I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 31

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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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6. What Happened at the Charity Fundraiser

 

Chapter 31

 

An invitation to a charity fundraiser arrived for Lillian. Since the Sun Festival banquet, invitations had been coming from various dinner parties and ladies’ gatherings, but she had declined them all. However, this particular invitation couldn’t be carelessly refused.

 

‘Lady Bella will surely come too, so what should I do…?’

 

For a moment, Lillian glanced at Kartan, who was sitting across from her on the outdoor terrace looking at documents.

 

‘His Grace the Archduke definitely told me not to get close to the lady. But I already told His Majesty the Emperor I would go, so I can’t not go now…’

 

While she was feeling troubled, Kartan suddenly snatched the invitation from her hand.

 

“What’s this about?”

 

His expression hardened immediately after skimming through the contents.

 

“Do you want to go?”

 

“…”

 

Lillian couldn’t answer honestly. The fundraiser was an event to support the orphanage where she had once stayed. So if there were no complications, she did want to go.

 

“…No, I’ll just say something came up and decline.”

 

“I see.”

 

Only then did he turn his gaze back to his documents. Lillian looked down at the invitation with regret.

 

‘Sigh, it can’t be helped.’

 

While staying at the Archduke’s Residence, she didn’t want to cause any friction with him. Besides, even if she encountered Lady Bella, it would probably be awkward.

 

Lillian picked up the book she had been reading again. At that moment, Kartan smirked and raised the corner of his mouth.

 

“You like this kind of book too?”

 

Her face instantly flushed hot. The book she had been reading was none other than a romance novel.

 

“The title is ‘The Seductive Duke’…”

 

She hid the book belatedly, but it was already too late.

 

“Does he strip and pounce on her or something? I guess women like that sort of thing?”

 

“Th-that’s not it…! I just picked it up out of curiosity because it was in the study.”

 

“Really? How strange. Who had the nerve to put something like this in my study?”

 

His Grace the Archduke didn’t look convinced at all. And for good reason – his study was filled entirely with political and historical books.

 

Originally, it wasn’t her hobby either, but while looking for ways to distract herself from him, she had encountered it a few times and ended up completely hooked.

 

Lillian just pouted her lips out of embarrassment.

 

“Don’t look at me like that, it’s actually interesting!”

 

But Kartan just kept smiling. It was so annoying she couldn’t stand it.

 

“So, how does he seduce her?”

 

“Stop it.”

 

Just as angry Lillian was frowning, he suddenly rested his chin on his hand and asked quite seriously.

 

“I’m really curious. What are women weak to? Can you find out by reading this?”

 

“If you’re curious, read it yourself…!”

 

Lillian pouted her lips.

 

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have quietly read it in my room.’

 

Come to think of it, he had been staying only at the Archduke’s Residence lately.

 

“By the way, you seem to have a lot of free time these days. You don’t even go to work.”

 

“Are you nagging me for having fun right now?”

 

I had asked out of pure curiosity, but he seemed to think I was being sarcastic.

 

“Ah! That’s not it… I was just curious since you’ve been staying home all the time.”

 

“…Just. Everything’s bothersome.”

 

‘Did something happen…?’

 

I almost asked for a moment, then closed my mouth again.

 

‘He must have his reasons. He’s not the type to tell me even if I asked.’

 

Lillian opened her book again. Then he smoothly took the book from her hands and scanned the contents with a rather serious expression.

 

‘When was it that he was teasing me earlier? Does he find it quite interesting?’

 

Lillian found his interest curious and pulled up a chair to sit down. Then she rested her chin on her hand and told him about the book’s contents.

 

“Actually… it’s not really seduction, but the two fight and the female protagonist loses her memory. So the male protagonist takes care of her from the side. To help her recover her memories.”

 

“…”

 

Suddenly, Kartan’s expression changed subtly.

 

“And here I thought it was something special. How childish.”

 

Suddenly, for some unknown reason, his reaction turned cold.

 

“What’s so good about memories of fighting that he’d bother digging them up? If she remembers such things, it’ll only make their relationship worse. The male protagonist is really stupid.”

 

“…”

 

Lillian was just bewildered. He had seemed to be listening with interest just moments ago, but now his tone sounded sarcastic.

 

“But I don’t think that way.”

 

I found myself arguing back without realizing it. I felt bad that the pitifully devoted male protagonist’s love was being dismissed.

 

“What?”

 

Kartan raised his eyebrows. He seemed offended that I had argued back. Still, I thought it wasn’t right to thoughtlessly criticize without knowing what feelings drove the male protagonist to make such a choice.

 

And I felt sorry for the male protagonist who had no choice but to make that decision, so I wanted to speak up for him.

 

“Even if they’re bad memories, they’re precious memories for both of them. And I feel so sorry for the female protagonist who lives not knowing anything with her lost memories.”

 

He still looked like he couldn’t relate.

 

“Think about it. What if someone His Grace the Archduke liked couldn’t remember Your Grace? I think that would be terrible for me.”

 

“…”

 

Kartan just listened without adding any words.

 

‘Maybe he’s so dumbfounded that he’s speechless.’

 

Looking back, I realized I had gotten too immersed in the novel. Embarrassed, Lillian quickly added,

 

“Ah, I think I would feel that way. Maybe I was too serious. It’s not like it really happened anyway, it’s just fiction in a novel… haha.”

 

“…”

 

It was so awkward it was uncomfortable, almost suffocating.

 

‘Ah, this is ruined. If I knew this would happen, I should have just stayed quiet. I spoke unnecessarily and ruined the mood. What should I do?’

 

It was when Lillian was scratching her eyebrow. Suddenly Kartan broke the silence.

 

“I don’t think that way. If it were me, I’d start over as many times as needed. Memories can just be made again.”

 

“…”

 

Lillian was a little surprised by the unexpected words.

 

‘Is that so? But wouldn’t that be too harsh on the male protagonist…?’

 

I was about to argue again but stopped. If I did that again, the atmosphere would almost become like a funeral.

 

It felt awkward to go back to reading the book, so Lillian turned her head. From the outdoor terrace, she could see the entire garden of the Archduke’s residence at a glance.

 

‘Come to think of it, the garden has become quite splendid. I thought he didn’t like things like flowers.’

 

Lillian just fiddled with some random paper in her hands and became lost in thought. Just then, Kartan let out a quiet sigh.

 

“Do you want to go there that badly?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

She couldn’t understand immediately and tilted her head, when he gestured with his chin toward the paper in her hands.

 

“Ah.”

 

Only then did she realize that she had been holding the charity fundraiser invitation. She quickly put it down, but he didn’t look very convinced.

 

“If you want to go that badly, just go.”

 

It was welcome news to her ears. Lillian got excited and her voice tone unconsciously rose.

 

“May I really do that?”

 

“Just be honest from now on.”

 

Seeing him look quite annoyed, she felt unnecessarily embarrassed and just scratched her head.

 

“Actually, the orphanage mentioned on the invitation. It’s a place where I was briefly left when I was young. That’s why I wanted to go see it. And I feel stuffy just staying at home all the time.”

 

“….”

 

In her excitement, she had unconsciously brought up stories from her childhood. She bit her tongue, thinking ‘oh no,’ but it was already too late.

 

It was the first time she had mentioned her past of being left at an orphanage, so she felt embarrassed. She wished His Grace the Archduke would say something, but he remained silent for quite a while.

 

“Ah, I must have said something unnecessary. Please don’t mind it.”

 

“….”

 

But this time too, he showed no reaction whatsoever.

 

‘Ah, normally at times like this, wouldn’t people ask about the circumstances, or if not that, apologize for bringing up unnecessary topics? This is embarrassing.’

 

Lillian lowered her gaze and just looked down at the tips of the dress shoes she was wearing.

 

After a moment, Kartan parted his lips that had been pressed together heavily.

 

“It would be better if we went together.”

 

At that moment, a suspicious expression briefly crossed his face. Lillian just tilted her head.

 

‘Well, anyway, this worked out well. Thanks to this, I’ll get to visit after such a long time. Come to think of it, I wonder if ‘that boy’ is doing well too? His name was….’

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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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