TVRC 22

Chapter 22

‘Have we… grown a little closer…?’

LeBlanc, wearing a faint, shy smile, quietly followed him from behind.

Before long, they arrived at a small dock connected to the river. Unlike the frozen lake, the river’s current moved slowly, gently.

“It seems like people often go boating here. I happened to discover it a moment ago, and somehow I thought the Count might like it.”

‘…I thought you’d like it, LeBlanc.’

At that moment, his past image overlapped with her mind. An inexplicable surge of emotion welled up, and LeBlanc lowered her head for a brief moment. How much time would it take to get used to such things? She genuinely wondered.

“Come this way. Watch your step.”

Erkis stepped onto the boat first and extended his hand. LeBlanc hesitated for a moment but then took his hand and climbed onto the boat. Perhaps due to faint magic, the boat was enveloped in a gentle yellow light and moved forward slowly.

Not long after, the previously dark sky brightened beautifully. LeBlanc looked up absentmindedly and let out a small gasp.

“Ah…”

“Beautiful, isn’t it? I really wanted to show it to you, Count.”

Dozens of lanterns rose into the sky, glowing softly, like stars embroidered across the dark night.

Along the riverbanks, conifer trees stood densely, still blanketed in snow that hadn’t melted. Even the thin ice cracking beneath the boat as it moved forward created a soft rustling, stirring her heart deeply.

“Of course, compared to everything I’ve received from you, Count, this is nothing. But I still wanted to give something back. I hope it pleases you.”

Erkis spoke, eyes curling into a gentle crescent. At that moment, LeBlanc again saw his past self. She smiled bitterly and slowly bowed her head.

The cold night air, the breathtaking scenery, and the person in front of her—LeBlanc had never experienced such warmth in her heart since losing Erkis. And yet, the person who prepared all this was the Erkis standing right before her.

Biting her lip softly, LeBlanc murmured in a small voice, barely audible to him:

“Why do you… always…”

…make me this happy? Overcome with tears, she couldn’t continue speaking and instead lifted her head to stare blankly at the bright night sky.

A quiet silence settled between them. Unlike the awkward and uncomfortable silences of the past, this one was calm and comforting.

How much time had passed? Taking a deep breath, Erkis slowly spoke.

“Count, there’s something I need to tell you.”

LeBlanc didn’t answer but stared at him intently. His serious demeanor made her adjust her posture, leaning slightly toward him.

“I told you before—I know you think I’m too fortunate for you. That hasn’t changed, even now.”

“…”

“Honestly, before meeting you, I sometimes held negative thoughts about you. But meeting you in person, I realized you are so kind and gentle… I doubted whether someone like me deserves such kindness. That made me uncomfortable. I’ve always had trouble trusting unprovoked goodwill.”

He gave a bitter smile as if his own words were almost ridiculous. LeBlanc furrowed her brows slightly, deep in thought, yet continued listening.

“Since childhood, I’ve been betrayed repeatedly by people I held dear. Those who once treated me kindly turned on me in an instant, stabbing me in the back. I hated that with every fiber of my being. After it happened several times, I found myself unable to trust people.”

Just recalling those memories made him brush a hand across his face. His complexion turned pale, yet he struggled to continue.

“Unprovoked kindness scares me. Whenever you were kind to me, Count, I got scared and could only run away. Even though I knew you weren’t that kind of person… at the same time, I couldn’t fully trust that nothing would go wrong. Even now, I haven’t completely rid myself of that fear.”

“Erkis…”

“You treated me endlessly well, Count, and I’m sorry for showing this side of myself.”

A shadow of gloom passed over his face. Though he could not fully trust LeBlanc, part of him wanted to open his heart to her. He wanted to accept her goodwill genuinely and return it in kind. He resented himself for being unable to act that way. After much deliberation, this was why he finally shared his feelings.

“If you could give me just a little more time… I’ll try to become someone worthy of you.”

His voice trembled slightly as he spoke. He lowered his head, unable to look at her.

LeBlanc remained silent for a moment. He had expected her to be angry with him. He had never trusted the boundless kindness she had shown. Yet her next words made him doubt his own ears.

“Erkis, thank you for being honest with me.”

Cautiously, LeBlanc reached out and gently enveloped his cold, stiff hand in hers. Startled by the warmth, his movements paused slightly.

“You don’t have to try at all, Erkis. I’ll do better. I’ll make sure you don’t doubt my kindness and can accept my care as natural.”

“…”

“So… never be anxious alone. You’re someone who fits perfectly with me.”

“Count…”

“Can you promise me just one thing?”

Hearing the tenderness in her voice, Erkis nodded slowly, almost unconsciously.

“No matter what happens, don’t leave me. Always stay by my side. That’s all I need.”

LeBlanc stroked the back of his hand gently. Once again, Erkis felt a fluttering in his chest. A familiar unease wrapped around him. His slow heartbeat echoed in his ears.

Yet he knew better than anyone that running away would change nothing. Taking a deep breath, he slowly grasped her hand.

LeBlanc’s hand was white and delicate, like freshly fallen snow. Even the tips, reddened by the cold, felt noble. Handling it as something precious, Erkis lifted her hand and carefully pressed his lips to her palm.

“Could there be any doubt…”

At that moment, Erkis made a decision: he would try to trust this woman. Even if betrayed again, he would give his heart sincerely, without regret. LeBlanc Arnetio was someone worth it. Unknowingly, he had come to see her as special.

Back in the carriage on the way to the estate, Erkis, gazing quietly out the window, soon began nodding off. LeBlanc noticed and quietly moved closer, offering her shoulder. His head rested gently against her, and she smiled softly, stroking his hair.

‘So cute…’

On LeBlanc’s lap lay a doll with red hair she had seen earlier at the stall. Erkis had hurriedly handed it to her as a gift before boarding the carriage. His ears had turned red from embarrassment, but she accepted it calmly, pretending not to notice.

His hair slipped softly through her fingers, dark as the night sky, warm in her hands. It seemed to transport her far back into the past.

Though he hadn’t fully fallen asleep, Erkis pretended to, resting his head on her shoulder. It had become an unspoken agreement between them: she would stroke his head, pretending to be fooled by his act.

‘I shouldn’t be longing for you…’

Even knowing it was futile, she kept recalling memories from the past. Once, she and Erkis had shared a fiery love, but that was all gone. No matter how much she longed, they could never return to that time.

Pretending to be fine while carrying memories of someone who didn’t remember her was agonizing. LeBlanc had struggled endlessly to free herself from the past.

‘But you… keep taking me back to that moment.’

Closing her eyes gently, she pressed her head against his. She felt his warmth yet longed for Erkis at the same time. That dissonance created an inexplicable emptiness.

Determined that this would be the last time she longed for the past Erkis, she continued to think of him endlessly.