“Just, do as you please.”
It wasn’t a farewell or permission, but a sorrowful soliloquy of someone collapsing, unable to endure any longer.
I couldn’t say anything and just gripped his solid back tightly.
Now, the excuse that ‘I had no choice because my life was at stake’ had become meaningless.
“There are be several ways. Remarrying you as the widow of a war hero, or remarrying you after a divorce.”
Seeing the man desperately begging me not to leave him made my heart race in a different way. It was closer to throbbing. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that I wouldn’t leave and would stay by his side.
“I…”
Lost in thought, I looked at him with determined eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
I’m sorry, but I have to save you.
Because I never want Masera to disappear for the sake of being a hero.
I looked up at Masera, who looked like a rain-soaked cat.
It breaks my heart, but… I had already planned to fake my death and leave.
The only way to pass the royal family’s assets to Masera was through my will.
Once everything was settled, I planned to reveal the whole truth to him.
That man never listens to others, but he trusts me in any suspicious situation, so he won’t even believe that I’m dead.
‘You’ll find me eventually.’
It was only possible because I trusted him too.
‘After my grand plan is over, then you can resent me all you want.’
Misunderstandings, conflicts, and trials are essential in a healing romance.
Your wife is about to do something big, so don’t whine and just endure it. My poor baby cat.
* * *
The day after the earthquake.
Other places suffered relatively little damage, but a huge accident occurred in Diem.
「Avalanche Occurs in ‘Diem’ Due to Earthquake」
Accordingly, a flood of blindly critical articles began to pour out.
「The Rukanosa Ducal House forced unreasonable work to explore the gold mine despite warnings from the residents of Diem, which increased the likelihood of an avalanche.
The Diem gold mine project is being led by Duchess Rukanosa, who is currently under investigation for allegations of evidence tampering…」
Helene crumpled the newspaper with trembling hands.
‘No way…’
She believed the expert who said that the exploration work alone would not cause an avalanche.
But who would have known that such a big earthquake would occur, as if by a trick of fate?
Suddenly, she remembered Count Hert, who had left for Nox, arguing that ‘avalanche prevention facilities should be built.’
“……I will leave for Nox with the residents. I cannot sacrifice the residents because of the Duchess, who doesn’t value people.”
She scoffed at what he could do in Nox, which had nothing, but Count Hert was firm.
“We can build a village in a week.”
“It seems the Duchess will have to start over from empty land.”
She didn’t realize that it was a sincere warning, not just greed to get more compensation.
Her lips trembled as she thought of the criticism that would pour down like an avalanche.
The thought that it was ‘over’ rather than ‘failed’ was dominant.
Because no one had looked for her, even though such a critical situation had occurred.
* * *
Masera, who was summoned to headquarters due to the disaster in Diem, finished preparing to go out.
And before leaving the official residence, he turned to look at Cynthia, who was seeing him off.
“Come back safe.”
Cynthia, holding Eugene’s hand, smiled and waved as usual.
Masera stared at her with an expressionless face, then turned indifferently and got into the car.
“Did you fight with the Princess?”
Diego, who was riding with him, asked cautiously, seeing his cold attitude, but Masera did not answer.
“The Princess is said to be donating to the residents who remain in Diem.”
Even with the continued conversation, Masera opened the newspaper, listening half-heartedly.
Then his eyes were fixed on something.
「Thanks to Princess Cynthia, who anticipated the avalanche and implemented the relocation policy, there were no major casualties…」
“……”
He narrowed his eyes slightly at the article about Cynthia and quickly shifted his gaze.
「Disaster Expert Cynthia expressed deep remorse for the accident…」
“Ah.”
Masera squeezed his eyes shut when he saw the name of the disaster expert.
“I’m sorry.”
What on earth did she mean by that? He kept pondering her words, lost in thought.
For some reason, it felt like she was conveying her apology for leaving him in the future.
At the same time, he was also contemplating how to kill the forces targeting Cynthia.
He had known all along that Count Queensguard would covet Nox, which he had developed. The same was true for wanting his son to become king.
Even if Cynthia had the same thoughts and was acting kind with that in mind.
He didn’t particularly feel hatred.
‘But as a human, I’m sure I’ll feel some resentment.’
That’s why he needed time to distance himself and sort out his feelings.
Otherwise, he didn’t know in which direction his already heated emotions would bounce.
He wanted to lock her up and keep her from leaving his side.
But her bright smile, which always remained in his head, scattered even that venom into the air.
“The Diem recovery support project… Brigadier General? Why do you have such a grim face?”
Diego blinked and asked, seeing his expression.
“I was having bad thoughts for a moment.”
He rubbed his lips, having had ominous thoughts, and looked at the all-white scenery.
* * *
Masera didn’t return to the official residence until sunset.
The red sunset kept reminding him of someone.
‘That someone’ came into his view as he got out of the car.
Cynthia was struggling to walk with a heavy box.
He unknowingly approached and took the box from her.
The box was full of toys for the children. It was a weight that was too much for most adult men to carry.
“Why are you carrying this alone?”
She could have asked someone else.
Cynthia smiled brightly and looked at him.
“I can do it alone, though?”
He unknowingly lost strength in his hand and dropped the toys.
Cynthia widened her eyes and looked up at him, who was standing still.
“Are you okay? Did the headquarters overwork you and your hand hurts? I’ll go and complain right away…”
He gripped her hand tightly as she held his hand and examined it.
“Can you really do it alone?”
At Masera’s question, she stepped back in embarrassment, but he didn’t let go.
Rather, he pulled her closer and met her face.
“I asked if you’re really okay doing it alone.”
His expression was calm, but his lips were tightly closed as if he was suppressing a lot. The emotions that had been sinking seemed to be slowly floating up.
“……No. You’re helping me after all.”
Cynthia shook her head.
“Why do you keep……”
Masera swallowed the end of his words.
He stopped talking and let go of her hand. He didn’t want to prioritize his own feelings and push her.
“I trust you’ll do well on your own.”
He said in a somewhat weak voice and coldly brushed past her.
* * *
After that, Masera did not have meals with Cynthia, nor did he seek her out first.
He no longer demanded the couple’s greetings that he had given every time he went to work.
It was because he thought that his efforts might have been a burden to her.
Unwanted affection can be harmful to the other person.
But he still insisted on sleeping in the same bedroom, and obediently followed her order to sleep on the bed instead of the sofa.
Sitting in his office, he pulled at his suffocating tie and sighed.
‘Even if it’s like this.’
He decided not to be greedy.
He repeated over and over that it was enough to live in the same space like this.
Opening the drawer, he found something shining gold.
It was the bread bag tie ring that she had given him a long time ago, which was said to bring wealth.
At that moment, Diego came in with a knock.
“Brigadier General!”
He was flushed and handed over the documents urgently, catching his breath.
“Oil gushed out from the land that was split by this earthquake! In the western mountains of Nox!”
The rabbit-shaped mountains that Cynthia had mentioned.
Masera looked down at the bread bag tie ring that he had been touching with lingering affection.
