Chapter 30

“My lord.”

Albert rushed out of the mansion. Ver, who came back to the mansion after going out for a while, was holding Lady Weiand in his arms. Both were wearing dirt-stained clothes.

“Please prepare warm water. Use the bathroom in mother’s room.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Albert quickly became alert and gave orders to the maids. While the maids were preparing, Ver sat on a chair in the prepared room and wiped Prillance’s hands with a towel soaked in warm water.

“It seems you have some wounds.”

There were small scratches on her fingers. It seemed that small stones had bruised her hands as she had dug through the soil. Ver carefully held Prillance’s fingers and patted the wounds.

Prillance tried to pull her hand out in surprise. However Ver’s grip was stronger than hers. She felt her pulse quicken and her fingertips heat up.

“The bath is ready.”

It wasn’t until a maid told Ver that all the preparations were made that he released Prillance. It was time for him to go out.

Ver saw Prillance avoiding his gaze as his hands grazed her fingertips. He left the room, asking the maids to take good care of her.

Prillance moved to the bathroom after Ver left. She rebuked herself for her pounding heart. She was indeed selfish. The momentary hesitation created as she was swept away by her selfishness created this four-way affair.

Did she even deserve the gratitude he gave her?

While Prillance was lost in thought, the maids finished their work and changed her into plain clothes. She heard a knock as her wet hair was being dried and lightly brushed. It was Ver, along with the physician of the Grant family. Ver had also changed into clean clothes just like her.

After the attending physician’s treatment, a small bandage was put on the tip of Prillance’s fingers.

“This is the last remaining flower.”

When the doctor and maids left the room, a potted plant containing a jasmine flower was placed in front of Prillance’s eyes.

She reached out her hand to touch the flower but quickly retracted it.

This flower was Ver’s heart. When she thought so, she became hesitant to touch it.

“I will give this flower to Lady Royne.”

Prillance told him. The reason Cecia was angry in the first place was because she thought Prillance lied. If she delivered this pot, she could still bring them together.

“There is no need.”

However, Ver refused.

“I no longer want that.”

“But if you do that…!”

Prillance’s quiet voice grew louder.

“…Lady Royne will never know your heart.”

“It’s alright.”

Again! He was a man who always said everything was alright. How was everything alright? If you don’t speak, your heart will not be conveyed. After much time has passed, it would be too late to regret.

Her regrets had already been 6 years worth, but his regrets had not even begun. How long will he spend regretting in the future?

“Since the Lady has acknowledged it…”

Ver responded faster than Prillance.

If it had been a few months ago, he would have let her do it. But now his heart no longer desired it.

“…That’s enough for me.”

Then he gently stroked her eyes as she looked up. Her eyes, red with tears, were staring at him. Instead, he felt like it wasn’t so bad that there was someone who cried and recognized his heart.

“…That I acknowledge it, it’s meaningless.”

Prillance, who avoided Ver’s touch with flustered eyes, managed to add.

Even at these moments, her inconsiderate heart was beating fast.

“I just need it to mean something to me. Since it’s my heart, it’s up to me. More than that, I heard Cecia is engaged to Duke Tonz.”

It was reliable information because Ver heard it directly from Roman.

“Did you…know about it?” (Ver)

Her eyes seemed to ask how he found out. So she knew about it as well.

“Are you…alright?” (Prillance)

She seemed to be worried about him. In fact, he was indifferent to the news. Even at the moment that he had heard of it from Roman, he had no thoughts about it. Rather.

“I should be asking that to the Lady instead, are you alright?”

Why were they exchanging questions about each other’s concerns? Ver found the situation a little funny.

“Didn’t you want to be engaged to Duke Tonz?”

Only then did his heart ache. The story of Prillance’s passionate love for Roman came to mind.

“That’s…”

Prillance immediately halted her words. She was worried that her words might hurt him again. She didn’t want to hurt him.

Once again, she didn’t speak. She was always silent during these important moments. Just when he thought he was getting closer, she would step back. The lingering distance made Ver’s heart twinge.

“…Unlike the Lady, I don’t think I can cry on your behalf.”

Ver sat in front of Prillance, looking straight into her eyes, and slightly grasping her bandaged finger. At best, he could only do these temporary treatments.

His presence in her mind was only this much. His heart ached once more.

“But I think I can be helpful. If the Lady’s offer still stands.”

Ver lightly kissed Prillance’s hand. Even though it was just actions with his lips, he felt like she was a precious person. As such, his actions were cautious.

“I will become a knight of the Weiand family.”

Prillance blankly watched Ver’s behavior. She became surprised by his sudden remarks.

“Viscount. What…”

“Didn’t you ask me to become one of your family’s knights?”

Prillance had indeed suggested for Ver to become one of her family’s knights. It wasn’t a bad offer for him, and he had said he would think about it. But even when he had declared he would never become one, she accepted it.

So what was he so disappointed with? Why was he so angry at her?

His complicated mind was settled after meeting her.

After all, it was because of his own expectations. He had expected that the closer they got to each other, the closer their hearts would grow as well.

He was hoping for a return of his feelings – feelings he had started by himself in the first place.

To that extent, he was giving her his heart.

And it wasn’t until now that he realized, it was enough just to see her up close.

He wanted to know her heart that she doesn’t seem to want to tell him. Even if he couldn’t fill her heart with what she really wants. Even if she only allowed this distance.

“I will accept your offer.”

Ver’s gaze was unshaken, as if to show his firm will. Certainly, his decision was impulsive, but his resolution was firm.

“Wait!”

Rather, it was Prillance that was taken aback. She didn’t know why the story was going this way.

“Think about it a little more.”

“It is already a decision I’ve come to after much deliberation.”

“No. You are making an impulsive decision.”

“I am…”

Prillance stood up to avoid what he was going to say.

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear you just now.”

Holding the pot, she gave these words to Ver before leaving. It was difficult to keep hearing his confident answers.

“I…If I can be of help to you, then that’s enough.”

It was his final response to her words.