The Male Lead Knelt Before Me - Chapter 118

Chapter 118
To Be Together

Caleb refused?

“Did you make contact with the Duke?”

“The Duke sent someone to contact us first, saying he wanted to meet us as our daughter’s fiancée.”

“So you had a meeting with the Duke.”

“That’s correct. The Duke stated that his fiancée does not know anything about it yet, and he does not want to hurt her with false hope.”

That was something I heard the other day when I went to a field full of pink reeds with Caleb……

I thought he was just looking for advice, but he actually asked me because he knew I was the Archduke couple’s daughter.

But how did the Crown Prince and Caleb know I was the Archduke couple’s daughter?

“Well, I’d like to ask a question, may I?”

“Of course. You can ask me anything.”

The Archduchess said it gently, which made me uncomfortable.

Because it was clear that the Archduchess’s favor stemmed from the notion that I was her “real daughter.”

I was careful not to show my discomfort inadvertently.

Because it was better to pretend I didn’t know if I couldn’t reveal the truth right now.

“You stated that the characteristics were written in the letter. May I inquire about the characteristics? ”

“I’m referring to your eyes. The direct descendants of the Archduke’s family turn golden when exposed to light from generation to generation.”

I thought my eyes were unique, but it was a trait of the Archduke’s descendants……

“This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

“I have no choice but to. So my eye color doesn’t change, I usually wear a ring that interferes with the Auror’s circulation. As a result, only a few people are aware of the fact.”

“However, it will no longer be a secret because he removed the ring to demonstrate summoning the Auror to confirm my child earlier.”

“But you agreed as well, my wife.”

“So, what did I say?”

I couldn’t, unlike the Archduke couple, who flirted and made a friendly atmosphere.

‘The crown prince had known for a long time that I was the daughter of an Archduke couple, but why did he keep quiet about it?’

I couldn’t understand because he was the one who told me to seduce Caleb because he didn’t want Caleb’s power and authority to grow.

But the wonder was brief.

For a brief moment, the crown prince’s atrocities came to mind.

He abruptly requested that I leave the Royal Knights and sing at the Emperor’s birthday party.

Not only that, but he even made a ridiculous remark about me marrying him.

I couldn’t suspect it at the time because I didn’t know anything, but it now makes sense. It was due to my birth.

“By the way, Lady, will you still reside at the Duke’s house?”

“What?”

“I’m asking because I assumed you’d want to be with your parents, and if you want, I can arrange for you to stay in a formal place within the palace.”

The emperor’s words were not out of the usual.

Because the Archduke and his wife were staying at the Imperial Palace, the Emperor decided to agree to provide me with a room there as well.

Perhaps Elena was grateful enough to accept the emperor’s offer.

“I appreciate your generosity.”

If it was the real Elena.

“But I’d like to stay at the Duke’s residence.”

The Archduke and Archduchess’ faces were filled with disappointment at my words, and the Emperor’s face was filled with wonder.

And, without realizing it, I made an excuse in response to those reactions.

“I need to speak with my fiancée, my luggage is at the Duke’s residence, and the Imperial Palace is not a familiar place……”

“But, Lady, wouldn’t it be nice to spend some time with your parents? ”

“I understand. We haven’t seen each other in a long time, and I’m sure you’ll find it strange and confusing to suddenly familiarize yourself with us.”

“That’s right. There is no need to suffer any inconvenience because of us.”

In contrast to the words that were considerate of me, the Archduke couple’s voice and face were filled with regret.

Perhaps that’s why I said it without realizing it.

“If you don’t mind, may I come back to the palace tomorrow?”

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

“Haa……”

I’m not sure if I did a good job.

Coming out of the hallway, I briefly recalled what had happened earlier.

When I asked if I could return to the Imperial Palace the next day, the Archduke and his wife were overjoyed.

They expressed gratitude.

I felt good about myself after seeing the Archduke couple happy, but I also felt strange.

Because of it, I left the lounge as if I were fleeing, claiming to be tired and looking for Caleb.

And then there’s the present.

Uh, I’m not sure. What can I do to undo what I’ve done?

Let’s start by looking for Caleb. Is he still at the banquet hall? ’

When I got to that point, I paused. The Archduke and his wife had declared me their daughter in the banquet hall.

I’m scared because I have a rough idea of what will happen if I go back.

But the agony was brief.

Anyway, I can’t leave Caleb alone.

I need to speak with him about something.

I took a deep breath and then proceeded to the banquet hall.

It was at the end of the hall, just around the corner.

“……Caleb?”

“Are you already out?”

Caleb raised his body calmly against the wall, unlike me, who was taken aback.

He appeared to have been waiting for me.

“How long have you been here? I expected you to be in the banquet hall.”

“It hasn’t been long. I expected you to stay inside longer, but why are you already out?”

“I thought you would be waiting for me. So I went out to find you.”

And being in there made me feel uneasy.

“You’re looking for me?”

“Yes, because I disappeared without saying anything. No, is it not disappeared? ”

Certainly, saying ‘disappeared’ was a bit of a misnomer.

Because I was away with the Emperor and Archduke couple in front of everyone.

“Anyway, I came out because I thought you would be waiting for me. Is there anything else you need to do here? If not, I’d like to go back with you.”

“Going back, where……”

What exactly does he mean by “where?”

“Back to the mansion. Were you going to sleep here?”

“Ah!”

In my words, Caleb made a realizing sound.

It wasn’t typical of him.

‘He seems a little strange today.’

And the time he grabbed me suddenly earlier.

“Is it all right if you don’t go back inside?”

“It’s all right. I told them I’d see them at the Imperial Palace the following day.”

“Do you mean you’ll see them tomorrow?”

“Yes, they seemed sad to break up with me early, so I made an appointment without realizing it, so shall we go back together?”

“No, I don’t mind returning right now.”

Oh, that’s a relief.

If I go to the banquet hall, it’s obvious that all eyes will be drawn to me, so I didn’t want to go inside and wanted to leave right away.

⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻

Back to the Duke’s residence, inside the carriage.

I gave Caleb a sidelong glance while pretending to look out the window.

He wasn’t sitting next to me as usual, but rather in the seat across from me.

Thanks to it, I could easily examine Caleb’s face.

And his face was stiffer than usual, which was untypical of him.

For some reason, I felt like he was being conscious of me.

‘It’s very strange, but I’m not sure what’s wrong with him.’

When an ordinary person exhibits abnormal behavior, it is usually because there is something out of the ordinary…… Oh, there was.

One thing that is out of the ordinary.

And that is something that both shocks me and others.

“Caleb.”

Caleb made eye contact with me when I called. As if to inquire why.

“You knew I was the daughter of the Archduke, didn’t you?”

There was no response from him.

Caleb simply shut his eyes tightly. But that was the answer.

“Is it because of that that you look weird today?”

“……I’m sorry I didn’t tell you ahead of time.”

I only made guesses.

I waved out my hand.

“I didn’t bring it up to point fingers at you.”

“I kept the truth hidden from you, Elena.”

“But you did tell me.”

“I said it in a different way, but it’s no different from hiding it.”

“But it was for me. You were afraid I’d get hurt, right?”

“Obviously, that’s correct, but I deceived you.”

“No, you didn’t tell me just because I said not to.”

After saying that, I rose to my feet, moved over to the seat where Caleb was sitting and sat leaning against him as if to be embraced by him.

I felt his body flinch and tremble at the same time, but pretended not to notice.

Caleb opened his mouth again after a brief pause.

“Don’t you resent me for keeping the truth from you?”

“That can’t be right.”

My mouth opened with a short laugh.

I’m not going to blame him for this.

I was still leaning against the wall when I felt his arm move behind me. He appeared to be attempting to cover my shoulder.

Despite my expectations that a large hand would quickly cover my shoulder, nothing was felt after a few seconds.

When I looked sideways, I could see Caleb’s hand wandering only near my shoulder without being able to touch me.

He spoke in hushed tones one after the other.

“It was just that I was feeling guilty and sinful.”

As in Caleb’s words, I could feel his heart from his gesture.

‘You can simply place it on top of my shoulder.’

Even if I told him to, I’m sure he wouldn’t put his hands on my shoulder.

I tried to move my arm to grab a large hand that was still hovering near my shoulder.

“I keep remembering how you used to cry for your parents.”

I came to a halt and hardened as a result of his words. Not only did my hands come to a halt, but so did my breathing.

Probably because what Caleb just said was a lie and an excuse I made for not being able to reveal my previous life.

As long as I am inside the body of Elena, and as long as I couldn’t tell my previous life to Caleb, then it’s bound to be a lie.

“Perhaps that’s why I was even more scared. Even though you told me not to tell you, I kept thinking that knowing the truth might aid.”

I could hardly breathe in the voice that was slipping into my ear.

And held his hand as I originally planned.

“Everything is fine.”

“……”

“Because it won’t happen,” I said quietly, almost reciting, wrapping Caleb’s hands in both of my hands.

I don’t know if this is a consolation to Caleb or brainwashing that I’m repeating myself.