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chapter 26
– Just a Moment of Goodbye
Contrary to everyone’s concerns, there was no major quarrel between Duke Pharel and the Crown Prince. When the two men stopped their horses in the courtyard of the duke’s mansion and dismounted, the only thing that lingered was an awkward atmosphere.
“Duke, the only permission I granted was for farewell.”
Lucas murmured softly, then began walking toward Cedric, who had been waiting for him.
“Your Highness.”
Cedric approached the Crown Prince, curious about the situation.
“No need for fuss. Let’s return to the annex.”
“…Yes.”
The Crown Prince walked calmly, but Duke Pharel, left alone, could not hide the bitter expression as he watched the sunset deepen.
“Tell Lady Astel that I wish to meet her.”
At Pharel’s request, his steward showed a troubled expression. After all, it had been Serena herself who had forbidden entry to the estate.
“If it’s a farewell, she will meet you.”
Faced with Pharel’s dark and bitter words, the steward could only bow.
“I will deliver your message to her first.”
“I’ll wait here.”
Hyde stood under a large tree, watching the sunset turn red. Memories of conversations with Serena in this very spot lingered sweetly and bitterly, like fragments of his youth.
Before he could fall deeper into thought, he saw Serena approaching. She stopped in front of him and gave a light bow.
“Your Grace, Duke.”
He had resigned himself to giving up, but seeing Serena’s gentle face made his lingering attachments heavier.
“Farewell?”
Though he had forbidden her from entering his estate, a sense of camaraderie had formed through their constant bickering. As they said, it was impossible to completely ignore feelings for someone you couldn’t help but dislike.
“Truly? I thought you’d torment me for a lifetime.”
Serena’s words made Hyde smile. But it was not the usual mischievous smile; it was gentle and tinged with melancholy.
“I have lost.”
“To the Crown Prince?”
Hyde shook his head.
“Even if he hadn’t come… I suppose the result would have been the same.”
Contrary to Serena’s imagination, he had never been able to duel her in swordsmanship. Though frustrating, he silently accepted the cause of his defeat.
“Serena.”
Serena looked at him quietly, noticing his unusual demeanor.
“My proposal to you… it was always sincere. I’ve always acted on impulse, never properly explaining myself.”
Perhaps he had unconsciously realized it all along—he could never fully grant her freedom.
“It was like a long dream. I wished to welcome you as the Duchess and rule this land together.”
It was a dream only Hyde held.
“But alas, I lacked the qualification and power to do so.”
Hyde, proud and dignified, admitted his own inadequacy so willingly that Serena found herself at a loss for words.
“I was not afraid of Your Highness’ status.”
“I know you weren’t.”
Serena’s words brought a bitter smile to Hyde’s face.
“I believed that if I could win your heart, I could do anything. No duel seemed impossible… or perhaps I only wanted to believe that.”
Lingering regret and attachment stretched their farewell.
“I could never abandon the Duchy of Pharel or my mother.”
His sense of duty was heavy. Even as a man who desperately wanted her, even if that desire was genuine, duty always came first.
“I myself never had complete freedom. To grant it to you would have been… presumptuous.”
Hyde’s sincerity was well-known. But even when he had relentlessly proposed before, he always cited duty to the duchy as his reason.
“So… forget the proposal I made.”
The words tore at his heart as they left his lips.
“You may call me a man full of bravado.”
“No.”
For the first time, Serena wished she could comfort his slumped shoulders, but she knew she could not.
“The honesty you show now… it is proof of your strength.”
Serena, whose true feelings had been unseen during his relentless pursuit, now understood him.
“Fulfilling your duty can only be done by someone strong, after all.”
Even if Serena laughed at him, she still spoke in a way that pained him differently.
Yet what could be done? Lucas, despite his higher status, had told her he would willingly give up everything for her.
“May I make one selfish request?”
“When have you ever asked for my permission?”
Serena remained her confident self to the end.
“This farewell… is not forever.”
At Hyde’s heartfelt words, Serena’s blue eyes widened slightly.
“I will one day transcend my duty. And whenever you wish, I… will be the man who can come for you.”
Although Lucas had only allowed a farewell, Hyde could not turn away without making this promise.
“Always… remember that I am on your side, Serena.”
Serena only gave a faint smile, saying as much as she could.
“I suppose I cannot forget Your Grace’s persistence.”
That was the most she could offer. Hyde briefly recalled moments that were not truly memories with her, then nodded. It was truly time to turn away.
“Then, farewell… for now.”
Hyde looked straight into Serena’s eyes—the blue eyes of a woman who would never have left if he were anyone but Duke Pharel.
“I…”
“No need for an answer, right?”
Sometimes more troublesome than an enemy, hearing this sad farewell made it feel as if an old friend were leaving.
“One day, I will come for you again.”
Hyde spoke as if making a promise to himself, then finally turned his back. Any longer, and he might have broken his promise to Lucas—or even his duty.
“Farewell…”
Hyde’s lingering farewell finally ended. Serena watched his retreating figure and felt a season pass.
“From start to finish, you are truly self-willed.”
Looking back, Hyde had been the first person resembling a friend since arriving at the Astel estate. He had persistently proposed to tease her, yet also recognized and trusted her abilities—the first man to do so.
“Miss, has His Grace returned? The wind is cold.”
Anna draped a warm blanket over Serena’s shoulders as she stood lost in thought under the tree.
“I wonder what happened with the Crown Prince. Neither of them said a word—it’s peculiar.”
“I don’t know.”
Hyde had said he lost before even dueling. Serena could not believe that after years of his persistence, he would give up after just an hour with Lucas.
“Anyway, it’s a relief that Duke Pharel’s proposals are over. One less suitor is better.”
“Really? He withdrew his proposal?”
“Yes. Farewell.”
Anna’s eyes widened; she knew too well how persistent Hyde could be.
“What could have happened with the Crown Prince?”
Serena herself wanted to know. Though Hyde admitted his loss was due to duty, it was Lucas who made him accept it so readily.
“I don’t know what happened between the men, but one thing’s certain.”
“Really? What is it?”
“It seems… I underestimated the Crown Prince.”
First impressions are crucial—they stick, and it’s hard to change them, especially if the initial impression was bad.
“At least… he’s not the person I remembered.”
The fierce little fiancé who had caused chaos at the dreadful engagement was gone.
And he had grown not only in stature. Hyde’s willingness to admit defeat and step back proved it.
“Six years… it’s a long time.”
“Seems so.”
Lucas, once a small, stubborn child, had now grown enough to face Duke Pharel as an equal. That shook Serena’s heart in many ways.
And it wasn’t the first time Lucas had moved her. The young, willful child she had once abandoned had grown into a strong, handsome man, now proposing marriage.
“Miss, the wind is cold. Better go inside, yes?”
“Yes…”
Serena shook off her thoughts and turned toward the mansion. The light from the annex, which had never caught her attention before, now drew her gaze.
“Did the Crown Prince say anything?”
“No. I think he’s resting today.”
Whether this was for Pharel’s unrequited devotion or simply because he needed rest, she could not yet tell.
“Also, Peter spoke a lot with Sir Cedric today.”
Serena remembered the task she had assigned. As Cedric had been the Crown Prince’s aide since childhood, his words might reveal a bit of Lucas’ true intentions.
“Let’s return to our quarters first. Ask Peter to come to the reception room.”
“Yes.”
Anna nodded and followed Serena back to the mansion, curious about the Crown Prince’s words.
“Knowing your enemy is the key to fighting properly.”
But Serena herself seemed unaware of her own feelings.
“First, let’s hear what he has to say.”
Anna gently calmed Serena’s fighting spirit with her soft voice. While Serena had overcome past trials with her strong will and unwavering character, this time might be different.
