I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 67

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 67

“Since when…?”

Sionel, who had been staring intently at Ponia standing there with a bewildered expression, stopped even his conscious smiling and let out a sigh.

“Well, I had my suspicions here and there, but I knew for certain when you had that fever.”

She couldn’t even manage her expression anymore. It had been over a month since Sionel had caught that fever.

“Originally, I was going to wait until you told me directly.”

“…”

“I didn’t recognize you either when I saw you again in the forest. I just strangled you.”

Even looking at her neck that bore no traces, Sionel couldn’t take his eyes off it for a while.

“But my heart keeps getting more and more impatient. I only know you from those few moments, but other people know you in ways I don’t, they know your circumstances. And you’re determined to hide everything from me alone.”

Clenching and unclenching his fists, he bit down hard on his teeth, trying to hold something back.

“Even now, at this very moment.”

From his words that were pressed down with suppressed emotion, Ponia could sense his feelings.

Before discovering the forest fire, Sionel had been shaken by some anxiety, and though he hadn’t shown it at all afterward, he had been angry the entire time.

Knowing Ponia’s identity and even knowing the feelings she harbored for him, yet she kept trying to run away. Because he knew she hadn’t been honest with him for even a single moment in his presence.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you’d be hurt like this.”

She felt restless seeing Sionel with his head down, covering his face with his hands.

“I know. Even if I hadn’t revealed it like this, you would have told me someday.”

No, Sionel didn’t know. Though there had been close calls along the way, Ponia had intended to hide herself until the very end, just as she had planned from the beginning.

Her wish was to help him follow the original story, to give him the novel’s happy ending as a gift.

While feeling grateful to him for believing in her unconditionally, her conscience pricked her once again.

Unable to look him properly in the eyes out of guilt, she didn’t know what to do. Sionel looked down with a forlorn expression.

“Even I wouldn’t like someone like me.”

“What do you mean by that!”

“Unlike three years ago, there’s nothing likeable about me now. That’s why you don’t have feelings for me anymore either…”

“Absolutely not! Absolutely!”

If left alone, he seemed like he’d dig a tunnel and disappear to somewhere no one could find him.

“I hid my identity partly because I missed the timing, but also because I was afraid that telling you would destroy the relationship we’d built up until now.”

“…”

“And three years ago or whatever, do you think emotions can be cut off so cleanly?!”

She felt wronged about this point too.

“In the past three years, I’ve never liked anyone other than you! Eighty percent of the reason I couldn’t date was probably because of you.”

The rest was because of her family who didn’t even give her time to attend social gatherings.

“It’s still harder for me not to like you!”

In her excitement, Ponia didn’t think at all about what words she was spitting out or how they would be received by him.

“Really…?”

“Really!”

She didn’t even notice the fact that Sionel was smiling at some point.

“Then, can you promise me that you won’t hide anything about yourself from me anymore?”

“I promise.”

Now that her identity was exposed, there was nothing left to hide anyway.

“I thought if I could change your heart, I could become whatever you wanted me to be.”

Mulling over Ponia’s words, Sionel even laughed out loud. He approached her, even showing an eye smile.

“So, you pushed me away not because you didn’t trust me, and not because you started to dislike me, right?”

“Of course.”

“The reason you rejected my confession before wasn’t sincere then.”

“Of course. I had a strong desire to maintain our current relationship.”

“Then your feelings haven’t changed from three years ago to now?”

“Of course! …Does that make sense when you put it that way?”

Ponia, who had been faithfully answering his questions, suddenly returned to reality.

‘This feels less like a conversation and more like I’m being interrogated?’

“That’s how it works.”

Sionel provided the answer for her. His coaxing, gentle tone gave her goosebumps.

“Ponia.”

Could my name really be called so sweetly?

“I’m not who I was back then.”

“…”

“And you’re no longer young.”

Only as much as wouldn’t cross the line, only as much as Ponia wouldn’t notice. Sionel skillfully approached her and met her eyes.

“Right?”

“Why bother stating what everyone already knows….”

This atmosphere was strange. Sensing danger, Ponia was grumbling irritably when she suddenly froze and couldn’t finish her words.

Just now, his words were absolutely something she couldn’t let slide.

‘Just considering it! How many years would it take for me to reach a mature age, and for Yeongshik to be ready to harbor feelings?’

The young lady’s words that rushed in like a moth to flame should have naturally been buried.

“Do you remember the promise we made three years ago?”

I remember. I remember! Damn it!

How ignorant was my past self, and how little did I think about the future.

“No? It’s been so long that I can’t really remember….”

She desperately pretended not to know, but Sionel glanced at her as if finding it ridiculous. Then, he tucked her red hair behind her ear.

Just like that day three years ago.

‘Fine! I’ll confess again in three years!’

The buried memories came flooding back. Ponia could only stare at Sionel’s lips.

“Ponia.”

“….”

“I want to answer your confession again.”

With those words, Ponia felt as if she had returned to that moment three years ago.

* * *

“So you’re going to establish a new heir?”

The Emperor, who had accepted Gideon’s request for an audience, was surprised by the news he brought. More precisely, he pretended to be surprised.

He had already heard everything from Nicolaus.

“Are you giving up on searching for the Debenham heir?”

“I believe Sionel is alive. We’ll increase the search personnel and spread Sionel’s face everywhere.”

“Then, how should I interpret this current choice?”

Gideon, looking up at the sun of the Empire, maintained proper courtesy. For over ten years, Gideon had never once gone against the Emperor’s wishes and had maintained a friendly relationship.

The Emperor found this point irritating.

“I’m thinking of making Aren a temporary heir until we find Sionel. There are many concerns about the Ducal House both inside and outside.”

The Emperor rubbed his temples.

“Did the young master also agree to this?”

“Yes.”

“From what I saw last time, he seemed to have difficulty even standing at official occasions.”

“He was struggling greatly from the shock for a while, but that child is also a Debenham. He stood up on his own.”

The Emperor maintained silence for a moment.

The Emperor had known Gideon for over ten years. The nobles who had observed Gideon also unanimously called him an upright noble.

However, he never thought of Gideon as such a boring man. The Gideon he knew was never someone who would be satisfied with the position of family representative.

How far would he go to even kill his own brother and hide his true nature for such a long time.

He had known since childhood that he was ambitious, but he never thought he would kill his own family.

Of course, the current Gideon had been much more helpful to him than the previous Duke who had been nothing but upright.

After a brief contemplation, the Emperor smiled.

“I understand. I’ll respect your choice.”

After all, it was the Emperor who held Gideon’s weakness.

“Thank you.”

After finishing the audience, Gideon immediately returned to the manor. Though he was tired from his busy schedule, Aren was waiting in his study.

What he had told the Emperor about Aren was true.

Since returning from the forest, Aren had regained his will and diligently attended his heir lessons. His appetite had gradually increased, and though not as much as before, he was gaining weight again.

“Aren. What brings you here.”

Since Sionel’s disappearance, his nephew, who had never once looked him straight in the face, was now facing him.

“Uncle. I want to do well.”

Though he couldn’t hide his fear, Gideon saw one desire within it.

“Please help me surpass my brother.”

Gideon smiled broadly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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