t want to show a clumsy side of myself in this new relationship dynamic.
How embarrassing for someone who prides themselves on being flawless. Just because I was scared of something so trivial, I made someone else confess first. That’s definitely a dark chapter I wouldn’t forget even after decades.
“Sorry for making you wait.”
With a sudden wave of bitterness, I pulled Sera in tighter.
Thinking how that wait could have stretched on for years made it impossible to lift my head. If there hadn’t been anyone nudging me about marriage, pregnancy, or honeymoon trips, I would still be clueless about my own feelings.
‘If it wasn’t for my brother, I might’ve really been late.’
It was only after seeing my brother happy with his wives that my heart began to stir.
I recognized my own deep desire to love and be loved.
“It’s okay. You can make up for all the time you waited.”
In a whisper so faint it wouldn’t be heard if you weren’t focused, I gently patted Sera’s head.
Sera is surprisingly petite.
‘Can’t believe I made her feel like this.’
My guilt couldn’t be any heavier.
*
After a few minutes cuddled in Erich’s arms, I finally managed to pull away. Honestly, I didn’t want to, but right now, it was more important for Erich to have a proper meal. Priorities—you’ve got to get him to the dining table first.
“You’re right on time today.”
As Erich and I made our appearance, Mother greeted us with a beaming smile.
“Come on, that’s unfair, caregiver! How could you send Sera to fetch me?” Erich complained to Mother.
I couldn’t help but feel slightly annoyed. It sounded as if he’d have starved or settled for something half-hearted if I hadn’t come.
“Sera?”
I lightly pinched Erich in the side, and he gave me a puzzled look.
“Shouldn’t we call you something different now instead of ‘caregiver’?”
Even after I pinched him, his face showed no signs of pain, which made him a bit annoying. So, I teased him intentionally, and only then did his expression turn to one of embarrassment.
But isn’t it true? We’re engaged now, and calling my mother—who’s soon to be my mother-in-law—‘caregiver’ feels a bit off. It kind of feels like I’m awkwardly marking my territory, and that’s a tad sad as well.
“I’m okay with either. Though once we’re officially husband and wife, it would be great if you could call me Mother-in-law.”
“Uh, I’ll try. It’s just that ‘caregiver’ keeps slipping out.”
Even Mother chuckled, joining the fun, and Erich awkwardly nodded, smiling.
His quick concession did ease my slightly grumpy mood.
Erich, caught between my mother and me, started zoning out as my future mother-in-law stepped in.
“Are you already making your fiancée run around? She’s already so fragile.”
“I didn’t mean to… I didn’t think Sera would come…”
“Your fiancée came looking for you out of concern, so that’s on you.”
Erich struggled to find words to defend himself, visibly sad as his head hung low. He realized the moment he provided the reason, he had no chance left.
“Sera, don’t let him off too easy just because he’s your fiancé.”
“Yes, I’ll remember.”
I ended up getting scolded too, but knowing it was all in fun aimed at Erich made me want to laugh. After all, everyone knows I was sent to get him at my mother’s request.
It looked a tad like exclusion at first glance, but since we all shared the common connection of being worried because of Erich, he was gracefully accepting it.
“Besides, Erich isn’t doing anything weird; he just got a little carried away in his training.”
“So please don’t be too harsh on him.”
Of course, Erich was no longer the same guy he was back then; he was more handsome and confident now. It’s tough to completely disregard his past, and while it’s hard not to tease him, we have to keep it in check.
“What do you mean by ‘don’t be too harsh’?”
“Hehe, sorry about that.”
Fortunately, it seemed my future mother-in-law shared the same sentiment, as she ended the teasing and scolding there.
Seeing Erich smile back at me with gratitude made him nod slightly.
‘What a fool.’
I was teasing him too.
It was such a funny situation that I couldn’t help but chuckle. Can this fool really be the same person who was once so full of vigor?
“I’ve been thinking about this since then. Am I good enough to accept your confession? Do I deserve it?”
“But as time passed, greed grew. Even if I’m not worthy, I still want to live alongside someone who loves me. I want to make someone smile with all my heart.”
“I admit it’s a little embarrassing, but it’s true. If it hadn’t been for my brother, I might still be stuck wondering. Even so, my decision was mine alone, not influenced by him.”
“I won’t let you regret waiting for me. I’m entrusting you with half my life, so if there’s ever a wait, I’ll be the one waiting for you.”
‘That’s right.’
Thinking of the words Erich spoke two days ago about starting from the engagement made me grin. Yeah, he’s definitely the same guy. The stunning and clumsy sides of him are all the aspects I love about Erich.
Although I felt a little regret that he said similar things to Sister Zenobia—it’s also fair to say he’s giving half of his life equally to both of us. Considering he’s relinquishing ownership of himself to his future brides, it’s passable.
“Ugh.”
Without realizing, I let out a silly giggle and quickly covered my mouth.
I glanced around, hoping my mother and future mother-in-law hadn’t caught that—
“Pfft.”
I turned my head toward the sound of a small giggle.
There was Erich, beaming with a thumbs up, nodding as if he understood everything.
‘…What a fool.’
In moments like this, pretending you didn’t hear is the way to go.
It seems his insensitivity isn’t completely gone.
*
After wrapping up with Mother, I found myself staring up at the ceiling in a daze.
‘Wow.’
Wow.
‘Is this a dream?’
I pinched my cheek hard, and the pain came through loud and clear.
So it’s not a dream, then.
‘Is it possible my mother is dreaming?’
The thought of being a bad daughter even crossed my mind, but I soon shook my head. Her expression and voice were far from what someone who had just woken up would exhibit.
So it felt too hard to believe. I had always thought that someday this day would come; it had to come, but now that it was here, my jaw was practically dropping.
‘Erich is engaged.’
That dense fool finally.
I nearly shed tears of joy. It’s not every day a man cries, especially not when he’s forced into a job he didn’t want or when his resignation gets rejected a hundred times, but here I am about to tear up over my brother’s engagement.
But honestly, it’s an emotional moment. That is the guy who, in the past, would act crazy if he showed any interest, saying stuff like “What if we were friends?” Then he’d go off and say ridiculous things like “I wish I could claim you as family.”
That same Erich has now properly accepted two confessions and officially entered a relationship. It’s even more impressive that he was the one to propose engagement.
‘A milestone for the Krasius family.’
Even if I’m a little perplexed as to why Erich suddenly decided to propose, and why it took this long for me to hear about it—honestly speaking, I don’t care. What truly matters is the outcome of Erich’s engagement.
Although my brother has four more weddings to go, having Erich getting married is something to celebrate, and he better throw an extravagant wedding.
I’ll do my utmost to call the five dukes for Erich’s wedding!
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