A Reversal of Unrequited Love - Chapter 67
Hyacinth did not deny the cold reality settling in. Lies are bound to be shattered eventually. Proper relationships must be based on honesty.
“You guessed that I made that decision out of pity. No, Ethan. ‘Hyacinth Hener’ does have pity, but she is not a woman weak enough to make such a choice out of pity.”
“Ah.”
“In fact, I also pondered. Why did I try to reconnect this bond at that time? You would agree that our first marriage ended in a miserable failure.”
“……It’s my fault.”
“I thought we might be more of a bad match than a good one. If you think about it, Ethan, if I had been silver-haired instead of red-haired, or black-haired, would you have ignored me so firmly? At least your prejudice and hatred wouldn’t have worked.”
Ethan glanced up at her and then lowered his gaze. He seemed to be searching for words to refute, but Hyacinth didn’t wait.
“A bad match causes mutual wounds, so it was a wound to me, but it must have hurt you too. That’s why we got a second chance and are here like this.”
“…….”
“I can guess well enough how your end was in the previous life. Don’t try to deny it. Anyway, because of that, I also thought a lot…”
The gray gaze, which had been firmly fixed downward, slowly lifted. Hyacinth braced herself, focusing on that beautiful winter color. To properly persuade Ethan, she had to reveal her true self entirely.
So, after a long exhale, she confessed her true motives clearly.
“There are various reasons. Let’s summarize them into three main ones. First. You are the best groom in this kingdom, and I didn’t want to hand you over to another woman.”
“……Me?”
“Don’t show that reaction to other young lords. You’ll get beaten up.”
“If they can beat me, that is.”
“Exactly. That’s why. You are young and handsome, a high lord of the North, an excellent knight, and you don’t raise your hand recklessly against others. As I said, you are the best groom that Tyche’s social circles boast of, and I am a noble lady who must marry within a few years. I always want to choose the best.”
“That’s reasonable. I understand.”
Ethan’s expression gradually relaxed. Seeing him relieved rather than troubled by her explanation of choosing practicality over emotions, Hyacinth felt a sense of bitterness. She had expected it, but she couldn’t help but feel complicated.
“I will strive to maintain my strengths in the future.”
“That’s a good attitude.”
“Yes.”
“The second reason is similar to yours. You are my first love and the most intense man in my life. I won’t be able to forget you, and I didn’t want to marry another man in that state. And the last reason.”
Hyacinth hesitated before letting out a small laugh. The last reason, no matter how she dressed it up, could never seem pretty.
It was her biggest weakness.
“I didn’t want to fail. I didn’t want to leave a failure in my life.”
“That’s…”
“Our marriage was the biggest failure I experienced, and I, my instinct, wanted to reverse that failure somehow.”
“…….”
“Isn’t it funny? I forced my feelings on you, acted arrogantly, and brought about a catastrophe, yet I arrogantly tried again. I apologize for that part.”
“Since the result is what I desired, it’s fine. I’m grateful just for the fact that you gave me a second chance.”
“Ethan.”
“Yes.”
The way he looked at her hadn’t changed from before.
In a way, they had both exposed their lowest points to each other. Hyacinth whispered his name again, savoring it.
“Ethan Erentis.”
“Yes.”
“……You explained that guilt only removed your hatred, not that the feeling itself turned into love. It’s the same for me. Arrogance and impulsiveness were the driving forces behind that decision, not love itself. But, isn’t there a love that reignites from such an opportunity?”
I remember the way you smiled at me.
The pure and clear smile you had back then. The flowers you shyly gave me, the letters you wrote with great care, the way you focused solely on me, and the way you treated me with utmost care.
Everything I dreamed of back then.
Everything I dream of now. All your words and actions filled with love, consideration, and dedication. As time passed, resentment faded, and pity covered the remaining negative feelings, making it enough for love to rekindle.
I want you to be happy.
Selfishly and greedily, I want you to be happy by my side, because of me.
This feeling may not be love yet, but it is certainly the beginning of love.
“Ethan, I fell in love with you at first sight. So believe it. You will make me fall in love again. If you can’t believe in yourself, believe in the me who looks at you.”
“……I understand.”
“I’m sorry if I made you anxious.”
“You don’t need to apologize for anything.”
“Come to think of it, that’s a problem too……. Actually, I seriously considered that part as well.”
Ethan’s face was filled with confusion. Hyacinth solemnly declared while looking at his finely trembling silver eyelashes.
“I told you. I will make our second marriage a complete success.”
“Yes.”
“So, Ethan, you must not always be the one to endure and be patient. I understand your feelings of wanting to atone for me and I think you should cherish and love me just as much…… But I don’t think you should accept even my worst behavior just because you feel you owe me a great debt.”
“…….”
“A relationship where one side sacrifices unilaterally is never healthy. We should adjust to each other, not just one side adjusting. So, I don’t think your attitude is good.”
“…….”
“Besides, I wasn’t sure if I could be your complete happiness, if I am such a mature person.”
Hyacinth lightly clapped her hands.
“Let’s think about that while living together. How about it?”
“……I feel the same.”
Ethan’s voice was choked. Hyacinth opened her eyes wide at the mid-low tone that was hoarser than usual.
“I’m not sure if I can be your complete happiness.”
“Then keep trying until you are. I will too.”
“Did all those misfortunes I went through lead me to the miracle that is you?”
Ethan’s cheeks were wet. Hyacinth reached out and gently wiped away the moisture.
“I like that you see me as a miracle, but I don’t think it’s because of the misfortunes.”
“……I will cherish and love you forever.”
“Yes.”
“I won’t do that again.”
Their fingers intertwined. Ethan, who habitually examined her fingertips, lowered his head. Their foreheads touched lightly, and their breaths mingled. Hyacinth blushed under his prolonged gaze. She knew well what the deep gaze of the man at such a close distance meant.
Yielding to the inevitable, she slightly parted her lips. Ethan’s hands gently cupped her cheeks, and soon their lips met.
At that moment, the wind blew, scattering white petals, but they, immersed in such a beautiful scene, did not notice at all.
The moment that came back around again. The first kiss tasted sweet and bitter like tears.
* * *
“I would like my last proposal to come with a large bouquet.”
“I’ll prepare it.”
“It has to be really big. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“By tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow morning?”
“Good. Tomorrow morning.”
* * *
The next morning, Hyacinth, who had an early audience with her uncle and aunt, waited for Ethan to appear. Even though her uncle gave her a stern look, thinking she was excited about getting married after being raised so well, it was fine. Her aunt was just as excited as she was.
A quick knock was heard, and the door to the audience room opened.
Hyacinth, who quickly turned to the door, doubted her eyes. A mountain of flowers with legs was walking in.
“Oh my, how romantic.”
It was only at her aunt’s cheerful voice that Hyacinth realized Ethan was behind the flowers. She had asked for a large bouquet, but she didn’t expect him to bring such a mountain.
Hyacinth couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Only the sulky king grumbled.
“Did you pick every flower in Tyche, Duke?”
“……I got a bit brazen while taking the most precious flower.”
“Not just a bit, but excessively brazen?”
Ethan completely ignored the king’s rebuke. For a knight, the lady who held his heart was always the priority.
Hyacinth, who had hurried to him, tried to hold the flowers. Surprised by how heavy they were, she couldn’t take them and adorably flinched. Ethan, who had been distracted by her, soon realized his mistake.
He couldn’t hand over the bouquet to the precious lady, and it was also difficult to kneel on one knee while holding the bouquet.
“The proposal will be separate.”
Hyacinth whispered in his ear. It meant they should get permission here and leave.
Ethan precariously balanced the bouquet with one arm and tightly held his lady’s hand with the other. The king’s expression contorted terribly, but the queen nudged him in the side. King Kendrick, weak to his wife, had no choice but to grant permission after a few grumbling remarks.
They were quickly chased out of the audience room and headed to Hyacinth’s private quarters to leave the bouquet before going to the garden. They struggled to get a disobedient gray cat down from a tree on the way. After isolating Cory, they ran into Benjamin. Sensing the situation, Benjamin tactfully retreated from the garden. After such twists and turns, they arrived at a secluded corner of the garden.
Ethan slowly knelt on one knee.
In the bright spring of Tyche, under the pouring light, his lady smiled.
Two years later,
Duke Ethan Erentis of Trisel and Lady Hyacinth Hener of Laurel married at Bremlin Castle in the North. Throughout the grand ceremony, they were a young and beautiful couple who kept holding each other’s hands.
Translator
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szayel99
These two are so so so so sweet. I think a lot of novels lack these types of conversations between the MCs, so it’s very lovely and refreshing to see that both Hyce and Ethan recognize their flaws in some way and are trying to overcome them together 🥲 i cried