Chapter 66

After the main story, the happy daily life of the two.

(This corresponds to after the book edition Volume 1 and after the manga edition Volume 2)

—I was dreaming.

It wasn't a particularly joyful dream. It was the daily life in the harsh northern fortress.

While dreaming, I found myself smiling wryly, recalling past events as if they were happening again.

The only difference from the past was that I was now clearly aware of the feelings I had refused to acknowledge back then.

In the territory of my serious best friend, Laguren, despite being tossed around by debts and the whims of nature, was steadily being rebuilt. It was also the only place where I could escape from all responsibilities.

Simple but safe meals and peaceful days that didn't wear me out. When did this place of respite become a place that stirred my heart?

When did the prospect of seeing my best friend's sister become something I looked forward to, and when did talking to her make my heart warm?

I tried to convince myself that I just liked the familiar taste, but I couldn't help but find myself unable to look away.

Remember your mother's last moments.

Don't drag a pure and bright girl into the mire of power.

I had told myself this many times.

I never intended to express these feelings.

I had planned to prepare a wedding gift for my best friend's sister. ...I had tried many times, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

But such struggles were now in the past.

Laguren was no longer a place I had to give up. I no longer had to make unnatural excuses, like blaming the chest pain on the bean dish.

The young lady with black hair smiled at me even after knowing everything.

She reached out her hand to me, unable to let go of the burden I had carried since birth.

How happy I am. It feels like a dream.

The dream of the northern fortress, which always replayed the past, was always lively. The noisy laughter of the men would spread—then my consciousness would surface.

◇

I heard familiar footsteps in the corridor.

The floorboards creaked, so the door would open soon.

As I thought this in the sudden surge of consciousness, the door opened quietly.

"Mr. Phil, are you awake?"

A soft, reserved voice reached my ears.

Then, I sensed someone approaching cautiously. Even without opening my eyes, I could imagine how her long black hair swayed as she crept closer.

She stopped right beside me.

I could feel her peering down at me.

—What kind of face am I making right now?

Is she frowning at me for sleeping on the floor again? Is she hesitating about whether to wake me up?

Or...

"Mr. Phil?"

Unable to resist the soft voice, Phil slowly opened his eyes.

Bright green eyes met his. She was leaning over, so her black hair had slipped from her shoulders. In her left hand, which was tucking the hair behind her ear, there was a golden gleam.

It was a heavy, formal ring.

She wore it without any sense of burden and smiled.

She must have expected him to wake up. She smiled happily.

"Good morning, Mr. Phil. It's almost time for dinner!"

"…Lucia."

His eyes were already fully awake, and he knew who had come. Yet, he almost felt like this was a continuation of the dream.

This is Laguren, where there is a peaceful and quiet daily life.

The person I love is smiling at me, and she is within reach. It feels like... a continuation of the dream.

Perhaps he was unusually confused, as he seemed to be spacing out. Lucia's eyes widened in surprise.

"Hey, Mr. Phil. Are you still half-asleep?"

"…No. I was just basking in happiness."

He slowly sat up and stretched. Lucia reached out, trying to suppress her laughter.

"Your hair is a mess."

Her gentle hands tried to smooth out his hair, but the bedhead was stubborn, so she started to fix it with both hands.

"This won't straighten out at all. Maybe you should tie your hair up."

"It's fine like this. After all, it's just you, Albes, and the knights here."

As long as he was in Laguren, there was no need to worry about his appearance.

He wanted to look good for the person he loved, but he had been seen in too many sloppy states.

If she wanted him to, he would tidy himself up as much as possible. If she wanted him to dress up like a doll that noble girls cherished, he wouldn't mind.

But Lady Lucia didn't desire such superficial glamour.

She was happier when he ate a lot of the food she prepared. If he had time to dress up, he should take care of the horses, repair the windows, and help with the farm work.

And when he relaxed and lounged around, she would look relieved.

So, in front of Lucia, he no longer pretended.

He showed his true self, said what he found enjoyable, and confessed what he didn't want to do. Even when she scolded him with a disapproving look, he found it enjoyable because he felt trusted.

Even the lack of restraint in her hands smoothing his hair made him happy.

"Hmm, it seems tying your hair up is better. It's so unruly, it makes me uneasy. Let me see, I think I have a hair tie for you somewhere..."

Lucia started searching in the drawer of the writing desk by the wall.

Phil, watching her, stood up lightly.

"Hey, Lucia."

"What is it? Ah, I found a tie. What color do you want? Red, blue, and yellow..."

"I love you."

"……What?"

Holding the colorful ties, Lucia turned around in surprise. Her eyes were wide, and she looked very cute.

Phil knelt before her respectfully.

"I love you, Lucia."

"Um... what..."

"I love you. —It makes me very happy to be able to say it out loud now."

As he whispered this, Lucia's face turned bright red.

How adorable. And how beautiful.

If he pulled her into his arms, what kind of face would she make? A light kiss on her cheek would probably make her stiffen. A kiss on her lips... maybe it was time to allow that too.

Just as he was about to kiss her hand, the slightly open door suddenly swung wide open.

A dark-blond man with a stern face stood in the doorway.

He glared at Phil, who was kneeling and holding Lucia's hand, and clicked his tongue loudly.

"Hey, Phil. Dinner's ready. Hurry up!"

"Albes, you're ruining the moment."

"What do you mean, ruining the moment! I came to tell you that Lucia's bean dish is about to be eaten up by those guys. I won't bother in the future."

"Wait, beans today!?"

Phil jumped up.

He glanced at Lucia, who was still blushing, but he gritted his teeth and shook his head.

"You're right. It might be too early. But Lucia's bean dish is more important!"

He declared firmly and smiled at Lucia again.

"Thank you for waking me up. Can you accompany me to the dining room?"

"…Of course."

Lucia cleared her throat and smiled modestly.

Her face was still slightly red, and she wouldn't meet his eyes. But she took his arm.

Albes glared again but sighed and left the room without a word.

As Phil stepped out to follow, his arm was tugged.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Um, um..."

Lucia hesitated.

She couldn't continue, and her steps to the dining room were heavy. When Phil tilted his head in confusion, Lucia took a deep breath and looked up.

"…I love you too, Mr. Phil."

She looked straight at Phil and then smiled shyly.

Phil's steps almost stopped.

But Lucia didn't stop. She walked lightly, as if relieved, so Phil had to keep walking too.

The noisy voices of the men became clearer.

It felt like the dining room of the knight's quarters. Indeed, the atmosphere was similar.

But this was Laguren. There were no bothersome nobles to encounter, as there would be in the palace. The woman beside him was his beloved, blushing slightly and smiling, and the dinner was the bean dish she had prepared.

It felt like a dream.

But... this wasn't a dream.

"Hey, Sir Phil! How much of this bean dish should we leave for you!?"

A bearded, burly man poked his head out of the dining room and shouted.

If this were a dream, there wouldn't be such a rough man in Laguren. So this situation was real, the Lucia beside him was real, and the bean dish in the dining room was in danger.

Phil smiled softly at Lucia but turned a stern face to the burly man.

"If there's not half left, you're all going to the front lines!"

"What? Half!? When did you become such a tyrannical superior officer!"

"Where her cooking is concerned, that's how it is! Come on, Lucia, let's hurry!"

Phil strode forward.

Lucia, who was pulled along, widened her eyes but soon laughed and ran into the dining room with him.

(Extra Chapter: The Continuation of the Dream - End)

Thank you for reading to the end.

【Book Information】

"Even Though My Engagement Was Broken, I Was Invited to My Ex-Fiancé's Wedding. I Can't Refuse, So I'll Ask My Brother's Friend to Accompany Me." is now available in two volumes from SQEX Novels.

(Volume 1 is equivalent to the web serialization version with significant revisions. Volume 2 is a new story.)

【Manga Information】

Currently serialized on Gangan ONLINE, the second volume of the manga is available on January 12.

For more details, please check the activity report.