My Unrequited Love Is an Absolute Secret - Chapter 117

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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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Side Story Episode 12

‘But back then, we were truly friends.’
Even if Aemerus had harbored unrequited feelings for her at the time….
It was pointless to dwell on such details.
Fortunately, Ben passed the microphone to the next couple.
“You alright?”
Aemerus studied her with careful concern.
He seemed to be checking whether the mischievous audience had wounded her feelings in any way.
“I’m fine.”
If it meant claiming the grand prize at stake in this competition, I could endure anything.
Besides, the jokes hadn’t been particularly harsh to begin with.
“Let’s win this!”
“Yeah.”
When I first participated in this competition, I knew nothing about country dancing, but today was different.
‘I came fully prepared!’
While Harry burned with determination, all the participant introductions concluded.
“So today, will the goddess of victory favor one particular couple? We wish you all luck.”
With Ben’s announcement, the competition officially began.
The moment the music started, Harry and Aemerus danced according to their carefully planned strategy.
They began with relatively simple choreography, then gradually increased the difficulty.
“Your feet holding up?”
“Yeah.”
As songs changed and contestants were eliminated, Aemerus continued to watch Harry meticulously.
Of course, she had wisely chosen cowboy boots over high heels for today’s competition, so she was perfectly fine.
Perhaps it was thanks to such thorough preparation.
Harry and Aemerus claimed victory, surpassing countless other participants.
“Ah, this couple has emptied my wallet twice over now.”
The audience chuckled at Ben’s lament.
“Aemerus! We did it…. Aemerus?”
Harry turned to share the joy of victory, then froze in place.
He was on one knee, extending a small box toward her.
“…!”
In truth, since marriage had been discussed before a proposal, I had assumed a proposal would never come.
There were still several years before I would graduate from university, after all.
“I know it’s too early to say this.”
Seeing Harry frozen with wide eyes, Aemerus spoke slowly.
“But I want to continue being your dance partner for the rest of our lives.”
For someone as introverted as Aemerus, it took tremendous courage.
“When you’re sick, I want to care for you all day long.”
“Aemerus….”
“And when you’re struggling with a difficult problem, I want to be the person who sits beside you, wrestling with it together.”
Why do tears fall even in moments of happiness?
I’d wondered every time a proposal video appeared in my algorithm.
Whether the tears were genuine, or if they only flowed because the camera was rolling.
Now I had my answer.
“So Harry, will you marry me?”
Tears streaming down my face, I pulled Aemerus into an embrace.
“I want to marry you. No matter what happens, I’m marrying you.”
Aemerus rose to his feet and held me close, his face radiant with emotion.
Then he smiled brilliantly and slipped the ring onto my left ring finger.
The applause that erupted was louder than when we’d won the championship.
“Congratulations. Though I’m not sure what you’re trying to do—rubbing your happiness in the face of us single folk like this.”
At Ben’s playful remark, I stopped crying and laughed.
“So you two kept insisting you were just friends, and now you’re engaged? In that case, show us that ring.”
I’d been too busy crying to get a proper look at it, so I finally opened my hand.
A deep emerald stone—the color of Aemerus’s eyes—sat nestled on my left ring finger.
“An emerald. They say an emerald engagement ring brings a happy marriage. Excellent choice. Well done, groom-to-be.”
What good was it to praise my uncle for choosing the ring well?
Aemerus studied my expression carefully and asked, “Do you like the ring? Are you happy with it?”
“Yes. It’s so beautiful. Thank you.”
Fortunately, the ring was exactly to my taste.
Though the stone was so large it kept rotating to the side.
“You didn’t sell all your stocks to buy this, did you?”
I asked, remembering his earlier promise to sell everything to buy me a wedding dress.
He laughed loudly, clearly recalling the same memory.
“No.”
He kissed my cheek and smiled happily.
Ben, watching us with satisfaction, spoke up.
“I hate seeing people happy. Let’s just give this couple their prize and kick them out of here.”
He said it as if he were being harsh, but really he was giving us space for a moment alone together.
Or maybe he genuinely couldn’t stand the sight of us.
“Congratulations!”
“Be happy together.”
Even in the chaos, as I retrieved my cowboy hat, congratulations poured in from all around.
It was the first time I’d received so many congratulations from complete strangers.
“Thank you so much.”
Thank you.
While Harry offered her thanks, Aemerus found himself equally occupied fielding handshake requests from all directions.
Though he couldn’t fathom why they insisted on shaking hands.
Suddenly, the sharp ring of a bell pierced the air—ding, ding, ding.
“Since it’s such a joyous occasion, I’ll treat everyone to a round of beer.”
The one who’d rung the golden bell was none other than Ben.
Aemerus, who had been receiving sage marital advice from a stranger whose name he didn’t know (always obey your wife), moved to stop him.
“Uncle, don’t do that. I’ll pay.”
“Forget it. Save your money for the wedding.”
Ben added, patting Aemerus on the back.
“Congratulations. You’re better than your old uncle.”
The two men shared a brief embrace.
In the meantime, the bartender began distributing complimentary beers to everyone.
“To the newly married couple!”
“Cheers!”
Only after the crowd had raised their voices in unison did they begin to disperse.
Finally free, Harry nestled into Aemerus’s arms and laughed.
“I never expected to receive congratulations from so many people.”
“Neither did I….”
Aemerus, who had anticipated nothing more than applause, wore a slightly deflated expression.
“What would you have done if you hadn’t won the competition today?”
“I would have kept entering until I did.”
Harry caught sight of his pallid face and giggled before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“Thank you.”
Her single kiss sent a wave of heat flooding across his face.
“For making me the happiest woman in the world.”
“You made me the happiest man in the world first.”
At Aemerus’s words, Harry let out a soft laugh.
“Order doesn’t matter anymore, does it?”
She was right.
Who had fallen for whom first—such things were now meaningless trivialities.
Aemerus pressed a reverent kiss to Harry’s forehead.

***

“James! Come in, come in. Aemerus, welcome.”
Harry’s Father greeted his guests warmly.
By now, he and Mr. Huntington had grown close enough to address each other by name.
“Thank you for the invitation.”
“I’m the one who should be grateful for accepting. Please, come in.”
James removed his shoes and changed into indoor slippers, exactly as Aemerus had instructed him beforehand.
“My future son-in-law always has such a radiant face.”
“You’re too kind.”
Harry’s Father gazed at Aemerus with an expression of pure contentment, as though merely looking at him was nourishing.
Ever since Aemerus had formally proposed to Harry, his affection for his future son-in-law had only deepened.
Meanwhile, Harry exchanged greetings with James.
“Lili, how have you been?”
“Wonderfully, thank you for asking.”
“Let me see the ring, won’t you? I want to see how well it suits you.”
At James’s request, Harry shyly extended her left hand.
Upon seeing the emerald that scattered light in all directions, he wore an expression of satisfaction.
“Yes, yes. Absolutely radiant. Just like your marriage will be.”
“You two make quite the perfect pair, don’t you?”
The two fathers congratulated themselves and moved to the Living Room.
Harry shrugged her shoulders, and she and Aemerus shared a silent laugh.
In the Living Room lay the sikhye and accompanying refreshments that Harry’s Father had prepared.
“I heard from Lili that you enjoyed sikhye, so I prepared some.”
“Excellent. And what’s the dessert beside it?”
James showed interest in the Korean confection.
“It’s a traditional Korean sweet made from rice. Please, do try some. Aemerus, help yourself as well.”
“A gluten-free confection? Now that’s promising. I won’t be shy then.”
James tasted it carefully.
Following that with a sip of sikhye to cleanse his palate, he asked a question.
“Can one learn to make this dish in the cooking class as well?”
Harry answered.
“I’ve structured several course options, and this dessert is included in one of them.”
“I’d like to hear more details.”
James’s eyes transformed into those of an investor as he focused his attention on Harry.
Though Harry was visibly nervous, she explained methodically, just as she had prepared.
When her presentation concluded, James offered both praise and constructive criticism without reservation.
“I can sense how much you’ve deliberated from multiple angles. You must have worked hard.”
The Korean confection that had been before him was already gone.
“My final piece of advice is this: you cannot earn money if you fear losing it.”
“I see…”
“The same applies to people. If you clench your fist too tightly, unwilling to lose what you hold in your hand right now, you’ll lack the strength to grasp the other person when it truly matters, and you’ll let them slip away.”
It was advice not merely about business, but about marriage as well.
The investor’s piercing gaze softened, and he returned to his familiar demeanor as he added his words.
“Should you ever falter, do not burden yourself with worry. I will not allow my daughter to face hardship.”
“With respect, sir—you are Lili’s true father.”
Watching her father’s stern expression, Harry burst into laughter.

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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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