“When you said, ‘Spending time on someone like you is a waste!’ it seems those words struck a chord with my mother,” Lord Kernes began. “She started to wonder if she really had to spend the rest of her life with a man like that. Time is finite—was it worth wasting hers on someone so unbearable?”
“Mother-in-law…”
“After that, she acted quickly. She called in a lawyer and began the divorce process. As for my father, there must have been countless reasons to justify it. At first, he didn’t take her seriously, but when he realized she was determined, he even got on his knees and begged for forgiveness. Too little, too late, of course.”
“My father-in-law… groveling? (I wish I could’ve seen that.)”
My usually quiet mother-in-law, who always stayed in the background, enduring everything without a word… She must have been silently bearing so much all this time.
“I’ll act as Utrecht’s guardian until he comes of age, but he’ll inherit the Palermore earldom as planned. I’ll continue with the original plan to inherit the viscountcy. Does that work for you?”
“Wasn’t that the plan all along? But are you sure? You’re giving up the chance to finally make your first love come true.”
“That’s impossible. My sister-in-law only ever loved my brother. I did love her once, and I won’t deny that even after their marriage, a small part of me held onto those feelings. That’s why, when I proposed a nominal marriage to you, I framed it the way I did. But then, your behavior—the way you always act true to your heart—shocked me. You embodied the freedom I couldn’t have.”
“Lord Kernes…”
“I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“…What?”
“I mean, not entirely…”
Slump.
(Complete loss of strength.)
“Of course! That sounds about right! And the same goes for me!” I exclaimed, exasperated. Why the dramatic pause!?
“But I think there’s a high chance that I might fall for you in the future…”
“What!?”
“…Maybe… probably…”
Slump.
(Second collapse.)
“What do you mean, probably? Probably!” I exclaimed. Oh my, Lord Kernes… Your face is bright red.
He’s so transparent, yet somehow so stubborn in admitting his feelings.
Then again, I suppose I’m not so different.
“Ahem… Lord Kernes, you’re not better at horseback riding than I am, are you? A proper gentleman should at least ride with confidence if he wants my acknowledgment.”
“What? That’s not true! I’m a decent rider!”
“I’m better at climbing trees.”
“I’ve just never tried! I’d get the hang of it in no time!”
“And you’ve never won against me in chess.”
“This time, I’ll win!”
“How many times have you said that now?”
“T-today, I’ll finally avenge myself!”
“Well, I look forward to it. If you manage to win, the chance of me falling for you might increase.”
“What?” Lord Kernes’s eyes and mouth went perfectly round in surprise.
“Pfft,” I laughed at his reaction.
“Oh, by the way, here,” he said, pulling something out of his pocket. It was the wedding ring I’d thrown at my former father-in-law along with the divorce papers.
“If possible, I’d like you not to take this off again,” he said as he slid it back onto the ring finger of my left hand.
“That depends on whether you give me a reason to take it off.”
“I won’t,” he said softly, his blue eyes warm with a gentle smile.
At the moment, love has yet to bloom, and it will take time for it to transform into something deeper. But there’s no need to rush, is there?
After all, any time spent with you will never be wasted.
—And so, a few years later, a little girl, who would inherit her father’s looks and her mother’s personality, was born. But that is a story for another time.—
[The End]
0 Comments