Preview
“So... you never loved me?”
A cry echoed through the manor. Even though she had slammed the door shut behind her, every servant and house steward in the estate heard it.
“No. I never did.”
His reply to her desperate outburst was calm, steady, and utterly serious.
“Then why did you pretend to love me? When everyone was talking behind my back... you chose me.” Tears threatened to spill despite all her efforts to hold them back. She swallowed hard, as though a stone were lodged in her throat. “You chose to be with … me.”
Her voice faded on the last words, as if the air had been stolen from her lungs.
“I don’t understand... Why now? Why are you doing this to me? Why?”
She continued, sounding as though she no longer believed her own words, her mind in complete disarray.
“You must have cast a spell on me. I must have lost my mind and told you I loved you.”
His voice dripped with mockery, as though he were ridiculing her. It sounded as if another word would send him into laughter.
“A spell?”
A bitter, self-mocking smile appeared on her lips. Even she could only laugh at how pitiful she had become.
Then, suddenly, she burst into laughter.
“Hahaha... You’re just like all of them. You were the one who approached me. You whispered words of love to me. You bought me gifts. You brought me flowers. And now you’re accusing me of putting a spell on you.”
Her laughter faded.
“Am I really someone who doesn’t deserve to be loved? Tell me... what is so wrong with me? Why do you all treat me as if I’m unworthy of love? You... and everyone else... Why do you all look at me as though there’s something wrong with me?”
She could no longer stop herself. She was already sinking deeper and deeper into the swamp. What difference would it make if she buried herself in the mud with her own words just a little more?
Maybe... maybe if she kept talking, he would regret asking to end things.
“Tomas hurt me. He humiliated me in front of everyone. After that day, no one even wanted to talk to me. But somehow... I managed to pull myself back together. And even what he did... it didn’t hurt as much as what you’ve done.”
The man standing before her was like stone. Emotionless. As though neither her tears nor her words could wound his heart in the slightest. While he stood there, tall and unwavering, carelessly gazing out the window, she trembled every passing second like the last autumn leaf, moments away from falling to the ground. Her vision had blurred from crying until she could barely see anything.
“At least after Tomas left me, my heart and my soul were certain of themselves. No matter what anyone said, I knew I had been sincere. I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. But you, Arthur... You...”
A sob escaped her.
Even as she cried, she didn’t stop speaking.
“You... What you did hurt so much more. You know that if this relationship ends, my reputation will be completely ruined. You make me feel worthless, Arthur. Are you waiting for me to beg? You can’t leave me without even giving me a proper explanation.”
She clenched her fist, frowned, and stared at the back of his head.
“I don’t love you. Isn’t that explanation enough?”
Arthur, his back still turned to her, tilted his head slightly to one side.
He didn’t even look at her as he spoke.
“No... I don’t believe you. I didn’t do anything wrong. And even if I had, you would have told me what I did and ended things because of it. How can someone who was writing me love letters until yesterday, someone who kept telling me he loved me... suddenly...”
“That’s enough!”
Arthur raised his voice. It was the first time he had ever been so cruel to her. Not once had he ever raised his voice at her before.
Then, regaining his composure, he spoke again in a calm, serious tone, his face still turned toward the window.
“It’s getting dark. You should leave. I assume you don’t want to ruin your reputation any further.”
“Ha... My reputation? Is there even any left?”
She took a shaky breath.
“Look at me. Look at my face, Field Marshal Arthur Kingsley... and say it.”
“I advise you not to humiliate yourself any further. Leave before I have you thrown out.”
