I Don't Love You Anymore Chapter 3

Translator: shiko

Proofreader: Royals

Chapter 3

This would make him acknowledge her as his fiancee at least. She'd believed she was somewhat dear to him, yet Valor continued to push her even further away. He was beginning to grow weary of her blind love although she'd waited three years for his return from the battlefield.

"You've worked hard, Young Miss. I'm tired and I do not wish to see your face anymore."

"But, Valor, it's been three years. May I speak with you? It will just take a second."

"If you love me as you always maintain, need I remind you that it would be in your best interests to remain in your room quietly?"

She was only overjoyed to see him after a long period of time, and her heart pounded when she saw him all grown up into a man as sharp as a sword. She only yearned to be together with him, even if a little while more. Her mind hadn't changed since the betrothal ceremony a decade ago. When it came to Valor, everything remained constant.

But he had yet to cultivate any feelings for Niveia. No, he couldn't break it off now. He'd flung the divorce papers emblazoned with his signature before he left for the battlefield, informing her he was fed up with her. As he turned his back and disappeared with that cold, clipped remark, Niveia had grasped at thin air.

What have I devoted my time to?

Scritch, the quill pen smoothly glided across the paper.

At the bottom, signed in a fairly fancy and cursive hand as befitting of a noble, was her name; Niveia Solen. And next to her name was an old signature, 'Valor Wistash'.

Plop, tears fell. The moisture smudged the strokes delineating 'Wistash' slightly.

"Ah, oh dear."

She had wanted to remain cool and composed. Overcome with embarrassment, she pressed her thumbs against the spot where her tears fell. It was too late; tears once again splashed onto the back of the hand splayed across the paper, just like raindrops.

Come to think of it, it rained that day too. The day she lost her love. There had been a spring shower then. It was also the day Young Miss Eustace paid a call to the estate after having heard of Valor's return.

The slightly dampened ends of her pink hair that peeked through the umbrella represented her feelings for Valor. Young Miss Eustace was one of the people who'd fallen for Valor just like Niveia. She must have raced all the way here despite knowing that her inability to suppress her desires to see him would fuel rumours. Sadly, however, she did not manage to meet him.

"The Duke has left for the Capital, Young Miss[1]. Please come again another time."

"It's his homecoming, but he isn't home… I'll believe you over Miss Solen even if she wasn't lying."

Miss Eustace was palpably disappointed, and she directed her frustration towards Niveia for being unable to see her beloved. They weren't on good terms since long ago. A woman who likes a man would naturally be at odds with the fiancee of said man. Niveia dealt with the ridicule since it was something she was familiar with. She could endure this much.

"I usually believe most people, but it's difficult for me to discern truth in the words of someone of lowly birth. I hope you'll excuse me."

She could endure it.

"Just don't talk to me. Haven't you talked enough about your origins? No matter how many times the Marquis reiterates his claims that you're his child, who knows where you actually hail from…"

She could endure it.

"Ah, don't be so mad. Do you believe I'm the only one who thinks so? Perhaps the Duke is delaying the marriage since it's you."

Thwack! Miss Eustace's head swung to the side in a swift motion.

"Miss Solen, what are you—!"

"Repeat that, Miss Eustace."

"You can't help being born with lowly origins—!"

Thwack!

"T-This crazy—"

Thwaack! Thwack!

Relentless smacking ensued. It was flagrant violence. Those words spun around in her head, spurring Niveia's fury. Miss Eustace could never endure the abuse Niveia put up with at her parent's hands. They weren't even important to her.

Except for Valor. She shouldn't have said a thing about Valor. The hurt she had suppressed for years and silently shed tears over shouldn't have been touched by Miss Eustace at all.

Why does he hate me so much?

There were a multitude of answers to that question. Niveia had asked herself countless times but one answer stood out from the rest. Her origins. Being born to a maid and a product of premarital pregnancy at that… the label had haunted her for years.

Maybe Valor despises me since my origins aren't like everyone else's.

He hates that someone of lowly origins is entering into the noble Wistash family. Miss Eustace had hacked at the wound she'd never dared to reveal to anyone.

She really deserved it.

No matter how much Miss Eustace deserved it, the blame for the gratuitous violence laid entirely at Niveia's feet. Niveia made up her mind, deciding that the woman had been served enough; battered badly and sporting swollen cheeks. It was Miss Eustace's dishevelled appearance that saved her.

"Miss Solen! What are you doing?!"

It was her beloved. Valor happened to witness the scene on his return home and came running to grab hold of Niveia.

"What have you done to Miss Eustace…?! Are you out of your mind?!"

"Waa, waaahh, D-Duke…"

"…Miss Eustace, go inside and ask the doctor for help then take a rest. I'll apologize instead."

It was not until she received that glare that she returned to her senses.

Ah, God. It's Valor. What did I just do in front of him?

She hastily tried to hide the hands that had caused the crime scene but Valor had already seen everything. Her blood went cold when she realized that fact. No words could describe the sensation trickling down her spine except that her blood had finally frozen over. Valor was furious at her behaviour and she burst into tears as she realized it

What if he hates me? What should I do…

Niveia, frightened out of her wits, opened her mouth to explain.

"V-Valor, this is…"

"I won't ask."

And he didn't. Actually, he didn't even bother to listen. It was obvious why.

"You must have been doing this in public while I was away, Miss Solen."

He gazed into her eyes, cold contempt swimming in his ones, and she realized then that no excuses could justify her actions to him. He thought she'd beaten up Miss Eustace out of jealousy. She'd acted jealous before him previously, beseeching him not to meet up with the woman.

Maybe that's why.

He didn't even get angry. What Niveia had taken for anger was in truth irritation. He wasn't angry nor was he disappointed with her since there was no reason for him to hate her. That sort of feeling didn't exist in him from the very beginning.

She meant nothing to him. Even now, a decade later. When she realized that, Niveia felt something within her crumble and shatter apart.

"It's raining and cold, Miss Solen. I'm afraid you'll catch a cold, so go ahead into your room."

He graciously told her to go inside because he had no desire to see her face any longer. If he hadn't pretended to be worried, she'd have been feeling less miserable.

Niveia dashed away her tears and rose to stand up. Valor's divorce papers along with the slightly smudged signature were the only things left behind as memorabilia. Now that her own signature has been put to paper, the link between them has been severed successfully. It was a bit unfortunate that it was now the end of her ten-year-old blind love so she'd shed some tears.

She blamed the weather for that, even though it's such a beautiful day.

[1] Originally 영애, a word used for young noble ladies.