I’m Done With Unrequited Love - Chapter 64

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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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Episode 64
“Good day to you.”
Kiara greeted Sarubia with her characteristic impassive expression.
I watched the two of them with an odd sort of wonder.
I still found it strange to grasp that these two people standing before me were bound by blood.
But I showed nothing, and bid Kiara farewell.
“Safe travels.”
“Mm. You keep up with your research, Fidellia.”
At Kiara’s remarkably considerate words, I found myself smiling without thinking.
* * *
Sarubia gazed at the red-haired girl before her.
The girl who was speaking with Fidellia, her closest friend.
The girl who had become Fidellia’s adopted daughter.
And…….
‘My blood.’
The child I had borne.
Because of this, Sarubia often found her gaze unable to leave Kiara.
‘The last time I saw her, she was just a tiny bundle.’
And now she had grown so much, becoming her dear friend’s adopted daughter.
‘I’ve never heard of such a coincidence.’
The child appearing again, of all places, right in her own circle.
‘Could this be God’s will?’
If it was God’s will, what could His purpose be in sending Kiara back to her side?
Yet Sarubia shook her head.
Whatever lay beneath this, it could not be for her sake.
As Sarubia turned these thoughts over, Kiara finished her farewell with Fidellia and drew near.
“Come, let’s go.”
Sarubia, wearing a soft smile, extended her hand to Kiara.
Kiara stared at that hand for a moment, then clasped it.
“Fidellia, so I come back after sunset again today, yes?”
Fidellia nodded, confirming it.
“Thank you always.”
“Don’t mention it—we’re friends!”
As Sarubia answered cheerfully, a smile bloomed across Fidellia’s face.
Sarubia had always cherished that smile of hers.
On a face so often expressionless, the faint smile that occasionally emerged had a peculiar charm that drew the eye.
‘She truly resembles Ernan Cleroor, doesn’t she.’
The way she’s always so composed, or how her lips curl up in that captivating manner.
‘Though Fidellia seems to show far richer emotional range.’
That was why Sarubia felt so drawn to Fidellia.
Ernan’s presence and bearing were so austere that he scarcely felt alive at all.
He was uniformly indifferent to everyone alike.
‘If there was any exception at all……it would only be Fidellia.’
By contrast, Fidellia was endlessly tender and kind to those close to her.
There was something rare and precious in the kindness offered by one so guarded, and standing before Fidellia, Sarubia often felt as though she had become someone special.
That was why, even amid the turmoil and tension of her conflict with Bruno—her brother, the Emperor—she had accepted the task of caring for Kiara.
‘Because it was Fidellia’s request, and hers alone.’
Sarubia turned from Fidellia and headed toward the carriage with Kiara.
But just before climbing aboard, Kiara suddenly spoke up.
“I know.”
The words came without object or context, leaving Sarubia baffled, so she asked.
“Know what?”
And the answer that came back was…….
“That my sister gave birth to me.”
“…….”
Sarubia’s words caught in her throat.
So she met Kiara’s gaze and stood quietly, looking down at the child.
Wanting to know what had prompted her to speak such a thing.
And unable to fathom how she had come to know this truth.
Sarubia decided to deny it first and see.
“There’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not your biological mother.”
“That’s not true. I heard everything last time.”
But Sarubia found herself cut short by Kiara’s swift rebuttal.
“……Last time? When?”
Even as the question left her lips, Sarubia’s mind caught on a memory—a conversation from the Imperial Prince’s Palace.
Words spoken in the presence of Fidellia and Ernan.
“From now on, I’ll take Kiara and arrange for her to meet Rene. If Fidellia wishes it, I’ll do so gladly.”
“On what authority?”
Ernan had asked, and Sarubia had answered.
“On the authority of her biological mother.”
“Good heavens. You heard that?”
“Yes. I heard it.”
Sarubia fell silent, searching for words, before finally managing to speak.
“……You weren’t shocked, were you?”
“I was a bit surprised, actually.”
“I see……. Of course you were. Yes, I suppose you must have been.”
If I’d been in your position, I would have been shocked too.
‘No, I was already shocked then.’
When Fidellia came to ask permission to adopt Kiara.
Even pretending not to be, she had been deeply shaken.
As Sarubia turned Kiara’s response over in her mind, she soon found the words she ought to say to the child.
“I’m sorry.”
According to what Fidellia had told her, Kiara had lived as a vagrant on the streets until quite recently.
Before that, she’d suffered abuse at the Orphanage.
Sarubia bore much of the blame for Kiara growing up in such circumstances.
Setting aside regrets like ‘I should never have trusted Bruno’s promise that day to handle the child properly’—
The foundation of Kiara’s misfortune lay in Sarubia’s own decision to abandon her.
Yet contrary to what Sarubia felt in her heart, Kiara answered with the same flat composure as always.
“It’s all right.”
“……All right?”
“Yes. You must have had your reasons.”
“I find that hard to believe. That you’d say it’s all right, and that you still call me ‘sister,’ of all things.”
“Nothing has changed, has it? I’m no longer your sister—I’m Fidellia’s biological daughter now, and you don’t regard me as your child. So there’s no reason things between us need to be any different.”
For words spoken by a child, they were brutally pragmatic and cold.
Paradoxically, Sarubia found herself relieved by what Kiara said.
The relationship between Sarubia and Kiara had always been good enough.
She hoped it would remain unchanged after this.
Which was why Kiara’s words……
“……Yes.”
—were something to be grateful for.
“Thank you. For saying that.”
“I wasn’t trying to earn your thanks.”
“I know.”
At Kiara’s sullen remark, Sarubia couldn’t help but laugh.
“By the way, I’m curious about something.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Why did you send me to the Orphanage?”
“Ah……. That.”
Sarubia chose her words carefully, hesitating a moment.
“I didn’t want children.”
“You didn’t want to have a child?”
“That’s right. I wanted to be alone forever.”
Sarubia cast her mind back to those days.
“But then you came into being, and I had no choice but to bear you. And when I finally gave birth to you…… it was Bruno who promised to take responsibility and bring you somewhere else.”
“Emperor Bruno?”
“Yes. My own brother.”
So I handed you over to him.
“After that, I turned away so completely that I didn’t even know where you were being taken.”
Sarubia did not voice aloud the truth that this had been done in an attempt to erase from memory the very existence of a ‘child’ itself.
She only tried to speak a refined version of the truth to Kiara, one that wouldn’t wound her.
Whether her efforts had borne fruit or not, Kiara nodded easily and gave her consent.
“I see. I understand.”
“You don’t still hate me, then?”
“To be honest, I do feel a bit wronged…….”
As Kiara spoke, her brow furrowed slightly.
“It’s all right. It’s in the past now.”
“How mature of you.”
“I hear that often.”
A smile bloomed across Sarubia’s face once more.
“You know, Kiara.”
I think I’m growing fond of you.
* * *
Upon arriving at the Cleroor Estate, Kiara made straight for Ernan.
And she relayed the news of Fidellia in the following manner:
“Alert, sir! A rival has appeared!”

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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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