Chapter 109

The Duke, who had been lying prostrate on the floor for a long time, finally rose and left the room. During that time, Catherine kept her gaze fixed on the opposite side. She couldn’t bear to face her grandfather, who claimed to confess his heart for the first and last time. The young girl who couldn’t forgive him for a few words and the adult who wanted to forgive her now frail grandfather were tangled in a complex mix. She felt she could forgive, but didn’t want to; she wanted to understand, but not accept. While confused about what she truly wanted, the Duke silently left the bedroom.

“Just as you came, you leave as you please….”

Even while apologizing for a lifetime of mistakes, the Duke remained selfish to the end. Without giving her enough time to accept his apology, he hastily left, leaving Catherine shedding a single tear.

She couldn’t even understand why she cried. It might have been because his confession brought back painful memories, or because she was overwhelmed by finally receiving the apology she had longed for. Not knowing the reason for her tears, Catherine bit her trembling lips to suppress her emotions.

If only Henry were beside her.

That thought crossed her mind. In the whirlwind of emotions too hard to bear alone, Catherine realized she desperately needed someone to lean on.

Perhaps her desire to forgive her grandfather was thanks to knowing that Henry would unconditionally be on her side. Without meeting Henry, she might have continued to harbor a heart full of wounds and resentment toward her grandfather.

“Cathy.”

She thought it was an auditory hallucination caused by her overwhelming desire to see him. Catherine didn’t even realize Henry had approached from behind and called her name, and she bit her lip painfully.

“Cathy.”

Only when Henry called her name again did Catherine realize it wasn’t a hallucination. She turned her head quickly at the sound and, upon seeing Henry who had come to find her, burst into tears.

She didn’t know why she was crying. Seeing Henry made the emotions she had been suppressing explode. That was all she vaguely understood.

“Shh, it’s okay. Cathy, it’s okay.”

Henry quietly embraced Catherine, who cried like a child. Leaning on his broad and warm chest, Catherine began to cry loudly.

She cried endlessly, feeling sorry for herself for waiting her whole life for this moment, and for the emptiness she felt.

Henry said nothing. He simply held her, gently stroking her hair with his large hand. Hoping she would find comfort in his warmth, Henry kissed her forehead gently.

Henry thought he would cry too if he were in her position. Anyone would cry if they finally received acceptance from someone they had struggled to be acknowledged by and resented for rejection.

He felt sorry for Catherine, who had finally found shelter in the family she had longed for. Henry didn’t realize he was healing his own childhood through Catherine’s experience.

“I love you, Henry. I love you….”

She felt she had to express her feelings immediately. Catherine, who learned through the Duke that there is a right time for everything, confessed her feelings to Henry with tears in her eyes. Her one and only, and forever unique love. She never wanted to experience the regret of missing the right time again.

“Henry. Stay by my side. Always….”

Catherine, tearfully asking him to stay close, seemed so adorable. Henry tightened his embrace around her. He kissed her again, speaking softly with his lips still on her forehead.

“Even if you shout for me to leave, I won’t go.”

“Really? Promise me.”

“Yes. I promise.”

How could he leave such a lovely woman? Seeing Catherine’s rare show of affection made Henry want to laugh. But in this serious situation, which was undoubtedly grave for Catherine, he couldn’t bring himself to laugh. He stopped stroking her hair and hugged her tightly.

Even after getting Henry’s promise, Catherine continued to cry in his arms for a long time.

She didn’t notice at all that Henry was starting to feel awkward due to her tightly clinging body.

Even after spending countless nights together, Catherine clearly didn’t know much about men. Where had the old Catherine gone, who used to research positions with the servants to see Henry’s flustered face? Each time her body brushed against his inner thigh, Henry had to grit his teeth. 

Not now. At least not while she was crying over discovering family love. 

He kept reminding himself.

Calm down, my body….

By the time Catherine’s tears had almost stopped, even that self-command was useless.

***

“Your nose is all red, Cathy.”

“Don’t tease me.”

After stopping her tears, she felt embarrassed about crying in his arms. Not wanting to show her probably messy face, Catherine stayed leaning against Henry’s chest, and Henry just chuckled.

“Are we going to keep standing like this?”

“What if we don’t?”

“Hmm. It’d be nice if you considered what this place is.”

At Henry’s subtle nod, Catherine glanced sideways. Without lifting her head, she guessed he was pointing at her bed. Remembering the attendants’ words about the Queen’s chamber having the best bed in the palace, her ears turned red.

“I don’t know if you realize.”

“Oh, my.”

Henry bent down, supporting her knees, and lifted Catherine up.

“Put me down.”

“No.”

“I said put me down.”

“I said no.”

In an awkward embrace, they exchanged meaningless banter.

“I don’t know if you realize, but I’m really tired. It turns out there’s a lot to prepare for becoming King.”

“Then go back and rest.”

He hadn’t even been invited to her bedroom. Yet, having sneaked in, he shamelessly asked to be let go because he was tired. Catherine pouted and glared at Henry.

“By the way, how did you get in here? They said we shouldn’t see each other until the coronation.”

“I thought I shouldn’t break the rules like you, but…”

Henry began walking towards the bed with Catherine in his arms. Seeing his purposeful steps, Catherine stomped her feet. It was a clear and precise expression of her desire to be put down.

“On second thought, producing heirs for the future of the country seems more important than following some incomprehensible rules.”

With his long strides, Henry quickly reached the bed. Producing heirs, indeed. His reason for visiting matched her expectations, and Catherine squirmed a bit more.

“What is this, really? Coming suddenly without a word….”

“I love you.”

Catherine’s fussy movements stopped as if by magic. It was already the second unexpected confession today. But unlike before, now she felt her heart might stop from excitement. The underlying emotion was different from the surprise earlier.

Catherine blushed deeply and nestled into Henry’s neck. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, her actions only stimulated him more. If she knew, she was a sly woman; if she didn’t, she was truly….

“You always drive me crazy.”

As he finished speaking, Henry seemed to let out a groan and collapsed onto the bed, taking Catherine with him. Just as he had heard, Catherine let out a short scream, but she was still within Henry’s embrace.

“It’s too late. I have to start my day early tomorrow….”

“One day.”

Trapped between the bed and Henry’s body, Catherine turned her head to avoid his whispers. However, with her limbs confined by his large body, she couldn’t move as she wished.

“One day without sleep should be fine.”

“That’s ridiculous. How can someone who will soon bear the weight of a country not sleep?”

“I can’t sleep without you anyway. If I’m going to be sleepless either way, isn’t it better to do what I want?”

“I can’t live like that.”

Henry’s breath tickled her ear unbearably. Twisting her head this way and that, Catherine finally burst into laughter.

Taking her laughter as a positive response, Henry buried his face in Catherine’s embrace.

When his lips brushed against the cleavage exposed by her dress, Catherine’s smile vanished instantly.