Chapter 73. It’s Not Your Fault

“Why do you think it’s your fault?”

Camilla showed a perplexed expression at the absurd guilt. But Aster was quite serious.

“Because I met you, the Black Shadow sent by the Duchess…”

Seeing Aster still misunderstanding, Camilla let out a quiet sigh. After a moment, she spoke.

“It’s true we encountered the Black Shadow that day, but it wasn’t the Black Shadow who took you, Aster.”

“What?”

“It means we were completely mistaken.”

Aster looked bewildered at Camilla’s words. He had always thought the ones who kidnapped him that day were the Black Shadow.

The image of the assassins sent by Isabelle pointing their swords at him, telling him not to resent them, was still vivid. Aster spoke with a confused face.

“But…”

“It’s not your fault.”

“…….”

“So don’t make that face.”

Camilla whispered softly, cupping his cheeks. She didn’t know how far this foolish man intended to blame himself.

“Neither you nor I did anything wrong that day.”

Camilla had never imagined she would say such words herself. She had always told her father that the accident that day was her fault.

Each time, her father insisted it wasn’t her fault, but she couldn’t fully believe it because she had lost her memory.

She thought she couldn’t clear her mother’s injustice because she didn’t remember that day. But now that her memory was back, she realized how foolish that was.

‘Mom’s okay. Don’t cry, my dear daughter.’

Even while dying, her mother had worried about her. How heartbroken would her mother be to know that her daughter lived thinking the accident was her fault?

Moreover, seeing Aster suffer, thinking it was his fault, made her understand her father’s feelings a bit.

How frustrating it must have been.

Seeing someone act just like she had made her painfully aware of how foolish she had been.

We weren’t the ones at fault that day. It was precisely an unfortunate accident orchestrated by someone.

“The ones at fault are someone else, so why should we suffer?”

Aster felt like he had been struck on the head by Camilla’s sharp voice.

Her reaction was entirely different from what he had imagined. He had always imagined the worst. The outcome where Camilla, knowing the truth, would abandon him.

But even when the truth was revealed, the worst he had imagined didn’t happen. Instead, he felt relieved.

It was like someone who had been hiding their sins finally confessing and being freed. By revealing the truth, Aster had gained freedom.

She was so warm that it made him emotional.

‘Even back then, she said she hated me but still tried to help me.’

Even when she was upset about his identity, she worried about him.

‘I hate you.’

Her harsh words at the end had hurt him, darkening his vision. Perhaps those words weren’t sincere.

But Aster couldn’t believe it unless he heard it from her lips. So, even though he knew it was childish, he couldn’t help but ask.

“Do you not hate me?”

“What?”

“You said you hated me.”

Camilla sighed in pity at Aster’s words. It was true she had said that, but she didn’t really hate him.

She had just been upset about suddenly learning his identity and his abrupt departure.

“That wasn’t… it wasn’t sincere. I told you earlier it was just a tantrum.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. If I meant it, I wouldn’t have given you the bracelet. Why would I care if you lived or died?”

“I thought it was out of pity. Because you felt sorry for me…”

Seeing Aster still not believing her, Camilla was frustrated, then she pulled his face close to hers.

“You said earlier that if it were business, I wouldn’t have jumped into the fire out of worry.”

“……”

“Then why can’t you feel that this is affection, you fool?”

At the word ‘affection,’ Aster’s eyes grew dim. He asked softly.

“Do you love me?”

“……”

“Answer me, Camilla.”

His pleading voice made Camilla’s lips quiver. Though it was a frustrated outburst, answering it would be akin to a confession.

But his face looked like he wouldn’t understand unless she spelled it out. She could no longer hide her feelings.

From the moment she realized he was Ash from her childhood. She could no longer reject him just because he was from Blanche.

Unlike when she didn’t remember him, now she felt closer to him. She knew too well why he had come back.

She couldn’t say it was impossible just because he was from Blanche. It was time to be honest.

“Yes.”

“Oh…”

Aster felt relieved at her confident words. And her next words overwhelmed him.

“I love you. Honestly, you’re the one who’s captured my heart the most right now.”

“……”

“I’ve been foolish. Whether then or now, it doesn’t matter to me that you’re from Blanche…!”

Camilla raised her voice but then paused. Tears suddenly fell from his eyes.

“Aster?”

Even at Camilla’s surprised call, Aster swallowed his sobs and cried.

“Ha.”

As the knot in his chest unraveled, his emotions surged. He couldn’t stop the tears that flowed like the debris of a collapsed dam.

Aster buried his face in Camilla’s hand and cried. Then, looking at her directly, he smiled brightly.

“I’m glad.”

“……”

“I’m glad you don’t hate me. That I felt it right.”

He had always thought she considered him special, but he was always anxious. Her kind actions contrasted with her cold words.

So he assumed she would be even colder if she knew the truth. That’s why he had been busy hiding it.

But the reality he faced was sweet.

Now she said she liked him. Her words that it didn’t matter if he was from Blanche melted Aster’s frozen heart like snow.

“I’m really glad.”

With those words, Aster pulled Camilla close. Camilla willingly leaned in and kissed his tear-streaked eyes.

The wet and hot tears seemed to wet her lips and her heart. Camilla wiped his eyes with her hand and said.

“You’re still a crybaby.”

“……”

“Now you’re just like the Ash I knew.”

At her gentle words, Aster leaned into her hand and cried more.

“Camilla.”

“Yes.”

“Lala.”

“Yes, Ash.”

The nickname felt unfamiliar after so long. It felt sweet on his tongue. Aster cried more at the sound of ‘Ash.’

“It’s been so long since I heard that nickname.”

“You’ll hear it every day from now on.”

“Yes.”

Even after that, he kept calling her name and rubbing his face against her. It felt like an indescribable tsunami of emotions was taking over his body.

“I was wrong. I’m sorry for deceiving you.”

“It’s okay.”

“Don’t hate me.”

“Not at all.”

Camilla felt awkward as the grown man held onto her and cried. She never imagined the man who seemed to control her would strip away his facade and cling to her in his most vulnerable state.

Knowing it was because he cherished her so much, she couldn’t help but smile.

Finally, she patted his shoulder and let him lean on hers. He buried his face and cried for a long time.

* * *

As soon as Camilla and Aster returned to Apelli Port, they headed straight to Francis Castle.

She had told her family she would be staying at her parents’ house for a few days, just in case Blanche came looking while she was on the cruise.

The Francis Castle, which she hadn’t visited in a while, still exuded a serene and comfortable atmosphere. As Camilla entered the castle lobby with a nostalgic face, two figures suddenly rushed towards her.

“Sis!”

“Sis!”

“Cathy, Eddie!”

Camilla warmly smiled as she hugged the twins who ran to her. They seemed to have grown a bit since she last saw them.

“Have you been well?”

“Liar! You said you’d visit often!”

Cathy whimpered, and Eddie sniffled right after.

“Sis, I missed you.”

Eddie’s front teeth had fallen out, leaving gaps. His new teeth were just starting to grow, making him even cuter.

Camilla hugged the two children tighter and apologized.

“I’m sorry, I’ve been so busy.”

She felt guilty for not paying attention to the twins due to her busy schedule. The children must have felt a greater sense of loss since she had filled the void left by their mother.

“You’ll stay for a long time, right? You’re not leaving soon, are you?”

“Of course. I said I’d stay for a few days.”

“Yay! I’m so happy!”

Catherine’s eyes sparkled as she raised her hands. Eddie cheered as well, making the lobby noisy.

At that moment, Aster spoke.

“They seem to have grown taller since I last saw them.”

He seemed amazed at how quickly the children were growing. As he measured their previous height with his hand, Catherine and Eddie approached him with shining eyes.