I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love - Chapter 22
“My dear son. Are you saying you intend to turn against me? When that foolish princess is willing to take a cripple whose hands tremble, you should grab the chance immediately, Gerard.”
Gerard pried his mother’s hands off with one hand.
“If you want it that badly, why don’t you marry her yourself.”
“You ungrateful, insolent boy! Until you change your mind, don’t set foot in my house.”
At her calling the Castion grand ducal residence my house, Gerard let out a tired, derisive laugh.
“I’ll attend the funeral. As a son should.”
“Gerard!”
Leaving her sharp voice behind, Gerard strode out of the office in anger.
* * *
Rumors spread everywhere that Arvina had purified Gerard when he was on the verge of rampaging.
The story was embellished with a romantic narrative, that Gerard, who had not absorbed any Purifier’s power before, had chosen only Arvina.
Moreover, purifying an Awakened on the brink of rampage carried another implication.
“So, how was it, Arvina?”
Chelsea nudged Arvina’s arm with a sly grin.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know.”
The female Purifiers gathered around Arvina burst into giggles, their eyes sparkling. Even though she had become the talk of the capital, Arvina sat as elegantly as ever, composed and dignified.
“It was your first time, right? How was it? Hmm? Just tell us.”
“I don’t remember anything.”
“He must have been so aggressive. Hehe. Our innocent lady even lost consciousness. Ah, I’m jealous, Arvina.”
That night. Nothing like what they were imagining had actually happened, yet their fantasies had already grown endlessly in their minds.
Resting my chin on my hand, I glanced at Arvina beside me. Should I step in and stop them?
But contrary to my concern, her expression didn’t waver at all. She only gave an awkward smile, as if watching a group of immature children.
“Please stop saying such rude things about someone who was in pain.”
“Tch, you’re no fun.”
“Are you defending your lover? You acted so cold before, but I knew it would end up like this.”
“We’re not like that.”
“’We’? Did you hear that, everyone? She said we!”
The Purifiers seized on her words, teasing her however they could. Arvina let out a helpless laugh.
Comments like “physical intimacy matters” and “their child would be so beautiful” went around. Though Arvina tried to stop them at first, she eventually gave up.
“Oh, right, Louize.”
Then suddenly, the attention shifted to me.
“I heard Lord Castion gave you a ride in his carriage?”
“Louize?”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward me. I slowly lifted my chin from my hand. Even Arvina, who hadn’t looked at me once, now stared at me in surprise.
“Is it true, Louize?”
Her gentle voice sounded almost like an interrogation. Before I could answer, Chelsea spoke instead.
“Apparently more than one person saw it. When the Castion carriage stopped in front of the temple, everyone assumed Arvina would get out. But instead, apparently it was you, Louize.”
I hadn’t done anything wrong, yet for some reason I found myself conscious of Arvina’s reaction.
“Y-Yeah… When I said I was Arvina’s friend, he offered to give me a ride.”
“Wow, Lord Castion even looks after his lover’s commoner friend? That’s impressive devotion.”
“He must love Arvina so much.”
While everyone spoke with dreamy admiration, only Arvina’s expression wasn’t pleasant.
“But how did he know you were Arvina’s friend?”
“…Lord Castion once mistook me for a thief. Arvina told him to treat me to dinner as an apology, so somehow it just… turned into that.”
“He treated you to dinner?”
Arvina asked while looking straight into my eyes. Her eyes curved gently as usual, but her tone carried a hint of disbelief.
