VRGB 26

Chapter 26

She kept her eyes on me for a moment, then turned around and began to walk away.

“Return it and go.”

At Ridmore’s cry, Helena stopped in her tracks. Without looking back, she replied,

“What are you talking about?”

“The Countess’s keepsake you took.”

She fiddled with the necklace in her hand.

“…This is mine. I received it from Kalia through a legitimate transaction.”

In that moment, a surge of strength came from somewhere.

“No, it’s not.”

My voice cracked, hoarse and broken. Helena turned her head slightly.

Beside me, Ridmore cautiously studied my face.

I cleared my throat and spoke again.

“No. …Helena, you took it by force. You said if I didn’t give it to you, you wouldn’t care for the people of the estate. You said you’d leave them to die, and I had no choice but to give it to you.”

“Don’t utter another lie with that mouth.”

Ridmore firmly supported my back and added,

Helena didn’t reply immediately. She seemed to be thinking.

The surroundings were so quiet that we could hear the wind brushing the branches and insects chirping.

Then Helena let out a scoff.

“This worthless thing.”

She unclasped the necklace, raised it high in one hand, and smiled at me.

Then she let it drop—it fell hard to the ground. A gasp came from beside me.

Without wiping that smile off her face, Helena looked straight at me and stepped on the necklace a couple of times, grinding it into the dirt. Then she smiled faintly and walked away.

“Y-You…!”

Ridmore was angrier than I was. As if he had been personally insulted, he charged toward her furiously.

Helena must have heard the commotion, but she never once turned around.

I stood blankly, watching Ridmore pick up the necklace and desperately try to brush off the dirt, and Helena walking further away.

“Kalia.”

Ridmore approached with the necklace in hand.

The amethyst necklace was plain but beautiful.

Set on a silver chain, a slightly-larger-than-fingernail-sized amethyst was embedded at the center, its border lined with tiny diamonds.

Even through the dust, it sparkled.

“I couldn’t clean it completely. I’ll send it to the family’s jeweler for restoration.”

His sleeve was damp, wrinkled, and covered with dirt as he hesitantly handed it to me.

I took it and fastened it around my neck. Ridmore, a bit flustered, tried to stop me.

“It’s still dirty—”

But once I had it on and gently touched it, he said no more.

He must have clearly seen the wave of emotions crashing through me like a waterfall.

The heir to a noble family silently stepped back and turned away.

I was deeply grateful for the moment of solitude he gave me.

The feeling beneath my fingertips was something I hadn’t felt in such a long time.

As a child, I had never dared to wear it—only stored it in a jewelry box and touched it carefully.

It was so precious… that I wished I could forget it was precious.

All I could do was tremble and keep caressing it endlessly.

Tears dropped onto the amethyst. I wiped them with my palm, but they kept falling, so I kept wiping them again and again.

“…I’m sorry.”

I quickly looked up.

Ridmore stood turned away, his head bowed.

I hurriedly wiped the tears from my eyes.

As a signal that I was alright now, I cleared my throat, and he turned to look at me.

And in the next moment, I realized that the day’s surprises weren’t over yet.

With a heavy thud, Ridmore dropped to his knees on the ground.

The impact was so strong it made a loud sound.

“I’m sorry. I was foolish. I let others’ words sway me—I was just a fool who didn’t think for himself. I was too dumb to even realize how dumb I was.”

What… what is happening right now?

I couldn’t grasp the situation.

He bowed his head even deeper and said,

“No matter what I say, I can’t make up for what I did. But I still wanted to say I’m sorry… truly sorry.”

It was only with those final words that I understood what was happening.

I gasped in shock.

He’s apologizing. To me.

“Actually, earlier—when I heard my father’s words, I came looking for you because I wanted to talk. I should’ve apologized immediately, but… it was all just so different from what I believed. I was confused. I’m sorry. But now, I’m sure.”

His voice trembled badly.

“That you did nothing wrong. That you’re not the ‘daughter of a demon’ or anything like that.”

My stomach churned. I felt nauseous. My head spun, and my vision blurred.

Ridmore lay prostrate, waiting for my reaction.

A part of me wanted to blurt out anything and run away. Another part wanted to grab him by the collar and beg him to repeat what he just said.

It was different from Ayla’s apology. She never truly believed I was the daughter of a demon.

She simply clashed with my sharp nature and gloomy personality, and after some strange understanding, approached me in her own way.

Ridmore was different. He truly believed I was the daughter of a demon.

He thought I had cruelly tormented the kind Varden family, that I had inherited my father’s viciousness. Without a single doubt, he believed it—and tormented me in return.

Now he was on his knees, forehead pressed to the ground, waiting for my judgment.

This was the first time.

Someone was apologizing to me.

“I’ll do whatever you say. If you tell me never to appear before you again, I’ll disappear completely. If you want something—anything—I’ll make it happen.”

His voice shook, and so did I.

You’ll do whatever I say?

Give me anything I want?

I… can’t do that.

I’ve only ever reacted to how others treated me. I’ve never demanded something first.

I don’t know how. I’m uncomfortable doing that.

Ridmore pleaded,

“Please. It’s not to ease my conscience. I’m okay if you still hate me… but please, let me do this.”

“Why?”

My cracked voice barely escaped, like a whisper in the wind. But Ridmore understood and replied.

“Because that’s what I want.”

“Why do you want that?”

“Because, because…”

“Look at me.”

I wanted to see his face as he spoke.

When he slowly lifted his head, I sighed. It was the same expression as before.

The moment he stepped forward, stood in front of me, and declared himself against Helena—it was that same determined face.

Though he had been shaken by temptation and threats toward his family, he ultimately didn’t abandon me.

“Because I want to protect you. I want to shield you from the ignorant slander and judgment of others. Because I realized it was wrong. I want to save you from those awful relatives.”

“That’s all?”

“I…”

When I asked softly, Ridmore’s eyes wavered. He spoke slowly.

“I want to… get to know you. The real you, Kalia Estel, not the one hidden behind lies and infamy. I want to know what you think, how you lived… I want to see the person I never tried to see. As a member of the ducal family supporting you, and as a… friend, if I may.”

How could I say no?

“What you want… is what I want.”

“…What?”

Disbelief flickered across Ridmore’s face. A faint hope lit up his dirt-covered face.

I met it with my eyes, taking in the sincerity and emotion within it, and finally, a smile spread across my lips. I said it again.

“I want the same thing you do, Ridmore.”

He looked stunned by my smile. That silly expression made me smile even more.

The smile turned into a laugh, and the small laugh grew louder.

I didn’t know why.

My body was so tired I couldn’t lift a finger, and my mind was a mess thanks to Helena, but I couldn’t help but laugh. I laughed so hard I cried.

How long had it been since I last laughed like this?

I tried to count the years… and gave up.

I bent over laughing, then wiped my tears with my fingers.

“Help me up.”

I reached out to Ridmore, who was staring at me with his mouth open.

“O-oh, right.”

He awkwardly stood, grabbed my hand, and helped me up.

A lot of time had passed. I looked at the forest, now bathed in sunset, and said with regret,

“Looks like we’ll have to skip today’s training.”

“Training? Here?”

I nodded at his question.

“I first made a contract in this forest. It’s quiet, so it’s good for practicing alone.”

“Hm… not safe this late. It’s a deserted road, and maybe—”

He was about to say ‘Helena’ but stopped himself. Instead, he gently draped my arm over his shoulder to support me.

“Anyway, it’s late. Let’s head back to the dorms. I’ll walk you.”

So, what does this all mean? How does it end? What happens between us? Did I open my heart to him or not? All those questions were probably written on my face.

Even so, he patiently held back his curiosity and focused on helping me. I appreciated that and let him support me without resistance.

“Thank you.”

A moment later, I added,

“…Please take care of me, friend.”

His body flinched. His steps slowed.

Ridmore turned his head. I didn’t avoid his gaze.

His expression was complicated. He looked like he couldn’t believe it, yet also strangely relieved.

I tried to recall our first meeting.

He probably was, too.

From our disastrous first encounter, the worst conflicts at the duke’s estate, and the chaos in the dorms…

Here we were, walking side by side down a deserted path, looking like a total mess.

Suddenly, I realized how embarrassingly cheesy my words had been.

Embarrassed, I tilted my head back to look at the sky. It was glowing orange.

“Ahem.”

He definitely felt it too. I heard a small cough. He bit his lip a little.

Then came a voice—so soft it was almost inaudible:

“…Me too, Kalia. Please take care of me.”