I’m Done With Unrequited Love - Chapter 15

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

Episode 15
“…….”
Why wasn’t he answering?
Ernan sat with his chin propped on his hand, his gaze distant—clearly lost in thought.
Fine, then.
Do as you please.
I shifted my attention to Rene, whose eyes were blinking rapidly.
“Rene, weren’t you scared of that man?”
“Um…….”
Rene glanced sideways at Ernan, then nodded slowly.
So he had been frightened.
“But how were you with him then?”
“He said he was Fidellia’s friend…….”
“…….”
“And he read me fairy tales too…….”
“…….”
I realized Rene needed a lesson about the dangers of strangers. I really would have to find him a tutor soon.
“Rene. From now on, you can’t just blindly believe everyone like that.”
“Why, why……?”
“People can lie. Bad people might approach you claiming to be my friend.”
The color drained from Rene’s face.
“Then does that mean that man too…….”
“…….”
Objectively speaking, Ernan was indeed a liar.
But…….
‘How can I say no now?’
“……Fortunately, that man really is my friend, but next time it might not be, so be careful, all right?”
In the end, I had to become a liar just like Ernan.
I heard his laughter from beside me—though I wasn’t sure how long he’d been listening.
“So we’re friends?”
“Be quiet, please.”
“Of course. The best of friends. Rene, you should know how much Fidellia—”
“I said be quiet!”
I clamped my hand over Ernan’s mouth to silence him.
Be quiet.
I mouthed the warning in a voice low enough that Rene couldn’t hear.
“…….”
Ernan blinked. His golden eyelashes—the same color as his hair—fluttered. He understood.
I withdrew my hand from his mouth and sank back onto the bed.
It was only after that I heard him call my name: Fidellia Jonnes.
“Are you embarrassed of your past?”
Embarrassed?
If I’d felt that, I wouldn’t have followed Ernan around in the first place.
Rather…….
“It’s simply not something the children need to know.”
“Hmm.”
Ernan studied me, then spoke flatly.
“So Rene’s existence is a secret.”
I felt a chill run through me and shot up from the bed.
‘Only the things I shouldn’t say in front of Rene……!’
At this point, he was clearly trying to provoke me.
The fact that I’d hidden Rene was something Rene himself already knew, but it was precisely the kind of conversation the children didn’t need to hear either.
“Rene, let me step outside with this man for a moment. We’ll be right outside the door, so don’t worry.”
Rene consented, and though he seemed anxious about being separated from me, he seemed willing enough to let me step out for a short time.
I grabbed Ernan by the arm and dragged him out into the corridor.
“What are you doing?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask you. Suddenly dragging a man out like this.”
“You’re playing innocent…….”
He spoke with such an earnest, curious expression that it was almost admirable how brazenly he lied.
“The people in this estate must never know. Not a word.”
“Why?”
“You came and ruined everything. If you hadn’t shown up, we’d already have greeted each other and eaten together…….”
Wait a moment.
“…….”
I stared hard at Ernan, who was leaning against the wall.
Ernan Cleor.
In the original work, Rene’s patron—the one who gave her a family name.
The person who, by the story’s logic, should have met Rene before me and kept her alive…….
“You.”
“……?”
“Have you no interest in sponsoring a child? Adopting a ward, perhaps?”
“…….”
I know the question comes out of nowhere.
But who knows what might happen.
If everything will unfold according to the original story anyway, there’s no point in circling around—better to settle on a course now.
Just as I ended up raising Kiara under the guise of guardianship.
So if Ernan takes Rene with him when he leaves this fiefdom, the current mess would be solved.
“…….”
Ernan seemed to grasp the intent behind my words to some degree.
Yet instead of answering, he drew something from his breast pocket.
A sealed letter in the typical form of an invitation was handed to me, and I received it.
“What is this all of a sudden…….”
Then I fell silent.
The seal impressed into the sealing wax on the letter.
[Bruno von Korvalio]
“…….”
I immediately broke the seal and read through the contents.
In summary, it said this:
—I hereby invite you to my Coronation Ceremony!
“…….”
‘What a pointless thing…….’
A coronation ceremony shouldn’t require an invitation letter.
Has the law changed in the interim?
‘That can’t be it.’
I lowered the invitation and looked at Ernan again.
And I recalled the fact that Prince Bruno enjoys reading romance novels.
I understand roughly what’s happened.
Prince Bruno wanted to be a matchmaker!
“So you came to deliver this?”
Ernan nodded slightly.
“By the way, the Prince wants me to take you to the Capital. He’s made it an Imperial Order.”
“He hasn’t even taken the throne yet.”
“Advance usage?”
“That’s just like him.”
Wait—if that’s the case…….
“So you’re saying you’ll stay here until I go to the Capital?”
“Obviously.”
“…….”
This man who’s merely lodging in someone else’s house—why is he so confident about it?
‘What do I do now?’
At first, I’d planned to have Kiara and Rene meet where Sanna was.
I’d been delayed a day watching Sanna’s mood because of the cat as a variable, but I’d intended to introduce Rene right away the next day.
But.
With Ernan’s arrival, Sanna took to her bed with emotional stress.
And so Rene remained a secret.
‘So then…….’
I wracked my brain trying to find a way forward.
Revealing Rene’s existence in a situation as chaotic as this would only fan the flames of conflict among the household members.
But in order to get Ernan to leave this Estate and create a peaceful environment, ironically, I myself must leave this Estate and go to the Capital.
Therefore, a dilemma.
Conceal it indefinitely and keep it hidden.
Or… shut my eyes tight and reveal Rene’s existence.
If I choose to conceal it, I can have them leave in Ernan’s carriage when we depart this Estate and send them to his side.
In that case, the safest course is to leave this Estate as quickly as possible.
Here’s a pop quiz for you.
What am I?
‘A terminal incurable disease patient.’
So what am I doing right now?
‘Throwing myself into research for a cure.’
There were already piles of papers I hadn’t managed to read.
But I couldn’t very well bundle up research materials and haul them off to the Capital.
The fastest way to leave isn’t really an option—the wisest course is to stay rooted here for now, slip away just long enough to witness the Coronation Ceremony, and return.
So let’s imagine what happens if I decide to do that.
‘I can’t keep Rene’s existence secret forever.’
There’s no way to hide it indefinitely.
In the end, I’m back to square one: I need to steel myself and confess, “I’ve actually been raising a child in secret.”
‘So it comes down to this after all….’
It was then, mid-thought, that I suddenly became aware of Ernan standing before me.
A secondary problem I’d been wrestling with all this time.
Once I immerse myself in research, Sanna will have to manage both children almost entirely on her own.
But my conscience won’t let me dump two children on Sanna alone.
So then?
‘I need to add another guardian.’
Who?
He’s right in front of me.
Now everything has become clear….
“Alright. In exchange for feeding and housing you until the Coronation Ceremony, I’m going to ask you for one favor.”
“What is it?”
“Help me look after the children. Help Sanna.”
“…….”
Bewilderment flickered across Ernan’s eyes.
I understand. If Ernan made such a request of me, I’d laugh helplessly at the absurdity too.
“I’d rather not make such a request, but I don’t have the luxury. I’m swamped these days.”
Ernan tilted his head.
“I don’t see why you’d be busy. You’re unemployed right now. You had plenty of time to follow me around while writing your doctoral thesis.”
Why does this man keep bringing up old history?
“I’m not unemployed. I’ve started my research again.”
“What research?”
“…….”
My words caught in my throat for a moment, my lips moving soundlessly before I managed a reply.
“That’s something you don’t need to know.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes, it is.”
The conversation ended there.
Whatever his private thoughts, Ernan accepted my request readily enough.
‘Well, as long as it worked out, that’s what matters.’
We went back into the room and spent time playing with Rene.
It was quite the ordeal, pretending to be friendly with Ernan.
Not that it was difficult getting his cooperation—he genuinely seemed fond of children, no pretense needed.
He showed no hint of reluctance, no sign of distaste.
The two adults left the room once Ernan’s forehead had turned a bright red from the chestnuts, swollen like a bee sting.
“Is your forehead alright?”
“There’s nothing wrong with it.”
“It looks like you were stung by a bee.”
“Does it look that bad?”
“You could cover it with your hair… or actually, no one’s going to see your face anyway. Just go to bed and let it fade. You’ll be fine in the morning.”
“So that’s how you’re trying to sweep me out of sight.”
“…… That wasn’t what I meant. Well, if that’s how you see it, then fine.”
“You’ve certainly become cruel in my absence.”
“And you’ve only gotten more obnoxious.”
In any case, through negotiations with Ernan, I managed to arrange for Rene to be presented to the household members.
‘This time, it has to work.’
Since dinner was taken separately by each person in this Estate, I planned to gather everyone once the formal dining hour had passed and reveal the truth.
It wasn’t something that warranted such solemnity under ordinary circumstances, but deception grows heavier in guilt the longer it persists.
Having made that decision, I waited for evening to arrive.
Marquess Jonnes’ Wife called for me not long after I’d made up my mind.
I went to her chambers and……
“It would be wise to explain what’s happened.”
……
‘Damn.’
There, trembling beside her, I come face to face with Rene again.

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