Chapter 49

Are You Listening to Me? (4)

Her heart sank with Annetta’s chilling smile. It was a fleeting expression, but it felt more ominous than anything Legina had ever seen in her life.

“…Now that you mention it, I haven’t heard much news about the Duke and Duchess.”

“The Duke’s health suddenly deteriorated. He’s recuperating at his villa with his wife.”

Legina tilted her head at Annetta’s words about the Duke of Slyveig’s poor health. It was different from her memories before regression. Back then, the Duke of Slyveig had clearly stood at the forefront of the rebels with his son, attacking the Imperial Palace. And the Duchess of Slyveig…

She committed suicide. It was after Hermann’s coming-of-age ceremony.

She didn’t know the exact reason for the suicide. She had only heard that the Duchess had suffered from a mental illness for a long time and had left alone. And after Thelma Slyveig died, Annetta was the one who took charge of the Slyveig ducal household. But unlike the past, it was the Duke’s health that was poor, not the Duchess’s? What on earth was happening in the ducal family…?

“I’ve taken up too much of Your Highness’s precious time. Happy birthday, Your Highness. I shall take my leave now.”

“…Yes, my lady. I hope you enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The conversation with Annetta, which left only an unpleasant feeling, ended, and several noblewomen, unable to hide their curiosity, approached Legina and offered their greetings. She conversed with them, pretending to be calm, but Legina’s mind was entirely focused on Annetta, unable to shake off the discomfort clinging to her.

“By the way, Your Highness, I heard that Sir Aaron’s cufflinks today… you gifted them yourself.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“Oh my! I’ve never seen such a vivid purple before!”

“To gift such a precious item! Indeed…!”

“Hohohoho, now that you mention it, Sir Aaron’s gaze hasn’t left Your Highness.”

“Isn’t it Your Highness’s sincerity that worked? Hohoho.”

While exchanging trivial conversation, Legina remembered today’s most important task. She separated herself from the noblewomen and searched for Aaron with her eyes. The unpleasantness was not something that could be resolved immediately, so she had to put it aside for now and do what needed to be done right away.

Finding Aaron was not difficult. She instinctively looked for the brightest spot, and there he stood. He seemed to be having a serious conversation with Gissley, his beautiful brows furrowed. As she watched him, Aaron seemed to feel her gaze and looked up. For a brief moment, Legina stood there, captivated by his red eyes, but the whispers of the nobles around her brought her back to her senses, and she turned away. She had already asked him to spare some time during the banquet, so Aaron must have understood her intention.

Legina went out to the terrace and stood at the spot she had already scouted. It was a subtle location, identified after days of research with the help of Una and Johan, designed to appear invisible to others. Now, all that was needed was for Aaron to stand before her, and it would be perfect. Since Aaron would have his back turned, even if her acting was a little awkward, quick-witted nobles wouldn’t realize it was a well-staged show.

I just need to do well, just me!

From now on, it was crucial. She had intentionally drawn the attention of curious noblewomen and young ladies before moving to this spot. Moreover, Aaron, who naturally drew people’s attention just by existing, was moving in the same direction as Legina. Everyone in the hall would be focused on this spot. Legina slowly glanced over Aaron’s shoulder as he walked towards her. As expected, countless eyes were following him.

“My lord, thank you for sparing your time. I think we should proceed now.”

Legina whispered the last part very softly, only for Aaron directly in front of her to hear. She took a breath and looked at him. Though it was a fake, it was the first time in her life she had to confess such embarrassing words as ‘I like you’ or ‘I love you’ to a man. Her heart pounded wildly, and her face flushed, her fair, soft cheeks turning bright red.

“M-My lord. Actually, I…”

“Your Highness, I apologize. May I speak first?”

“Oh? Huh? No, it doesn’t matter… Are you sure, my lord?”

Had he changed the script from Legina reluctantly accepting his earnestness to him confessing first due to Legina’s earnestness? Legina waited for Aaron’s next words with a mix of doubt and expectation in her eyes. And Aaron, looking at her sparkling, shining violet eyes, was unable to utter the first words he had carefully chosen out of guilt.

Even without seeing her past time, which she must have spent waiting for this day, pretending not to, he could imagine it in his mind. Of course, the source of most of this imagination was Egil, but Aaron was certainly aware at this moment that he was about to inflict an irreparable wound on Legina.

“Your Highness.”

Aaron knelt on one knee and bowed his head. At the end of his lowered gaze, he saw her white, slender fingers trembling with tension. Aaron closed his eyes tightly, feeling a pang of guilt pierce his chest once more. The man who had indifferently refused every woman who had confessed to him until now was not present here. He couldn’t understand why he felt this way only for Legina. Was it because they had spent a long time together? Or because Legina was desperate? Or was it because she was a lovely person? He didn’t know the answer, but what Aaron had to do now was a clear refusal. He opened his closed eyes, raised his head, and looked at Legina’s face. Her innocent and beautiful face, unaware of what was about to happen to her, was reflected in his red eyes.

“I apologize, Your Highness.”

“…What?”

He had done it. He had said it. Aaron continued speaking, looking at Legina, who was blinking rapidly in confusion.

“I was foolish and failed to understand Your Highness’s feelings. Blinded by immediate gain, I made a promise to Your Highness that I should not have.”

“M-My lord?”

“Please forgive me.”

If he had known Legina’s feelings beforehand, he wouldn’t have accepted the contract. It was something he had done merely to resolve his own inconvenience. He hadn’t even realized it was wrong. He had simply nodded because they said it was good for both of them.

“My selfish greed led to a decision that will deeply hurt Your Highness.”

“I can’t understand what you’ve been saying at all, my lord.”

Aaron felt pity as he watched Legina’s violet eyes waver. Even in this situation, he couldn’t possibly guess Legina’s deep intentions, as she pretended not to know, feigning ignorance.

“I apologize for not realizing Your Highness’s feelings beforehand.”

“No, my lord, surely you don’t think I like you? No! Have you forgotten the promise I made to you?”

“I apologize.”

Despite everything being exposed, Legina desperately shook her head and waved her hands, denying it. Aaron suppressed the rising pity and sympathy, slowly closing and opening his eyes. No matter how desperately Legina tried to deny it, he couldn’t keep pretending not to know and stay by her side when he couldn’t reciprocate her sincere feelings.

“No, my lord! It’s really not true!”

“I humbly request, Your Highness. Please withdraw your heavy heart. I cannot accept Your Highness’s feelings.”

“I’m telling you again, I don’t like you, it’s true! No, I mean, don’t look at me so pitifully! I really don’t like you!”

“I also implore you again. Please, Your Highness…!”

“Hey? Are you… listening to me?”

At Legina’s appearance, denying her feelings with a voice trembling as if she were about to cry, Aaron couldn’t bear it any longer. He closed his eyes tightly and stood up. What he was about to do might seem heartless. However, being heartless was a million times better than giving false hope.

“Your Highness, I do not like Your Highness.”

“No, I don’t like you either! I don’t like you!”

Legina, who had burst out, looked at Aaron, who was staring at her with even more pitiful eyes, and thought, ‘Ah, this is that maddening situation I’ve only heard about…’ What on earth had he heard to make such a misunderstanding?! The more she tried to clear up the misunderstanding, the more it felt like shouting into a solid wall, expecting an echo that never returned.

And what made it even more maddening were the gazes of the nobles visible over Aaron’s shoulder. Perhaps thinking they were well-hidden, they were huddled together, intently observing the situation inside, their eyes filled with shock. It felt like she was truly going crazy. This was not a scene in Legina’s plan. Whether he knew her inner thoughts or not, Aaron kept repeating ‘I’m sorry,’ ‘I apologize,’ and ‘I don’t like you,’ and every time he repeated it, her stomach churned! And the watching nobles wouldn’t take their eyes off them, as if they were watching an entertaining show!

Why on earth did Sir Aaron misunderstand this way?!

It was simply a ridiculous conclusion reached during a conversation between siblings who were inept at romance, but Legina, who couldn’t possibly know the circumstances, could do nothing but beat her chest.

“My lord, no… Please believe me.”

“I apologize. I shall take my leave now.”

Legina watched Aaron’s back as he turned sharply and left, as if he had said all he needed to say, and felt like crying. No, when had she ever liked him?! She had just tried to put on a show with him, truly, she swore, she had never harbored romantic feelings for him. Legina watched Aaron’s retreating figure disappear into the hall, pushing through the nobles who were feigning ignorance, and began to feel utterly helpless about how to fix this situation.

“Whoa… Hey, did you just get dumped? Did you just get dumped? Wow, what the heck. This is crazy…!”

Should she just cry? It was the moment she sighed in helplessness. Then, Theore’s voice. Legina closed her eyes tightly and thought. That troublemaker couldn’t even get his timing right.

– Mochinuna.