A Reversal of Unrequited Love - Chapter 60

Arthur, who had been lamenting the lack of a worthy sparring partner for half a year, would not miss the opportunity. Without considering how far Ethan had traveled, he must have called him to the training ground.

The selfishness of the imperial family… Hyacinth thought, forgetting her own royal lineage.

“And if you choose my right hand, I’ll just stay here and finish my embroidery. So, Cory, choose. Left hand or right hand?”

The cat sighed as if it were annoyed. Though it hurt her pride, Hyacinth waited patiently. Eventually, the clever gray cat chose the left hand.

“Good.”

Hyacinth shoved Cory into the basket and stood up.

Cory, who had been quietly curled up in the basket until they reached near the training ground, flipped its eyes when the wall came into view. It jumped out of the basket and climbed the wall, leaving Hyacinth exasperated.

“Cory? Come down.”

She commanded, tapping the wall, but Cory, perched on top, just flicked its tongue. Hyacinth sighed briefly and gathered nearby bricks. She also kept a vigilant watch, vividly remembering the embarrassing experience of being caught by Caleb.

It was when she was struggling to climb the training ground’s wall, using the gathered bricks, that she realized she had made the worst choice. If she’s caught now, her honor as a lady would undoubtedly plummet, but looking down, the height seemed daunting.

The ground inside the training ground appeared to be at a different level than outside. Unable to bring herself to jump inside, Hyacinth glanced outside and sighed again.

The pile of bricks collapsed valiantly as it lifted her up. Seeing it completely crumbled, it seemed impossible for Hyacinth to step down on it.

Hyacinth bit her lips hard and twisted her ankle once.

She couldn’t make such a pathetic decision again. Which direction should she choose to keep her ankle safe? She had to worry about herself before worrying about the gray cat…

“Hyacinth!”

Hyacinth, who was sitting sullenly, turned her head abruptly.

Ethan was standing below the wall, panting uncharacteristically. Even though it was a cool dawn before the sun rose, sweat was beading on his forehead.

“Ah…”

“It’s dangerous, my lady. Please come down.”

Ethan opened his arms towards her.

“Are you okay? Should I come up?”

His eyes, shaking roughly, and his breath, even more unstable, clearly exposed his agitation. Looking at his worried face, Hyacinth stomped her foot without hesitation. She threw herself towards him.

The knight accurately caught the lady.

Held tightly in his broad embrace, Hyacinth held her breath. His arms were holding her tight, his strong body was trembling all over. And so it was.

The sound of his heart beating wildly scratched her eardrums. Before Hyacinth could thank him, Ethan whispered as if confessing.

“Please, do not climb high places.”

“…I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to.”

“I know.”

Ethan quietly lowered his head and buried his forehead on her shoulder.

“I know.”

His low, slightly trembling voice made Hyacinth reach out and pat the young man’s shoulder. The strength in the arms holding her slightly increased and then loosened.

And shortly after, the noble lady, Hyacinth Hener, began to regret her decision to climb the wall in various ways.

It was because her stern-looking cousin appeared just as she slipped down from Ethan’s arms. Crown Prince Arthur did not hide his displeasure towards his cousin. Reading the impulse to hit her from her brother, Hyacinth quietly hid behind Ethan’s back.

“Ethan, please step aside for a moment. We need to have a family talk.”

Hyacinth hastily grabbed Ethan’s hem. Looking up at him with a pleading face as he glanced back. The knight, who met her eyes gently, did not step aside. Despite the sharp glare from the future king.

“Duke Trisel. It seems you forgot, but I am…”

Arthur sighed deeply, unable to say ‘I am the Crown Prince’ himself.

“I apologize, Your Highness, but a knight prioritizes a lady’s command.”

“That’s not a lady, but a tomboy.”

Ethan’s brief silence deeply hurt Hyacinth’s pride. What if he doesn’t answer here! That’s too much!

As she poked Ethan’s back with her finger, the man answered creakingly.

“She is the finest lady to me.”

“You’re trying hard. Come out like a lady, Hyacinth Hener.”

Hyacinth, still hiding behind Ethan, muttered softly.

“I thought I should catch Cory who ran away over the wall.”

“Has that cat ever listened to you? Don’t make excuses.”

“It’s not an excuse. It’s true.”

“Huh.”

“…Did you prepare the gift?”

“Don’t change the subject. But what gift?”

Hyacinth peeked out and looked at her brother.

“It’s your wedding anniversary in a week.”

“Gasp!”

Arthur, so surprised that he almost dropped his sword, clutched his hair in panic. Hastily picking up his sword, he warned the two before running out of the training ground.

“I’ll let it slide this time. But keep it a secret from Beatrice!”

“Got it. Go prepare quickly!”

“…”

Ethan answered with a short nod. With Arthur dashing out, they were left alone in the training ground.

And they were… alone.

Just like in that garden in their past life.

Back then, it was also just before dawn. The cool dawn air wrapped around them, blending memories with the present. The desolate ground of the training ground seemed to disappear, replaced by sprouting grass. The sweet scent of spring seemed to brush the tip of their noses.

Since she had just reminisced about that memory yesterday and reflected on whether she had fallen for him at that time, Hyacinth couldn’t help but feel awkward. She pretended to fix her hair, covering her ears. As soon as she looked up at Ethan shyly, their gazes met.

Hyacinth helplessly fell into his deep, deep gray. Eyes that once seemed mysterious because she couldn’t read them were now easy to read. They were entirely filled with Hyacinth.

The corners of his eyes looking down at her slowly curved. Hyacinth wanted to reach out and touch the man’s cheek, feeling the affection in his eyes and the sincerity pouring down on her like rain. She wanted to check if she had given warmth to this man of winter, and how warm he had become.

Hiding her unnecessarily trembling hand behind her back, Hyacinth deliberately put on a pouting expression.

“Do you think I am not ladylike?”

“You are my only lady.”

“Don’t evade the question, okay?”

“…You would be an even more perfect lady if you didn’t climb high places.”

Hyacinth chuckled softly. The man subtly expressing his opinion looked cute to her.

“Can’t you catch me if I fall?”

“If I’m below, yes.”

“…”

“But if I’m also above, we will fall together.”

His tone wasn’t stern. The calm words sounded more like a promise… or perhaps a resolution.

Hyacinth suddenly imagined the man after her death.

When she committed suicide by jumping out of the window, she hoped the man would live an unbearably horrible life. She prayed he would suffocate with guilt for a lifetime, never spending a peaceful night.

She doesn’t blame herself for having such a cursed heart. Anyone would have. But.

“…I won’t climb anymore.”

“Please.”

But now she knows.

That Ethan Erentis has never spent a peaceful night in his life.

Hyacinth opened her lips. Countless questions were about to spill out.

Is your night peaceful now? Can you sleep deeper since the nightmares are gone?

Are you really okay seeing my red hair?

Or are you just enduring it somehow because of the guilt of being the perpetrator?

“My lady.”

But Hyacinth couldn’t ask honestly. Holding back what she wanted to say was unlike her. Although one should not avoid the past, her current desire to not hear the answer was stronger.

So not now. Next time.

“Lady Laurel.”

“…”

“Hyacinth.”

A gentle voice calling her. In the voice without a hint of coldness, Hyacinth suddenly turned to the man. Ethan gently reached out and held her hand. Carefully turning her hand over, he began to examine her palm meticulously. Only after checking every fingertip did Ethan finish his inspection.

“Do as you wish.”

Hyacinth opened her eyes wide at the words that seemed to see through her heart.

“I just couldn’t bear to see the lady alone in a high place.”

Hyacinth held onto Ethan’s hand firmly as he tried to pull away. Then she deliberately made a joke to lighten the mood.

“I was trying to learn how to climb trees to catch Cory.”

“I will catch him.”

“He’s very quick.”

“I must be prepared.”

Ethan smiled faintly and, with his hand still holding hers, wrapped Hyacinth’s shawl around her. His firm manner of tying it to keep the wind out showed his determination.

“Don’t underestimate a cold. Even if Tyche’s spring is warm, every dawn is bound to be cold.”

“Usually… people don’t take walks at this hour.”

Hyacinth muttered quietly.

“This is my first, no, second time here.”

Recalling her past life’s experience, she quickly corrected herself.

“That’s a relief.”

“To clarify, I did not come to meet Arthur. Absolutely not. Don’t misunderstand.”

“Yes.”

“Why would I be curious about the affairs of a relative…”

Ethan wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. At the same time, a basket fell from the air. With a small thud, the basket rolled on the ground, and Hyacinth recognized it immediately. It was the very basket she had left on the other side of the wall, which she had used to transport Cory.

Ethan and Hyacinth looked at each other and then simultaneously looked up at the wall. As expected.

“Hyacinth Hener—!”