That night, the moonlight shone so brightly through the windows of Archibald’s residence.
A gentle breeze blew, adding to the night’s chill.
Cedric stood silently in front of the window in his office, staring into the distance with an empty gaze.
Ever since that afternoon, after his conversation with Damian about Emily, his feelings had been in such a conflict.
Since their return from the capital, Cedric had deliberately avoided Emily, to give her time to be honest with him.
But this wasn’t the way he’d wanted it.
It had never crossed Cedric’s mind that the day would come when a stranger would arrive and openly declare a war to take his fiancée.
Although it was extremely unpleasant, what Damian said wasn’t entirely wrong.
Is the current Emily trying to win Cedric over because she truly loves him, or is it merely out of obligation?
If, when Emily jumped from the balcony, Cedric hadn’t been there to catch her, what would have happened?
How desperate was Emily to accept this engagement that she would go to such extreme lengths?
Cedric feared that Emily might do something reckless if she were pushed any further.
So confronting her any further didn’t seem like a wise choice.
Knock… knock… knock… The sound of knocking came from outside the door.
“Your Grace, Lady Emily requests permission to see you,” Philip called from outside the room.
Emily…?
Cedric knew he couldn’t run or avoid this any longer.
Sooner or later, he had to resolve this issue.
“All right, come in,” Cedric replied.
CREAK… As soon as the door opened, Emily entered Cedric’s office.
This time, there was no playful smile or attractive clothing.
Emily looked more gloomy than usual.
Suddenly, a pang of pain struck Cedric’s heart, though he didn’t know where it came from.
“Your Grace, I want to talk,” Emily said softly, lowering her head.
“Sit down,” Cedric replied briefly.
Why are you sad?
I don’t like seeing sadness on your face.
The two of them sat facing each other on the sofa, separated by a coffee table.
Why are you sitting so far away from me?
Don’t you always smile happily when you’re near me?
“Your Grace, I apologize to you for not telling you the truth,” Emily said, breaking the silence after several minutes of quiet.
Cedric also remained silent, waiting for Emily to continue.
“I admit that I have often come and gone from your residence to go into town without permission.
And as you already know, I even opened a clinic without your approval.
But I did all of that purely to help many people in need.
But I guess I didn’t realize that as a guest in your home, I shouldn’t have done those things.” Emily continued, her voice growing heavier, as if something was holding her back.
Emily… lift your head… I can’t stand seeing you sad.
“It’s okay.
I just want you to be honest,” Cedric replied, trying to lighten Emily’s burden.
But suddenly Cedric was startled to see tears falling onto Emily’s hand as she kept her head bowed.
“E-Emily?” “But why weren’t you honest with me either, about sending your people to watch me?” Cedric, who was about to reach out to take Emily’s hand, paused at the question she had asked.
Cedric didn’t know what to say.
What excuse could he possibly give?
Because it was true—he had sent people to watch Emily’s every move.
Seeing that Cedric said nothing, Emily continued speaking.
“Who am I fooling?
I’m the daughter of your family’s sworn enemy.
How could you not be suspicious?” Emily finally said, lifting her head with a bitter smile as tears streamed down her face.
Emily… I’m sorry for hurting you.
Tell me what I could do to make things right again?
“Hahaha, sitting on this sofa reminds me of the humiliating thing I did to you.
You must feel terribly uncomfortable, Grand Duke Cedric.
I’m so sorry.” Emily gave a small laugh as she covered her tear-streaked face with both hands.
Cedric, who had never once been close to anyone.
I’ve never loved anyone.
I feel like this situation is too much to handle.
It’s as if every answer I’ve come up with so far is wrong.
“You didn’t do anything wrong—” “Give me one year.” Emily cut him off.
“W-what?” “Let me continue to play the role of your fiancée for one year.
To give me time to carry out the task given to me by King Killian.
After that, I’ll leave your life as if I never existed.” Emily explained with conviction in her eyes.
“One year?” Cedric asked, confused.
“I’m sorry for asking for so much of your time.
But that is my final request,” Emily replied, misinterpreting Cedric’s question.
“What I meant was—” Before Cedric could say anything else, Emily had already risen from her seat.
“In that case, I must take my leave, Grand Duke Cedric,” Emily said, bowing deeply.
She turned around and walked toward the door.
But halfway there, Emily suddenly stopped and, without looking back, said, “If only we’d met under normal circumstances.
I’m not the daughter of your enemy.
I wonder, could we have been together?
Even just as friends.” Then Emily continued on her way, opening and closing the door without looking back.
As if she were so afraid to see the expression on Cedric’s face.
Cedric, left alone in his office, could only remain silent and feel regret that he couldn’t say anything.
If I tried to chase after you, would you stop?
If I told you not to go, would you stay?
If I held your hand, would you hug me again?
Or If I said, “I love you,” would you believe me?
All these questions, full of “what ifs”—they kept popping into Cedric’s mind.
And right now, he didn’t know where to start fixing things.
============================================================== After leaving Cedric’s office, Emily decided to get some fresh air and walked alone through the corridors of the Archibald residence, accompanied only by the darkness and the moonlight.
At one point, she stopped in her tracks and gazed up at the moon.
I think a year is enough.
Enough to find a new Master for Anna; after all, she’s still young, and she has a long future ahead of her.
Enough to prevent the misfortune that will befall Cedric, And enough to find a place where I can be myself, Not Emi from my previous world or Emily, a noble princess from this one.
Maybe someday, I’ll find my own happiness too.
“Hahaha… Forgive me, Mother, it seems finding a lover really is that difficult.” Emily muttered.
It felt as though all her strength had drained from her body, leaving her legs weak.
Emily chose to sit on the floor, hugging her knees while leaning against a pillar in that dark and deserted hallway.
“I miss Mom… Dad… I even miss little devil Alex…” Emily said, crying as she covered her face.
That night, in a dark hallway at a stranger’s house, Emily cried for a very long time, until she accidentally fell asleep leaning against a pillar, exhausted from crying.
Unbeknownst to Emily, a man was standing right in front of her.
Arthur touched Emily’s forehead, which was covered in sweat.
Hot.
“I knew this would happen,” Arthur muttered.
Gently, he lifted Emily’s sleeping body and carried her toward her room.
But unexpectedly, as Arthur was carrying Emily to her room, he ran into Cedric—who was accompanied by Philip behind him—stepping out to get some fresh air, seemingly to clear his head.
From a distance, Cedric was startled to see Emily unconscious.
Cedric immediately rushed over to Arthur in a panic.
“What happened to her, Arthur?” Cedric asked worriedly.
“I apologize, Grand Duke Cedric.
If what I’m about to say seems to cross a line, I ask for your forgiveness.
But what I’m about to say is advice from a friend,” said Arthur, staring intently at Cedric.
Cedric and Philip looked startled by Arthur’s words, but they remained silent, ready to listen to what he would say next.
“Arthur, I know your brain cells are outnumbered by your muscle cells.
But this is really dangerous,” Philip thought, worried.
“I swore an oath of loyalty to always follow you on the front lines of battle, because you are the brave knight I admire.
But this time I’m disappointed.
It turns out that when it comes to the people you love, you’re such a coward,” Arthur continued, taking another step away, leaving Cedric and Philip frozen in place.
That night, it felt like the sky had fallen for Cedric.