Chapter 212

Goodbye

"Dean!"

I call his name and he opens his hand .

"This…is . . . "

What was in that hand was the pocket watch that I just asked Tanya to bring me .

" . . . Oh, I got it! you picked it up for me . Thank you . "

I look at his eyes while trying to receive it .

At that moment, I remembered that I called his name like in the old days earlier .

" . . . I am sorry, Your Highness I already asked of you to dismiss your goodness and attention given to me as it's confusing . . . "

The moment I said that, he had a troubled face and . . . a sad smile .

"I already thought that I would receive such an answer from you . . . . "

His voice was terribly weak as he said so .

"Your Highness . . . "

"I'm asking again . . . Will you accept that proposal? really? . . . "

At first, I did not know what he was asking me about .

But, looking back at him it was the same question as previously when I talked about marriage .

Both his eyes and expression are still weak, like a troubled child .

I see him seriously for the first time in a while .

Naturally as it's his usual habit, his hands were on my shoulders as he asks me .

That world of disbelief in love had disappeared cleanly from my head .

" . . . . . . I'm sorry . . . I have asked something strange . . . "

He took my hands on his .

"No . . . It's not strange . . "

He tried asking me again to know about my true intention about marriage .

That's all it was, that was enough .

Eyes speak louder and more eloquent than words .

It is because he is conflicted about his feelings that he does not mention it .

"I have no right to stop you, it is regrettable for the country to lose a talent like yours, but the Kingdom of Acacia is a great country, it is not bad to strengthen ties with the Kingdom of Acacia through your marriage . "

It seemed as if he was making excuses for himself as he repeatedly said such words .

"But even though I am . . . in love . . . to . . . ou . . . "

Any more words are unnecessary . I cried silently while murmuring it .

My love is only a burden on this person .

First of all, as he said, a marriage with the royal family of the kingdom of Acacia is profitable for the Duke of Almeria . . . and eventually for this country too .

The reason why he is refusing my love is because . . . of the moment .

Besides, what was once will remain in the memories of the people .

I used to be Ed's fiancee once .

And he is charged with treason and did such horrible things to this country and its people .

Although my engagement with him was broken long before, the past of having been his fiancee will follow me forever .

With such a reason, if a marriage between him who is the first prince and me who is the ex fiancee of Ed who was charged with treason were to be announced . . . the rebellious nobility surely will try to take back the country .

His aides will also object, because I have been Ed's fiancee .

. . . Rudy, one of his aides, may perceive that I marry him to strengthen the power and influence of the Duke of Almeria .

For him who is determined to be the king of this country, there are only risks if he were to choose me .

He already has Bern on his side to show the support from the Duke .

On this occasion, if I get the position of his fiancee . . . it may be regarded as being a greedy house .

Even if the Duke of Almeria doesn't have that intention, it'll be seen that way .

That is because the royal family can be controlled in any way by nobility if the house has influence .

It is nothing but to expose the weak side of royalty been all of his people from a single family .

Even now the nobles are confused and the situation of this country is still confusing .

In the meantime, if the powerful families were to compete for influence . . . the chaos would be terribly . .

He is not a bad person, he's only caring for this country . . . In addition, there are external factors also affecting it at this moment, another problem for him would be difficult to overcome . . .

I knew it . . . I know . . . But! I did not want to understand .

I love him . . . so much . . . that I'm careless about the situation . . .

" . . . Dean"

I whispered to him .

He aligns his gaze to my eyes .

"You are only mine from long ago, are not you?"

As I asked that, he opened his eyes as if surprised for a moment . . . but, then he laughed .

"Oh, that's right . "

My whole body trembled with delight at those words .

It's enough . . . Because now I know that the feelings are mutual .

" . . . you are the country's pillar, and I . . . can't make things difficult for you . . . Even if our paths now break up, if . . . we keep watching the same direction, we'll always be with each other in our hearts . . I'm sure . . You'll be a wonderful ruler . "

I said so, and left him .

"I very much appreciate your feelings and I will answer to them devoting myself entirely to this country . . . for all my life . . . "

So, let's put a break at it this time . What a selfish feeling is love . . .

Loving him is okay . . . but, I do not want to see him with that face anymore .

Dean did not say anything after that .

"Well then, I'll be going . "

And I left him .

When I left the room and returned to the entrance, there was already Tanya waiting for me there .

"Tanya"

"…Lady!"

I guess I was trying to get rid of those feelings . . . I didn't notice my expression, but . . It must have been unusual as she called me with a loud voice .

"I'm sorry that I left this place . . . when I promised you I'd be here . . "

"If you are okay, that's fine, I am sorry too, I could not find the pocket watch that I was ordered to look for . I will look for it again backtracking to the carriage . "

"It's okay Tanya . Actually, I looked closely under the clothes and found that it was caught between the layers of fabric . I'm sorry . "

"No, it's no problem . . . If your wish has come true, then all is fine . "

"Thank you . . . . . . Hey, Tanya . Will you accompany me wherever I go?"

"Of course . "

"Thanks Tanya . . . "

Will I regret this choice?

I wonder what he will do after I marry .

If at that time I regret what should I do? . I think of a lot of choices that I have not thought of before .

But for me now the only option is this .

Just believe and proceed .

I've already broken up with this sweet dream .

. . . . . . Afterwards, I returned to the mansion with a horse-drawn carriage with Tanya .

Mysteriously, my heart is calm .

When I got back to the mansion, I felt a tense feeling like a prickly penetration into my skin .

I am nervous about what I should tell my parents .

While tilting my head, I flee to see father .

" . . . . . . Iris, You have come back at a good moment . "

To my mother's harsh voice and atmosphere, I stopped my breath, what happened?? .

"Is there something wrong?"

" . . . finally, the war with Twil country has begun . . . "

At my mother's words, my head got dyed white .