Chapter 4.5

“…What?”  

Liz gasped. Her eyes trembled violently.  

Could I have misread it? 

But it was undoubtedly Theodore’s handwriting.  

Liz tried to calm her pounding heart.  

Before she could read the next line, a knock sounded on the door.  

“Are you inside?”  

It was Valentine’s voice.  

Startled, Liz reflexively shouted.  

“Just a moment, please!”  

She felt like someone caught doing something wrong.  

Even though Liz hadn’t done anything wrong.  

Liz hurriedly shoved the letters back into the document envelope and looked around.  

“Where should I hide this….”  

If she left it in the drawer, he might find it.  

Liz hastily lifted the carpet on the floor.  

‘I’ll just put it here for now.’  

Liz slid the document envelope between the carpet and the floor.  

Before covering the carpet again, she noticed a strange crack in the floor.  

“…What’s that?”  

Liz frowned and ran her fingers over the floor.  

The wooden floor had a rectangular gap, large enough for a person to pass through.  

“Is something wrong?”  

Valentine’s voice came again.  

There was no time to think further.  

“No, I was just cleaning. It’s such a mess…!”  

Liz hurriedly hid the letters under the floor and covered the carpet.  

She then casually pushed a trolley filled with clothes over it.  

‘This should do.’  

Liz composed her expression and opened the door.  

“You’ve… ha, you’ve arrived?”  

Valentine looked at Liz with a suspicious expression.  

“What were you doing inside?”  

“I was just cleaning. I’ll be staying here for a while, after all.”  

Liz awkwardly made up an excuse.

Valentine frowned.  

However, seeing that the room was indeed tidied as Liz had said, he didn’t press further.  

Liz cautiously broke the silence.  

“How… what did you talk about?”  

Valentine sighed and entered the room.  

He sat down on the long sofa.  

“She’s more shameless than I thought. She’s truly her mother’s daughter.”  

Valentine rubbed his forehead with a tired expression.  

He shook his head a few times before continuing.  

“I’ve been thinking about a few options. Let me propose the one that would be the most comfortable for you.”  

“What kind of option?”  

At Liz’s question, Valentine hesitated slightly.  

“This way, you won’t have to go through anything difficult. Think of it as the simplest way to maintain our relationship.”  

Liz furrowed her brows. It was unlike Valentine to speak in such a roundabout way.  

“So, what do I have to do?”  

“You don’t have to do anything. You just need to….”  

Valentine paused briefly.  

“Give the name of Winchester… back to Isabel Myra.”  

“…What?”  

Liz’s heart sank.  

With a trembling voice, Liz asked,  

“Then, what… what am I to you?”  

“Liz. Please don’t misunderstand me.”  

Valentine took a deep breath before speaking again.  

“Haven’t I told you many times before? The title of Winchester is nothing but an empty facade. It’s a position that forces you to live your entire life trapped in a predetermined mold. Not fulfilling those obligations and remaining as my lover, as Valentine’s lover, isn’t a bad thing. No, it might even be better.”  

At his words, Liz felt the world spin before her eyes.  

Heat surged from the nape of her neck to the top of her head, while all the blood in her body seemed to turn cold.  

He had once asked her to become a Winchester, to be his family.  

And now, he was asking her to give up being his family. What was he even saying?  

Suppressing her dizziness, Liz parted her lips.  

“So, you’re telling me… to become your mistress?”  

Valentine flinched at her words.  

But he quickly continued with the explanation he had prepared beforehand.  

“You know this, don’t you, Liz? I don’t love that woman. In fact, I loathe her.”  

But Liz’s lips trembled as she gave a twisted smile.  

“You’re not denying it, are you?”  

She hadn’t misunderstood. He truly intended to make her his mistress.  

Seeing Liz’s expression, Valentine tried to explain.  

“It’s not… no. It’s different. I won’t hide your existence from anyone. I promise to tell everyone that you, Liz, are my true lover….”  

“Valentine.”  

Liz called his name softly, her head bowed. A long silence followed.  

It hurt. The words weren’t a metaphor. A sharp pain spread through her chest.  

It felt as though a blade was carving into her lungs, making it hard to even breathe.  

But she didn’t want to cry.  

After some time, Liz finally raised her head.  

Her eyes were bloodshot.  

“You asked me… to become your family.”  

Liz spoke slowly, taking deep breaths between her words.  

“I liked those words more than any gift you ever gave me. But now, are you saying we can’t be family anymore?”  

Her eyes were filled with sorrow.  

Valentine, too, looked regretful and apologetic.  

But Liz recognized the name of that expression. It was that “however.”  

“All those times you asked me to live as a Winchester… were they lies? What do you expect me to make of all the effort I’ve put in?”  

Liz struggled to hold back her tears as she stared at him.  

Valentine shook his head.  

“A trivial name like that doesn’t matter. Our hearts are connected. Isn’t that enough?”  

Valentine held Liz’s hand and spoke earnestly.  

But Liz replied,  

“Can you say the same thing to my father?”  

Valentine’s face hardened.  

Liz spoke each word with a heavy heart.  

“Would you say that to the man who clung to the wheel of your carriage and rolled on the ground? That our hearts are connected, so it’s enough? That you’re going to take me, his daughter, as your mistress?”  

Valentine couldn’t answer. Liz gave a bitter smile and nodded.  

“Yes, you’re the kind of person who can say such things. You can be as cruel as you want to people like me and my father—ordinary people. No, you’ve already been cruel to my family.”  

“That’s not true, Liz.”  

Valentine quickly shook his head.  

“Your father’s misfortune… I will make sure to compensate for it in the way you desire someday. Even now, I’m considering your opinion.”  

“Oh, so this is your way of being considerate? You’re powerful enough to make me your mistress without a second thought, but instead, you’re kindly asking for my consent? How very merciful of you.”  

Valentine let out a deep sigh and said,  

“Liz. I’m as heartbroken as you are.”  

“That’s a lie.”  

Liz’s voice trembled as she retorted.  

“Saying, ‘I’m just as sad and hurt as you are, so please endure it.’ That’s something only the less hurt person says. Shall we really switch places?”  

“If I could switch places with you, I would….”  

“Can you say that in front of your mother?”  

Valentine’s face turned pale.  

Liz gave a faint smile. Valentine responded with a trembling voice.  

“That’s… there’s no need to tell my mother. In front of her, you can continue living as Isabel Winchester….”  

“No. Your mother already knows.”  

“That can’t be…!”  

Valentine’s eyes widened. He shook his head as he spoke.  

“That’s impossible. Didn’t you say it yourself? That my mother first met you at the wedding….”  

“That doesn’t matter anymore.”  

Liz shook her head.  

“You’re saying you’ll make me a shadow and live that life. As Isabel Winchester. And with that child.”  

“That child!”  

Valentine shouted sharply.  

“Liz. I didn’t want to explain myself because it’s not worth it, but if you’re having delusions because of that child, please stop.”  

Liz didn’t respond.  

Her silence seemed to unsettle Valentine even more, and he hurriedly continued.  

“I’ll say it again: I have no relationship with that woman. Haven’t you figured out why she left Myra? Isabel, that woman, ran away after having an affair with her escort knight. She shamelessly returned to Winchester after confirming that the child doesn’t resemble its father, trying to cling to us!”  

“Yes. Thank you for explaining, even if it’s late.”  

Liz replied curtly.  

“But soon, you’ll have a deep relationship with her. Because you’re going to give that child the name Winchester.”  

“That’s….”  

Valentine let out a deep sigh.  

Liz knew he was struggling.  

But at that moment, Liz found it impossible to sympathize with him.  

The fact that Valentine thought this was the best solution.  

That alone was the deepest wound to Liz.  

“…Anyway, I understand your rejection clearly. Let’s end today’s conversation here. It seems we both need time to cool our heads.”  

Valentine stood up from the chair.  

He looked down at Liz and said,  

“If you change your mind, let me know anytime. If you accept my proposal today, I promise to make you happier than any man’s wife. I promise no one will dare point fingers at you or your family.”  

Liz didn’t answer.  

Valentine, too, seemed not to expect a response, as he quietly left the room.