Stella, having roughly heard the story from Geron, fidgeted with her fingers. She didn't know how to speak. Anton Geron hadn't gone into lengthy detail about his unrequited love for Stella. Nevertheless, recalling that the words she had used to reject him had deeply hurt him, Stella could not meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry. I didn't properly understand your feelings back then."
He gave a wry smile at Stella's apology.
"I didn't say that because I wanted an apology."
An awkward silence hung in the air. This time, Anton Geron was the first to try to leave with an awkward expression. Although the words he had long harbored had burst out impulsively, he had no intention of burdening Stella.
"Well then, goodbye..."
Stella interrupted Anton Geron as he was greeting her.
"It's an honor that someone as wonderful as you likes me."
Anton Geron, who had a troubled expression, smiled.
"No."
It felt like he was finally able to sort out the emotions he hadn't been able to resolve until now.
"Everyone is the same."
Anton was also at fault for only pushing his own feelings without caring about Stella's feelings.
"I can understand Stella from back then."
He ruminated on this for years and realized something.
"A person who lacks peace of mind does not have the capacity to look into the hearts of others, does he?"
'People who lack peace of mind don't have the space to care about others...?'
Upon hearing Anton Geron's words, Stella recalled the face of Kendrick she had just seen. The composure from before had vanished without a trace, replaced by a face that looked somewhat anxious.
"I feel relieved now that I have told you everything."
Anton Geron stood up and brushed off the dust. Now that the matter involving Lady Decrit, who was entangled with Anton Geron, was almost resolved, he thought that he would no longer have to run into her.
"Um, by any chance, that photo?"
There was something she wanted to ask Anton Geron, but couldn't.
"A photo?"
In her previous life, Anton Geron had brought a photograph to the ailing Stella. It was a picture of Kendrick with another woman. Upon seeing that photo, Stella stopped believing in love, and even after her regression, she tried to keep her distance from Kendrick. She believed that the day would come when he would truly love another woman other than her.
'This is something that won't happen for another five years.'
"What photo are you talking about?"
At Anton Geron's words, Stella shook her head. Although she knew that asking him about the photo now would be pointless since Anton Geron knew nothing, she grabbed him out of impatience.
"It's nothing."
In this life, she learned many things that she didn't know in the previous life.
'I might find out the truth about that photo in five years.'
Stella handed the handkerchief she had received from Anton Geron back to him. She gave a soft, pleasant smile.
"Thanks for the handkerchief."
Stella returned to the Duke's mansion. Contrary to her expectation that she would run into Kendrick in the bedroom, he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Kendrick?"
"He is working in his office."
Stella waited silently in the bedroom. As the silence grew long, the ticking of the clock seemed particularly loud. Stella gathered her thoughts. She could use her magic to verify whether Kendrick was a murderer or not. However, that was not what Stella wanted.
'What on earth happened?'
That was the reason Kendrick was trying to hide this.
'I was able to stay alive because of Kendrick.'
Stella once thought she was unhappier than anyone else. She recalled her past when she had seduced Kendrick to please her parents. Back then, Kendrick had taught Stella what love was and cared for her with genuine concern. Although their relationship later soured, Stella might have ended her own life if it weren't for his affection.
"Excuse me."
"Yes, Madam!"
"Is the Duke not here yet?"
Stella also wanted to be a source of comfort to Kendrick, just as much as he had given her.
"He asked me to tell you that he will be back late today because he has a lot of work piled up. He told you to go to sleep first."
'Kendrick?'
Stella scratched her chin. Kendrick was a well-organized man who made sure work didn't pile up unless absolutely necessary. Moreover, ever since he took the love potion, Kendrick not only visited Stella whenever he had a spare moment but also handled his tasks as quickly as possible. So, for him to not come to the bedroom because work was backed up? There was only one answer.
'You're avoiding me.'
Stella sat up. The clock hands were pointing toward 1 o'clock. Avoiding conversation like this was unlike Kendrick. However, after listening to Anton Geron, Stella came to understand Kendrick. Anyone can appear different than before when they lose their composure. Stella opened the door to the room where Kendrick was.
'Just as I expected.'
The people he worked with were nowhere to be seen, perhaps having all gone home. Kendrick was sitting alone at his desk. No, to be precise, he was sleeping at his desk.
'Did you fall asleep while working?'
It seemed he wasn't deliberately staying away to avoid Stella, but rather had drifted off to sleep from accumulated fatigue and emotional distress. Stella pulled up a chair and sat down next to him.
'Sleeping soundly.'
She had no intention of waking Kendrick up.
"You worked hard today as well."
Stella carefully reached out and stroked Kendrick's head. Very slowly. Her white, slender fingers caressed his black hair. Then, she, too, rested her palms and cheeks on the desk and leaned back. She intended to wait until Kendrick opened his eyes. However, Stella, exhausted from the events of the day, eventually drifted off to sleep.
Chirp, chirp, the sound of birds rang out. Kendrick lifted his face from the desk.
'I fell asleep.'
As he stretched, he realized someone was sitting next to him. Be could tell at a glance. Shiny purple hair. The familiar scent of skin.
'Stella...!'
His movements stopped for a moment. Only his eyes trembled faintly.
"Why are you here?"
Kendrick carefully placed his hand on Stella's shoulder. Yet, Stella did not wake up. After patting her shoulder a few times, Stella's eyelashes twitched, and she opened her eyes. Their eyes met directly. Unlike Kendrick, who was feigning nervousness due to the argument from the previous day, Stella was relaxed.
"You woke up first, Kendrick."
Her eyes crinkled beautifully into a crescent shape. Her eye smile was so pretty that Kendrick was momentarily speechless.
"Did you sleep well?"
"... Yes."
"It's fascinating. We've never slept here before."
Kendrick thought that Stella probably hadn't slept well. She was already so skinny, and he was worried that she might have broken a bone by sleeping while sitting in a chair.
"Why aren't you sleeping in the bedroom?"
"I dozed off while waiting for you to wake up."
Stella and Kendrick went down to eat together. Stella didn't bring up the topic. She waited until Kendrick brought it up first.
"Here is the mushroom soup."
Only the sound of servants bringing food could be heard.
"If you are finished with the guidance, please leave."
At Kendrick's words, all the servants left their seats.
"There is a good way to verify that matter."
Kendrick cautiously began to speak.
"Write it down. That way, you'll be able to verify if I killed someone."
Stella frowned.
"Kendrick, I think you're mistaken about something."
Kendrick looked at her as if asking what she meant.
"Do you really think I'm doing this because I think you're a murderer?"
He still seemed unable to notice how Stella was feeling.
"What I'm curious about is what kind of wound Kendrick carries."
He furrowed his brow as if he had misheard something.
"... my wound?"
Stella nodded.
"Kendrick always stepped up to help me whenever I was having a hard time, but I've never once done that for you."
Just like with the rumor that broke out this time, she also tried to handle things secretly without Stella knowing, when rumors circulated that she was performing on the stage of a vulgar theater or doing drugs.
"And because you are my husband."
Stella wanted to let him know. That she cared for Kendrick just as much as he had cared for her.
"I can't help but worry about what happened."
Kendrick looked confused.
'But.'
As the leader of Adrian, he was someone who had always been responsible for others. It could feel unfamiliar for others to worry about and care for him.
"If you don't want to talk about it now, you don't have to. I'm also sorry for pushing you too hard yesterday."
Stella approached with a gentle expression and placed her hand on the back of Kendrick's hand.
"I'm sorry, Stella."
His expression was quite dark, as if he were thinking of something difficult to talk about. No, the word serious suited it better.
"Lady Decrit is right."
Stella calmly watched Kendrick like that.
"I went abroad to study as if I were running away. A noble lady was in an accident, and I was named as the suspect."
Stella recalled an article she had seen a few months ago. The incident about a noblewoman from the western region who had an accident at a subway station.
"But I wasn't the culprit. The police investigated thoroughly, and they said I wasn't the killer, too."
She realized that Kendrick was talking about what happened back then.
"However, the exact circumstances of the case haven't been revealed. So, there are still a few people who think I am the culprit."
'Then Lady Decrit must be one of them, too.'
Kendrick gave a bitter smile as he recalled the incident.
"The stigma of being a murderer didn't disappear easily."
Looking into his eyes, Stella could guess at least a little bit how difficult it must have been for Kendrick back then.
"It happened when I was only thirteen. Everyone was whispering that I was a murderer."
As Kendrick told this story, he did not shed tears, tremble, or trail off. He simply spoke calmly. However, to Stella, Kendrick looked even more sorrowful. That is why she could not easily offer words of comfort.
"The late Duke handled the aftermath well, too. He immediately sent me abroad and dealt with the rumors based on the position he had built in the western region."
'So that's why you went to study abroad early.'
Stella cautiously began to speak.
"But why does Lady Decrit think you are the culprit?"
"She must have needed someone to blame."
'Someone to blame?'
Stella couldn't help but be surprised by his next words.
"I'm sorry. I didn't properly understand your feelings back then."
He gave a wry smile at Stella's apology.
"I didn't say that because I wanted an apology."
An awkward silence hung in the air. This time, Anton Geron was the first to try to leave with an awkward expression. Although the words he had long harbored had burst out impulsively, he had no intention of burdening Stella.
"Well then, goodbye..."
Stella interrupted Anton Geron as he was greeting her.
"It's an honor that someone as wonderful as you likes me."
Anton Geron, who had a troubled expression, smiled.
"No."
It felt like he was finally able to sort out the emotions he hadn't been able to resolve until now.
"Everyone is the same."
Anton was also at fault for only pushing his own feelings without caring about Stella's feelings.
"I can understand Stella from back then."
He ruminated on this for years and realized something.
"A person who lacks peace of mind does not have the capacity to look into the hearts of others, does he?"
'People who lack peace of mind don't have the space to care about others...?'
Upon hearing Anton Geron's words, Stella recalled the face of Kendrick she had just seen. The composure from before had vanished without a trace, replaced by a face that looked somewhat anxious.
"I feel relieved now that I have told you everything."
Anton Geron stood up and brushed off the dust. Now that the matter involving Lady Decrit, who was entangled with Anton Geron, was almost resolved, he thought that he would no longer have to run into her.
"Um, by any chance, that photo?"
There was something she wanted to ask Anton Geron, but couldn't.
"A photo?"
In her previous life, Anton Geron had brought a photograph to the ailing Stella. It was a picture of Kendrick with another woman. Upon seeing that photo, Stella stopped believing in love, and even after her regression, she tried to keep her distance from Kendrick. She believed that the day would come when he would truly love another woman other than her.
'This is something that won't happen for another five years.'
"What photo are you talking about?"
At Anton Geron's words, Stella shook her head. Although she knew that asking him about the photo now would be pointless since Anton Geron knew nothing, she grabbed him out of impatience.
"It's nothing."
In this life, she learned many things that she didn't know in the previous life.
'I might find out the truth about that photo in five years.'
Stella handed the handkerchief she had received from Anton Geron back to him. She gave a soft, pleasant smile.
"Thanks for the handkerchief."
***
Stella returned to the Duke's mansion. Contrary to her expectation that she would run into Kendrick in the bedroom, he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Kendrick?"
"He is working in his office."
Stella waited silently in the bedroom. As the silence grew long, the ticking of the clock seemed particularly loud. Stella gathered her thoughts. She could use her magic to verify whether Kendrick was a murderer or not. However, that was not what Stella wanted.
'What on earth happened?'
That was the reason Kendrick was trying to hide this.
'I was able to stay alive because of Kendrick.'
Stella once thought she was unhappier than anyone else. She recalled her past when she had seduced Kendrick to please her parents. Back then, Kendrick had taught Stella what love was and cared for her with genuine concern. Although their relationship later soured, Stella might have ended her own life if it weren't for his affection.
"Excuse me."
"Yes, Madam!"
"Is the Duke not here yet?"
Stella also wanted to be a source of comfort to Kendrick, just as much as he had given her.
"He asked me to tell you that he will be back late today because he has a lot of work piled up. He told you to go to sleep first."
'Kendrick?'
Stella scratched her chin. Kendrick was a well-organized man who made sure work didn't pile up unless absolutely necessary. Moreover, ever since he took the love potion, Kendrick not only visited Stella whenever he had a spare moment but also handled his tasks as quickly as possible. So, for him to not come to the bedroom because work was backed up? There was only one answer.
'You're avoiding me.'
Stella sat up. The clock hands were pointing toward 1 o'clock. Avoiding conversation like this was unlike Kendrick. However, after listening to Anton Geron, Stella came to understand Kendrick. Anyone can appear different than before when they lose their composure. Stella opened the door to the room where Kendrick was.
'Just as I expected.'
The people he worked with were nowhere to be seen, perhaps having all gone home. Kendrick was sitting alone at his desk. No, to be precise, he was sleeping at his desk.
'Did you fall asleep while working?'
It seemed he wasn't deliberately staying away to avoid Stella, but rather had drifted off to sleep from accumulated fatigue and emotional distress. Stella pulled up a chair and sat down next to him.
'Sleeping soundly.'
She had no intention of waking Kendrick up.
"You worked hard today as well."
Stella carefully reached out and stroked Kendrick's head. Very slowly. Her white, slender fingers caressed his black hair. Then, she, too, rested her palms and cheeks on the desk and leaned back. She intended to wait until Kendrick opened his eyes. However, Stella, exhausted from the events of the day, eventually drifted off to sleep.
***
Chirp, chirp, the sound of birds rang out. Kendrick lifted his face from the desk.
'I fell asleep.'
As he stretched, he realized someone was sitting next to him. Be could tell at a glance. Shiny purple hair. The familiar scent of skin.
'Stella...!'
His movements stopped for a moment. Only his eyes trembled faintly.
"Why are you here?"
Kendrick carefully placed his hand on Stella's shoulder. Yet, Stella did not wake up. After patting her shoulder a few times, Stella's eyelashes twitched, and she opened her eyes. Their eyes met directly. Unlike Kendrick, who was feigning nervousness due to the argument from the previous day, Stella was relaxed.
"You woke up first, Kendrick."
Her eyes crinkled beautifully into a crescent shape. Her eye smile was so pretty that Kendrick was momentarily speechless.
"Did you sleep well?"
"... Yes."
"It's fascinating. We've never slept here before."
Kendrick thought that Stella probably hadn't slept well. She was already so skinny, and he was worried that she might have broken a bone by sleeping while sitting in a chair.
"Why aren't you sleeping in the bedroom?"
"I dozed off while waiting for you to wake up."
Stella and Kendrick went down to eat together. Stella didn't bring up the topic. She waited until Kendrick brought it up first.
"Here is the mushroom soup."
Only the sound of servants bringing food could be heard.
"If you are finished with the guidance, please leave."
At Kendrick's words, all the servants left their seats.
"There is a good way to verify that matter."
Kendrick cautiously began to speak.
"Write it down. That way, you'll be able to verify if I killed someone."
Stella frowned.
"Kendrick, I think you're mistaken about something."
Kendrick looked at her as if asking what she meant.
"Do you really think I'm doing this because I think you're a murderer?"
He still seemed unable to notice how Stella was feeling.
"What I'm curious about is what kind of wound Kendrick carries."
He furrowed his brow as if he had misheard something.
"... my wound?"
Stella nodded.
"Kendrick always stepped up to help me whenever I was having a hard time, but I've never once done that for you."
Just like with the rumor that broke out this time, she also tried to handle things secretly without Stella knowing, when rumors circulated that she was performing on the stage of a vulgar theater or doing drugs.
"And because you are my husband."
Stella wanted to let him know. That she cared for Kendrick just as much as he had cared for her.
"I can't help but worry about what happened."
Kendrick looked confused.
'But.'
As the leader of Adrian, he was someone who had always been responsible for others. It could feel unfamiliar for others to worry about and care for him.
"If you don't want to talk about it now, you don't have to. I'm also sorry for pushing you too hard yesterday."
Stella approached with a gentle expression and placed her hand on the back of Kendrick's hand.
"I'm sorry, Stella."
His expression was quite dark, as if he were thinking of something difficult to talk about. No, the word serious suited it better.
"Lady Decrit is right."
Stella calmly watched Kendrick like that.
"I went abroad to study as if I were running away. A noble lady was in an accident, and I was named as the suspect."
Stella recalled an article she had seen a few months ago. The incident about a noblewoman from the western region who had an accident at a subway station.
"But I wasn't the culprit. The police investigated thoroughly, and they said I wasn't the killer, too."
She realized that Kendrick was talking about what happened back then.
"However, the exact circumstances of the case haven't been revealed. So, there are still a few people who think I am the culprit."
'Then Lady Decrit must be one of them, too.'
Kendrick gave a bitter smile as he recalled the incident.
"The stigma of being a murderer didn't disappear easily."
Looking into his eyes, Stella could guess at least a little bit how difficult it must have been for Kendrick back then.
"It happened when I was only thirteen. Everyone was whispering that I was a murderer."
As Kendrick told this story, he did not shed tears, tremble, or trail off. He simply spoke calmly. However, to Stella, Kendrick looked even more sorrowful. That is why she could not easily offer words of comfort.
"The late Duke handled the aftermath well, too. He immediately sent me abroad and dealt with the rumors based on the position he had built in the western region."
'So that's why you went to study abroad early.'
Stella cautiously began to speak.
"But why does Lady Decrit think you are the culprit?"
"She must have needed someone to blame."
'Someone to blame?'
Stella couldn't help but be surprised by his next words.
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