Chapter 7 – Epilogue: Damian

Damian Houndworth was an unhappy boy. Before he even learned how to freely express his emotions, he had to master stiffening the muscles on his face. Though young, if he laughed at something amusing, he was scolded for being frivolous; if he cried from the exhaustion of his daily routine, he was reprimanded for being weak.

All for the sake of Houndworth.

Though he hadn’t chosen to be born, Damian was stripped of all the beautiful parts of life simply because he was the child destined to inherit the family name.

He met her at a time when he had grown used to such a life, when tears no longer came, when he no longer expected affection, and when he had stopped questioning the meaning of existence itself.

“Oh no, Miss! You’ll fall!”

“It’s okay if I fall!”

“No, Miss, it’s not okay!”

One sunny early summer day, he visited the Swanton household for purely political reasons. Houndworth needed Swanton for their plans, and Damian was tasked with negotiating accordingly. That was all. Nothing more, nothing less.

“Kya!”

Before even meeting the head of the Swanton family, Damian encountered something he had never seen before.

A golden ribbon was crookedly tied behind bright red hair. A girl with a skirt full of frills and a face covered in freckles had fallen on her bottom after bumping into his thigh. Though she must have been in pain, she merely frowned without screaming or crying. Intrigued, Damian stared at her, and the girl quickly stood up, brushed off her skirt, and approached him with a defiant glare. Then, raising her tiny foot…

“You bad man!”

Thwack.

She kicked his shin.

Though the kick from a child wasn’t painful, it was certainly shocking. Her fiery demeanor and finger-pointing suggested she wasn’t one to back down easily.

“Eeeek, oh no, Sir! I am so sorry!”

A middle-aged woman, likely the girl’s nanny, hurriedly apologized, her face pale as she bowed repeatedly. She quickly hid her young master behind her, as though she believed Damian might harm her. This irked Damian, though it also piqued his interest.

“A gentleman should help a lady to her feet if she falls.”

“Ah.”

‘Is that so?’

Damian wasn’t sure. He had been taught to do so for adult women, but he wasn’t sure if the same applied to children.

Damian raised an eyebrow at the loud girl. Usually, children would quiet down the moment he looked at them. Some were even frightened to tears. He had expected the same reaction, but this child, who reminded him of a strawberry, continued to snort angrily, refusing to back down.

“My apologies. My younger sister has been rude. Please accept my apology on her behalf.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“This way, please. My father is waiting.”

At that moment, Philip arrived to escort him. Damian followed Philip to the study, his gaze sweeping over the mansion, which clearly showed signs of care and upkeep.

A dull ache throbbed in his chest for some reason he couldn’t explain.

The negotiations that day concluded smoothly. Swanton, too, sought to expand its influence, making the deal mutually beneficial.

Afterward, Damian began visiting the Swanton mansion frequently under the pretext of the contract. Naturally, the children grew closer over time.

Damian learned Berry’s preferences, personality, likes, and dislikes. Berry had always been a strong-willed child, even from a young age, standing out from her peers. She upheld what she believed to be right and never bowed before what she deemed wrong.

Damian liked Berry for that. He felt that, even within the monstrous confines of Houndworth, Berry would surely protect her own light.

…Without succumbing to the darkness.

“Father, I believe it would be beneficial to arrange a political marriage with the young lady of the Swanton family.”

“Why?”

“From a business perspective, it would be advantageous. I’ve submitted a report on the strength of the Swanton family. Please review it.”

Thus, Damian worked tirelessly to arrange an engagement with Berry. If he admitted that he liked her, his father would surely interfere. After all, his father had taught him that love was a weakness, and one must never create weaknesses. Perhaps that was why his father didn’t love his wife or even Damian himself.

But Damian didn’t want to become like that. When he saw Berry, he could finally breathe. Before he knew it, seeing Berry had become his sole joy in life.

She was as bright as the sun. She was like a ripe summer strawberry, resembling everything that sparkled in the world.

In truth, it was harder not to love her.

He felt he had to love her to survive.

Even when he was trapped in darkness, her innocent face would lift his spirits. When he felt consumed by the bloodshed of his harsh duties, Damian had to see Berry to endure.

Her brightness seemed to pity his filth. When her light shone on him, Damian felt as though he were being saved by a divine presence.

‘So please, let Berry remain as she is forever.’

“That seems fine. If you’re not marrying royalty, you might as well choose a family better than Houndworth. Swanton appears to be the best option. Get engaged.”

“Yes, Father.”

This was Damian’s first victory against his father.

But an engagement could be broken at any time. To protect Berry, Damian decided he must stop seeing her, meeting her, or showing his affection for her in front of others.

On the day he decided to go abroad to gain the strength to defy his father, Damian cleared his schedule and went on a picnic with Berry and Philip. It was like a dream. Though he returned home that evening with a bruised face from his father’s fists, it didn’t matter.

The fleeting memory of happiness was enough for him to live on.

“Is it true? If I tell you about Berry, you’ll get me that limited-edition book?”

“Yes. I’m worried I might not care for her adequately as her husband since I’ve been away for so long. I’d appreciate your help, Miss Molly Brandon.”

When his father’s health declined and Damian grew older, gaining the freedom to travel between domestic and international locations, he sought out Berry’s close friend, Molly.

Molly, who lacked greed and had no interest in real-life men, was the perfect friend for Berry. Molly’s only passion was rare romance novels with risqué content.

Damian promised to procure such books from abroad, and Molly agreed to help.

Through her, Damian learned Berry’s taste in men and even her romantic bucket list.

Watching the sunset together, seeing the sunrise, sharing fondue, dining at a fancy restaurant, and having a first kiss while watching fireworks…

‘Adorable.’

Among the 100 items listed, there wasn’t a single one Damian couldn’t fulfill.

He had power, people, and immense wealth.

“Purchase a cruise ship.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Oh, and contact Emilia Bush. Pay her whatever she asks.”

Damian smiled as he held the bucket list notebook to his lips. He would meet Berry next weekend—not through a portrait or from afar, but face-to-face.

Thump, thump.

His heart beat pleasantly. His mouth tasted sweet, as if someone had sprinkled sugar on it.

‘Am I… happy?’

Damian tilted his head. He wasn’t sure, but yes. He thought he might be.

Seeing her smile in person would surely send shivers through his body, spreading this thrill throughout him.

Berry.

The nickname he gave her because of her love for strawberries, his little strawberry lady.

As she grew more beautiful with each passing day, Damian had gone through great lengths to rid her of the pests daring to approach her. His subordinates would discreetly visit and utter a few words, scaring them off easily. Yet, new suitors appeared every week, keeping him on edge.

He didn’t know who her latest partner was, but he needed to meet her soon.

“Miss Berry secretly purchased tickets for the cruise ship party you bought.”

“Who’s her partner?”

“Jeffrey Gixson, Sir. Rumor has it he’s the son of a provincial noble, here to buy horses in the capital.”

“Is that true?”

“Upon investigation, he appears to be a con artist. None of his records are clear.”

“I see. Dig deeper into his past crimes.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Even if he told Berry now, she wouldn’t listen. Even if she did, she’d find another man. Her current goal was simple: a kiss.

Thus, it was better to let things be and intervene just before the kiss.

Damian quickly devised a plan and opened the jewelry box he had prepared. Inside was an adorable necklace that reminded him of her.

Click. Closing the box again, he gently stroked the velvet cover.

He missed Berry.

Please Eat Strawberries <END>