Chapter 6 – Part 19

“Do you want me to put the next book out in advance?”

Gardner asked, realizing that Ruby had finished the book she was looking at.

“Can you do that? Thank you.”

Ruby’s life in the woods was peaceful. It would be an understatement to say that she was in danger.

She greeted the other knights, including Gardner, casually and chatted with them. Some of them naturally led to helping with cooking.

Several days had passed like this.

In the evenings, Ruby spent time in her study reading.

“If you need anything else, just ask……”

Gardner easily removed a book that Ruby would have had to use a stepladder to reach and placed it on the table.

Gardner stopped abruptly when he sensed movement outside.

“You stay here. I’ll be right back.”

Gardner turned to Ruby and left the study.

Ruby sat quietly in her chair, facing the door. She hadn’t noticed the book on the table; she was too focused on the approaching footsteps.

Ruby curled up in her chair with her knees together, wishing they were just wild animals as usual.

The manor was located in the woods, so it was not uncommon for wild animals to be caught in the knights’ tracks. It had happened a few times, but Ruby was always unnerved each time.

The good news was that there were enough knights around that she never felt directly threatened.

What if, this time, it was someone who really wanted to hurt her?

Ruby was nervous that something would happen to shatter the calm that was so frighteningly peaceful.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching the study.

Ruby became even more nervous at the sound of footsteps she hadn’t recognized.

She grabbed the book she had put down, ready to throw it at any intruder, but suddenly realized that one book wasn’t enough, so she grabbed the one Gardner had given her.

She focused on the sound of approaching footsteps, and she grabbed the book, ready to throw it.

But the unexpected visitor knocked the book right out of her weak hands.

“Ruby.”

It was Eli, not Gardner, who stepped into the study. Ruby blinked at his sudden appearance.

Before she could utter a word, Eli stalked over to her and dropped to one knee in front of her chair.

“Are you hurt?”

Ruby shook her head slowly, but Eli took her face in his hands and examined her arms and legs.

Only when he saw with his own eyes that Ruby was unharmed did he let out a tense sigh.

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

Ruby was still staring at him.

“Why…….”

Ruby was surprised to find her voice shaking, but she didn’t care.

“Why are you here now?”

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Eli wiped her tears away with his thumb, and Ruby realized that her own eyes had been watering.

“I can’t tell you how…… how…… scared I was.”

Ruby hugged him tightly. His arms felt familiar and warm.

It was really Eli. Realizing that, more tears poured out of Ruby’s eyes.

“I’m sorry, I was wrong.”

“They told me that you want me to hide here, but I hadn’t heard from you… They’ve been protecting me all along, but I’ve never seen them before… So…”

Ruby sobbed in Eli’s arms, getting it off her chest.

“I’m sorry for not saying anything. I was afraid you’d be worried.”

Even though her sob was barely audible, Eli gently wiped her back. His comforting touch made Ruby bury herself even deeper in his embrace.

“I was wrong.”

Unbeknownst to Ruby in his arms, Eli’s face contorted into a pained expression as he soothed her.

He wished he could have come back sooner.

And so Eli whispered his apology until Ruby calmed down.

* * *

“Don’t look at me; it’s embarrassing.”

Eli touched the corners of Ruby’s eyes, red from crying, and she buried her head in his arms, hiding her face.

“It’s cute because you look like a bunny.”

“Your lying.”

“It’s true.”

Despite Eli’s persuasion, Ruby kept her head down as if refusing to show her face, embarrassed by suddenly being overwhelmed by emotions so much that she couldn’t look at him easily.

Eli simply held her tighter, saying, “But it’s true.”

“I heard something strange. Viscount Del has connections to the Kingdom of Cains.”

“……That’s right.”

Eli hesitated for a moment, but then conceded.  Ruby knew there were some things that couldn’t be hidden forever.

“Since when did you know?”

Ruby’s head snapped up, and she looked at Eli.

“Do you also know when you came to get me? The night of the party at the Viscount’s.”

“No. I didn’t know then. I found out later.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to bother you, and we’d only be meeting in the capital anyway, and Viscount Del would be guarded by a knight assigned by His Majesty.”

“Is that so?”

“I think he was really just keeping an eye on things, but Sorvan was surprised to find out you were a Marchioness.”

And then there was Ruby’s disappearance from Devens and her non-involvement when she met Sorvan.

“Is there anything else I should know?”

For a moment, Eli’s eyes wavered.

“What’s wrong?”

Ruby asked, recognizing the anguish in his eyes.

“My mother is no longer a noble.”

“…….”

“I made it happen.”

Ruby’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You mean she’s not a Dowager Marchioness anymore?”

“Yes.”

“Is that because of me?”

“No.”

He answered without hesitation.

“She got what she deserved for her wrongdoing.”

“…….”

“Her punishment was past due.”

Eli kissed the back of Ruby’s hand.

“I’m sorry it’s too late.”

“……Yes.”

Ruby replied a little too late.

She knew it was harsh to take the title away from someone who valued it, especially if it was the Marie she knew.

So she thought she’d gotten what she deserved.

“I’m sorry.”

“……for what?”

“For not being able to comfort you in your sadness.”

Eli frowned at that. Ruby’s touch against his furrowed brow was gentle.

But Ruby was sincere. She didn’t feel sorry for Marie.

“Ruby. It’s not what you think it is.”

“…….”

“I’m not sad about my mother; I’m sad about you not being able to rejoice to your heart’s content because of me.”

Eli kissed Ruby’s palm.

“My mother hurt you, and I let it happen.”

“…….”

“So you have every right to be angry and say how difficult it was. You… deserve it.”

Eli looked at Ruby wistfully.

Ruby stared back at him.

“I’m …… happy.”

Then she blurted it out. As if testing the waters.

“About what?”

“All the pretentious etiquette, the parties—they’re all useless now, aren’t they?”

He nodded again and again.

“…You’ll never live with worse contempt than you’ve done so far.”

When he finished, Ruby pursed her lips and lowered her gaze to fight back tears.

“If it’s that personality, you’ll be hated wherever you go.”

Ruby said, remembering Marie’s words.

“And you’ll end up dying lonely and alone and shabby with no one.”

“Exactly.”

Eli squeezed her hand in triumph. Ruby squeezed his hand, too.

“I’m sorry for realizing it too late.”

Ruby nodded instead of answering.

“Is there anything you want to say to me?”

“To you….”

“…….”

“I will do this forever.”

“……what?”

“I’m going to haunt you for the rest of your life, so be prepared.”

Ruby glared at him with a frown, but Eli just laughed.

It was pleasing to hear him say that he would have her for the rest of his life.

“It’s true.”

“Yeah. I’ll do well for life.”

Ruby gave him a grim look, not sure what she’d said that made him laugh.

“So you’re not going far now, are you?”

“Yeah.”

Even that was adorable, so Eli kissed her pouty lips and hugged her tightly.

It was enough to make him feel at ease, and a lot of the worries in his head disappeared.

* * * *

Arlen knocked on Duke Miles’s door.

“Come in.”

When he granted her permission, she entered.

“I have something to tell you.”

“……Sit down.”

Duke Miles, who seemed to know what she was talking about, pointed to a couch. He called for a butler to bring tea, and he sat down across from her.

Arlen sat quietly until the butler brought the tea. Duke Miles didn’t rush her either.

“I intend to accept His Majesty’s offer of marriage.”

As soon as the butler left the room with the tea, Arlen spoke up.

“Even though there are other options?”

Duke Miles wasn’t particularly surprised by Arlen’s answer, as he had anticipated it to some extent.

“Yes.”

“I’ll ask you one last time. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”

A marriage to the Emperor could not be annulled except for extraordinary reasons, which meant that her life would never be the same again.

“…Yes.”

There was not the slightest hint of excitement in Arlen’s expression as she answered. It pained Duke Miles, but he couldn’t say that any of the other options she’d been given would be better than this, so he forced himself to look away.

“I’ll make the arrangements. I’ll have to let your mother know.”

“…….”

“You and your mom can plan the wedding together”

“…Yes. I’ll go now.”

As if it didn’t matter, Arlen left the room when he was done. As the door to his office closed behind him, a sigh escaped Duke Miles.

Although the day of the marriage with the imperial family was set, Duke Miles’s mood seemed to sink even further.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories