Ricardo let out a dry, crackling laugh through his lips.
Something had changed in her attitude. At first, he had definitely been pleased. She had been nothing but annoying. The fact that such a woman’s attitude had changed was clearly a good sign.
The stubborn woman had suddenly changed.
At one time, her blind affection had been exhausting. It felt like he was suffocating to death.
And now she was saying she supported his love.
Who did she think she was? What could she possibly know about him?
Her confession had been his loss. He, who had only ever been deceived by her, had just kept getting smaller and smaller.
Ricardo roughly swept his face with his hand.
……Bianca, you’re so difficult for me.
Like a riddle I’ll never be able to solve.
I really don’t know how I’m supposed to deal with you.
Ricardo furrowed his brow slightly. Unable to overcome his frustration, he placed a cigarette between his lips.
But without lighting it, he sank back into his thoughts. In the end, he put down the unlit cigarette that was held between his lips.
Knock knock―.
“Your Grace, it’s Elia. An urgent letter has arrived for you―.”
“Come in.”
He must be ill. To be thinking this much about that woman, it was serious. The remnants of the past had become a thick, muddy swamp.
“A letter has arrived from the House of Roygin.”
Elia cautiously held out a single letter to him.
“……Is it from the Marquis?”
“I’m not sure. Someone from the Roygin family delivered it……. It was a woman wearing a robe.”
Feeling weary, Ricardo swept his face with his hand again.
“What an impolite family.”
Not only did they schedule things on short notice, but also at such a late hour.
With a deep sigh, Ricardo rose from his seat. He opened the terrace doors wide and leaned his arms on the railing as he stared at the letter.
Under the brilliant moonlight, the Roygin crest shone beautifully.
With numb eyes, Ricardo tore open the envelope.
But at that moment.
He narrowed his eyes. The familiar handwriting filled the page.
Bianca?
Ricardo read and reread the letter, doubting his own eyes.
……Could this really be the Bianca I knew?
[……I apologize for contacting you so suddenly this late at night.
But I felt I couldn’t delay any longer.
Today, you said I hadn’t changed at all. Maybe you’re right.
As you said, ten years have passed. During that time, I had countless chances to apologize to you. But I never said a word.
I apologize for everything I did to you in the past.
There’s no excuse for any of it.
I’m truly sorry.
I’m not saying this to ask for forgiveness.
It’s the same with what happened today. I hated the idea of wasting your time, and in my rush, I think I raised my voice without realizing it.
I haven’t forgotten the past. I still carry it with me in my heart, and I face you while standing in that same place in the past.
I don’t know if the future me’s apology will reach the past you, but I’m sorry for being late.
……I’m sorry.]
Ricardo parted his lips. Though the moonlight tilted, he remained frozen in place, endlessly reading the letter.
……She apologized?
She said she was facing the past?
He clearly remembered the beginning of that youthful past. She had always been smiling brightly and reaching her hand out to him.
And now she was reaching out to him again.
He felt himself slowly sinking into the dense lines of her handwriting.
Even though it was a completely enclosed space, strangely, he didn’t feel suffocated.
* * *
As expected, no reply came from Ricardo.
Well, it didn’t matter since I hadn’t sent the letter expecting a reply. If he wanted, I would apologize as many times as needed, and if he didn’t, then quietly breaking off the engagement was my goal.
Besides, that wasn’t what mattered right now.
“My lady…….”
“Perfect, right?”
“I can see you embroidered something, but… what does it mean?”
……It’s a rose.
Completely drained by Emily’s response, I collapsed over the table. Then Emily raised her fist and shouted.
“You can do it! And who could possibly dislike a handkerchief from you, my lady?”
A lot of people would, Emily…….
I parted my lips and let out a long sigh.
The hunting tournament.
Like in any typical hunting tournament, the lady had to give her knight a handkerchief to wish him safety.
That’s right.
The reason I was going through all this trouble was because of that useless custom.
I stared blankly at the clumsy embroidery, then sighed again.
What should I do with this……?
Even to me, it looked pretty serious.
* * *
At that moment.
Ricardo tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. After staying up all night with his eyes wide open, he suddenly got out of bed.
A letter, carefully placed on the pillow, fluttered down to the floor.
Ricardo murmured with a blank expression.
“……Why can’t I sleep?”
* * *
A few days later.
I took a deep breath in front of the Sun’s Shop.
[Please visit the shop by tomorrow morning.]
It was a letter that had arrived yesterday.
It was a short letter, but I could tell who had sent it at a glance.
Thank goodness, Peril had woken up.
With a nervous face, I opened the shop door.
Ding―.
“Welcom…….”
The woman greeted me brightly, but the moment she saw me, her face hardened.
“……You’re here.”
Her face was as tense as mine. She parted her lips, then cautiously began to speak.
“Before we talk, I have one question.”
“What is it?”
“How did you know that Babe had woken up?”
I saw it in the original novel.
“Just a feeling.”
“……So you don’t intend to tell me.”
I want to, but I can’t risk being treated like a lunatic.
“So what did Babe say?”
“I haven’t seen him yet either. But from what I’ve heard, he’s very angry.”
……This is bad.
I started to worry a little about my future.
“I don’t know how much you know about him, but he’s not as great as you think.”
Living for a thousand years is pretty great though…….
But she seemed to think I didn’t know that Babe was the Tower Master. She spoke with bitterness in her voice.
“He’s just an ordinary man who sells goods to make it through the day.”
“There are people who sell time to make it through the day. People who need his help.”
She bit her lip and changed the subject.
“……You know the hunting tournament is happening soon, right?”
“Yes.”
“Babe will be attending as well.”
I paused at her words.
This wasn’t what I had expected.
Peril didn’t participate in the hunting tournament in the original. That episode had been about a power struggle between Erkishian and Ricardo over Idette.
……Is something changing because of me?
“He said he would meet you there.”
“Are you sure?”
I asked again, unable to believe it.
Peril was someone who should have been erased from this world. That’s why he couldn’t take part in official events like this.
Of course, he had once secretly changed his appearance to meet Idette…….
Which meant there was a high chance Peril would also change his appearance for the hunting tournament.
“Yes. He said it himself, so it’s certain.”
“……Thank you.”
“I just hope you don’t upset him.”
The woman gave a faint smile.
……Is it just me, or did that sound like she was telling me to get on his bad side?
* * *
Time flew by, and the hunting tournament was just around the corner.
It wasn’t easy to find merit in the tournament, but I finally found one.
Not having to wear a dreadful dress!
I looked myself up and down in the mirror with a satisfied smile.
Pants designed for activity were unbelievably comfortable.
I wish every day could be a hunting tournament.
“My lady, it’s time to go.”
Emily urgently called to me as I lingered in front of the mirror.
Ah, is it already that late?
Only then did I snap back to my senses and quickly head out. I saw Cedric standing by the front door.
“…….”
I thought he’d scold me for being late, but surprisingly, Cedric said nothing.
……Don’t tell me he’s nervous?