🔊 TTS Settings
chapter 39
Serena’s eyes, just as in Astel, stared straight and unwaveringly at Lucas. Any worry that the city life might have changed her vanished entirely.
“I’ll admit my mistake.”
“…Really? You’ve thought it through? Then, go tell His Majesty the Emperor that you want to call off the engagement!”
Yet, seeing Serena’s expression so pleased at even the mention of breaking off the engagement stirred an unexpected pang of frustration in him. No matter how much she disliked his proposal, her delight made him stubborn in return.
“No. We will marry.”
Serena’s gaze sharpened at his response, one contrary to her expectations.
“That’s not a mistake.”
“Hah, so you’ve come just to tease me? That’s unnecessary—please leave.”
Even when traveling incognito, his imposing presence and noble bearing commanded respect. Yet here was a woman who knew his identity fully and still met him with such fierce defiance—it made him laugh.
“The mistake I meant was keeping you locked up in this stuffy old mansion. I sincerely apologize for that.”
Serena’s eyes remained sharp and defensive.
“I truly had no intention. I… thought the Astel family would handle the royal marriage preparations.”
Lucas spoke with an unexpectedly cautious tone.
“I’m sorry I didn’t consider that your mother had passed away early.”
It wasn’t truly his fault, but seeing a man apologize so sincerely with a serious expression wasn’t unpleasant.
“Even so, making me the Crown Princess is still a mistake.”
Serena refused to bend. She could barely maintain her dignity as a noblewoman; being forced into a position as the Crown Princess was unreasonable.
“How could I live in the palace or serve as Crown Princess when I can’t even properly perform a bow?”
“You’d deny our bond over such a trivial matter?”
Lucas appeared deeply hurt, yet Serena deliberately ignored him.
“Your Highness, six years have passed. We’ve both grown, and the past is the past. Also, think of this not as a trivial matter but as my issue.”
Serena had come to view Lucas’s reckless proposal as a form of obsession, a response to the wound inflicted by a fiancée who once boldly ignored him.
“I apologize for upsetting you at the engagement. You’ve grown into such a strong and remarkable man. Yes, no warrior could ever overpower you now.”
The only way to release his lingering attachment was to confront and reconcile the memories of that day—Serena had faced the wounds of her past life and accepted reality to heal.
“I’m glad to hear you say that.”
Lucas would also recognize the emotional scars from the engagement as healed, and his childish stubbornness would cease.
“As expected, we…”
“Yes, it was only an engagement of the past.”
Serena nodded.
“Exactly. A perfect bond forged by our past engagement.”
But at Lucas’s words, Serena froze.
His dark eyes had formed a firm resolve. From past experiences, Serena knew their stubbornness would be evenly matched. Unable to hold back, she spoke again.
“Do you realize you don’t seem to be in your right mind right now?”
Lucas shook his head brazenly. It was unexpectedly frustrating to feel someone looking down on him like this. Now, she could understand how Lucas felt six years ago.
“I’m clearly not suitable to be Crown Princess. Forcing this will only bring unhappiness to both of us.”
“You always insist we’d be unhappy together, without ever having lived with me.”
Of course, Serena had a reason for this certainty. She saw herself as a minor character in the story—merely the only vivid depiction of her existence.
“We would inevitably be unhappy. Nothing fruitful would come of it.”
It was as the narrative described: Serena would be portrayed as the Empress on the verge of being dethroned, incapable, powerless, and inconsequential. She would fail all her duties and receive no attention, destined to exit the story.
“No.”
Lucas’s voice deepened in anger as he took a step closer, standing right before her.
“Our marriage will be happy.”
No matter how imposing his gaze, Serena’s resolve remained.
“How could we be happy if I cannot be?”
“Then I promise you.”
Lucas grasped Serena’s wrist. The callouses on his large hand were proof of all his hard work.
And perhaps because of the struggles in unfamiliar places, his familiar hand felt warm to her.
“How can I trust your promise? I couldn’t even wear men’s clothing, and had to have a new dress made!”
Clothes were a reflection of one’s life.
The dress Serena brought from Astel, formal though it was, looked inappropriate to the marchioness. It symbolized the life Serena would soon lead.
“Then I’ve already apologized.”
Despite the calm words, Lucas’s gaze was intensely emotional.
“This is my fault. I admit it.”
He gently tightened his hold on her wrist.
“But I cannot agree that we would be unhappy.”
At first it was inferiority. But the reason for that feeling was that the woman he fell for at first sight could reject him.
He had no interest in hating her; only a sense of frustration that his feelings were unreturned.
“I’ve loved you since the moment we met.”
Serena blinked, disbelieving.
“…What?”
“Do you think the six years of training were just childish whims? If it were trivial, I would have returned to the palace long ago.”
Lucas was no ordinary man. Six years of wandering was far too long for mere obstinacy.
“All that time was to win you with confidence.”
Now she could see his sincerity. The traces of a boy were gone, replaced with the presence of a mature man.
“The waiting is over.”
Above all, those dark eyes, firm lips, and masculine presence carried only sincerity—whether she wanted it or not.
“Your Highness, I…”
“Promise me.”
Before Serena could speak, Lucas interrupted, his voice low.
“I’ll renew the promise we made in Astel.”
Recalling his purpose today, Lucas pulled out a rolled parchment stamped with the Crown Prince’s seal.
“Serena Astel,”
Lucas called her name.
“I, Lucas Tern, leave this promise in writing to remember it.”
Instead of a diamond ring, the proposal consisted of a simple scroll.
“Accept my promise and possess it forever.”
Lucas handed the scroll to Serena, his gaze tense. Even a strong man disliked being rejected by the woman he longed for.
“Is this His Highness the Crown Prince’s order?”
“No.”
As she expected, his reply was calm. She had wished to avoid this fate, but the sincerity before her was undeniable.
“This is a promise from Lucas Tern alone.”
Even now, she should resist. She should somehow cancel the marriage and return to Astel to live freely.
“A promise for you, Serena alone.”
His lips trembled slightly. Despite his strength, a trace of tension lingered. She wanted to look away, but his sincerity was impossible to deny.
“Please, accept my promise.”
Lucas gripped the scroll tighter in her hand, ensuring she held it firmly.
“I don’t even know what’s written inside.”
“No, you already know.”
His low voice resonated clearly yet calmly.
“Because it only contains the promise I already gave you.”
There was no arrogance on his face. Only earnestness and intense longing, impossible to conceal.
“And if I dislike it?”
For the first time, his dark eyes held loneliness.
“If you hate me… then… then…”
The towering man suddenly seemed pitiable, like a sulking boy.
“Y-If you hate me…”
His elegant brows furrowed, and his murmuring voice was somber.
“I’ll wait.”
“…What?”
“I’ll wait until you no longer hate me.”
Serena let out a short, startled breath.
“Not six years, but sixty, if need be.”
He believed no one could match his persistence—even her.
“I’ll marry no one, meet no other woman, and wait for your heart… to change.”
Serena was mistaken. The resolve and obstinacy of the man before her were undefeatable, even by her.
“But waiting is cruel.”
Before she knew it, Lucas had come close enough to feel her breath.
“I’ll keep my promise, so don’t push me away.”
Gently, he brushed her hair aside and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. Serena, caught completely off guard, forgot even to breathe, let alone kick him.
