I Wish You Well In Your Next Love, My Love - Chapter 23
You told him to do that though.
The words rose to the tip of my tongue, but I kept my mouth shut and shook my head.
“I told him he didn’t have to.”
“You must have felt burdened, I’m sorry. I only mentioned it in passing, but it seems His Lordship took it seriously. I’ll make sure not to put any pressure on you from now on. Things like coming to see you, or giving you rides in his carriage. That would be better for you too, right?”
Her tone wasn’t asking, it felt like she was forcing an answer.
“I suppose so.”
As soon as I answered, the topic quickly shifted back to Arvina.
The Purifiers who had been chatting around her returned to their seats when the priest entered the training hall.
As the noisy chatter gradually died down, the thoughts that had been sinking began to surface.
A moment ago, when the carriage had been mentioned, the expression Arvina gave me as she glanced over flashed vividly in my mind.
‘Nothing like that.’
It overlapped with someone else’s face.
I don’t think Arvina is that kind of person. It was probably just the kind of reaction nobles tend to have.
“Louize.”
I turned at the voice beside me. Arvina was looking at me with her head slightly tilted.
Her bright smile was the same Arvina I knew.
“Do you think His Lordship actually loves me?”
The sudden question froze my lips. It was the first time she had asked me about Gerard like this.
“…I don’t really know, but it seems like he does.”
“I don’t have any plans to date, but I feel a little guilty for taking up Lord Castion’s time when he’s already past the age for marriage.”
“Mm…”
“Maybe I should just marry him.”
“Huh?”
“Haha. I’m joking.”
I knew Arvina wasn’t someone who made jokes like that often. For some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that her words were testing me.
“Louize, then tell me about your secret lover.”
At that, a cold sweat broke out. Arvina, who had known me since childhood, only knew that I had once had a long-term lover. She had no idea who it was.
She couldn’t possibly imagine that my lover had been Gerard.
“It’s been so long since we broke up.”
“Did you throw away the ring you always wore?”
“I still have it…”
“Since you broke up, you can at least tell me his name, right?”
Had Arvina ever shown this much interest in me before?
Her clear gaze was persistent. If I didn’t answer something, it felt like she might even gather the others and force me to answer in front of them.
“Daedric.”
Now, I was the only person left in this world who knew my former lover’s name. Even if I made it up, there would be no one who could question me.
“Ah, I see.”
After hearing the answer, Arvina smiled sweetly and nodded. For some reason, she looked satisfied.
* * *
It had started as a light drizzle during the day, but by evening the rain was pouring down in earnest.
Standing under the temple eaves, I didn’t dare run out into it. Thankfully, the priest had lent me one of the umbrellas they kept.
But the umbrella didn’t help much.
The rain splashed not only from above but also from the ground where the heavy drops struck, soaking my whole body. Ugh, let’s just get home quickly.
I hurried forward, watching only the path ahead.
When I reached my building, I saw a large black shape sitting in front of the iron stairs.
“Who dumped oversized trash here…”
There were people who dumped garbage here sometimes. Still, that was ridiculously large.
Planning to look through it and find the owner, I walked over briskly.
“……”
But I couldn’t open the bag.
Because what was sitting on the iron stairs in front of my building wasn’t oversized trash, but Gerard Castion in a black uniform.
For a moment, my thoughts stopped.
‘Am I dreaming.’
I lifted my head and looked around for no reason, then lowered my gaze again. He was still sitting there.
Was he hurt somewhere?
The shock lasted only a moment, and concern followed naturally.
Fortunately, aside from being completely soaked, he didn’t appear injured. His energy was a little unstable, but not enough to be near a rampage.
After hesitating for a moment, I finally leaned the umbrella over his shoulder to cover him. Hoping that, even if he did get sick, it would be nothing worse than a mild cold, I turned to go up the stairs.
Grasp. My hand was suddenly grabbed.
“You’re consistently ungrateful.”
