Chapter 3 - My Ex-Lover’s Excuse (1/2)

Haizens made a sorrowful expression as he spoke with a sweet, pitiful voice.

‘Latille, I know you’re furious, but please don’t be so harsh. If you get angry the moment we unite, I will-‘

‘Four minutes left.’

Latille cut him off while he was speaking. His voice was as lovely as the memories of the past, listening to it was nice when one desired to listen to pleasant music. However, even if Haizens sang a beautiful song, it would be easy to get annoyed.

‘Three minutes and thirty seconds.’

‘…’

Haizens sighed with a resigned expression as Latille firmly announced the remaining duration of their time.

‘Okay, I’ll tell you everything. The rebellion led by the Heum forces were stronger than I had expected. The Duke of Daga supported them.’

‘The Duke of Daga?’

Where did I hear this familiar name? You’ve seen the name family name on the wedding invitation, haven’t you? Aini Tour de la Daga. Yes, I definitely recall seeing that name on the invitation. It’s the name of the woman who is marrying Haizens. The bride-to-be’s family supported Prince Heum?

‘I needed the Duke’s power to suppress Prince Heum, so I tried to curry his favour. He asked that I make his only daughter, Aini Tour de la Daga Empress.’

‘…’

Latille kept silent as she examined Haizens’ expressions; he looked miserable. The countless, rich expressions that she had always admired leaned towards sadness this time.

‘Latille.’

Haizens stepped forward and embraced her. The warmth was no different than it was before, only sadder.

‘I seek your forgiveness, I’m sorry.’

‘… Pay no mind, don’t be. It’s only natural you would choose yourself over me. I always knew your pride preceded our love, so I won’t blame you for this. Anyone would put themselves first over others.’

Haizens gazed at Latille with shaking eyes; it seems that her blunt speech got to him. She fiercely stomped on his foot while he was distracted.

‘Ow.’

Haizens yelped in pain and quickly scrambled his feet away. Latille glanced at him feeling a little regretful. In times like these, you need heels. It is quite a pity I wore comfortable shoes for the trip; I should have changed at the door!

‘Don’t start feeling moved. Just because I don’t blame you, it doesn’t mean I’m not angry. It’s your business, so I don’t care.’

Haizens looked at her in distress.

‘Latille… please don’t talk like this.’

His spoke desperately. Latille’s voice and expression remained cold, so it pained him.

‘Don’t talk like this? I don’t want to hear it. What was I supposed to do in this situation? You couldn’t even write once because you were at war, so don’t bother making excuses. You could have told me after the war. Why do I have to receive news of your wedding through an envoy?’

‘Latille, we still don’t know who else is on Prince Heum’s side. We may have won, but we’re still in an unstable position.’

‘!’

‘And so is the duke. I don’t know anything else, but he won’t let me betray his daughter. I still don’t know who the spy is, so that’s why I couldn’t write a letter.’

‘We’re going to part ways, so why do you even bother with telling me? If a spy finds out, wouldn’t it help Prince Heum’s supporters?’

‘…’

‘What about the Duke?’*

Haizens looked at Latille with sorrowful eyes.

No matter what you say, I love you.

Latille pushed him away.

I liked his familiar scent and his soft skin, but this is the end. Now he’s just this kind of person, someone who pushes others aside. Fortunately, it didn’t seem she was crying. Latille repeatedly clenched and unclenched her fists.

‘Yes, I knew that you were just going to spout a bunch of excuses… I’m going. Don’t believe me when I tell you to live well even as the delegation leader because they’re just empty words with no meaning.’

Latille turned back on her tracks and began to walk away until Haizens grabbed her by the wrist.

‘Latille, please… don’t utter such painful words in my presence. I didn’t summon you to part ways.’

‘Well then, to apologise?’

‘I love you.’

What is this guy saying now?

Her eyes widened at Haizens’ desperate declaration of love.

‘Love?’

‘Latille, you’re the only one I love, so five years; please wait for me for five years.’

‘What?’

Latille looked at him with a false smile.

‘Will things change if I wait for five years?’

I asked him sarcastically, but Haizens firmly agreed.

‘In five years, we can beat the Duke and get rid of the rest of Heum’s supporters then I can pave a solid road to achieving my goal of establishing a complete monarchy.’

But that firm oath still failed to change Latille’s mind; she only retorted snarkily.

‘Then what? What exactly do I even gain from waiting for five years? Now that there’s an ongoing struggle for the throne, you’ll have to be strategically selecting concubines to lay the groundwork, so how will I benefit from this?

‘I will never bed a concubine, and if you want, that’ll apply to Aini as well. If you want, I can even swear an oath in the holy temple. Forget sleeping with them, I won’t even touch their fingertips. Then five years later, I’ll figure it out.’

This time, Latille was a little shaken. She couldn’t answer right away and simply looked at him. Swearing an oath at the holy temple is something to be taken seriously since one can be punished for swearing false oaths. God hates lying.

‘For now, he’s not lying.’

Even then, there were many things he said that didn’t make sense. Latille sighed as she pointed them all out one by one.