Chapter 105
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------
Chapter 105
* * *
In the midst of the unbroken silence, Enya had drifted to sleep without my noticing.
We had been apart, each occupied with our own tasks, but her head gradually drooped lower and lower. While Enya had her work to attend to, my task was to watch over her.
In truth, with nothing else to do in Enya's Room, I had no occupation.
Enya had earnestly insisted I not step foot outside this room.
'...But I don't mind.'
Sitting quietly within the bedding that carried her scent was both embarrassing and blissful.
I carefully buried my nose in the warm blankets. It felt as warm as Enya herself.
Besides, watching her work was pleasant too. I didn't quite understand what she was busily doing, but her focused expression captivated me.
I took in every moment—from when her eyes were wide open as she wrote something, to when she began nodding off drowsily.
"..."
I approached her and carefully lifted her sleeping form without waking her.
Her body was not rigid and heavy like a man's, and I feared she might break.
After gently laying her on the bed, I brought a chair and stationed myself at her bedside.
'...But she said she felt lonely without me, and yet here she sleeps so peacefully.'
A slight pout and sense of disappointment washed over me.
It was a greedy emotion for me to harbor, but I found myself wishing she would think of me a little more.
I had been happy when I received the letter that should have gone to 'Dale'.
It was reassuring that her feelings seemed to be changing, even if only slightly—it didn't feel like a delusion on my part.
"A normal romance."
"I like you, Dale."
Dale's face flushed crimson as he recalled the moment. He covered his beet-red cheeks with his hands.
It felt inevitable that some great punishment would befall me soon.
'There's no way I could receive such tremendous fortune.'
Fortune couldn't possibly favor me alone. It was wonderful, yet unsettling.
I couldn't possibly dislike Enya's confession. It was wonderful. Fantastically wonderful, and so unreal that I still couldn't fully believe it even now.
I fought against sleep, terrified that if I dozed off, I'd discover this was merely a dream.
It was exactly the same as when I first entered into the contract marriage.
'I wish someone would tell me what punishment awaits me.'
Enya's stray hair seemed to disturb her peaceful slumber, so I carefully brushed it away.
When the silken silver strands touched my fingertips, my heart raced.
'As long as I don't lose Enya, nothing else matters.'
That was the greatest punishment that could befall me.
I'd experienced loss once before.
Back then, there were so many things I needed to do for Enya that I could bury it deep within my heart, lost in the chaos of the world.
But I have no confidence I could endure a second loss.
'When that time comes, I don't know if I'll live or die.'
My unusually lighthearted expression grew somber. I gazed at Enya with my eyes alone, like someone coveting something they dare not touch.
"Mm."
For the restless Enya, I drew the blanket up so she could sleep soundly. For me, her peaceful sleep was paramount.
She was the purpose of my life.
Making her entire existence happy was my deepest wish.
"Enya."
I called her name softly in a low voice.
Her sleeping face was as lovely and precious as it had always been.
A warm spring that illuminated my dark life.
"You can't leave this room. You have to stay here with me so I can protect Dale."
Enya had always tried to protect me.
Now and in the past.
"Why are you alone?"
"Come play with me in the Garden."
The sound of Enya's voice from childhood echoed as vividly as if it had happened yesterday. Dale gently caressed the wounds upon her that hadn't existed when they first met.
How could I possibly let Enya slip away from my grasp?
Our connection, just as the Previous Emperor had said, bordered on a calamitous fate.
Then Enya took my hand. Her touch was always warm. The Greenhouse of House Lockhart was Enya herself.
The presence beside me that became a tender garden through all seasons.
"...."
Even now, I couldn't bring myself to release her hand first.
* * *
"Dale, do you have something urgent to attend to?"
I'd fallen asleep at some point, and after waking from my afternoon nap, I'd explored the area outside my room and returned.
Security had been reinforced. Apparently, they'd confirmed that the intruder who'd breached the Mansion hadn't left the premises.
'Of course, since Dale was the intruder and had been staying in my room the whole time.'
I felt sorry for keeping someone confined to my room continuously.
This person had gone through such trouble to find me and come all this way.
But intruders happened all the time before. Why the commotion this time?
...Could it be?
"Dale, you said you knocked down several people when you came here. How exactly did you do it?"
At my question, Dale's eyes evasively shifted away.
"There was no way to avoid a violent confrontation."
"I already know that much. I'm asking about the extent of it."
My unease was beginning to deepen.
"...When you say you knocked them down, you mean they couldn't get back up afterward? Did you kill them?"
"No."
"Oh, thank goodness. I thought you'd committed something serious...."
"I merely rendered their limbs unusable, gathered them together, and confined them."
"Ah~ what? Thank goodness. Just confined them... What did you say?"
Dale narrowed his eyes slightly, speaking as if recalling the memory matter-of-factly.
"The skill level of those stationed here at night must be elevated. Now that Duke Hexagon's confinement has been lifted, the current level is insufficient."
"Wait a moment, Dale."
I grabbed him in shock.
"Those people are all renowned masters!"
"I'm not doubting Duke Lockhart's judgment."
"No, I'm not talking about Father. Just how skilled are you, Dale?"
Our Family's knights, and even our private soldiers, were absolutely not the type to be overwhelmed by an A-rank mercenary.
The private soldiers of House Lockhart were famous for receiving compensation comparable to the Imperial Knight Order. The difficulty of joining was proportionally very high.
Moreover, Dale had faced multiple opponents, not just one.
What exactly is this person?
"Dale, did someone help you?"
"I was fortunate."
"Then you could sneak out of our house without being noticed?"
"...."
"That's a relief. Dale must have things to attend to, so I was worried about how to send you off. With skills like that, there shouldn't be a problem. Being tracked would be troublesome, but I'll do my best to prevent that."
"...."
"Let's go this evening. You've finished all your business anyway, haven't you?"
Dale, who had been staring at me intently, shook his head.
"Fortune doesn't always follow."
"?"
"This time, I cannot guarantee luck. Leaving today is impossible."
"Are you sure? Even if you stay in the room with me?"
Dale nodded firmly, his head bobbing with conviction.
"If Dale is fine with it, then I'm fine too, but...."
For some reason, I felt uneasy.
Was this really okay?
For Dale, I mean.
'This seems dangerous.'
A contractual marriage and actually dating feel different in my heart. Or perhaps because we've kissed once, my gaze keeps drifting to Dale's lips.
It's not like I'm particularly perverted....
I keep....
"Enya."
"!"
Then Dale suddenly grasped my hand. I pushed the thought of kissing out of my mind.
"Why, why? I wasn't thinking about that kiss earlier."
"...Yes?"
"No, no, I mean nothing. Nothing at all."
Dale tilted his head in confusion. Fortunately, my rambling was so incoherent that he seemed to think he'd misheard.
"But why did you call me? What did you want to ask?"
"I had something to ask you, Enya."
"Go ahead. Anytime, anything."
"Why did The Emperor's affection for you become the reason we had to break up?"
Dale asked with a deeply contemplative expression.
"It wasn't that you disliked the position of Empress, but what was the reason you rejected The Emperor himself? Can you tell me now?"
"...."
I exhaled deeply and made my decision. Then I met Dale's eyes.
"What I'm about to tell you might sound like the ramblings of a madwoman."
"I will never treat you that way, Enya."
His words, like an absolute vow, made me laugh.
I had decided to share my secret with Dale now.
I didn't want to see tears form in his clear eyes ever again.
"Please listen carefully. This will take a while."
* * *
"..."
Dale closed his eyes slowly after hearing everything—the original story I'd read and all the circumstances that had unfolded since then.
'It must sound like a lie, doesn't it?'
Even I felt that way.
"...I had no idea."
Dale gently took my hand. Rising from his seat, he carefully embraced me.
"So all the hardship you endured was because of The Emperor."
"The truly devastating part of my story hasn't even begun in my life yet."
"House Lockhart will never face destruction."
"You believe everything I'm saying?"
"To be honest, I haven't experienced it myself, so I can't completely believe it. However."
Dale's voice grew softer.
"I believe in your heart—the heart that decided to share this secret with me. You're not someone who would toy with me through lies."
"Dale..."
A pleasant scent still emanated from Dale's embrace.
'Dale has such a good heart.'
If fate had allowed me to meet such a perfect man, couldn't it have been sooner?
Why not have me married off as a child?
"I understand your concern, Enya."
"I haven't told my parents either. This is a secret only you and I know."
"I will keep it absolutely secure."
His solemn words made me laugh, and strangely, I felt reassured.
"So Dale, I need to stay abroad for a while. I'm afraid you might get caught up in this and something could go wrong."
"I will be with you."
"Then grant me my first wish as your lover."
"!"
Dale's rigid expression immediately flushed crimson. He stared directly into my eyes, visibly flustered.
Now I understood what Dale was weak against.
"I'm asking you, okay?"
"..."
"You're my 'lover' now, Dale. It doesn't have to be for long. Since The Emperor has begun to move, I'm asking us to stay apart for a while. But our hearts will still be together, won't they?"
Yet Dale's stone-like demeanor lasted quite a while. His eyes wavered as he looked at me, unable to answer easily.
"Didn't you say you'd grant all my requests?"
"Is this truly what you wish?"
"Please."
"..."
Dale's face was flushed red as he deliberated right up to the end.
"...Very well."
"Hooray!"
He had finally surrendered.
Dale truly had a soft heart, kind and tender.
"The sooner we prepare, the better, don't you think?"
"Of course!"
I answered eagerly. Dale placed his hand on my hair with utmost care and exhaled softly.
"Then I shall depart today."
"But you said you wouldn't go earlier?"
"I must listen well to what you wish, Enya."
Dale smiled bitterly and moved as if to kiss my forehead, then stopped himself.
"Forgive me, Enya. For causing you such trouble."
The light in Dale's golden eyes deepened.
"I wish that everything you desire comes to pass."
* * *
Was Dale's final words a blessing?
Three days later.
What I received from The Emperor was...
"Miss! Miss!!! Miss, Miss!!!!!"
"What is it, Emma?"
"It's, it's a grave matter. The Emperor, he's sent to House Lockhart...!!!!!"
Emma burst through the door and thrust an unusual document into my hands.
I knew what it was.
It looked exactly like when I first received the Empress Rescript.
"Is it a marriage urgency decree?"
I tried to be dismissive, thinking it wasn't as if he were a debt collector.
"The Emperor says he's withdrawing the marriage proposal!"
"...What?"
"You're a free woman now, Miss!"
---------------
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
---------------