“Literally… I couldn’t even die recklessly before achieving it.”
Sinclair’s voice, slowly uttered, was more broken and weak than usual, so Elaina just silently looked at him without saying anything.
“… That was the only reason I kept coming back alive from every war.”
Perin Ilaine’s guess was wrong.
Sinclair’s tireless return from each battle was not for the sake of seizing the imperial throne.
[You know, Ren. I’m definitely going to leave.]Someday.
Sinclair recalled Elli’s appearance, shining brighter than any jewel in the world, every single day.
Even when a sword pierced his stomach on the battlefield, when his shoulder was cut, when the doctor said he could die at any moment without it being strange, and even when he was delirious from strong medicine…
[My mom said so. I take after her, so I’m really fast. She said no one would be able to catch me.]Elli, I ruined your dream.
I ruined your life.
I trapped you in the Aswald family forever. Even though I knew full well how much you hated that place.
[Don’t leave me alone…]And if that wasn’t enough, I left you behind.
[Help me, Ren!]Without even properly grasping the hand reaching out to me.
“I thought… I didn’t even have the right to die.”
“…”
“Until I accomplished that.”
I may not be able to let you run freely like before, cutting through the cool breeze with your beautiful black hair flowing like the night sky.
But I wanted to at least get you out of that terrible nightmare.
I wanted to somehow fulfill your long-held wish to escape from the Aswald family.
… Until he fulfilled that wish, Sinclair couldn’t even die comfortably alone.
If that happened, he felt he wouldn’t be able to face Elli even after death. He was afraid he would hear her resentful words asking why he always abandoned her and ran away until the very end.
So he survived and kept on living.
Despite knowing that everyone, including the Emperor, wanted him dead. Despite knowing there wasn’t a single person in Edenbell who wished for his safety or peace.
He kept struggling endlessly like that. To get this far…
But he couldn’t say that to Elaina as it was. As always, he couldn’t stand before Elaina revealing his true self.
Perhaps it will always be like this. As long as you’re by my side.
But even so, what should I do about my heart that keeps dreaming new dreams?
“So that matter…”
Elaina, who had been quietly listening to Sinclair’s story, slowly parted her lips. Looking at him with kind eyes as usual.
“Did you accomplish it?”
“… Yes.”
Sinclair answered in a low, cracked voice.
And slowly reached out his hand.
Soon, Sinclair’s large hand touched Elaina’s slightly disheveled black hair. He quietly tucked her hair behind her ear and continued speaking.
“But I keep getting greedy for other things.”
“…”
“Even though I know it’s incredibly cowardly…”
Sinclair slowly gave a bitter smile. Then he withdrew his hand that had been touching Elaina.
But Elaina grasped his hand tightly again.
“You’re not as bad a person as you think you are.”
“…”
“You’re not just a coward either. So don’t say things that demean yourself.”
Maybe that’s really true. Maybe I’m not as bad as the worst of the worst that people talk about.
But while I may be a good person to everyone else, I will always be nothing but a bad and cowardly being to Elaina.
The fact that she can comfort me with such words is only possible because Elaina doesn’t know any of the truth.
Sinclair was well aware of this.
“… I see.”
If I’m going to keep deceiving you like this, I suppose I’ll have to deceive myself too. By fitting myself into the mold you describe.
“You promised.”
Elaina, unaware of Sinclair’s thoughts, smiled brightly at him. Hoping that Sinclair wouldn’t eat away at his own heart with nonsensical thoughts.
Not knowing how presumptuous that was.
“Oh, and I saw Prince Chezh earlier.”
“… Chezh?”
At the sudden mention of Chezh’s name, Sinclair slightly furrowed his brow.
“We ran into each other by chance. But he ran away before I could even properly talk to him.”
“…”
“He also said something that bothered me a little…”
“Did he say he was dirty?”
Elaina hesitated.
“And not to come near him?”
“How did you know?”
Sinclair gave an exasperated laugh. Of course, it wasn’t directed at Chezh.
“That’s what Hister always used to say.”
“…”
“Chezh’s mother died almost immediately after giving birth to him. It was Yuria’s doing. There was no more interesting toy for Hister than Chezh, who was left alone without any defenses.”
… Ah, was I first?
Sinclair snickered.
“At some point, he seemed to realize. That the only thing he could do to survive in this imperial palace was to keep his mouth shut. Without catching anyone’s eye.”
So that’s why he said those things. That he didn’t mean to catch her eye. Elaina’s face darkened slightly.
“I tried reaching out a few times, but Chezh himself refused. He probably knew that too. That if he got close to me, he would suffer even greater harm. After that, I purposely didn’t help either. Regrettably, that was practically the best path for Chezh.”
“I see.”
This time, Elaina gave a bitter smile.
“Are you worried? About Chezh?”
“… Yes.”
Yes, of course. Elaina is always kind and friendly to everyone, no matter who they are. Sinclair smiled faintly.
“Lord Sinclair, it’s Schuler.”
At the sudden sound of Schuler’s voice, Elaina and Sinclair’s gazes turned to one place.
“Come in.”
As soon as the words fell, the door opened, and Schuler bowed in greeting.
Then he parted his lips with an incredibly puzzled expression.
“The Emperor’s movements are a bit strange.”
“Why.”
Is there anything new that old man would do at this point? Sinclair reflexively sneered.
“Well, isn’t it Prince Chezh’s birthday in a few days?”
“… So?”
“He’s never properly celebrated it even once before, but suddenly he’s holding a celebration banquet. I suppose everyone in the imperial family will have to attend. Since the Emperor is hosting it, after all.”
Schuler’s face was full of bewilderment as he continued speaking.
And for good reason, as the Emperor had never given Chezh proper treatment before. Of course, he didn’t openly attack him like he did Sinclair, but to the Emperor, Chezh was just a son with no presence, like air.
But suddenly he’s holding a celebration banquet?
“It’s absurd. Now that he’s on bad terms with Hister too, is he thinking of taking care of Prince Chezh instead, or what… But even if he does, it’s a meaningless act, isn’t it?”
Schuler was right. There was nothing for the Emperor to gain by treating Chezh, who had never even formed any faction and lived like a dead mouse.
No, rather, if he gave Chezh special treatment, it was obvious that poor Chezh would only suffer for it.
Unlike Sinclair, Chezh was far too easy a target for Hister, far too easy to eliminate. Like easily crushing a tiny bug with a finger.
“…”
After hearing Schuler’s words, Sinclair had no reaction for a moment. He seemed to be lost in thought briefly while stroking his chin, then parted his lips again not long after.
“For the time being, put guards not only in my palace but also in Chezh’s prince’s palace. Especially for the latter, we need to place trustworthy people.”
“… Pardon?”
“We need to watch everyone who comes and goes from Chezh’s palace, everything that enters Chezh’s palace, even the maids below. Without any negligence.”
“Understood. I’ll do as you say.”
Having finished giving his orders, Schuler bowed again and hurriedly left the bedroom.
What on earth is about to happen? Elaina looked at Sinclair with anxious eyes, and Sinclair stroked her head as if to comfort her, saying:
“It’s alright. Nothing will happen.”
“…”
“Especially not to you.”
… But Sinclair, what I’m really worried about isn’t my own safety.
It was still vivid before her eyes. The image of Sinclair blocking her and getting bitten by the lion in her place.
Hoping that such a thing would never happen again, Elaina lowered her gaze.
However, strangely enough, the uneasiness that had once raised its head showed no sign of disappearing.
… And sadly, Sinclair did not yet know that his words would become a great regret.
[This is the timeline separator]“Hic, hic…”
The boy’s crying was filled with terror.
“…”
In Prince Chezh’s palace.
Chezh, curled up in a corner of the bedroom as if shoved there, was holding something with trembling hands.
“Ugh… hic…”
Drip, drip.
The thick teardrops that flowed endlessly made the messily written letter blur unsightly. But Chezh couldn’t stop crying.
Why do these things keep happening to me?
I didn’t do anything.
I tried to endure by not standing out, just as my elder brother always said.
Why…
In the end, the letter sent by someone was completely smeared with tears. To the point where not a single word could be properly read.
But Chezh knew all too well. That even if he erased the contents of the letter with his tears like this, nothing could be changed.
And that he would have to be manipulated like a puppet.
“Hic… ugh…”
Chezh covered his mouth to prevent a groan from escaping. Then, unable to leave his spot for a long time, he cried as if he might die from crying.
Filled with fear and terror.
Male lead is a Destined Young Husband (Female-dominant)
One-sentence summary: Wife-master, listen to my explanation!
Li Ruantang, a young lady from a prestigious family, stumbled and fell. When she woke up, she saw a noble and beautiful young man sitting by her bedside, wiping away tears.
The young master had slightly reddened eyes, and his every move exuded charm.
The sight made Li Ruantang’s eyes hot and her heart flutter. After all, she had made a bet with the young master Meng from the neighboring family. If she couldn’t marry a husband before the end of the year, she would have to admit defeat and give up the jade she had worked so hard to obtain.
Outside the window, the flowers were in full bloom.
Rather than losing the bet, the jade, and her face, Li Ruantang calculated that it would be better to seek marriage with the young master in front of her, killing three birds with one stone.
…
Meng Jun never thought that an accident during a spring outing would lead to them rolling down a cliff and into a river, yet still survive.
Now they were trapped in an unknown village, and Meng Jun had overheard that the family who had rescued them had their own intentions.
After all, it was Li Ruantang who had lost her mind and sought marriage first. He was only trying to protect himself!
Glancing at Li Ruantang, who was listing her own merits, the young husband’s voice softened, and he blushed as he lied, “W-wife-master, Wife-master, don’t you remember me?”
The young husband’s voice was clear and handsome, coaxing Li Ruantang’s heart to be soft and sweet, and she spared no effort to protect him.
It wasn’t until they returned to the capital that Li Ruantang suddenly remembered.
When they had fallen off the cliff, in order not to implicate Wei Yunruo, whom he secretly admired, the young husband had instead pulled her, who was slightly farther away, down the cliff with him…
Short summary by Yuushi L: Initially, the male lead (ML) liked another girl, while the female lead (FL) liked the ML. Both fell off a cliff. The FL temporarily lost her memory, and the ML, fearing others might take advantage of him, claimed FL was his wife while they were staying in a village. Later, when they returned home, the FL regained her memories and remembered that the ML liked someone else, so she kept her distance from him. However, during their time living together in the countryside, the ML’s view of the FL had completely changed. From this point, his pursuit of the FL begins.
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