“Instead of letting it pass, there are conditions.”

Conditions?

What conditions could he be talking about?

As I swallowed my saliva, Cedric’s lips slowly parted again.

“I hope you keep your distance from Adrian.”

Adrian? Why…?

With a puzzled look, Cedric took a short breath as he gazed at me.

“If, while getting close to Adrian, there comes a day when people misunderstand our relationship, the fact that we are divorced might be revealed, don’t you think?”

That was a concern valid enough for Cedric, who shared a bond with me.

Nodding slowly, I responded, “You’re right. I hadn’t thought that far.”

“… Just as you say.”

A satisfied smile briefly appeared on Cedric’s lips.

However, it was short-lived.

“Until our divorce is announced, and until I leave this castle.”

At my subsequent words, Cedric’s smile quickly faded at the corners of his lips.

There seemed to be a fleeting sense of unease on his face.

For a while, Cedric remained silent, his lips only slightly twitching.

It took some time before those lips opened again.

“…Rebecca, about that.”

His low voice once again resonated in my ears.

“How about returning to the Light Mansion?”

“The Light… Mansion?”

To my question, Cedric nodded slowly.

“Yes. In the Dark Mansion, you might frequently run into Adrian.”

“…”

“Vincent Norman, that insane guy, is also a concern.”

I remained silent for a while after his words.

Upon realizing I was not offering a response, Cedric raised an eyebrow with an expression suggesting impatience.

“…Is it too sudden of a proposal?”

Slowly, I resumed speaking, having collected myself.

“But it’s really unexpected. I never thought you, who wanted to distance yourself from me, would make such a proposal.”

At that moment, Cedric’s complexion darkened slightly.

It seemed he misunderstood that I still harbored resentment toward myself for past events.

“It was genuinely a surprising proposal, and it’s not like I said it because I still hold any resentment. There are no such lingering emotions.”

There was no sentiment of affection towards Cedric, unlike the past Rebecca.

‘I find myself strangely concerned about Cedric… But that’s not affection, right?’

Yet, upon hearing my response, Cedric looked somewhat troubled, as if a thorn had lodged in his mouth.

Chewing his lower lip slightly and remaining silent for a moment, he eventually opened his mouth.

“I admit that I’ve been indifferent, or rather…”

“…”

“Coldly indifferent and cruel to you for a long time. I acknowledge that.”

Cedric loosened his tie a bit with a frustrated expression and muttered as if speaking to himself.

“Yeah. At this point, it’s something I have to admit.”

The deep blue gaze that had been staring at the wine glass for a while turned back to me.
“I’ve misunderstood you too much all this time. And now, I understand.”

“…”

“My indifference, it made you like this.”

Over the azure eyes that were looking at me, a subtle wave passed.

Cedric’s gaze and voice contained profound sincerity.

‘…How happy would the former Rebecca have been to hear those words.’

For a brief moment, such thoughts crossed my mind.

However, sadly, I was not the former Rebecca.

And Cedric’s perception of ‘misunderstanding’ was not a misunderstanding.

It wasn’t me; the previous Rebecca was… truly a wicked person.

Perhaps because of that.

It felt unfair that I was suffering because of the previous Rebecca and simultaneously burdening Cedric with unnecessary guilt.

Cedric might be one of the people who had been hurt by the former Rebecca.

While silently observing Cedric, I slowly parted my lips.

“It’s not a misunderstanding, no.”

“…”

“I didn’t act wickedly because of you. My past mistakes are solely mine, and there’s no room for excuses.”

“Rebecca…”

“However, I truly appreciate that you’ve thought so deeply for me.”

I paused for a moment and took a breath.

“So, please don’t make me feel more guilt than I already do, considering it’s all in the past now.”

“…”

“And although I’m grateful for your suggestion to come back…”

Once again, with a gentle yet firm tone, I continued.

“I have no intention of returning to the Light Mansion.”

Upon hearing my words, Cedric seemed to receive a light shock, blinking his eyes slowly in surprise.

An awkward silence lingered for a while.

Finally, what came out of Cedric’s lips, unexpectedly, was a question completely unrelated to the situation.

“…Why?”

I blinked slowly at him in response.

I hadn’t expected Cedric to ask for the reason.

I thought if I declined, he would simply say, “It’s a shame, but unavoidable,” and step back.

‘I thought I had a good grasp of Cedric’s reactions… Was I too careless?’

I looked at Cedric, trying to conceal my bewilderment.

“Originally, our contract conditions were separate, weren’t they?”

Though I said it with an obvious tone, Cedric nodded firmly.

“I’m not interested in such contracts now. What’s important to me is your intentions.”

Although he answered consecutively, it was not the Cedric-like response.