Side Story 4.3

She already knew what the answer would be, so she didn’t try to hear it.

‘I must have looked dumbfounded, right? What will happen now?’

Opposition might get even worse from now on.

But she needed time.

No matter how hard she tried, Karen had nothing to show for herself.

If she could become someone better, if she could at least show how hard she was trying—

Maybe then she could ask for permission and plead for acceptance.

“That’s why I started the café. I wanted something that could convince your family, Lennon.”

After hearing everything, Lennon closed his eyes tightly.

Three whole years.

All that time wasted…

‘Because of Veronica?’

“Of course, in the beginning I had the Marquis’s investment and help, but I’ve paid it all back now. I think I’ve improved compared to before, but I still wasn’t confident. So I kept telling myself, just a little more, just a little more… until I lost sight of the end…”

“Haa. Karen. You’re misunderstanding something.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“No one in my family opposes us. I’ve told you—they’re just waiting for our wedding day.”

“That’s just because you don’t know.”

“Do you know what they told me recently? They said I could bring you home even if it was just a fait accompli, even if it meant starting with grandchildren.”

Karen listened blankly, then blushed as she understood.

In her imagination, the Duke and Duchess were always strict and dignified.

She couldn’t believe they’d really say such a thing, but looking at Lennon… it did seem possible.

As she gaped silently, Lennon grinned and spoke for her.

“I know what you’re thinking. ‘Are they really my parents?’”

“Is it true?”

“They’ve wanted to meet you in person for ages, but I kept stopping them, thinking it would burden you. If I’d known, I’d have let them.”

Karen couldn’t believe it.

‘They wanted to meet me?’

Looking back, there hadn’t been any opposition from the Ruicen family after that.

They hadn’t broken up, just not married yet.

“But your sister probably thinks differently.”

“That… I’m really sorry about. There’s no excuse, no matter how I apologize. But it wasn’t what you think. If it was Veronica, she probably gave you money for wedding preparations. There was probably a thick list of wedding items in that envelope.”

“A wedding list?”

“She loves anything flashy and cares a lot about appearances.”

Lennon stopped mid-sentence and rubbed his forehead, sighing deeply.

“She’s not really that rude. Maybe it’s partly my fault.”

Listening to Karen’s story, Lennon started to remember.

He’d told his family about the intention to marry the same day he proposed to Karen.

The Duke and Duchess, who’d given up on their second son ever marrying, were overjoyed and announced it to everyone. His married sisters flocked home the very next day.

Lennon spent a whole day being bombarded with questions and unwanted advice.

‘Especially Veronica was a handful.’

“The wedding has to be big and glamorous.”

He’d told her neither he nor Karen wanted that.

“You just haven’t seen the Duke of Sevilla’s wedding. Do you know how grand it was? Ruicen has a reputation to uphold, so it has to be at least that much.”

He’d expected that reaction and just ignored it.

“The Marquis will take care of the dowry, right? He wouldn’t possibly treat an adopted daughter differently from a true-born daughter, would he?”

It must have been his reply to this that prompted Veronica’s action.

“Of course the Marquis would want to do that, but I told her you’d refuse. You’ve always only wanted the bare minimum.”

“The bare minimum? I’ve already received more than enough.”

“Yeah. I knew you’d say that. I guess I wanted to brag that my lover isn’t so shallow. Knowing my sister’s nature, I could have just dodged the question, but I didn’t.”

“So… it was all just a misunderstanding?”

“That’s right.”

The two faced each other and let out hollow laughs.

Lennon resolved to summon Veronica as soon as he got home.

How could she do something that would cause such a misunderstanding and stay silent all this time?

Besides, before she returned home, she had looked at Lennon with pity and said:

“Did you get a clear answer to your proposal? The other person might not be thinking about marriage right away. Talk it over carefully.”

Veronica had interpreted Karen’s request for time after refusing the envelope in her own way, never considering her own mistake.

“We really took the long way around, didn’t we?”

“Yeah. I’m really sorry about my sister. You must have worried so much alone?”

“It was because of me. I should have talked to you from the beginning.”

“That’s true. You should have trusted me more.”

Karen looked at Lennon with a smile as he answered right away.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t trust him.

If she had told him the truth, she knew he would have insisted on marrying her, even against his family’s opposition. That’s why she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

She’d been abandoned by her real family, but she wanted to be accepted by the family of the one she loved.

“Karen, let me say this properly.”

Lennon stood up from his seat and knelt on one knee.

“Will you marry me?”

How many proposals had it been? By now, she couldn’t even count.

But this one was sure to be the last.

A ring was slipped onto her shyly extended finger.

“The case is worn out.”

Karen said, holding back a laugh.

Just as she said, the ring sparkled beautifully, but the case he brought out was ragged and worn.

“That’s all you feel about getting a proposal ring? Aren’t you going to say the ring is beautiful or anything?”

“I can’t help it, seeing a case like that. When did you even buy it?”

“If you promise not to say it’s too much, I’ll tell you.”

“I won’t say that.”

“…I bought it on the day I first asked you to marry me. On the way home.”

“You’ve kept it with you all this time?”

“Is it too much?”

“No, it’s lovely.”

Karen threw herself into Lennon’s arms with all her strength.

Lennon, who had sunk to the floor, hugged her back just as tightly.

The ring hadn’t left Lennon’s side once since that day.

He’d always planned to present it whenever the mood was right.

The problem was, there had never been such a chance until now.

“It took three years just to put a ring on your finger.”

Instead of answering, Karen laughed aloud, then narrowed her eyes as if remembering something.

“Why did you say those things earlier? About giving up, and suddenly talking about age. Were you just trying to tease me by watching my reaction?”

He wasn’t the type to act weak or say weak things, so Karen had thought he was just testing her.

“I meant it. Though I regretted it as soon as I said it.”

But Lennon had been that desperate.

He’d said he’d give up, but the longer Karen stayed silent, the more anxious he became.

In that short time, all sorts of thoughts had swirled through his mind.

That’s why, unlike usual, he’d said things he’d normally keep to himself.

“At first, I thought you just didn’t want to get married, but looking back, you changed after we spent the night together. I wondered if I hadn’t satisfied you that night. Wouldn’t you think so? Maybe you were disappointed and turned to a younger man.”

Karen jumped in surprise and clamped her hand over his mouth.

“You’re crazy, seriously. Don’t you have any shame? How can you say things like that?”

“What shame? I lost all my confidence as a man from that day. So, Karen, you have to take responsibility.”

“T-that’s something a woman says, you know? Besides, you were my first, and that night was just…”

“Just?”

With a honeyed, sweet tone, Karen couldn’t lift her head.

“It was… just nice.”

Her voice was barely audible, drowned out by Lennon’s delighted laughter.

“You should have told me sooner. You made me worry for years.”

Soon, Lennon’s trademark sly smile appeared on his face.

“In that case, I’ll try even harder tonight.”