How to Get a Stolen Husband Back - Chapter 31
“Yes, right. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”
With that, she tried to conclude and leave, but Khalid persistently held on.
“Get in. I’ll take you.”
“No, it’s alright.”
“I’m fine too. No, I hope you will.”
“But I’ve already…”
As they engaged in a tug-of-war, Ryuel intervened.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but today I promised Lady Aristie’s friend that I would escort her. I’ll ensure her safety, so please don’t worry.”
“Friend?”
“The prince’s words are correct.”
Aristie also stepped in to support Ryuel.
“The prince has given his word of honor at Roselina’s request. So please don’t worry about me. I cannot trouble Your Majesty any further, so I will take my leave.”
“Aris…”
“Then, take care.”
Aristie and Ryuel, supporting each other’s words, left Khalid standing there. They coordinated so well that he had no chance to stop them.
Zephyros, who had been watching from the side, spoke in a regretful tone.
“Your Majesty, it seems the lady has misunderstood.”
“It can’t be helped.”
“What do you mean it can’t be helped? If there’s a misunderstanding, it should be cleared up, shouldn’t it?”
“But I can’t speak of it before giving it.”
Khalid replied while looking at Aristie’s retreating figure with an unreadable expression.
…No, his expression gradually became recognizable.
It was strikingly similar to Aristie’s, stained with jealousy and self-reproach, as she tearfully confessed.
* * *
Two days later, Aiden met Systea in front of a restaurant in a bustling area.
Systea approached him to greet him while trying to shake off the five bodyguards trailing her.
“Stop it already! Do you think I’m going to do something terrible to the young duke of the great empire?”
“You already have! And to none other than His Majesty the Emperor!”
“What did I ever do to him?”
“From what we’ve gathered, you made some disrespectful remarks about the Emperor! Do you think we passed on that information for you to ridicule him?”
Now that he looked, they seemed more like watchdogs than bodyguards. Judging by the lack of formality in their conversation, they felt more like brothers.
Perhaps Systea’s charm was her natural ability to form close bonds with those around her.
“Still, joining us is out of the question! I have things to discuss with Lord Aiden alone.”
“If it seems like you’re about to cause trouble, we are to monitor… no, protect you closely as per the king’s orders!”
“So, are we here to play some truth game with you all sitting around? I’m here to eat!”
“We can eat with you. We can play the truth game while eating.”
“That’s nonsense. With your size, it wouldn’t be a game; it would be an interrogation. How can anyone eat in that atmosphere?”
“P-please, let’s… stop.”
Sensing this would never end, Aiden finally intervened.
“D-don’t worry, you can all g-go… now. I-I’ll take r-responsibility for the p-princess.”
Aiden’s stammering made the bodyguards look surprised. Seeing the opportunity, Systea raised her voice further.
“See! You’re making Lord Aiden uncomfortable! Today, it’s just the two of us. If anything happens, the young duke will take responsibility. Got it?”
The soldiers’ eyes sharpened in unison. Their looks seemed to criticize their lord’s blatant shifting of blame.
“What! Why! What’s with those looks?”
The soldiers seriously advised the loud Systea.
“Princess, this might be your last overseas trip if you’re not careful.”
“Please refrain from accidentally injuring others.”
“Especially breaking things! Try to resolve it with words, if possible.”
After delivering such ominous words, the bodyguards turned to Aiden. Their eyes, as if pitying him, made Aiden feel oddly strange.
‘Are those words you’d typically say to a princess of a country? Ah, is it because of the incident where she fractured a noble’s toe while dancing?’
While Aiden was tilting his head in thought, Systea, who had finally driven away the uninvited guests, awkwardly laughed as she tidied up the situation.
“My subordinates ended up making a scene. They care deeply about me, haha.”
It’s not that they care deeply but rather find her alarming…
Aiden thought so but pretended not to know.
“I-it’s fine.”
“I apologize on their behalf. Now, shall we go in?”
Once inside, they were soon led to their reserved room. After the staff took their order and left, Aiden felt a bit tense.
He found it hard to endure crowded places, but being alone with someone didn’t make him feel comfortable either.
Talking one-on-one meant he would have to speak more.
Of course, Systea, who understood him better than others, was preferable. Yet, he still didn’t want to show his shortcomings in front of a woman he liked.
“You’re nervous, aren’t you?”
“Y-yes. A l-little.”
“It’s okay to be nervous. I have plenty of time today.”
Being told it was okay to be nervous somehow eased his tension. Systea smiled gently and said something puzzling.
“I wanted to hear your story today, so I asked to meet. But it might not be a comfortable topic for you. That’s why it’s okay to be nervous.”
“W-what do you m-mean by that?”
“I’ll ask things I’m curious about, and you can answer as much as you’re comfortable with. If any of my questions feel too harsh, just say ‘stop,’ and I’ll stop immediately.”
Why would she suddenly ask potentially harsh questions?
Before Aiden could figure it out, the first question came like a surprise attack.
“Is your stutter congenital?”
“……!”
Aiden’s blue eyes widened.
It was a question that made her intentions clear immediately.
Was this what it was about…
He hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should play along. However, it didn’t seem like she meant it in a bad way.
He thought that confiding in her might help, and before he knew it, his mouth started moving.
“I-it’s ac-quired. Due to p-psychological factors.”
“What triggered it?”
After a brief silence, he answered.
“My m-mother’s d-death.”
Despite stammering continuously, Aiden managed to tell the whole story.
How his mistake led to his mother’s death, and how his father, overwhelmed with despair, changed completely.
“I see… that happened.”
Instead of responding, Aiden hunched his shoulders. As a result, some of his golden hair slipped forward.
“Please accept my belated condolences. You must have been deeply hurt as well.”
“I-I don’t even have the right… to be. It was all m-my fault.”
“……”
Systea’s eyes examined Aiden.
His handsome appearance, broad shoulders. His tall stature highlighted his perfect physique.
Aiden was a man with an irresistible charm that could captivate anyone. But Systea delved into the subtle emotions on his face rather than his appearance.
Sadness, despair, guilt, resignation, self-reproach…
She felt many emotions rising like mist.
Inside Aiden was a wounded child who had stopped growing at some point.
“Do you truly believe your mother’s death was entirely your fault?”
“Yes.”
“And your father’s change as well?”
“Yes.”
“What did your father say to you back then?”
“…Stop.”
For the first time, the safe word was invoked. As promised, Systea immediately withdrew her question.
The atmosphere, which was about to become awkward, was saved by the timely arrival of their food.
“Eat up. You’ve been through enough grilling; now you should rest.”
Prompted by Systea as if nothing had happened, Aiden unexpectedly let out a small laugh.
“The b-bodyguards have r-reason to w-worry.”
“Huh? Just from this? No way. If they saw, they’d probably mock me for pretending to be innocent.”
Systea, who shivered at the thought of those clingy bodyguards, subtly put down her fork and looked at Aiden.
“Lord Aiden. I’m really sorry, but can I ask just one more question?”
After hesitating, Aiden agreed.
“P-please go ahead.”
“Do you think your mother would believe that it was your fault? That what happened to her was because of you?”
“That…”
The answer didn’t come immediately.
Even though it was so clear, it was hard to say because it felt like an excuse for him to forgive himself.
He thought it would become a pardon for someone like him who had long considered himself guilty.
“…No.”
The answer came after a long pause.
His late mother was not someone who would blame her son, even in the slightest.
In his remorse, he heard his mother’s words through Systea’s voice.
“Aiden… It’s okay, honey. It’s not your fault at all.”
“……!”
Aiden’s eyes, which had been downcast, shook greatly.
When he looked up, Systea was smiling warmly with her eyebrows gently lowered.
“I’m sure that’s what she would have said. If she were your mother.”
“Princess…”
“And she would earnestly wish for Lord Aiden to heal his heart’s wounds and live confidently in the world.”
“……”
Aiden couldn’t continue speaking.
He was just thinking to himself.
If there was a savior sent by my mother, wouldn’t it be Systea…?
* * *
While Aiden was spending time with Systea, Aristie was aghast, her mouth agape at the piles of gift boxes leaving no room to step.
“Your Majesty, what on earth are these…?”
Two days after running into Khalid with Ryuel at night, Khalid had come to visit Aristie as he had announced. Since it was tea time, she had prepared tea and snacks with care, waiting for him.
