TVDWL - Chapter 189 < Never Give Up >

"..."

Karina was quite embarrassed. She had never clearly denied it, thinking that it was none of her business what the Saintess thought. But she had no idea that she would single out the Crown Prince in such a way, not in a place where they were alone, and in front of other people.

'I thought you would only do it to Jeremiah!'

While Karina held back a sigh that was about to escape, Lucia continued speaking.

"Your Highness, just tell me the truth."

"Yes?"

"If you tell him the truth, His Highness the Grand Duke will eventually admit it."

'What?'

Lucia gave advice in a serious voice to Karina, who frowned as if asking what she was talking about.

"The Grand Duchess' heart has already turned away, and the person you are attracted to is the Crown Prince, so please tell him with your own mouth."

"Ha."

Karina laughed in disbelief.

'Are you doing this on purpose?'

Karina looked at the situation with cold, sunken eyes. How could she openly talk about the Crown Prince in front of these people who were only talking lightly about groundless rumors?

'Are you urging them to go and spread the word about this right away?'

Even without that, rumors were already spreading like wildfire. If they had just sat there, the Grand Duchess would have been distracted, and the scandal would have been so great that the person she was looking at was the Crown Prince. Then, of course, as expected of the daughter of the Marquis of Millainer, she would be greedy, or she was not satisfied with the position of Grand Duchess and was aiming for the position of Crown Princess, or she was eyeing the position of future Empress. 

All sorts of rumors would have been added, and it would have been so noisy that it would have been difficult to handle.

'If I do well, I might get arrested for damaging the honor of the royal family.

Just imagining it makes her mind dizzy.

"Saintess. Who are you talking like that to right now? Watch your words."

Jeremiah warned with a fierce aura. But Lucia was not intimidated and spoke her mind firmly.

"You have feelings for someone else, but you don't want to divorce His Highness the Grand Duke because it's a waste. Your Highness should know that that is a very selfish act."

Jeremiah then responded with a clear expression of his displeasure.

"I don't think that's something someone should say when they're flirting with someone who's already married."

"..."

For a moment, silence flowed around them. For a very brief moment, Lucia looked a little upset but quickly regained her composure.

"It was before I met the Grand Duke that the Grand Duchess said you wanted a divorce from His Highness the Grand Duke?"

"So. Are you trying to say that since we were going to get divorced anyway, there's nothing wrong with doing this?"

"What can I do if the Grand Duchess has feelings for the Crown Prince? A person's heart isn't something that can be made to be like that by someone else."

The moment Karina, who was listening to the Saintess's words, was about to say a word, thinking she couldn't listen any longer.

"Hmm. I was wondering what was going on since everyone was gathered here."

David, washed and dressed in clean clothes, appeared, accompanied by a servant holding an umbrella.

"Are you telling an interesting story?"

"...!"

"OMG!"

When the Crown Prince prince appeared, those dressed in white gasped. A look of bewilderment appeared on Karina's face as well.

'His Highness the Crown Prince!?'

Karina's face became even more embarrassed at his appearance.

'Did the Crown Prince hear what Lucia just said?'

As if reading her thoughts, David snickered and asked.

"I heard that the Grand Duchess has feelings for me. Is that true?"

He looked at Karina with a bright smile as if he found it amusing. Karina held on tightly to her mind which was about to fly away. Embarrassment came over her as she saw his gaze waiting for her answer. Karina chose her words carefully and quickly denied it.

"I think there was a misunderstanding. I just told you to think whatever you want because the Saintess kept saying strange things. I don't care what you think."

"So does that mean you really didn't change your mind about His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Lucia looked so shocked that it was truly shocking. If it was acting, it was so natural that it made me stick out my tongue.

"My intention to divorce had nothing to do with His Highness the Crown Prince."

Karina cut it off decisively.

"That..."

Lucia muttered in a daze. But...

"Hmm. I don't mind if you say so."

"...!"

Everyone present turned their heads to look at David. The atmosphere changed with his one word.

'No, why is the Crown Prince saying such things here?'

Those wearing white clothes couldn't make a sound and just rolled their wide-open eyes around.

'Ha. This is driving me crazy.'

Karina groaned and groaned. She was seriously contemplating how to resolve this situation. At that time.

"It doesn't matter."

Jeremiah, who had been standing next to Karina with a stern expression, spoke in a low voice.

"Whatever the reason, the important thing is that Karina won't divorce me. It's raining so we'll get wet if we stay here, so we'll go back to the dorms."

Jeremiah grabbed her hand and pulled her. It was a light drizzle, but since she had been standing in one place for quite some time, her clothes were getting wetter and wetter. Karina followed Jeremiah out of the place. 

***

Karina's worries continued even as she returned to her dorm. However, no matter how much she thought about it, the conclusion was the same.

"Your Highness. What I said a little while ago."

Karina opened her mouth calmly and in a flat voice.

"That was just a rumor."

"..."

Jeremiah flinched for a moment but did not stop walking.

"It made me feel bad to see the people there talking about me carelessly and bringing up personal divorce topics..."

In the end, Karina tried to tell her the truth, saying that she didn't mean it at all when she said she would not divorce because she changed her mind. However...

"Let's go back and change our clothes first."

It was obvious that Jeremiah did not want to hear her.

"..."

But Karina didn't back down. It seemed like it would be even harder to talk if she went back.

"Please don't misunderstand. I didn't mean what I said earlier. I just said it in anger, so don't worry about it..."

Karina squeezed her eyes shut and poured out her words. Before she could finish speaking, Jeremiah turned around and grabbed Karina's shoulders tightly.

"You're just saying that?"

"Is it so."

"I can't admit it."

"Yes?"

"You clearly said you wouldn't get a divorce. You said you changed your mind. I can't accept that you changed your words so quickly."

Jeremiah placed a hand on his chest and confessed in a serious voice.

"Karina. I love you."

"...!"

It was a soft and gentle voice. It was a sweet voice full of affection that seemed to seduce her.

"I already told you. You are the only one for me. I can never give up on you."

Karina looked up at him with surprised eyes. A small ripple ran deep in her heart at the sight of him confessing his love for her Just like before. However, she was not stupid enough to fall for that small echo.

"It's a mistake."

"It's not an illusion."

"It's just a fleeting feeling. In the end, the Saintess's words are right. She said that the two of you are connected by fate, so as time goes by, you will eventually be with the Saintess."

"...!"

Jeremiah kept his mouth shut at Karina's words.

"Go to the Saintess."

Pain filled his eyes as he was rejected by Karina.

'That's only for now anyway. When you get there later, you'll probably be grateful to me instead!'

Karina thought so, maintaining an indifferent attitude. But Jeremiah showed a reaction that he could not accept it at all.

"Why do you keep trying to send me to the Saintess? Why do you let me go so easily... Am I nothing more than that to you?"

He clenched his fists. His voice was trembling thinly as if he was feeling wronged.

"Why don't you trust my heart? Why on earth...!"

His face was twisted in despair.

"Why don't you have even an iota of faith? Why don't you even give me a chance!"

"Well...."

'Because I know our future is unhappy.'

Karina couldn't believe his words. Even if his words that he loved her were sincere and true at this moment.

'I already know that love won't last forever.'

There was no guarantee that Jeremiah's heart would remain unchanged until the end. Before returning to the past, she couldn't win his heart no matter how hard she tried. But not Lucia.

'Because Lucia was the person you personally chose to marry.'

Then again, no matter how much she tries to capture his heart, Jeremiah will inevitably lean toward Lucia. Even Lucia was showing such affection and interest in Jeremiah. And even the situation was flowing. From the Emperor's approval of the divorce to the preparations for the temple wedding, it was going smoothly as if everything was going smoothly. Just like Lucia said.

'It's as if fate really brought these two people together.'

In that situation, Karina couldn't bear to open her heart to him again and get hurt. She didn't want to be alone and miserable in pain again. She couldn't bear to see her heart, so precious to her, thrown away by someone else and thrown on the ground like trash. If that happened again, she really wouldn't be able to endure it.

'So I had no intention of giving it to him in the first place.'

Karina's resolve hardened.

"Jeremiah."

"...!"

Jeremiah looked at her in surprise when his name was called. However, unlike the calmness with which his name was called, the content of the words that followed was extremely cold.

"I have no expectations of you. I can't trust your heart, and even when you're by my side, I'll always be anxious and suspicious."

"I'll do it well! So that you never feel anxious. So that you don't have any doubts. I'll do it well! Karina."

He held her hand and pressed it against his cheek, begging her. Droplets of water shook from the tips of his hair, which was wet from the rain. The drops of water that fell and flowed down his cheek looked like tears.

"Please."

Although her heart felt a little weak at the feeling of being seen for some reason, she pulled herself together again. Without hesitation, Karina pulled her hand out of his grasp.

"We would be miserable if we were together."

"How do you know that? How can you be so sure?"

"..."

Karina held back her words. It seemed like nothing she said would get through to him now.

"Is it because of that memory?"

"...?"

Karina couldn't hear him properly for a moment because he was chewing his lips as if he was suddenly protesting.

"Huh? What did you just say..."

"I was wrong. It was my fault. It's all my fault."

Jeremiah apologized to Karina.

"Nothing you're worried about will ever happen. I will never let that happen. Never!"

"..."

"So. Please trust me. Please, I beg you."

His body collapsed as he leaned toward Karina. His voice was filled with sobs as if his throat was choking. He looked pitiful, like a badly wounded beast. But...

"You don't even know what I'm afraid of."

Karina's attitude was stubborn. Then his hand on her shoulder became stronger.

"...?!"

His face, which seemed to be shedding tears and grieving, was lifted up and their eyes met. They met with intense eyes as if they had made a firm decision. His sharp eyes, filled with sadness and obsession, were directed straight at her.

"Then just tell me everything."

"....?"

"Because I can never let you go."

What on earth am I supposed to do?

What are you afraid of? I need to know everything."

Jeremiah took something out of his bosom.

"That...!"

It was the pure white pendant that Karina had lost.

'Did Jeremiah have it?'

As soon as they realized that, a dazzling light emitted from the pendant, engulfed the two people.

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