~Chapter 24~
The rain was falling harder now.
Ricardo and I stood there, getting soaked, and the whole situation felt kind of ridiculous.
…Ricardo, do you even realize?
Because of your tiny bit of conscience, I’m standing here getting drenched again.
If it were Idette standing in front of you, you would have taken her somewhere dry no matter what.
At least, that’s what you always did in the original story.
You’re a thoughtful person. But your kindness never seems to reach me.
I looked at Ricardo for a moment, then turned to leave.
But just then, he stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
The sunlight behind him cast his shadow over me.
Rain was running down his sharp jawline. But he didn’t even try to avoid the rain—he just kept looking at me.
Without meaning to, I asked,
“…Are you trying to apologize to me?”
“I just wanted to look at you…”
His voice trailed off, as if he didn’t even realize what he was saying.
Then he spoke again, quietly, with a bitter tone.
“If I apologize… you’ll probably stop showing me any emotion at all.”
I didn’t really understand what he meant.
Even though days had passed since we left the lake, my ears still felt like they were underwater—everything was muffled and hard to process.
Then Ricardo said softly,
“I’m not going to apologize to you.”
“…What?”
“Like you said, I’m selfish.”
A faint light flickered in his eyes.
“If you really want an apology, then come find me yourself.”
For a moment, light returned to the eyes that had always seemed full of darkness.
“Blame me. Hate me for not saving you. Or better yet, despise me.”
“…”
“That way… you’ll look better to me than you do now.”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Then Ricardo reached out.
Last time, he couldn’t touch me—but this time, his fingers gently caressed my face.
His cold hand stroked the corner of my eye.
“I’m the one who let you stand in the rain while you were sick.”
…Of course I know that. Who wouldn’t?
“I’m also the one who saved another woman while having a fiancée.”
His hand slowly moved down and brushed my lips. He let out a bitter laugh.
“You need to remember this. That your feelings—your anger, your sadness—should all be directed at me. No one else.”
His fingertip pressed gently on my lips.
Swaaah.
The rain poured even harder now, but the sunlight made it feel strangely warm.
…Did I really hear him say all that?
Am I the crazy one?
Or is he?
“You said the cancellation letter will arrive sometime this week, right?”
Still stunned, I didn’t answer. Ricardo continued talking as if he didn’t care.
“Bring it yourself. Even if it’s over, you should still show proper manners as my fiancée.”
Just then, something soft dropped onto my shoulder. Surprised, I looked up—and saw Ricardo’s jacket now resting on me.
Above me, his arrogant voice rang out.
“Return it next time we meet.”
“…”
“Along with the cancellation letter.”
***
A week passed, and Grandpa still hadn’t returned to the estate.
I asked Cedric what was going on, but he just brushed me off, saying:
“Focus on your recovery.”
My body had already recovered.
All I knew was that something big was happening in the Imperial Palace.
…And Cedric’s coronation wasn’t far off now.
Even the usually calm Roygin estate felt chaotic.
“We’ve grown up under Grandpa’s protection. Now it’s our turn to protect him.”
I didn’t know the full details yet, but Cedric was right.
Now, it was our turn to protect him.
I began reading over materials about the Dremokan Forest.
Just as Peril had guessed, Grandpa’s illness might be related to that forest.
If his magical power was failing, it could mean it was tied to the heavens of the Divine Era.
Then someone called my name—
“Bianca.”
***
At the sound of Leon’s voice, I quickly looked up.
“Oh—Oppa.”
I pushed the documents I’d been reading to the side of the table. His eyes briefly glanced at them, but I changed the subject before he could ask.
“Thank you… for what you did that day.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t do it to hear a thank-you from you.”
Leon dismissed it lightly, like it was nothing.
“…I heard you agreed to give the Hessen family one of our mines?”
Leon froze for a second.
Back during the hunting competition, Leon had shot an arrow at Ricardo. Ricardo was badly injured—and as compensation, they demanded one of our family’s mines.
“It’s just a useless mine that doesn’t produce anything valuable,” Leon said, not sounding concerned.
The mine Ricardo asked for was the Seren Mine, located in the western region.
…But I knew something Leon didn’t. In the future, the Seren Mine would produce massive amounts of Kaen, a rare mineral.
That place would soon produce tons of Kaen—a rare mineral that would replace mana stones.
Its value would skyrocket.
I only knew this because I read the original story.
But Ricardo shouldn’t know. So the fact that he specifically asked for Seren, among all the mines we own… that was suspicious.
Maybe it was a coincidence.
But with Ricardo, I knew—nothing was ever a coincidence.
I tapped the table with my fingers, then quietly asked,
“Do you really have to give him the Seren Mine?”
“Huh?”
This whole thing felt strange.
In the original story, there was no mention of Ricardo getting hurt because of Leon.
And Ricardo, a top swordsman from the famous Hessen family, which is known as the Empire’s blade… He couldn’t avoid Leon’s arrow? That made no sense.
Also, in the original, the one who ended up owning the Seren Mine wasn’t Ricardo—it was Idette.
“There’s a mine in the west that belongs to our family, right?” I asked.
“You mean the one Grandpa gave you when you became an adult?”
“Yes.”
It was the Hurigon Mine, which still produces mana stones. It’s valuable now—but in the future, compared to Seren, it would be nothing.
“Hurigon is worth more than Seren right now. So, please give it to Ricardo Hurigon instead. I’ll give you my rights to it.”
Leon looked shocked, but he quickly shook his head.
“No way. I’m the one who messed up. I’m not dragging you into it.”
“Please think of it as repayment—for saving me before. Just… don’t give Seren to anyone.”
Leon looked confused. After all, why would I trade a mine that’s actually producing magic stones for one that hasn’t produced anything yet?
If I were Leon, I’d think this was crazy too.
But I couldn’t just stand by and let Ricardo take over a mine that would soon become incredibly valuable.
“Please, Oppa.”
Leon looked troubled. I reached out and gently placed my hand over his on the table. His ears turned red.
“…You really do know how weak I am when it comes to you,” he murmured.
He fiddled with my fingers.
“Okay, I’ll do as you said… but I’m going to pay for Hurigon.”
“There’s no need.”
“Take it. I didn’t save you because I wanted a reward.”
His voice was firmer than usual. In the end, I had no choice but to agree.
In the future, when Kaen is discovered, Leon will gain something far more valuable.
“Oh, and if the Hessen family refuses Hurigon, could you ask them why?”
“They wouldn’t refuse. Hurigon’s worth more than Seren right now.”
…True.
If we think logically, there’s no reason for Ricardo to reject Hurigon.
But if he still insists on Seren, then he definitely knows something.
I saw Leon off. Then I turned my gaze toward the jacket hanging over the back of the sofa.
One problem was now dealt with.
Only one thing remained—
Ricardo Hessen.
And breaking off our engagement.
