“Yes.”

In response to my answer, Serdis looked down at the floor with a embarrassed expression.

“I knew it. The expression you had when you collapsed that day, it was strange. It was a face that feared me.”

He seemed to be recalling the past, both of us on that floor.

“It’s all true. But, Your Highness, did you call me here just to reminisce about memories that happened only once?”

If he only accepted my suggestion to talk about this story, it was a great disappointment. Even if we talked about the past, we couldn’t go back to what it was before. I had already crossed an impassable river with Serdis. I couldn’t undo the past.

“Because it’s unfair.”

He met my eyes.

“If you didn’t have the foresight ability. No, if you didn’t have that foresight ability, whether it’s real or fake. If you didn’t have that, both you and I wouldn’t be like this.”

“It could have been worse.”

Regretful, I could have fallen to the bottom, tearing apart my old lover.

But from Serdis’s perspective, it was understandable that he felt unfairly treated.

He didn’t know who his real lover was.

“I wish Your Highness could find someone who can truly love and care for you soon, forgetting about me.”

It wasn’t me.

Because Serdis had Violet.

“Who is that?”

He asked gruffly.

His eyes, reddened with blood, glared sharply at me.

“Who do you think my mate is?”

“Your mate?”

“You know. My future. My mate.”

Serdis looked at me with a sinister gaze, rolling his eyes.

He was sure that I knew.

‘Yes, I know. Everything.’

However, I couldn’t tell Serdis everything.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“No. You know.”

He pushed me harder with a threatening tone.

At this rate, it seemed like the story wouldn’t end.

“The only answer I can give you is that we can’t go back to this relationship. Whether you believe it or not, whether it’s true or not, it was solely my choice. I have no regrets now. So please forget about me and take care of what you’ve been neglecting around you.”

This was all I could say.

Many things had changed as the original story didn’t follow its course.

When Serdis started to regret, realizing his mistakes and wanting to correct everything.

Annette lived a miserable life being dragged to the frontier.

To fulfill Violet’s wishes, Serdis fulfilled his duty as a prince.

So that Violet could return with dignity.

But now, Serdis was just a frog in the well, looking only at me.

“It’s not just about seeing the future. So please don’t make any other misunderstandings.”

Serdis looked down without giving an answer.

Then, in a dry voice, he called me.

“Annette.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll do as you wish.”

Did I hear it wrong?

Surprised, I widened my eyes, and Serdis let out a deflated laugh.

“Why? Is it because you hate it when I do what you want?”

“No. Why would I hate that?”

I immediately answered, wondering if he would change his mind.

‘He’s suddenly agreeing with everything I say?’

It was unexpected.

No matter what I said or what action I took, Serdis became more obsessed with me.

“Whatever I say now, you’ll probably repeat the same thing. If that’s what you want, I’ll follow your wishes.”

Feeling awkward about what expression to make after hearing the answer I wanted, I awkwardly smiled.

“I’m glad we can communicate well.”

Serdis emptied a glass of water in front of him and then called the waiting knight.

“I’ll tell the palace that I won’t participate in the duel. Send this to the newspaper.”

He took out an envelope he had prepared and was about to hand it to me when he looked at me and asked.

“Do you want to see it?”

“Yes.”
To secure a clear answer, I opened the envelope. Inside were written words admitting one’s mistakes and expressing the intention to give up the duel. It was remarkably neat, unlike Serdis.

“But still, he won’t make light of this, right?”

After all, the duel happened because of me. If he was now distancing himself from me, the duel would become unnecessary for him.

“I’ve checked.”

I neatly folded the envelope again and handed it back to him. As Serdis handed it to the knight, he promptly left the patisserie.

“Thank you for fulfilling the request.”

I also added a polite expression of gratitude.

Although the abrupt conclusion was bewildering, it turned out well.

“Annette, I don’t want to be remembered by you as a bad memory. Do you understand what I mean?”

He concluded his words, implying that we shouldn’t become entangled in negative feelings. I also wanted that. It seemed like Serdis, the protagonist of this novel, needed to face the end with me for the original story to begin.

“Of course. I’ll talk to the Duke and make sure the duel concludes well. Don’t worry; I won’t tarnish Your Highness’s honor.”

If he didn’t care about me, Hertian wouldn’t forcefully pursue the duel. In the first place, the incident occurred because Serdis wanted me by his side.

“Thank you for caring.”

I looked at Serdis and smiled quietly.

“Shall we go now?”