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~Chapter 31~
When Blake returned to the castle, he realized something had gone wrong.
“Why are you acting like this? Did something happen?”
He was brushing dirt from the hole he’d dug, but stopped and looked at Lily.
She looked horrified, as if she’d seen a ghost. Or maybe as if she’d just received news, ten times in a row, that someone she cared about had died.
“You lied to me. How could you do this?”
“What do you mean—ah, I see…”
When Lily threw the letter to the floor, Blake finally understood what had happened.
He clenched his teeth.
He never wanted her to find out like this.
He’d planned to tell Lily himself, at the right time—after he sent a reply to her ex-husband. He wanted to cause some trouble first, so Lily would have no choice but to accept his help.
“Did you go into my office?”
“You look like you want to say it’s my fault for entering without permission. Should I apologize right now?”
“…I just don’t know what to say. Anyway, can we talk somewhere else? I’ll explain everything.”
“Let’s talk here. There’s no better place or time than right now.”
Lily clearly wasn’t herself. She really was barely hanging on, trying her best not to lose the last bit of control.
She was terrified her ex-husband would find her.
And, maybe—just maybe—she still hoped Blake would save her.
But that was probably just an empty hope. A wildflower facing a storm.
If she wanted to be free, it would take time and power—more than even a duke could easily provide.
If Blake changed his mind, she’d be lost. She hated the idea of going back to her ex-husband more than death.
Lily thought,
‘I need to leave—anywhere, just get away. If I stay longer, I’ll end up wanting to lean on him.’
“What…”
Blake had never seen Lily like this before.
Even when she was surrounded by Winter Castle people, he could always spot her by her graceful, careful movements.
He’d watched her many times, but this was the first time she ever raised her voice.
How scared must she be, just from Count Fox’s letter?
He felt his throat tighten.
“…You don’t have to leave anymore. That letter from that man doesn’t matter.”
“Why do you get to decide that by yourself?”
“I thought you might leave if I told you ahead of time.”
“You’re right. I’m leaving now. Thank you for everything.”
“Sorry if it sounds like I’m being difficult, but you don’t really sound thankful.”
Il finally came downstairs in a rush, taking the stairs two at a time.
The commotion brought all the servants, but when they saw how serious Blake and Lily were, they left quietly.
Il thought, “It might be better to just die right now,” and slipped away with the others.
“You noticed? I thought I hid my feelings well. I guess I’m still not very good at it. I’m sorry to my etiquette teacher.”
Lily turned pale and staggered back.
She bumped into the wall, and a vase shook on the stone shelf.
Blake quickly caught the vase, and now Lily was trapped between him and the wall.
She breathed out, full of hot emotion.
“Move. I have to pack.”
“Don’t go!”
Blake’s eyes started to burn as he looked down at Lily.
“You had fun here! Even the servants cooked capital-style food for you. And what about Dominic the Second? Do you know how rare it is for such a fine horse to follow someone like you?”
“I’m going!”
Lily tried to push Blake, but he didn’t move at all.
He wanted to grab her wrist to stop her, but he was scared to touch her—after what happened last time.
“Then where will you go?”
Lily laughed and looked like she was about to cry.
“To death. It’s the only place I can choose for myself since I was born.”
Blake stepped back, shocked.
How could he accept that she’d rather die than accept his help?
It hurt like a sword through his bones. He felt small and empty.
Rage rose up inside him.
“Winter Castle did everything for you! Sometimes you even had snowball fights with Il Dexter at noon! A few days ago, I even danced with you, even though I’m no good at it!”
His voice grew louder.
He couldn’t understand her—why she would rather die.
If her life was so worthless… then why did she ever smile at him?
“Miss. Let me be clear. After all this is over, you’ll thank me.”
“You’re terrible. Don’t act like everything will go your way. People’s hearts aren’t something you can calculate. Not even mine.”
“My calculations are never wrong!”
“I’m good at calculations too. Want to hear one?”
Lily was so far gone she even said what she’d always held back.
“It’s not that I don’t need to leave. It’s just that now you like me, so you’re trying to stop me.”
Blake froze.
The coldest chill swept through the room.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”
Blake tried to deny it—his lips dried up, but he couldn’t say a word.
“I grew up in a place where no one ever said what they really felt. It was perfect for learning to read people’s true feelings.”
“I… I don’t like you. At best, I have a bit of affection. That’s a feeling you can have for a passing dog, or even a stone.”
He said it with effort, but Lily ignored him.
“But love is just a dream, isn’t it? You’re just curious about a woman you’ve never met before.”
“I…”
Blake tried to say this wasn’t their first meeting, but Lily cut him off.
“What if I believe your love is real? What if I start thinking I can stay here forever? One day you’ll change your mind and tell me to leave because you don’t love me anymore.”
To truly escape her husband, Lily would have to face lawsuits, gossip, criticism, and lose money—even her honor.
If rumors spread, even Blake would be called a villain for generations.
If it looked like she’d really escape, her ex and parents would do anything.
She was sure—anyone would let go of her hand and run.
“You have no idea what will happen next…”
“I’m ready for anything.”
“You don’t even know who my father really is.”
Everyone around Lily was never normal. Her father, mother, so-called friends—even her ex-husband.
That’s why she didn’t know what love was.
“No matter what happens, I won’t act like a coward.”
“Do you want to know how I see you right now?”
Men always said they loved Lily, but never cared for her advice or opinion.
Her father only told her she was to marry after he’d already arranged it.
Count Fox only ordered her to be locked away after he’d decided.
And now even Blake was making decisions and hiding the truth from her.
Blake could read her hopeless look.
He almost wanted to sink into the ground from guilt.
Lily dropped her shoulders.
“…I’ll go to my room first.”
“Is this really the end? Are you just going to leave and never talk to me again?”
“…”
“Fine. If you won’t talk to me anymore, I’ll just say this: don’t even think about leaving the mountains. I won’t let you use a carriage or a horse. That way you can’t go back to the capital.”
He knew that if Lily left the dukedom, he couldn’t help her anymore.
And in his anger, that was the best he could do.
“You know this is imprisonment, right?”
Blake brushed his black hair back.
He let out a long sigh.
“I know… very well.”
Blake and Lily both turned away and walked off in opposite directions.
