Chapter 9

“Forgotten? Don’t love? Who was the one who left first…! Who was it that disappeared without a word!”

“Ah, Miss…”

Hearing her angry, shouted words, a look of joy flickered across Dion’s face. He pressed his face into the hem of Lisbeth’s dress and spoke.

“It was my fault. All of it was my fault.”

“You told me to wait a little, that you’d find a way no matter what. But then, you’re the one who disappeared without even saying goodbye!”

“Yes, I was foolish. Miss, please punish me. Please… do something about this foolish man…”

At those words, Lisbeth pulled her skirt away with force. This time, the hem finally slipped from Dion’s hands. As a result, Dion fell forward, his palms hitting the floor. Lisbeth, unable to control her own strength, stumbled back a few steps.

Sniffling and still fuming, Lisbeth finally let out the anger she’d been holding back toward Dion.

“Why did you do that? Why didn’t you trust me! Do you have any idea how much pain I was in, how much I suffered when you disappeared, how much I…”

“Miss Lisbeth…”

Dion, having gotten up again, crawled on his knees toward Lisbeth. He spoke between ragged breaths.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I should have trusted you more, should have believed you when you said you wouldn’t abandon me… But when I heard that your marriage had already been arranged, I… foolishly…”

“What… did you say?”

Where on earth had he heard such a thing? 

Lisbeth’s marriage had not been arranged until years after Dion suddenly disappeared. 

How had such a rumor reached Dion’s ears?

“You heard that… and that’s why you left me?”

“I was a man with nothing. I thought it was time to stop coveting a noble lady, like you. You can blame me for being foolish, but at the time, that was all I could think.”

“Dion, just… Who told you that?”

“I’m sorry. I overheard the Young Viscount’s words without permission.”

Lisbeth’s legs gave out and she sank down.

My older brother, the only one who knew how deeply I and Dion cared for each other, had said that? On the surface, he’d said things like ‘Love is precious, I understand,’ and after Dion disappeared, he’d done his best to comfort me?

Tears streamed endlessly down her face. There was resentment for the lost years, but also joy mixed in.

Because Dion hadn’t disappeared because he disliked her or was disappointed with her.

The tears that ran down her cheeks were wiped away by a large, warm hand. Lisbeth looked at Dion, who had wiped her tears. He, too, was crying.

The hands she’d sworn she’d never extend to him moved on their own. Her slightly cool hand wiped away the tears on his cheek. Dion took that hand in both of his, pressing it to his cheek.

“Later, as time passed, I realized. I had disappointed you. Because I had no confidence, I used the excuse of wanting the best for your future, not wanting to be a burden, and I hurt you. I made it so things couldn’t be undone…”

“…Because you disappeared, I… I thought you were disappointed in me, that I couldn’t even protect you…”

“That could never be. Miss, never. I just… didn’t want to be an obstacle in your life. But… Miss…”

Dion bit his lip. Seeing his downcast face, Lisbeth realized he knew everything about her situation. She bowed her head and murmured.

“…You know, don’t you? I was married. But my husband died early, so I became a widow.”

“I… found out after I came to the capital.”

“It’s not like it happened because of you, Dion. I just… had bad luck, that’s all. But still.”

Lisbeth let out a small laugh. It was a self-mocking laugh.

“Seeing that I met you again, maybe my luck isn’t so bad after all.”

“…Miss.”

“Dion, you know…”

What was she thinking? Lisbeth felt a flame she thought had long since died out flare up inside her chest. For the first time today, she met Dion’s eyes straight on. His green eyes were as fresh as early summer, just like before.

Couldn’t I be selfish, just this once? It would end here anyway. He was destined to become the High Priest, and I was just… a widow.

Her body moved on its own.

Rising slightly, Lisbeth’s face stopped just before his lips, and Dion froze in place. 

Would he dislike it? He belonged to the Gods now—maybe he would push me away.

But she didn’t want to think too deeply about anything.

“Just… once…”

She moved closer, and lightly pressed her lips to Dion’s. Really, just a light touch. She felt his hot breath flow into her. Ah, she had missed Dion all this time. Even with just this childlike kiss, she felt life return to her body.

Just once, she wanted to remember that her first love was real, that she, too, had a beautiful moment of love. And she succeeded.

That was enough. As she began to pull away—

“…!”

Dion’s arms wrapped around her roughly. Their lips met again. Breathing heavily, Dion hungrily sought Lisbeth’s breath. He sucked on her lower lip, then pushed his tongue in. Lisbeth not only didn’t resist, she willingly parted her lips. Their tongues intertwined, like two snakes seeking each other. Lisbeth stretched out her arms and wrapped them around Dion’s neck. He pulled her closer. Their knees pressed between each other’s legs.

One of Dion’s hands slid into Lisbeth’s hair. The golden hair, so neatly pinned up, unraveled in an instant. His hand drifted through her fine hair and came down to the nape of her neck. Lisbeth grabbed his midnight-colored hair tightly. Without either of them knowing who started it, a sigh of pleasure escaped between them.

Their lips slowly parted. A single silver thread clung between them, then snapped. In that short time, they had kissed so fiercely that both of their lips were swollen.

After the kiss, Lisbeth was overcome with embarrassment. She had only meant to burn away the last remnants of her desire, to give him a light, final kiss as a farewell. But when she came to her senses, she realized she had been desperately entangled with Dion.

Blushing bright red, Lisbeth stammered,

“Di, Dion, I’m sorry. I… I didn’t mean for it to go this far…”