Love Me Just Once (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 179

The year-end had swiftly arrived.

As the day marking the turn of the year drew closer, Ophelia frequently left the castle. Idren no longer fretted over discovering why she did so. It wasn’t out of pride, but he genuinely possessed a talent for waiting.

Whatever Ophelia gave him, he would gladly accept.

Knowing that her busyness was for his sake—though slightly guilt-inducing—felt incredibly sweet. It gave him the sense that the emotional balance he had always strived to restore had finally found some equilibrium.

Of course, receiving gifts was pleasant, but he was only human. Idren occasionally imagined what it might feel like to be loved in return by the other person. Though he regretted lacking the firsthand experience to lend it more depth, mere imagination was already enough to satisfy him.

Because he now had something to expect, his demeanor changed, and those around him began noticing the shift.

Salode might not have realized it, but Penrel—who sometimes spoke openly with him—had cautiously asked once or twice.

“Has something good happened to you, my lord?”

Idren had brushed off the question vaguely. Sometimes the most precious things were best kept buried deep within.

Still, Penrel seemed more knowledgeable about romance than he was, so he did ask a few questions.

“What do lovers usually exchange as gifts?”

“It depends on the situation, doesn’t it?”

Upon hearing that, Idren realized it was true and added a few conditions of his own.

“It shouldn’t feel burdensome. You know, those small gifts exchanged casually when meeting—ones that make you happy to receive without making you feel obligated to reciprocate. Something just like that would be perfect.”

He planned to pick up Ophelia on the morning of the year-end banquet and didn’t want to arrive empty-handed.

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