Happy ending 31

 Chapter 31

    ***

    Returning to the castle, Blake realized that something was going wrong.

    “What's wrong with you? Did something happen?"

    The man brushed off the dirt, and then looked at Lily.

    She had a terrible expression, as if she had seen a ghost, or, she seemed to have received ten sad news in a row that her beloved acquaintance died in an accident.

    "You lied to me. You can't do this!"

    “What do you mean…..”

    As Lily threw the letter on the floor, Blake realized what was going on.

    The man bit his teeth hard.

    He shouldn't have been caught like this.

    At least, he tried to tell Lily himself after seeing the situation.

    After sending a reply to her ex. First of all, Blake had to make a huge accident to help Lily.

    “Did you go into my office?”

    “I want to say that it was my fault for breaking in without permission. Should I apologize now?"

    “……I don't know what to say. Anyway, why don't we move to an appropriate place and talk? I’ll explain everything."

    “Say it here. There is no place that suits the time and place like now.”

    Lily looked obviously out of her mind. It was the case, and she was doing her best not to miss the end of the shallow reason.

    Fear that her ex-husband will come to get her. And maybe, maybe, maybe... Hope that Blake might save her.

    Maybe it was just an illusion. It was like a wild flower in front of a wave.

    It would cost him enormous resources, such as time and power, to legally help her stand alone.

    Even if he was a duke, it was an amount that he could not easily handle.

    If he changed his mind, Lily was over. She hated it more than dying to return to her ex-husband's hands.

    Lily thought.

    'I have to go somewhere.'

    If she stayed here longer, she would definitely want to lean on this person.

    “What…”

    It was the first time  Blake saw Lily like that.

    For example, the man would immediately find Lily even if she was surrounded by people in the Winter Castle.

    Because every elegant and careful gesture caught his eye.

    He had seen her often, but it was the first time he had seen her raise her voice like she was now. How frightened she must have been of Count Fox's letter. The man felt choked.

    “……you don’t have to leave this place, so a letter to him doesn't mean anything." (Blake)

    “Why do you decide that by yourself?” (Lily)

    “I was afraid that you would leave if I told you ahead of time.” (Blake)

    “You know well. I’m going back now. Thank you so much!" (Lily)

    “I’m sorry that it seems like I’m risking something else, but I don’t think it’s a way of saying thank you.” (Blake)

    IIDexter followed later down to the first floor. He ran down the stairs two steps at a time because he was in a hurry.

    Because of the commotion, the employees also gathered.

    However, the atmosphere between Blake and Lily was so horrific that they moved away on their own.

    IIDexter disappeared with the people, thinking, 'I'd rather die now.'

    “Can you tell? I thought I hid my heart well, but I guess I'm still inexperienced. I'm so ashamed of my etiquette teacher.”

    Lily turned pale and staggered.

    She bumped into a wall as she stepped back. The vase placed on the pine stone wall shook.

    The man nimbly grabbed the vase, leaving her trapped between him and the wall.

    Lily's overflowing emotions were conveyed with a hot breath.

    “Get out of the way, I have to pack my things.”

    "Don’t go!"

    Blake's eyes looking down at Lily also began to burn.

    “You had fun here, the damn employees even set the table for you. How about Dominic II? You don't know how uncommon it is for a horse of such good pedigree to follow you alone!" (Blake)

    "I’m going!"

    Lily tried to push Blake away, but his rigid body didn't move.

    He wanted to stop her rebellion by grabbing her wrist, but he couldn't. How much has Lily changed because of the last contact? Now he was afraid to even touch her slightly.

    “Then where are you going?” (Blake)

    “…”

    Lily laughed as if the man knew the answer.

    “I would rather die. It is the only place where I can go completely by my own choice since I was born.” (Lily)

    At those words, Blake felt absurd and took a step back.

    How should he accept the fact that Lily would rather die than get his help?

    It hurt as if a sword had been stabbed deep into his bones, and he felt empty and shabby by himself.

    His anger also rose to the top of his head.

    "Winter Castle did its best for you. Miss, sometimes at noon you have fun in snowball fights with Il Dexter. A few days ago, I looked good on you, too. It was a skill that I couldn't even do, but I also danced!"

    The man's voice grew even higher.

    He didn't understand that death was better, and her words were just cruel.

    If it was such a trivial life, then...she shouldn’t have smiled at him in the beginning.

    "Miss. Let me tell you for sure. Eventually, when all of this is over, you will thank me.”

    “You terrible person. Don't assume that everything will go your way. Human emotions and minds cannot be solved by calculations. My heart as well.”

    “My calculations are always correct!”

    “I’m good at doing those calculations too, can I tell you one thing?”

    Lily was in a state of ecstasy enough to spit out the words she normally never spoke.

    “It’s not that I don’t have to leave here. You're stopping me because you've come to like me." (Lily)

    At that, Blake stopped abruptly.

    The cold, colder than ever, gained an atmosphere beyond the cold stone walls and tapestries.

    “Did you think I didn’t know…… ?” (Lily)

    Blake opened his eyes to deny it, but his lips were dry and nothing came out.

    “I come from a place where no one tells the truth. It's perfect for training to read your heart." (Lily)

    "I…don't like you. At best, it's likable. It's a feeling that a passing puppy can embrace even a stone." (Blake)

    He exhaled hard, but Lily didn't even pretend to listen.

    “But love is like a dream overnight, isn’t it? You're just curious about a woman you have met for the first time."

    "I…."

    Blake was about to say this wasn't the first time they met, but Lily was quicker.

    "What if I believe that your love is sincere? And what if I get the illusion that I’ll be here forever? One day you'll change your mind and say: Love has grown cold, so go away now." (Lily)

    The hardships that arise when she completely escapes from her husband.

    Numerous court battles, the eyes of nobles, gossip, criticism, and property consumption….. Yes, the honor could not be overlooked.

    If rumored wrong, Blake will be a scum that passed down from word of mouth to future generations. If Lily was really going to escape, her husband and parents would do that to Blake.

    If he experienced this kind of hardship... … . Lily was sure. Anyone would let go of her hand and run away.

    “You have no idea what will happen in the future…..” (Lily)

    “I’m ready for everything.” (Blake)

    “You don’t even know exactly who my father is.” (Lily)

    The humans around Lily were not always normal. Her father, mother, superficial friends, and her husband. 

    That's why she didn't know love.

    “No matter what the future holds, I will not be cruel.” (Blake)

    “Do you want me to tell you what you look like in my eyes now?” (Lily)

    Men whispered love to Lily, but they didn't feel it was worth asking her for any advice.

    It was only after her father decided to make Lily marry that he informed her. Count Fox also decided to lock her in the house and ordered her to do so.

    And now even Blake made his own judgment and hid the facts. Blake read her thoughts from Lily's empty expression.

    For a moment, he would rather be buried in the ground. A feeling of guilt rose from his back and strangled him.

    Lily didn't continue what she had said before, and just shrugged her shoulders.

    “I’ll go in first.”

    “Is this the end? Will you leave without talking to me?"

    “…..”

    “Okay. I'm telling you this in advance since you’re not going to talk to me anymore, but don't even think about going down the mountain range. Neither the carriage nor the horses will be used. Please do not return to the capital by any chance.” (Blake)

    The moment Lily left the Duchy, she knew that even Blake wouldn't be able to help her. And now, in anger, this kind of remark was the best.

    "You know? This is confinement." (Lily)

    At Lily's helpless words, Blake swept his dark hair roughly.

    And he sighed softly.

    "I, too, know well.”

    Blake and Lily both turned their backs and walked away to opposite ends at the same time.