I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 9

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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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Episode 9

Lillian focused on the small pulsing she felt within herself. As she drew up the fragile power like a baby bird, light rippled and began seeping out from her body. That power started wrapping around Kartan like vines. Gradually, new flesh seemed to sprout on the torn and split wounds, and the flowing blood stopped. As the scratches faded and vitality returned to his body, Lillian exhaled the breath she had been holding.

A moment later, when she opened her eyes, her gaze met Kartan’s.

‘Oh!’

She was so startled in that instant that she froze completely. She had no idea how long he had been watching her. She belatedly withdrew her power, but it was already too late.

As the rays of revival disappeared, Kartan’s eyes also slowly closed.

‘This is bad. Did he see everything?’

Lillian bit her lip. Then she gently tapped his shoulder with her index finger.

“Your Grace the Archduke…?”

Kartan didn’t move at all. It seemed he had only opened his eyes temporarily.

“You wouldn’t remember, would you?”

She couldn’t ask directly, and it was extremely awkward. While she was stuck unable to do this or that, just worrying, the coachman shouted.

“We’ll arrive at the Archduke’s residence soon!”

When the carriage stopped, people who appeared to be servants came rushing out. They seemed startled upon seeing the blood that had spilled outside the carriage, then hurriedly carried Kartan inside. Among the efficiently moving people, Lillian just stood there blankly. Everyone was too busy to pay attention to her.

‘What should I do? Should I follow them inside?’

No one had told her to come in, so she couldn’t just enter on her own.

‘Well, the major wounds should all be healed, so he’ll probably be fine.’

As Lillian was about to turn around, she spotted a shawl lying alone on the ground. Come to think of it, she had gotten quite a bit of blood on herself while tending to the injured Archduke. If she went home like this, she didn’t know what her parents would say.

‘I don’t know whose it is, but I should wrap it around myself for now.’

She remembered that in the chaos, they had left the carriage at the opera house. Since she had to wait outside for a carriage to come, she had no choice but to pick up the ownerless shawl and wrap it around herself.

‘Come to think of it, I was planning to confess everything and end it today, but I couldn’t do it again.’

A small sigh escaped her. It couldn’t be helped since it wouldn’t have been right to grab an injured person and say such things. She would have to tell him after His Grace the Archduke recovered. Especially since he was partly injured because of her.

* * *

As time passed, Lillian gradually began to feel anxious. No matter how she thought about it, the fact that their eyes had met when she used her ability bothered her. She thought intensely about whether His Grace the Archduke would remember or not, but she couldn’t be certain either way.

Moreover, since she had rarely used her revival ability on people, she was curious about the prognosis. Even when she looked through the incident and accident sections of the newspaper, she couldn’t find any related articles anywhere. Of course, there was nothing about His Grace the Archduke being injured either.

In the end, after much deliberation, Lillian made up her mind.

‘Right! Rather than being anxiously worried like this, I’ll go visit him and check for myself!’

She couldn’t bear to go empty-handed, so before arriving at the Archduke’s residence, she bought a small flower pot wishing for his recovery.

Knock knock.

When she knocked on the gate, after a moment, an elderly butler came out.

“Who are you?”

At the butler’s expression, which seemed to not remember her at all, Lillian’s lips trembled. Come to think of it, she wondered how she should explain herself. She wasn’t the Archduke’s lover, nor his friend, and certainly not someone having an affair with him.

“I am…”

The butler looked Lillian up and down as she hesitated, then spoke.

“I’m sorry, but we are not receiving visitors for the time being. Please return home.”

“Ah… I see. Well, His Grace is ill after all. Then, could you at least deliver this flower pot? Please tell him I was grateful for that day.”

Just as she was about to leave, the butler was startled and grabbed Lillian.

“Ah, by any chance, are you the Count’s Daughter who came with our master that day?”

“Yes? That’s right, but….”

As she trailed off and nodded her head, the butler quickly stepped aside from the gate.

“That day was so chaotic that I couldn’t even express my gratitude. Please, come inside.”

Lillian walked down the corridor following the butler’s guidance and asked.

“How is His Grace the Archduke doing?”

The butler simply smiled with an unreadable expression.

“Our master has issued a gag order regarding that day’s events.”

“Ah. So that’s why not a single line appeared in the newspapers?”

“That’s correct. He’s someone who receives a great deal of public attention, after all.”

Lillian nodded at the butler’s words. In any case, it was certain that having this incident widely known would do her no good. Not only would her ability be revealed, but if an article came out about His Grace the Archduke being injured while trying to save her, it would only be a matter of time before her parents found out. Then she didn’t know what kind of harsh words she’d hear for not conducting herself properly despite having a fiancé.

The butler guided Lillian to the reception room.

“Our master will be down shortly. Please wait here.”

She was sitting in a chair, briefly looking around the interior of the reception room, when she heard quick footsteps coming down without hesitation, and then the door opened.

Perhaps because it was his home, Kartan’s atmosphere was quite different from usual. His characteristic expressionless face that looked like it wouldn’t bleed even if pricked was still there, but how should she put it. His usually neat hair was slightly disheveled, and unlike usual, he had some color in his complexion.

‘Is it thanks to my power? Still, I’m relieved he looks well.’

It was when Lillian was feeling relieved. Kartan sat in the head seat and asked.

“Hmm, what brings you all the way here?”

His tone sounded as if he was reproaching her for coming. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Lillian muttered quietly.

“Well, I wanted to thank you for saving me that day… and I was curious if you were alright…. I’m truly sorry for visiting so suddenly.”

“You apologize for everything. Why don’t you just pick one thing.”

Then he propped his chin as if bored. For a while, silence hung in the reception room. Watching His Grace the Archduke just looking down at the mahogany chair’s armrest felt like a silent signal telling her to leave quickly.

‘It seems he doesn’t remember that day’s events, so perhaps I should head back now.’

Lillian broke the silence and stood up from her seat.

“Then I’ll be heading back now.”

At this, Kartan released his propped chin and frowned.

“You’re leaving already?”

“Pardon?”

“Since you’re already here, why don’t you have a meal before you go.”

Kartan rang the bell to summon the butler. Lillian couldn’t bring herself to refuse him. The truth was, she had more to say to him. Words that she couldn’t quite bring herself to say. She had to tell him that she hadn’t actually liked him.

‘How should I say it? Is it okay to say such things to someone who was injured trying to save me?’

It was quite rude, but eventually she would have to say it someday. Lillian gripped the hem of her skirt.

“Um, Your Grace the Archduke. I have something to tell you. I was going to tell you when we met that day, but because of the sudden accident, I couldn’t say it clearly. The thing is….”

Lillian’s heart was pounding. Her heart sank, not knowing how he would react. Kartan suddenly leaned forward and stared directly at Lillian.

“I nearly died trying to save the Count’s Daughter, so surely you’re not thinking of just letting it slide?”

The corner of Kartan’s mouth twisted upward. He stared fiercely at Lillian, whose eyes were trembling, as if he would pierce right through her.

“Th, that’s….”

His tone seemed to say ‘how dare you’ from the start. Lillian couldn’t continue her words and looked like she was about to cry.

‘It seems like I’m now in His Grace the Archduke’s palm, so what should I do….’

She was no different from a rabbit caught in a trap, just without the collar. She had already been too scared to speak and could only suffer in silence, but now that she owed him a life debt on top of that, it seemed hopeless to confess the truth.

Lillian, who had fallen into despair, hung her head low.

“Then how should I repay you?”

At this, Kartan leisurely lifted his chin.

“Come to my bedroom tonight.”

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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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