I’ll End This Engagement - Chapter 32

‘Goodbye.’

 

The ghastly thoughts that filled my head were shattered.

 

What’s this person…

 

“Hug me properly.”

 

As I was immersed in my thoughts, I suddenly heard Davan’s voice.

 

His words, coming out of that mouth with gritted teeth, pierced my ears.

 

“What?”

 

Only then did I notice how I looked.

 

It seemed that I was leaning too inappropriately while looking at Cadel.

 

I was almost hanging in Davan’s arms like a sloth.

 

Oh, I must have been heavy.

 

I tightened my arms and hugged Davan’s shoulder tightly.

 

“…!”

 

‘Mm?’

 

I tilted my head for a moment.

 

Maybe it was because of the mood that I felt Davan’s jaw stiffen at first glance.

 

The heavy scent of the man’s body wafted over my head.

 

From the body temperature as we came into contact with each other, a vibration that I did not know whether it was my heart or his heart rang rapidly.

 

“…”

 

Or perhaps it’s because I was attracted to the red lips that could be seen just by raising my head.

 

‘How would it have been?’

 

Without realizing it, I stared at Davan for a long time.

 

‘If only we had met in a different way.’

 

If so, what would Leah look like?

 

Living as the real Leah, I saw things I couldn’t see when I read the original work.

 

Among them…

 

Very occasionally, I thought that Davan was a better person than I expected.

 

How many things would have changed if Leah and Davan had not met in a one-sided relationship?

 

At least, it wouldn’t have been a terrible ending where she died resenting the person she loved the most.

 

Could I have looked at Davan a little more generously?

 

“Davan.”

 

I opened my mouth, but there was nothing to say. Most of them were words to swallow.

 

“It’s cold.”

 

“…”

 

Davan didn’t answer.

 

He just wrapped his hands around my waist a little bit more tightly.

 

“You must have many excuses today.”

 

Then, I heard Davan’s low voice carried by the wind.

 

Instead of answering, I hugged his shoulder a little tighter.

 

***

 

The Emperor stood for a long time with his hands behind his back. Until the black night sky split open and closed.

 

Embracing Leah, Davan disappeared in an instant.

 

“Where did Raoul go?”

 

The Emperor asked, his eyes fixed on the sky.

 

“He was slightly injured by a branch during the reconnaissance.”

 

Belson, who was beside him, answered.

 

“He should be in the infirmary now.”

 

“I see.”

 

The Emperor nodded briefly.

 

The two stopped talking about Raoul.

 

“…”

 

The Emperor stood there for a long time.

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

Belson followed the Emperor’s gaze and looked up at the sky. It was a night sky like any other day.

 

The Emperor smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

 

“I’m lonely.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

At the sudden words of the Emperor, Belson put on a puzzled expression.

 

“How lonely I must be when I see a well-matched pair.”

 

“You’re saying things you don’t mean.”

 

Belson chuckled as if hearing something ridiculous.

 

“It’s as if you’ve forgotten your refusal of the thousands of marriage proposals at that time.”

 

“That’s because I’m sitting in the emperor’s seat—”

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

Belson cut off the Emperor’s words resolutely. It was an informal act, but it didn’t really matter because it was just the two of them.

 

“It has been like that since the time you were a prince. It not like I’m seeing Your Majesty just for a day or two.”

 

Belson had seen Fven since he was a prince.

 

When he was a prince, he refused because he had to act as the eldest son on behalf of his eldest brother, but now he refused because he was the emperor.

 

“Cough.”

 

The emperor coughed roughly because he had nothing to say to the sharp criticism.

 

“I guess I am getting older now. The night wind is lonely.”

 

“You’re not even 30. You still have to work for another 50 years.”

 

Belson’s attitude to cut off the Emperor’s whining was cold and familiar.

 

“It’s enough for the youngest to make that sound.”

 

The Emperor tapped Belson on the shoulder as if he had just remembered.

 

“Have you seen the youngest do that?”

 

“What do you mean by that?”

 

The youngest was the nickname that Fven used to call Davan secretly.

 

Belson must have known that, but he just couldn’t figure out what the Emperor meant by ‘do that’.

 

“The youngest taking care of others. He’s the type that won’t be interested in anything even if his brother bleeds to death right next to him.”

 

“That’s it…”

 

Belson tilted his head.

 

“I didn’t expect him to take the young lady with him.”

 

It was quite unexpected that he went with Leah, in his arms, as if she was something precious, on top of that.

 

Didn’t he hate Leah so much?

 

“They must have grown attached after spending 8 years together.”

 

Belson shook his head as if it wasn’t a big deal.

 

“Well, His Excellency doesn’t seem to be willing to accept the young lady’s heart in the end.”

 

His eyes also reached the barrier unconsciously. When he thought of the two people he saw in the hallway, it seemed hopeless.

 

“It’s because he’s an idiot.”

 

The Emperor’s voice was full of disapproval.

 

Suddenly, Belson thought it was fortunate that Davan was the youngest of the four brothers.

 

“After a long time, it seems that he…has gotten used to Leah.”

 

Leah from a long time ago was a lovely and courageous child.

 

A lot has changed since that happened.

 

Even the Emperor did not know what had happened to Leah at that time.

 

He only thought that the shock after losing her father was huge.

 

“Isn’t it because of the longing for the late count that her ladyship has changed like that?”

 

There was a sigh in Belson’s somber voice.

 

“She can’t help but be more obsessed with His Excellency.”

 

“No, that’s not it.”

 

The Emperor was resolute.

 

“If that were the case, even Davan wouldn’t have drawn the line so decisively.”

 

“There is only one reason why men and women don’t get closer.”

 

Belson waved his hand.

 

“Because they’re out of reach.”

 

The Emperor glanced at Belson with a pathetic look and clicked his tongue.

 

“You, too, are so unaware of the strange feelings between a man and a woman. Tsk.”

 

“Do you know, Your Majesty?”

 

Belson asked in amazement, raising his monocle. The Emperor turned his head away.

 

“I can’t communicate with you.”

 

“But she’s definitely been weird lately.”

 

Belson immediately muttered incomprehensible words.

 

“I mean, Miss Prezis.”

 

“…”

 

The Emperor did not answer.

 

However, when he nodded, he seemed to agree with Belson.

 

“How to say it…? She’s matured…”

 

“She’s always been mature.”

 

“Pardon, Your Majesty?”

 

“She just didn’t show it.”

 

What’s the logic of not showing it even though she’s already matured?

 

“Would that kind of person make a scene at the Emperor’s Palace by screaming all over the place, enough to be noticed by the Empress Dowager’s Palace?”

 

Belson couldn’t get over that ever-increasing nonsense.

 

“It’s good that she’s become calm. There was a lot of talk in the senate about her ladyship being Duchess Khajans.”

 

“Those old people talk too much. When the hell are they going to die?”

 

“Your Majesty!”

 

Belson opened his eyes to the Emperor.

 

It was an unspoken pressure to be careful with his language.

 

“By the way, how was the meal today?”

 

“More than I expected…”

 

The Emperor burst into laughter when he remembered today’s meal.

 

“He talked about the 1st Prince openly.”

 

“He did? The late 1st Prince?”

 

How could he bring that up in front of the Emperor and Davan?

 

I knew he is a young duke full of ambitious spirit, but this is just too much!

 

“So how did you answer?”

 

“I didn’t answer.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

Belson’s eyes widened.

 

It’s not a place where one doesn’t answer just because they don’t want to.

 

“Leah covered my mouth.”

 

“How did the young lady do that?”

 

“Cutely.”

 

The Emperor smiled wildly, but did not give any details.

 

“Well, what else did you talk about?”

 

Belson shifted the subject, as if he thought it was not an acceptable answer.

 

“It wasn’t much. Oh.”

 

The Emperor sighed as if he remembered what was left in his impression.

 

“It seems that Vernon is very interested in the relationship between Davan and Leah. Especially Leah.”

 

Belson narrowed his eyes as if trying to grasp Cadel’s intentions.

 

“Anyway, it felt strange.”

 

The Emperor’s gaze, staring into the air, suddenly became calm.

 

“I felt like I was seeing her old self for the first time in a while, and I felt like she grew up so much that she didn’t need me anymore.”

 

He looked like he was feeling various emotions. The Emperor was outwardly an inconspicuous person.

 

It had been a long time since he showed Belson his feelings so comfortably.

 

He asked the Emperor stealthily.

 

“So are you upset?”

 

Belson thought lightly.

 

He thought it would be disappointing that Leah, who he’s seen since childhood, shows changes little by little as she becomes an adult.

 

“I…am not sure.”

 

The Emperor laughed lowly.

 

In fact, even Fven himself didn’t know how to explain the emotions that filled his heart right now.

 

“…”

 

Belson’s eyes, watching his side profile, gradually became serious.

 

He thought the Emperor was talking nonsense, but there was no playfulness in those blue pupils.

 

“Your Majesty, can I sincerely ask a question?”

 

“No.”

 

“What do you think about Young Lady Prezis?”

 

“Didn’t I tell you not to ask?”

 

“Is it guilt? It might be a bit exaggerated, but it could be.”

 

Belson nodded while kept asking as if he could not hear the Emperor.

 

The Emperor let out a shallow sigh.

 

“What do you know, this heart is carrying many things.”

 

“Or, by any chance.”

 

After hesitating for a while, Belson’s lips opened.

 

“Do you like her as a woman?”

 

“What…?”

 

The Emperor’s eyes hardened at once.