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Chapter : 14
“…What?”
Now Anna was the one confused. Even though they were facing each other and talking, it felt like their words were not reaching each other. Raiden calmly pressed her for an answer.
“You still haven’t answered my question.”
“Question?”
Anna, Lucy, and Henry all looked surprised. What was he talking about? Raiden slowly stood up and walked to Anna. Then he knelt on one knee and looked up at her.
“Are you happy to see me again?”
Anna remembered he had said something like that earlier, but she still didn’t know what he meant, so she couldn’t answer easily.
There was no reason to be afraid now, and yet she felt as if there was a hidden trap under the flower field she stood on.
Raiden looked at her with eyes like gray fire and spoke first.
“I am happy. For this moment—for seeing you again, Anna—I endured five years.”
Anna stared at him in shock. Did he just say he endured?
Raiden looked down sadly.
“If I seem different now, please understand. Five years… it’s not a short time.”
His face showed many feelings—mostly anger and regret. Anna realized that those five years hadn’t been easy for him, either. The cold wall around her heart started to crack, and through that crack, she felt sorry for him.
“Did you… miss me?”
Her voice came out soft and fragile, like a candle in the wind. She hadn’t wanted to show her weakness, but she couldn’t help it. She was already doing her best not to break down in tears.
“Yes. I missed you very much. Thinking of you is what kept me going.”
For a moment, Raiden looked at Anna with glassy, bright eyes. Then he slowly reached out and took her pale hand. He paused, as if giving her a chance to pull away. Anna stayed still, caught like a trapped animal, and then he lowered his head like a holy knight, kissing each of her fingers gently. He whispered softly,
“I just heard the rumors now because I was busy settling in the capital.”
Raiden’s warm lips kissed her hand, her wrist, marking her as his. Anna’s heart raced wildly as she watched, unable to move.
He looked up at her. Their eyes met and tangled like tree roots. Raiden’s eyes softened.
“Tell me, Anna. For the Evercline family, and for you who waited for me… what can I do?”
Lucy and Henry looked at each other in shock. His words sounded like he would do anything for Anna—even pay her enormous debt!
‘Isn’t Marquis Marcus the richest man in the capital now?’
Henry felt a spark of hope. Lucy’s heart filled with hope too—anything to save their precious lady.
Anna couldn’t hold back her feelings anymore. Tears streamed down her face. She had waited so long for this moment—for Raiden, now successful and confident, to come back, praise her for waiting, and promise he still loved her.
Remembering how he had saved her on Lily Street made her even more emotional.
“Oh, Raiden…”
Anna fell into his arms. He hadn’t forgotten her. In fact, it was thinking of her that gave him strength. Just like Anna, Raiden had lived his life waiting for this day…
‘It’s like a dream.’
Suddenly, everything else stopped mattering: the woman at the theater, his cold looks, even his silent disappearance—there must have been a reason.
‘And now he’ll do anything for me…’
To Anna, those words gave her more strength than anything in the world.
“My father…”
Anna became a fifteen-year-old girl again, clutching Raiden’s shirt as she stumbled over her story. Raiden just held her and listened quietly until she finished.
“So, you need to find the estate manager and get back the stolen money, right?”
Raiden gently wiped away Anna’s tears. Her bright, wet eyes were fixed on him. He pulled his hand back, making a fist.
As Anna’s tears faded, she felt embarrassed for showing her feelings like a little child. Her cheeks turned hot, but Raiden’s loving gaze made her feel better.
Raiden kissed the top of her head.
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle the contract and everything else. Leave it all to me.”
“But we searched everywhere—even in the capital and his hometown—and never found the estate manager,”
Anna said, grabbing Raiden’s sleeve and moving close. He flinched at the sudden touch.
“Henry said the manager is probably connected to a gang.”
Anna lowered her voice like it was a secret, then looked to Henry, who nodded seriously.
Raiden stared at Anna’s face, then gently touched her red nose. He spoke quietly,
“Don’t worry. Even if I can’t find him, I’ll pay all your debts myself.”
Anna, Lucy, and Henry were shocked. Anna waved her hands quickly.
“How can you do that? If we can’t find the money, just lend it to us.”
“It’s fine.”
Raiden spoke so firmly Anna couldn’t argue. Really, she had no other way, so she had to accept. She felt sad and guilty.
“I feel so bad—asking for money as soon as we meet again.”
“Money is… nothing.”
Anna looked up at him, surprised by his cold voice. Raiden stared into space and repeated, almost angrily,
“Money… really doesn’t matter.”
Anna sensed there was a story behind his words, so she didn’t answer. She just nodded.
“I think so too. There are much more precious things.”
Raiden slowly turned to look at her. Anna was startled; his face was completely blank, like a doll.
“Do you really… mean that? That money isn’t important?”
His low voice felt strangely intense. Anna felt sorry for him—he must have suffered a lot because of money.
Anna carefully took his hands, looked at the new scars on them, and kissed them.
“Just having you back is enough for me. I feel like I have the whole world.”
Anna looked up and smiled. Her face was so bright and gentle, Raiden stared at her in a daze.
“Even if I had all the money in the empire, I wouldn’t trade it for you. So yes, money isn’t important.”
She had felt this way for years, ever since she decided to marry Raiden. Even as a child, she knew the class difference between them. That’s why, when she made up her mind to marry him, she also decided to give up all the wealth that nobles usually expected from a marriage.
Raiden read this truth in her eyes. For a second, he looked troubled, then returned to his blank expression. He glanced out the window.
“It’s late. I should go now.”
“Ah…”
Anna couldn’t hide her disappointment and covered her mouth in surprise. Behind her, Lucy and Henry laughed quietly. Anna’s cheeks turned pink.
“It’s for your reputation, Anna.”
Raiden brushed her blonde hair, twirling the ends around his finger—the same thing he used to do years ago.
It felt like they’d gone back in time. Anna clung to his arm, pleading,
“Then just finish your tea before you go, okay?”
“…Alright.”
Raiden looked troubled, but nodded. Henry quickly poured more tea. Suddenly, Anna asked what she’d been wondering.
“Raiden, is your mother in the capital too?”
Raiden’s teacup shook for a moment. He sat frozen, like a statue struck by lightning. Anna tilted her head.
“Raiden? What’s wrong?”
“Ah…”
He finally looked at her and set his cup down.
“She’s at the Marcus estate. She can’t travel far.”
“Oh, I see.”
Anna was a little sad—she had wanted to meet Raiden’s mother. Raiden stared at her, then suddenly stood up.
“No need to come out.”
Before Anna could stop him, he walked quickly to the door. Anna stood halfway up and called,
“Will I see you again?”
