I’m Done With Unrequited Love - Chapter 50

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 50
It was time to head home.
Since the children’s conversation showed no signs of ending, the parents who had risen from their seats stood at a distance, waiting.
Ernan and I did the same.
Among the nobility gathered in small clusters of acquaintances, Ernan and I—without any real friends among them—stood apart on our own.
It was a good opportunity to discuss matters concerning Siren.
“So that’s the reason he went through with it, or so I heard.”
When I shared with Ernan everything I’d learned from pressing Siren for the truth, he offered this assessment:
“A rare madman, that one.”
I nodded quietly in agreement.
And Ernan didn’t stop there—he voiced another concern.
“You don’t intend to keep dealings with him, surely.”
“Of course not. We’ve agreed to end things now. Besides, after what he’s done, it’s hard to feel any warmth toward him.”
As Ernan and I spoke, I noticed distant nobles glancing our way, their voices dropping to whispers.
In truth, this behavior had been going on since I was in the throes of my Unrequited Love.
At first, they gossiped that I was inconsiderate toward Ernan, that I was persistent and harsh, spouting whatever nonsense came to mind.
But after a certain point, they began constructing a narrative of sympathy around me, and then—
eventually they started blaming Ernan.
Calling it False Hope, they said.
Watching it all unfold, I could only find it absurd.
The parties involved had no grievances to air, yet there they were, stirring up commotion over nothing.
But I never stepped in to say anything about it—I simply didn’t care what they prattled on about.
And Ernan seemed to feel the same way.
‘Gossip, of course.’
Though I had to admit, this time—unlike before—I was somewhat bothered by the outright fabrication and rumors.
No matter how even-tempered a person might be, if they’ve given up on Unrequited Love and suddenly hear “The two of them are finally together!!”, wouldn’t they feel a small injustice and want to protest?
“Fidellia!”
It seemed the conversation among the children had wound down, and they began to rise.
Kiara, having bowed with a nod to the Crown Prince and the other noble children, finally approached me.
Walking toward me with an almost bounding gait, Kiara wore her characteristic dour expression, yet her cheeks were flushed with excitement.
‘She must have had an interesting conversation.’
I was keenly curious what it had been about.
And my question was answered soon enough.
I watched as the young nobles scattered to find their parents and began telling them something.
That was when it happened.
After hearing something from a child, one of the noblemen suddenly looked up and called out to me.
“Lady Fidellia! Is it true you’re marrying Lord Cleor soon?!”
I was left speechless.
……
When I looked down at Kiara, the child quickly averted her gaze.
What on earth were you two talking about?
* * *
“Is it true you’re marrying Lord Cleor soon?!”
With that cry, the nobles surged toward us, and I fled the scene with Kiara.
“No, it isn’t.”
Those were the only words I left behind.
But just before I stepped into my carriage, Kiara refused to board and threw a tantrum.
“I want to go with Rene.”
“Go where?”
“To her place.”
……
“I already promised her.”
Why do children always make these promises without parental consent?
Though to be fair, I’d done the same as a girl—acted first, informed my parents later—so I had no grounds to protest.
When I turned to look at Ernan and Rene’s carriage, I saw they too hadn’t boarded; they seemed to be in conversation.
Rene was clutching at her skirts, her expression on the verge of tears as she looked up at Ernan.
I understood at once.
‘They’ve received the same notification.’
Ernan, who had been gazing down at Rene with his characteristic blank expression, soon turned to look at me.
I happened to be looking at him too, so our eyes met.
The two gazes that collided in midair carried the same meaning.
You too?
Ernan and I pressed our foreheads at the same time, and after a few seconds, we reached an agreement.
Let’s just go. We already promised, didn’t we?
Picking up habits quickly, aren’t we?
Just this once.
Hmm.
In the end, Ernan extracted some sort of promise from Rene before he finally spoke to me.
Let’s go.
And so the four of us ended up heading to the Jonas Estate.
In the carriage on the way back, I was staring intently at Kiara, pressing her silently for an answer.
…….
…….
Kiara pretended not to notice my gaze and kept her eyes fixed on the window.
Unable to bear it any longer, I called out to her.
Kiara.
……Why?
What did you tell your friends?
I didn’t say anything?
She was already lying with impressive ease.
I felt deeply unsettled.
How on earth had she seen something between Ernan and me that made her mention our marriage to the children……?
And how had the other children interpreted it so that they told their parents that Ernan’s and my marriage was imminent?
I simply couldn’t fathom it.
While I was absorbed in these thoughts, the carriage had steadily made its way to the Jonas Estate.
Home! Rene!
Kiara practically leapt from the carriage and rushed toward Cleor’s carriage that had followed behind.
Kiara, be careful.
There was no force in my cautioning voice.
All I’d done all day was visit the Crown Prince Palace, yet I was completely drained.
‘I can’t tell whether it’s my physical stamina or my mental stamina that’s been depleted.’
I leaned toward the latter.
As I stepped down from the carriage, I saw Ernan and Rene, who had likewise disembarked.
Let’s go inside.
I took the lead as the mistress of the house, guiding them forward.
Though the mansion’s main entrance was right before us anyway.
Pipin, I’m home.
Ah, you’ve finally arrived.
As I entered the hall of the estate and called for the elderly butler Pipin, he turned to me with evident delight.
But “finally”?
Were you waiting for me?
Of course I was. Though who are the two behind you……?
Pipin asked carefully, glancing at Ernan and Rene behind me.
Guests. Kiara insisted on bringing them over.
Oh my.
Pipin appeared rather flustered.
I was puzzled.
Is something wrong?
Well……you see, there are already guests here waiting for you.
……?
Guests who already arrived?
‘Who?’
Given my narrow circle of acquaintances, there was no one who would come to this estate beforehand to wait for me.
But my bewilderment evaporated in an instant as a figure suddenly burst through the doorway.
Big sister!
An abrupt face thrust into view.
I took a moment to process reality, then belatedly recognized who the person before my eyes was.
……Noel?
Noel.
Noel Jonas.
My one and only younger brother……!
‘What are you doing there?’
I closed my mouth and stared at him, wondering if I was misreading something.
‘Surely I’m not seeing things.’
“Sister?”
That voice — no, this wasn’t an illusion.
“What are you doing here.”
He said he was coming in a month.
I couldn’t fathom why he’d appeared in the Capital a week early.
Whether or not he sensed my bewilderment, Noel — his grey hair longer than the last time I’d seen him, gathered back in a ponytail — smiled with that same copper-brown gaze I shared with him.
“Well, the schedule got moved up, that’s all. The Duke said if he was going to the Capital anyway, I might as well come along.”
Had his cheerful voice ever sounded so unreal?
My gaze, which had been fixed on his carefree expression, soon drifted to the person standing beside him.
Noel hadn’t come alone.
“Hello.”
“……Hello.”
The unfamiliar boy that Noel had brought greeted me, so I returned the courtesy.
A child of about ten with jet-black hair and striking crimson eyes.
The boy bowed respectfully as he introduced himself.
“I am Cesar Bertrand.”
He was the original male lead.

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