As if entering an unknown space, a mocking scene unfolded before his eyes.

Even if he had heard it with a clear mind, it would have been difficult to interpret such words in his current state of lingering headache.

Fight and confess?

“Why, what…”

No matter how you thought about it, it was strange.

I never felt that Hertian liked me all this time.

Confession? If it’s not the kind I know, there must be various types of confessions, right?

Rather than getting excited and making a dark history, I decided to wait calmly for a sensible answer.

“I didn’t mean to say it like this.”

Hertian, who had previously broken and returned, swept his hair back in frustration.

“I might not be able to close my eyes until I die if you, an oblivious lady, leave the world without understanding my feelings. Maybe even after I die, I’ll linger as a soul next to you.”

His intense voice continued to burst out.

“I like you.”

The confession I had in mind was correct.

Hertian honestly conveyed his feelings to me.

“But… didn’t you like Elenore?”

It was strange.

The Hertian I had seen seemed to like Elenore.

“Have you been thinking that way all this time?”

“Well… our relationship is a contractual one, and Liri said you had liked someone for a long time. The person who appeared back then was Elenore.”

Elenore, whom he had spent time with since childhood. I was convinced it was her, just by seeing her comfortable conversations unlike mine.

“Really, what has Liri been saying?”

“That… our relationship is a contractual one, and Liri mentioned that you had liked someone for a long time. The person who appeared back then was Elenore.”

Elenore, whom he had spent time with since childhood. I was convinced it was her, just by seeing her comfortable conversations unlike mine.

“Really, what has Liri been saying?”
He wiped his face with one hand, and his long fingers covered the small face completely. Hearing his trembling voice, I tilted my head, wondering if he was crying, and looked at him.

“The only person I’ve given my heart to is my wife.”

Soon, he slightly raised his finger, revealing only his eyes as he looked down at me. When our gazes met, I stiffened.

Due to the heat emanating from his eyes visible between his fingers, my heart almost stopped.

“You… like me…?”

“More than you can imagine. A lot.”

Thump, thump.

This time, my chest pounded wildly. It felt as if someone was turning my heart upside down, painfully.

Memories from when I first met him until now flashed before my eyes.

‘Then, was all the kindness he showed me in our contract marriage because he liked me?’

My misconception that it was just an act was my own misunderstanding. I, who thought I had extraordinary acting talent without knowing anything, was foolish.

However, the important thing was that even if I knew it was sincere, I couldn’t change the situation. I could only feel sorry for not being able to accept his feelings.

‘Just do as I’ve been doing…’

I was an expert at rejecting confessions, having never been in love. Since entering the academy, there had always been a few people following me, and some even pulled out letters from shoe lockers or somewhere to convey their feelings.

Rejecting them ruthlessly, as I used to do, was different this time. Hertian.

Because he had become a precious person to me, it wasn’t easy to push away his feelings recklessly.

“Hertian, I…”

Fearing the possibility of losing him, my words became vague at the end.

“Elenore is already married, so I thought you were looking for a wife, not for marriage, because you couldn’t forget Elenore. Knowing that you probably wouldn’t care about me even if you did…”

Unable to flatly refuse, I offered only excuses like an apology.

Seeing me avoiding his gaze, Hertian rummaged through his pocket and took something out.

“I think it’s time to return this.”

The medicine I made for arrhythmia.

“Arrhythmia occurs because of you.”

Huh?

“Why would I…!”

As I soon realized the meaning, my face flushed.

‘Was I so oblivious?’

My heart only raced when I was with him.

Without realizing it, every day, I touched his chest secretly, feeling the irregular heartbeat and expressing my doubts.

“S-sorry!”

With a cool face, he burst into laughter.

“Don’t apologize for saying you want my heart. I have no expectations. It seems like you already know I’m going to reject it.”

‘It’s not because I dislike Hertian.’

With this body, it was difficult for me to accept someone’s sincerity. If it were a light romance where we enjoyed each other and turned away coolly, it would be different. But Hertian was more sincere than anyone else.

As emotions grew, my attachment to my life would deepen, and it would be difficult to turn back. Not only Hertian’s feelings but anyone’s feelings.

“I’m sorry for that too…”

“Don’t apologize for that.”

“Okay.”

My lips sealed.

“If you ever develop feelings for me, feel free to tell me. I’m already prepared to respond passionately to those feelings.”

He smiled gracefully.

Normally, it would be a lovely smile, but why did it feel wicked?

Since when did this man like me?

“Hertian, when did you start liking me…?”

I asked with embarrassment, not intending to tease him.

In the original work, Hertian also didn’t get married.

‘Was it because I got married then?’

Such thoughts suddenly crossed my mind.
If I got married, does that mean in the original work Hertian didn’t marry while hearing the rumors of being a celibate man?

“Are you curious?”

I nodded.

I lowered my head sharply.

“It’s a secret.”

“Yes?”

“There’s no free lunch in this world. If you want to know about me, make an effort.”

Hertian has changed.