The Male Lead Is Trying To Tame Me With Money - Chapter 124

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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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124.

That complicated feeling could settle down just a little, really just a feather’s weight, thanks to Parker Manager’s words that followed.

“You mean something like revenge or proving innocence?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

After hearing the answer, Parker Manager shook his head with a calm expression.

“What the Previous Lord left behind wasn’t anything like that.”

“Then what?”

“He said that while you could be happy without this, young master, it might be needed someday.”

I suddenly thought those were very mature words.

“I think you two know better than I do what happened here until the family was destroyed. You probably know even more detailed events.”

Neither of us affirmed or denied it.

It seemed like that’s what we should do.

Even if it was true that before traveling to Riedern County, we had thoroughly searched through all the documents from that time again, just in case.

“We too were angry when the Previous Lord passed away like that, and we were told we couldn’t carelessly say this place was Riedern County.”

The manager took a deep breath.

So much so that you could see his body heaving.

“But the Previous Lord said repeatedly, even until just before he passed away. He said emotions like anger and revenge would only eat away at oneself, and he didn’t want to burden us with such things, nor you, young master.”

“How could he…”

At Casian’s murmured words, Parker Manager also nodded as if in agreement.

“We too found it difficult to accept at first. But it seems the Previous Lord was more afraid of the estate people getting hurt because of it, and furthermore, of you getting hurt, young master.”

His face finally looked relieved.

So much so that you could keenly feel how long he had been waiting for this day.

“However, there’s one thing.”

“What is it?”

“He said it was regrettable that what the Young Duchess had worked so hard on wasn’t completed.”

“What Mother worked hard on?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t know what the Young Duchess did, as it was important family business and I’m just a mere servant.”

Rather than showing disappointment at those words, Casian just sent a look of understanding.

“Even so, the lord said this. Thanks to that, a path to happiness opened in your life, young master, so he wouldn’t be greedy for more.”

At Parker Manager’s words, Casian gripped my hand tightly.

It was truly fortunate that we came to Riedern County.

All the family affection he had never received even once during his childhood was left here in its entirety.

*

Parker Manager said it was fine to look around inside the vault comfortably, then left the key with Casian and went out.

“Don’t worry, I’ll record you two as travelers.”

It was a trustworthy statement befitting a former ducal family butler.

He also told us that when Casian opened the vault again in the future, it wouldn’t be as difficult as today.

After Parker Manager left, we stayed apart for a while.

Once the conversation was somewhat organized, the topic that remained most in my mind was none other than the Riarden Ducal Family’s constitution.

I fidgeted with a book with a fancy cover that happened to be nearby.

Because my mind still wasn’t organized.

‘…If only I hadn’t heard that the Previous Duke couldn’t stand touching other people.’

I could have just passed it off as Casian making excuses for what he’d said before.

From when we first came to the capital…

No, from when I first saved Casian, had there ever been a time when he avoided my touch?

‘When he was young, he wouldn’t have decided on a companion or anything, so it didn’t matter…?’

While I was absorbed in all sorts of thoughts, Casian approached me and spoke.

“Do you want that book?”

“…No.”

I was just fidgeting with something because I felt awkward.

“Right, for Rose, the honest advisor, all this would be uncollected assets.”

This wicked person is really saying something heartless.

“Assets the inspection team couldn’t find aren’t subject to claims after the statute of limitations expires. Besides, I wouldn’t be so tactless even in a situation like this. Just how do you see me-“

As I said that indignantly and turned my head sharply, I ended up stepping backward at Casian’s face that came into view.

“Why, why do you have that expression?”

“…Because I can’t control it?”

“Control what…?”

Aren’t you Casian Artez, master of self-control?

Why are you making such a, uh, um… innocent face?

It was a face that made me feel embarrassed too.

Despite being the one who spoke first, Casian raised his hands to cover his face like someone who had used up all his courage, then sat down right there.

And then.

“…Sorry.”

He uttered an apology I never expected.

“Pardon?”

“I really didn’t know, Rose.”

No, rather, saying that is tantamount to acknowledging that everything you just confirmed to Parker Manager was true.

Though it seems it’s already become difficult to pass it off as nothing.

“…I really didn’t intend to let you find out this way.”

But Casian’s words that flowed out made me even more bewildered.

Of course, the emotions that suddenly rushed in weren’t purely joyful.

He had always been evasive about his true feelings with me.

When I would sometimes approach, he was always the one who took a step back.

‘But I understand why he did that.’

He wanted to convey it to me step by step in his own way.

Just as I knew him well, he knew me well too.

He realized that I might feel a fatalistic fear about the emotions Casian was offering.

I wasn’t without responsibility for him trying to maintain the status quo by brushing off his feelings like a joke.

Didn’t I also think, under the excuse of a contract engagement, that its extension was just stretched out far?

We both pretended not to know.

It was never just one side taking responsible action.

I didn’t want to avoid responsibility and run away like that.

But he…

“But making you find out this way, and it being so heavy… I’m sorry for burdening you.”

He was acting as if the emotions he harbored were somehow sinful.

“It’s not something to apologize for.”

That made me so angry.

Whether I accepted his feelings or not, that was a secondary matter.

Within the boundaries I had allowed, he had simply expressed the feelings he harbored.

If I hadn’t let him touch even a fingertip, he wouldn’t have approached even if it was common social etiquette.

I wasn’t unaware of how careful Casian Artez had been with me.

Because we pretended to be lovers, to be married.

Because we had a contract engagement.

Because I wanted to lean on him when I was struggling.

For all sorts of reasons, I was the one who offered him my side, and I was the one who said I would stay.

For someone who had been lonely since childhood and found it difficult even to make a proper ally, harboring feelings for someone was a natural thing.

Yet Casian Artez was apologizing for having feelings for me.

For letting me know his feelings without preparation, and even for seeming to burden me because of his innate constitution.

He felt guilty about all of it.

“Why is that the first thing you say?”

“Rose.”

Casian looked up at me.

Seeing my agitated expression, he fidgeted restlessly.

“Are you angry?”

“Not because of you!”

Raw words burst out as I watched him.

I thought of Casian who had crossed the line between life and death countless times in his childhood.

I didn’t care what kind of deal the Emperor and Empress had made or what kind of love they shared.

They at least had the chance to choose, at least had time to be loved.

But Casian Artez had none of that.

The whole situation where he had nothing yet apologized to me for harboring just one feeling, this entire background itself was utterly infuriating.

He had made it a habit to assess his surroundings and read other people’s discomfort first, suppressing and enduring until he was inevitably caught.

In a moment meant for expressing affection, he added apology instead.

As if it were all his fault.

How could anyone not even be able to start properly like this.

“Just say it.”

I opened my mouth resolutely toward him.

“Not an apology, but what you really want to say.”

Don’t be afraid of becoming a burden.

That’s where it starts.

Only then can I kick you away, think it over, or accept it.

Why are you throwing away both your chance to speak and my chance to think.

Casian’s eyes widened.

As if all the bad and gloomy things I had seen in him were swept away by my fierce outburst.

“….”

Soon, an embarrassingly fresh emotion ripened the atmosphere.

Casian Artez looked at me once, then barely opened his mouth while his ears turned red, unable to meet my gaze properly.

“…I like you, Rose.”

Without hiding his trembling voice, showing me all his clumsiness completely.

“I like you very, very much.”

When he repeated it as if confirming to himself, he finally met my gaze like someone who had used up all his courage.

Not the skilled, cunning, and ruthless Casian Artez.

As if he was willing to show me even his most vulnerable side, full of inadequacies and fear.

Though we had touched so closely and frequently before.

As if all of that had been false.

He conveyed his confession while sending only his gaze to me.

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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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