When Pride Falls at Your Feet (19 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 97

Wiping away tears she hadn’t had time to dry, Emilia slipped out of the duke’s residence. With Enrico collapsed once again, the entire mansion was in chaos, and Fabio likely had no spare attention for her.

Emilia now understood better than anyone that escaping the duke’s residence was nearly impossible except at a moment like this. Thus, deliberately appearing cold, she forced herself to ignore Enrico, quickly hailed a carriage, and returned home.

As soon as she arrived home, Emilia began hastily packing her belongings. Since she’d stayed at the duke’s residence for some time, Zabeta wasn’t home, making it easier for her to move swiftly.

She’d already gotten a rough idea of where to move, but rather than rush into signing a lease, it seemed wiser to stay temporarily at a hotel or inn while carefully searching for a proper place.

‘…It’ll be fine.’

Enrico’s final expression kept flashing before her eyes. He had clung to her desperately, like a completely different person from before. Everything—his earnest gaze, his trembling voice—seemed genuinely heartfelt, far beyond mere impulsiveness.

It troubled her even more to think that because of her, the duke was experiencing such raw, vulnerable emotions.

‘…Fine. I’ll marry you. Will that settle it?’

No—perhaps Enrico’s condition was even more serious than she’d realized, given that he’d blurted out something as absurd as marriage.

He’d even injured his head. Once he fully recovered with time, he might very well regret the words he’d spoken in that moment.

Regardless of whether his words were impulsive or sincere, her resolve remained unchanged. She, more than anyone, had come to fully grasp his precarious position through their closeness.

‘…Enough. There are far more important matters than this.’

Shaking her head sharply to dispel useless memories, Emilia suppressed her emotions.

Taking a deep breath just as she had done before—when she’d steeled her face to show Enrico not even a trace of feeling—she soon left the room, carrying two packed bags.

Her injured ankle was carefully wrapped in bandages and didn’t hurt much yet, but she knew better than anyone that this relief wouldn’t last. Although her personal physician claimed he was looking into treatment options, Emilia remained skeptical.

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