After All This Time, I Thought You Abandoned Me

The rain that had been falling steadily grew louder, to the point where Hayden’s voice couldn’t be heard.

Today, Cain couldn’t concentrate on Hayden’s diligent report. He absentmindedly toyed with a wilted bouquet, its petals all fallen.

He had fallen in love with Lariana at first sight. There were times when he denied that fact, but he couldn’t help but surrender to the feeling of love that came as fate, as if predestined.

Lariana was the complete opposite of Cain. She had grown up in a loving family with caring parents, and she was sincere and emotionally expressive. Love flowed from her entire being. The overflowing love from Lariana quickly seeped into Cain.

Through Hayden, Cain and Lariana exchanged countless letters even during the expedition.

Lariana sent him thick letters filled with daily records, like a book. Although the overwhelming affection was bewildering, he found himself eagerly anticipating the letters filled with trivial contents.

Cain, who had received immense volumes of letters and sent only short replies, began slowly revealing more of his heart.

On certain days, he even requested a portrait of her. After looking at the portrait and falling asleep, he would wake up in the morning to find his bedsheets in disarray.

Although they hadn’t known each other for a long time, and it hadn’t always been pleasant, he truly loved her.

“By the way, my lord, are you really planning to marry Lady Heliosen?”

Hayden, realizing that his lengthy report had been meaningless, sighed and asked his lord.

“What are you thinking?”

Hayden was tactfully ignored, hence he placed a stack of documents on the chair and waited for his lord to snap out of his reverie.

As the sound of heavy iron gates opening reached his ears, Hayden peeked through the carriage window curtain to look outside.

“Oh? Isn’t that Lady Heliosen over there? That kind of blonde hair isn’t that common…?”

Upon Hayden’s words, Cain abruptly knocked on the wall. As a result, the carriage came to a sudden stop. As the rain poured down, Cain hurriedly reached for the umbrella that Hayden offered him.

Under the canopy of trees at a distance from the Duke’s mansion, Lariana sat huddled. She was wearing a dress more suited for indoors and shivered without a maid, all alone.

Cain clenched his fist tightly. There was no mansion near his mansion. The fact that she was here meant that she was waiting for him. Just seeing Lariana crying in the rain, it felt like something inside him was about to explode.

Lariana, with her back turned to Cain, raised her hand. In her hand, she held a large stone.

“You should throw this stone at the person who deserves it.”

Cain walked beside her. The rain no longer beat down on her. Just the fact that he shielded her from the rain gave him a great sense of relief.

Lariana slowly looked up at him. Her trembling blue eyes were filled with fear and resentment.

“I’m sorry, Lariana.”

“What for?”

“While I was hastily dealing with documents in the carriage, I didn’t see you.”

Cain, holding an umbrella in front of the seated Lariana, knelt down and locked eyes with her.

His deep, calm, and serene eyes gazed at her earnestly. Lariana’s heart pounded as if it would burst. She definitely didn’t like Cain, but ironically, she felt glad that he came like this.

“Hmm…”

Lariana bit her lip to hold back her tears and asked with a strained expression. Cain reached out and gently wiped away the tear stains from her cheeks.

Drenched from head to toe, Lariana shivered and trembled as she spoke. When she tilted her head up, Cain withdrew his hand.

At that moment, Jena, holding an old pouch, ran toward them. Jena bowed slightly to Cain with a distressed expression and stood at a distance.

“I don’t like you. Did you know that?”

“I already know.”

“You’re truly despicable, but I’ll still marry you. Because it’s the best for me, as you said.”

Lariana’s voice was resolute. Cain saw his reflection in her damp, moist blue eyes.

“Lariana, thank you.”

“What are you grateful for? Even though I’m like this, such words come out of your mouth?”

“Don’t forgive me for the rest of your life and use me as you please.”

“Don’t worry! Even if you tell me not to, I’ll still do that. I’ll annoy you every day and indulge in luxuries.”

Lariana vented her frustrations and irritations, saying whatever came to her mind, but her venomous words didn’t affect Cain in the least. His mouth curled up slightly, as if unaffected.

“I’ll have to work hard to satisfy you.”

Cain was someone whom everyone feared and admired at the same time. In high society, just a single word from him could make people boast for days. He was a cunning and ruthless knight who always brought victory to the Empire, as well as the young head of a prestigious Duke family. To Lariana, who was simply a noblewoman from an ordinary household, he was an unattainable presence, even more distant than the stars.

Yet, Cain endured her constant complaints and irritability, accepting everything without hesitation. Could she truly trust him?

Cain, who had been gazing affectionately at Lariana, playfully asked,

“So, when will you throw that stone?”

Lariana looked down at the stone clenched in her hand. Yes, let’s throw it. Seek revenge for the past and start anew. With a serious expression, she nodded her head.

“Now…”

However, Lariana couldn’t bring herself to throw the stone.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The room with high ceiling was filled with the warmth of the fireplace. Lariana lay pale and sweaty on the large golden bed.

Sitting on a stool next to the bed, Cain carefully wiped Lariana’s face with a damp towel. Jena, who had been deprived of her duties, stood beside them, pouting her lips and watching.

“Jena Selmon.”

Still keeping his gaze fixed on Lariana, Cain spoke to Jena.

“Yes, Your Excellency?”

“Is it true that your name is Rinodel Yumin?”

Jena was taken aback by Cain’s question. He already seemed to know her personal details as a maid.

“Yes, Your Excellency. Lord Heliosen, the Lord of Heline, graciously received me and my family. It has been over ten years since I became a citizen of the Martessen Empire with the help of the lord, and the period I have served as a lady’s maid is also the same.”

“I’m not particularly interested in your life story. I already know about it.”

Placing the damp towel on the bedside table, Cain crossed his arms and stared at Jena. His gaze was quite intimidating, and Jena instinctively lowered her head.

“Lady Heliosen said something to me. You must have heard it too.”

“I haven’t heard any conversation.”

“Does it make any sense that you haven’t heard it unless you’re deaf? Jena Selmon, what did Lariana say to me?”

“Oh, you mean when she said she doesn’t like you?”

“No.”

“That she would indulge in luxury and misbehave every day?”

Jena replied in a hesitant voice. Although it was not appropriate for a servant to show such behavior in front of nobles, she was so tense that she forgot about it. As the conversation with Jena continued, an unpleasant expression appeared on Cain’s face.

“I don’t know what answer you want, Your Excellency.”

“What did Lariana say she would do?”

Ah, Jena let out a short sigh and started biting her nails. She was nervous enough to forget about her manners in front of the noble family. There was only one answer Cain wanted.

“Your Excellency, today, Lady Lariana had a big argument with Count Beckdel and was driven out. She was exhausted and sad, so she acted impulsively…”

“You’re being insolent. Just answer the question I asked.”

Feeling helpless in the situation, she couldn’t find a way to escape. The room, which had been filled with warmth, was now filled with a somber and gloomy atmosphere.

“Jena Selmon?”

Cain, with one leg resting on his knee, leisurely licked his bright red lips. With his voice devoid of vitality, Jena had no choice but to yield.

“…She said she would marry you.”

“With who?”

“She said she would marry you, Your Excellency.”

Finally, a wide smile appeared on Cain’s face. Showing the face of a satisfied predator, he gestured for Jena to leave the bedroom. Jena wanted to stay by Lariana’s side until the end, but she couldn’t.

“Lariana, both of us wanted this marriage.”

Cain lightly kissed Lariana’s forehead as she groaned in her sleep.

“Ugh…”

At that moment, she woke up with a sound.

“Is it… really you, Your Excellency? Could this be the Duke’s mansion?”

Cain nodded, and she fell into contemplation.

“Oh my… Where is Jena?”

She struggled to wake up from her deep slumber on the large, warm bed. Lariana tried to sit up, but her body lacked strength and she kept falling back down. Cain climbed onto the bed and held her, supporting her.

“Jena is also resting because she got caught in the rain.”

“I see… I shouldn’t be like this here… I have to go back to Count Beckdel.”

“Lariana, from now on, this place is your home. You’ve caught a cold on top of being unwell. You need to rest properly for a while.”

Lariana felt hot. It seemed like her fever hadn’t subsided yet. Cain looked down at Lariana, who was soaked in sweat, and brushed her hair back several times.

“We have decided to get married. Do you remember?”

“Yes, yes.”

Whether she truly remembered or was just complying due to her pain, Lariana was obedient.

“There’s a lot we need to do.”

“Things we need to do?”

“Yes. An artist will sketch you and me for the marriage announcement. We need to announce our marriage in the newspaper tomorrow along with the sketch.”

“So soon?”

“Yes. We don’t have much time.”

“Your Excellency, I can’t even sit.”

“You can lean on me.”

“But I have to inform my father as well…”

“I have already sent someone to Heline.”

Lariana looked up at Cain in surprise. He gently kissed her forehead, gazing into her beautiful eyes.

“My beloved Lariana, we must have the articles published by tomorrow no matter what.”

Was it right to rush through the marriage like this, carrying her in pain? A sense of guilt started to bloom in Cain’s heart.

However, he couldn’t bring himself to give up on her.