Chapter 9.8

Rexion’s explanation was detailed and consistent, so it didn’t seem like he was lying.

Claire recalled what happened at that time. She thought back to why she believed Helion was her lifesaver, and the reasons for her misunderstanding up until now.

It all started with the Royal Guard’s testimony. He said he saw Helion nearby, and when she asked Helion if he remembered, he said he did, and when she called him her savior, he hadn’t denied it.

She was sure of it then….

‘Ah, I think I remember now.’

At that moment, the words Helion had spoken flashed through Claire’s mind.

Come to think of it, they had hardly talked about it. He seemed to brush it off. Even when he received her gift, he didn’t look pleased.

The witness’s statement, the dark gray hair, the voice, and the scent….

Looking back on those days, Claire could tell for certain. The man who had saved her was not Helion, but Rexion.

Why did I get it wrong?

Considering all the circumstances, it was Rexion who had helped Claire.

She should have doubted Helion’s suspicious reaction, but instead, she even came to care for him.

To think that misunderstanding and delusion turned into a one-sided love. Who had she been in love with all this time?

She had already sorted out her feelings, but even so, she was shocked. Even more so than when she had just learned Helion’s true nature.

The biggest reason Claire had come to like Helion was because he was her lifesaver, so what was this emotion called love, and had all her feelings so far been a lie… Her mind was in a jumble, all mixed up.

“It was my first time.”

At the moment when she was so confused that she didn’t know how to answer, an unexpected remark came from Rexion’s lips. And it was a tremendous confession.

“What do you mean? What was your first time?”

“You were the first woman I ever held.”

“What?”

At the word “first,” it felt as if her heart had dropped. Her deep brown eyes widened, and her eyelashes trembled.

“Really, your first time?”

Unable to believe it, Claire asked again, and Rexion gave a bittersweet smile.

“Yes. It was my first time.”

“….”

It was hard to believe the words of a man who could say it was his first time without changing his expression, but seeing his ears turn bright red, it seemed he was telling the truth.

No wonder. He had seemed so nervous, almost like it was his first time—was it really true? Then what about the rumors? Why did such rumors spread?

As Claire looked at him with a confused expression, Rexion let out a deep sigh.

“If you misunderstood because of the rumors about me, let me make it clear. They are all nonsense. I have never liked or held any woman except you.”

“T-then, what about the rumors?”

Another deep sigh escaped Rexion’s lips.

“As you saw a moment ago, the real person behind those rumors is my brother.”

“!”

She had hoped that the one in the shocking scene would be Helion, but hearing it directly from Rexion’s mouth was still surprising. At the same time, her mind suddenly cleared, and questions arose.

Rexion must have heard the rumors too. He was the one suffering from them, so why had he let them be?

“But why did you stay silent even when such strange rumors were spreading? Didn’t you feel wronged?”

Claire hesitated, thinking he might have personal reasons, but in the end, she couldn’t hold back her curiosity and asked.

“It was all for the Radner family. Father wanted my brother to inherit the family, and I agreed. So for the family’s honor, I thought such a sacrifice was acceptable.”

“….”

“I didn’t care what rumors were spread about me. I wasn’t interested in marriage, and any woman who would reject me just because of rumors, I would have rejected too. Ah, of course, all these thoughts were only until I met you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. If I had known you were avoiding me because you thought I was a philanderer, I would have told you the truth much sooner.”

She hadn’t avoided him just because of the rumors, but in this situation, Claire couldn’t argue, so she just listened to him.

“Just know this one thing. I have given both my body and heart to only one person. And that will never change.”

“Don’t tell me that one person is…?”

Her heart began to pound.

“Yes, it’s you. Everything I’ve done for you so far has come from my true feelings.”

She could have guessed it through their conversation, but hearing it directly from Rexion made her heart race uncontrollably.

“I didn’t expect you to answer me right away. I just wanted you to know how I feel.”

When Claire didn’t answer, Rexion gave a sheepish smile.

“S-sorry. I should go for today.”

Right now, she could barely breathe, let alone talk to him, so Claire hurriedly tried to leave.

She felt as if she had experienced too much in one day. She simply couldn’t stay at the Radner family’s villa any longer. If she stayed any longer, she thought she might suffocate.

“Of course. Let me escort you to where the carriage is.”

Rexion supported Claire’s staggering body and gestured toward the door.

Having touched so many times before, his hand at her waist shouldn’t have felt awkward, but perhaps because she had just heard his confession, she felt as if all the heat in her body was gathering at her waist, and she could hardly keep her composure.

“T-thank you.”

Afraid that any more contact would make things strange, Claire gently pushed him away and tried to stand up straight.

“Then please follow me carefully.”

Rexion, reading the mood, walked ahead toward the carriage, and she followed behind. For some reason, his back as he walked ahead looked more dependable than usual.

At the same time, the halo she had once seen around Helion seemed to appear around him instead. She felt as if all the emotions she had suppressed were rising up and overflowing.

She tried hard to clear her mind by rubbing her eyes, but the words that he liked her kept echoing in her head, making him shine even brighter in her eyes.

Her heart pounded as if it would burst. If Rexion turned around, he could easily guess she had accepted his confession.

Because of that, Claire couldn’t lift her head until they reached the carriage.