LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 34
Episode 34: Starry Night’s Confession
As Alexia gazed at Luke’s flushed face amidst the cold winter wind, she couldn’t help but smile.
(What a cute guy…)
Luke’s bright and earnest personality made him a delightful companion. He picked things up quickly and had good instincts. His serious and efficient work ethic made him seem not just skillful but intelligent as well.
Moreover, he possessed quick judgment and courage, so why on earth did his engagement get called off?
(What on earth was Countess Cleves dissatisfied with about Luke?)
Thinking of the Countess who desired to break off her engagement with Luke, Alexia tilted her head in confusion.
The only reason that came to mind was that he was born out of wedlock. It wasn’t Luke’s fault, but in the noble society, that could be seen as a flaw.
Or maybe it wasn’t Luke’s fault at all, and his younger brother was just more appealing.
Saying she had a change of heart might sound callous, but love apparently doesn’t operate on logic. It’s entirely possible she might be attracted to someone else.
Abandoning blameless Luke for her brother might also have been a painful decision for Countess Cleves.
“Luke, don’t you want to return to the royal capital?”
“Not at all. I want to live here forever.”
The hesitant question received a straightforward answer.
(Is the pain from being heartbroken really that deep…?)
This kind and considerate man must have an exceptionally deep attachment to others. He must have loved Countess Cleves very deeply.
That’s why he was hurt when she chose his younger brother. Luke probably feels so heartbroken over his lost love that he doesn’t want to return to the royal capital where his younger brother and ex-fiancée reside.
“I see,” she muttered to herself, her voice tinted with complex feelings of envy, surprising even herself.
“I know it must be very difficult to come to a place far away from the person you love, but… it must be especially tough to stay in the same place as them because you love them…”
“Huh?”
“You might not be able to forget about the Countess, but I’m glad you want to live here, Luke. If there’s anything I can do…”
“Wait, wait!”
Luke chimed in hastily.
“The one I loved? What are you talking about?”
“What do you mean? Luke was engaged, right? When he was living in the royal capital…”
“I was, but what about it?”
It was true he had been engaged, but that was long over. He no longer had any connection to his former fiancée Natalia and had no desire to see her.
Just as he was about to clarify, Alexia apologized.
“No… my bad. I guess I was rude.”
His former fiancée was likely an important woman that Luke still kept close to his heart.
Touching upon the wounds from his heartbreak without him bringing it up was indeed a discourteous act.
Yet, despite how deeply Luke must have suffered by having his engagement broken off by the one he loved, she just wanted to express how relieved she was that he had come to Rietberg.
She simply wanted him to know that she was happy if he liked living here.
“I guess Luke’s wounds haven’t healed yet. Just remembering his fiancée must be painful, so I’m sorry for being disrespectful.”
“No, that’s not it! Definitely not!”
Indeed, he must have felt a twinge of pain being dumped by Natalia before he came to Rietberg.
Somewhat surprisingly, he noticed he felt no pain about it now.
He didn’t think it was particularly rude of Alexia to bring up his past engagement either; it was a well-known fact.
Although Alexia hadn’t been present, every other noble had witnessed the breakup.
Now, he couldn’t care less whether people talked about it or not.
However, he could not tolerate the thought of Alexia believing he still loved Natalia.
He simply couldn’t let that misunderstanding happen; it needed to be avoided at all costs.
Without realizing it, he had shattered all self-restraint, rationality, and self-discipline, allowing his true feelings to burst forth in words.
“—I love you!”
A “low-ranking son” with nothing truly had no chance of being with Alexia.
No matter how much he felt, this love was beyond reach.
Yet, no matter how unrequited his feelings were, he didn’t want to be misunderstood.
What he couldn’t bear was for Alexia to think that he loved another woman.
Looking directly into Alexia’s blue-green eyes, he declared, “I know it’s unrequited, but I like you.”
He didn’t expect anything in return; he simply needed to convey his feelings.
Even though he knew it could never blossom into a relationship, he wanted to tell her that he loved her.
“I truly love you. I want to be here with you. I don’t wish for anything else, so please let me indulge in my feelings for you, Lady Alexia.”
A heavy silence ensued.
Alexia gently set down the knife, stood up without meeting Luke’s gaze, and swiftly turned away.
“…Ahhh…”
Left behind, Luke scratched his honey-colored head.
Once again, impulsively and without thought for the consequences, he had confessed.
How could he possibly say he wanted her to choose him? He had simply imposed his feelings upon her.
What if she found him bothersome? What if she disliked him and didn’t want to see him anymore?
No, of course, a man who was practically freeloading yet harbored feelings for the lord’s daughter would naturally be seen as a nuisance.
“…I have nothing…”
Even though he had noble blood, he was an illegitimate son of a baron—a mere speck in the sweeping hierarchy of nobility. His status was so low that he could never hope to rival a margrave.
His family might have considerable wealth, but Luke didn’t have a single coin to his name.
Luke had nothing: neither status, rank, nor age. Everything about him was inferior to Alexia.
If someone like him were to approach her, it would only serve to trouble her.
After wallowing in despair, it finally dawned on Luke.
“Huh…?!”
In his tightly clenched hands was a potato, half of its skin already peeled away.
Amidst considerations of rank or status, he realized that he had ended up confessing his feelings while peeling a potato, and he blushed so hard he crumbled to his knees right there.
Thud!