How to Get a Stolen Husband Back - Chapter 29

“Yes. He’s the representative of the delegation this time…….”

Aristie composed her awkward expression and introduced them to each other.

“Prince Icaryuel, this is my friend, Roselina Evitz of the Hampton family. Rose, this is Prince Icaryuel of the Ludrian Kingdom.”

“A prince!?”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Roselina.”

Ryuel greeted Roselina, who was blinking her eyelashes. Roselina looked quite bewildered.

“Wow……. I never knew. That a prince like one from a fairy tale could actually exist.”

Though it was a cheesy compliment, Ryuel seemed accustomed to such remarks. He smiled his charming smile and sought permission from Roselina.

“May I join you for a moment?”

“Of course. If you were just going to leave, I would have stopped you.”

“Thank you.”

“If you could sit while you greet us, that would be even better, hehe.”

‘So this is how it ends up…….’

Aristie lowered her gaze, watching Ryuel take a seat, with a slightly awkward smile. It had only been a few days since she had given up on meeting him, yet here they were, sitting together.

But it wasn’t the atmosphere to refuse.

If she did refuse, Roselina seemed ready to hit her.

‘Rose……. You must want to fall in love too.’

Reflecting on her own desire to break free from the restraints that bound her and dream of freedom, Aristie could understand Roselina’s feelings too.

The rare disease that began shortly after her ambitious debut in the social world. How difficult it must have been for her, having to give up everything and endure just to survive. Fortunately, at this moment, Roselina seemed to have forgotten all her past sorrows. As soon as Ryuel sat down, she asked in an even more affectionate voice.

“Why did you come to the empire as part of the delegation?”

Ryuel answered with a gentle smile.

“I was originally preparing to study abroad in the empire. Then, when my home country decided to send a diplomatic delegation, I took on the role as well.”

“So, are you a student now?”

“Yes, I am.”

“May I ask what you are studying?”

“I am studying law and logic.”

Roselina clapped her hands in admiration.

“That’s wonderful! A prince who is both diligent and wise.”

“You flatter me.”

“And humble too?”

“Haha, it seems you’re ready to compliment me no matter what I say.”

“Oh, I sense a sense of humor too?”

“I’m just grateful you think so highly of my lacking speech.”

“If your manners are perfect too, that’s cheating. Did you perhaps flee here because you were too popular with the ladies?”

“……”

Ryuel’s smile, which had been purposeful, turned into a pleasant one. He looked at Aristie and spoke in a tone tinged with laughter.

“Your friend has quite the wit.”

“She’s a friend I admire.”

A proper smile appeared on Aristie’s lips as well. Indeed, Roselina was charmingly lively when faced with Ryuel.

The remark about having three imaginary husbands didn’t seem to be a joke. Judging by how easily she could converse with a man she had just met.

“Oh……. Already…….”

However, the pleasant time did not last long. In the midst of the conversation, Roselina’s complexion suddenly turned pale.

Her fingertips were trembling. It was because she had overexerted herself after a long time.

“Miss, you need to return.”

When the butler, who had been watching from a distance, approached and urged her, Roselina reluctantly stood up. She smiled at the two who were looking at her worriedly, as if to say it was nothing.

“Don’t worry, Alice. It’s common. I’ll be better after some rest.”

Ryuel also stood up and offered comfort.

“It seems you’re not well. I wish you a speedy recovery.”

“Thanks to your words, I feel a little better, hehe. So don’t worry about me and take good care of our Alice on her way home.”

“I promise on my honor.”

Hearing Ryuel’s assurance, Roselina, supported by the butler, returned to the carriage. Only Aristie and Ryuel were left at the once lively table. With the atmosphere suddenly darkened, the two remained silent for a while.

Eventually, Ryuel spoke.

“It seems your friend has a chronic illness.”

“Yes. But it’s just a matter of time; she’ll surely get better someday.”

“I hope so too.”

With that, Ryuel extended his hand.

“Shall we walk a bit?”

* * *

Aristie looked at Ryuel’s hand for a moment before taking it and standing up. It was dusk, and evening was beginning.

As they walked down the now quiet street, she hesitated whether to ask or not.

Surely, he hadn’t really waited for her at the bridge? It would be better if he hadn’t.

“I waited quite a while that day.”

Ryuel answered as if reading her thoughts.

Even though his voice was as gentle as usual, Aristie felt a momentary sting in her chest.

“I’m sorry. I just wasn’t comfortable with that kind of meeting. I just hoped you wouldn’t come out…….”

“It’s alright. It was my choice. But I’d like to know the reason.”

Ryuel stopped walking and turned to look at her. When his purple eyes directly met hers, Aristie instinctively averted her gaze.

“Are you avoiding meeting me because of your feelings for His Majesty the Emperor?”

His question seemed to encompass even her act of averting her gaze.

No, it’s not like that…… It can’t be.

Aristie took a deep breath and returned her gaze to meet his.

“No. It’s just to fulfill my role as the prospective Empress.”

“As the prospective Empress…….”

Ryuel repeated her words as if savoring them, then suddenly asked.

“Then why were you crying on the bridge that day?”

“Crying?”

Aristie asked back in surprise.

“That’s how it appeared to me. I was more drawn to the story behind your face than to your beautiful face itself.”

“But I wasn’t crying…….”

“I actually saw him that day. Your future husband.”

“What?”

For a moment, Aristie felt the urge to step back. It was too sudden to process.

Ryuel was quickly closing in on her, as if not giving her a chance to retreat.

He knew more than she had expected. He had just kept silent out of consideration for her.

If he saw Khalid that day, then surely……!

“A tall man accompanied by attendants, dressed inconspicuously, which made him stand out even more to me. The woman with him was the daughter of the Vascus family, whom I saw at the delegation meeting a while ago.”

To have even seen Estelle…….

“I know…….”

She tried to respond calmly, but she could feel her voice trembling.

“I was informed in advance and told them I was fine with it.”

“Fine with it?”

Ryuel suddenly grabbed Aristie’s wrist. Aristie was flustered.

“Ryuel……!”

“You said the reason you had that expression that day was because your fiancé was meeting another woman. Isn’t that why you were crying? Because you witnessed that scene. At least, that’s what I was assuming.”

Aristie’s complexion turned pale. She felt as if her innermost thoughts had been exposed.

“Let go.”

She tried to pull her hand away, but Ryuel held on firmly.

“It’s okay to cry.”

“I’m not crying.”

“At least in front of me. Until you feel better.”

“I said I’m not crying. Let go of me…….”

“Aren’t you already crying?”

“……Why…….”

She didn’t know. Why tears were flowing just because her innermost thoughts had been exposed.

Before she knew it, her blue eyes were shimmering with tears, glistening like the sea.

“I…….”

She no longer had the strength to hold on.

Finally, with a defeated face, Aristie spoke.

“Since I was young, I was raised as the designated Empress and received education for that role. Since my partner was predetermined, I never thought of another man.”

Hadn’t her life been one of avoiding men with all her might?

“Not that I solely thought of His Majesty either. It was always difficult dealing with him, and the disdainful gazes, the schemes to bring me down, and the pressure from my father made it suffocating just to maintain my position.”

Slowly, Ryuel’s grip on her loosened. But now, she had no intention of stopping, even if he tried to deter her.

“But after His Majesty found a woman, everything became confusing.”

“…….”

“Even though I can fully understand, given that he lived a life ignorant of the opposite s*x like me, and I’m grateful for the way he tries to consider me amidst it all, for some reason, I find it unpleasant and resentful…….”

The tears that she thought had stopped once again formed a line and flowed down her cheeks. Aristie hastily wiped them away and composed herself.

“I don’t know. Whether this is really because of affection, or if it’s possessiveness. Whether it’s belated remorse or simply resentment for not trusting me……. My mind is too tangled.”

She wiped her cheeks, but a tear drop lingered on her chin. Ryuel reached out, wiped it with his thumb, and slowly brushed it against his lips.

As if suppressing the desire to kiss her.

“I understand. How many people in the world truly know their own hearts?”

Yet, unable to fully suppress it, he spoke with a voice that was slightly choked.