Chapter 110
However, Baron Schuverno was incapable of question or object to Rina’s actions.
All he had to do was rush back to get his son home.
Because, in the first place, he had already asked Caleb to delegate all responsibility to his son so that Caleb would not hold the family responsible.
After the case was over, Rina thanked me and Caleb.
And lastly, she bowed to Edmund.
“Thank you very much, Young Marquis. Thank you very much for your intervention.”
Rina thanked Edmund repeatedly, and Edmund shook his head, saying it was nothing.
However, I noticed him rubbing his back hair for no apparent reason, as if he was feeling quite shy.
Later, Veloka, who had arrived late, learned of the situation and became enraged. She did, however, calm down after hearing about the man’s punishment.
In the midst of Rael and Veloka’s rage, Rina quickly regained her composure.
It was time for me to see them off on the carriage.
“Wait a second, Lena.”
Veloka suddenly grabbed me.
“I have something for you.”
“To me?”
“Yes, this.”
What Veloka gave me was a stone with a string.
“Aren’t you going to accept this?”
“Ah, I will.”
When I reached out my hand, Veloka handed it over without hesitation.
‘Is this a necklace? Or an amulet?’
It was a time when I had no idea what it was for and was just fiddling with it aimlessly.
“Huh? You don’t look happy. Did I just give it to you for nothing?”
“What? Ah, no… That is not the case. I just don’t know how to put this to use……”
“You have no idea how to use this? Do not fool me, Lena.”
Veloka grinned.
“This is your guardian necklace.”
My guardian necklace?
Wasn’t she give this to me as an engagement present?
Maybe because it was obvious that I was perplexed, Veloka added.
“I picked it up and intended to give it to you the last time we met, but I forgot.”
“The last time?”
“Remember when the three of us went out and met the lady who gave me the flowers? You held the lady at that time, do you remember?”
I agreed by nodding.
Because I clearly remember holding Vivian, who slipped as she stepped back in haste.
“At the time, that necklace had fallen to the ground. So I picked it up.”
“Well, Veloka… I don’t think this thing belongs to me, but Lady Vessel.”
“What are you on about? That necklace is your guardian necklace. That can’t possibly be that lady’s.”
“Guardian necklace?”
Then I was surprised because I remembered something.
This is the guardian necklace?
The necklace which Elena had since she was in a nursery?
“Really?”
“Why would I lie about something like this? Furthermore, who else would make and wear a necklace like this?”
I looked at the necklace in my hand.
There didn’t seem to be anyone who would walk through a rope in a stone that had nothing exceptional about it.
‘Does that mean this is truly mine……’
When Veloka first mentioned the guardian necklace, there were no memories of it at all.
Even with the necklace in my hand, it was the same.
‘I have no recollection of anything having to do with this necklace.’
This was the first time I had seen this necklace.
Above all, this necklace could not be mine.
Because I didn’t have this necklace with me on that particular day.
“In any case, I returned it to you.”
And after saying ‘see you next time,’ Veloka climbed into the carriage.
I unconsciously touched the necklace in my hand after the carriage had left. I could feel the stone’s rough texture.
“Then I will head back, too.”
“Please wait, Lord Vessel.”
Edmund greeted us and was getting ready to board the carriage.
Without realizing it, I had grabbed Edmund’s arm. Edmund was startled at the same time.
“W-the what’s matter?”
“May I ask you a question?”
Is it just me?
He appears to be looking behind me.
What’s the matter with him?
Caleb is the only one who is following me… No, that’s not the point.
“You mentioned a few days ago that Lady Vessel had lost something.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Can you tell me what Lady Vessel lost?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure about that. She only said it was something precious to her, so I didn’t ask her anymore.”
“Is that so……?”
“Yes, but why are you asking? Lady, do you know what Vivian had lost?”
I couldn’t immediately respond.
Edmund called me after a brief hesitation.
“Lady?”
He looked at me in wonder when I turned my gaze and made eye contact with him.
“Ah, no. I don’t know.”
I let Edmund’s arm go.
“I was just curious, so I asked. Then, Lord Vessel, return home safely.”
Edmund, fortunately, didn’t seem to mind what I asked.
He simply greeted Caleb and me once more before boarding the carriage.
⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻
After Edmund went back, I clenched the necklace in my hand with a rather complicated mind.
‘Why did I lie?’
No, technically it wasn’t a lie.
I wasn’t sure if what Vivian had lost was a necklace.
I was only speculating.
‘However, I could give Lord Vessel the necklace and ask him to confirm it.’
But I couldn’t give this necklace to her.
‘Why?’
Why couldn’t I just give it to him?
A belated question arose.
Veloka stated that she picked up this necklace while I was holding Vivian.
This, however, was not mine.
Veloka, on the other hand, claimed that this necklace was a guardian necklace that Elena had worn since she was a child.
If the necklace’s design had been common and ordinary, I would have assumed it was a coincidence.’
If the design was simple, I might have dismissed this as a coincidence, but the necklace’s appearance piqued my curiosity.
When people say “necklace,” they usually mean a processed gem.
This is especially true for Vivian, the daughter of high-ranking aristocrats.
‘If this is truly Vivian’s necklace……’
An absurd idea occurred to me.
When I came up with this idea, I thought I was crazy because it was such absurd.
‘It can’t be. The person in Vivian’s body might be Elena. Such nonsense can’t possibly happen, can it?’
That denial, however, did not last long.
Because in order to erase my doubts about that ‘nonsense,’ I must first erase my existence.
Because I, possessing Elena’s body, was the one who proved that nonsense.
Not only that.
What had remained only a question in the meantime was directly related.
For example, where did the real ‘Elena,’ who existed before I took over her body, go?
And.
“……Elena.”
Like why Caleb fell in love with me rather than Vivian.
I cocked my head.
Caleb was looking at me with warm eyes.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“I’m a little tired.”
“I believe it would be best if we returned to our room and rested.”
“……”
“Now every guest has returned.”
Caleb quietly added.
Looking around, the engagement hall was really empty.
The only people I saw off were the people from the theatre and Lord Vessel, but I didn’t know when the other guests returned.
I decided to go back to my room as Caleb suggested.
My legs, however, trembled, whether because of the shocking thought or because I had been standing for too long.
Caleb seemed to notice that I was walking differently than usual.
“If walking alone is difficult for you, I’ll help you.”
“It’s fine. I can walk quite well on my own……!”
I moved and shook my head. But the issue was that I was moving without looking ahead.
I felt something stuck in my foot, and my body tilted forward.
Oops, it happened in an instant without even letting me to be surprised.
Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me into his arms before I could close my eyes.
Caleb, of course, was the one who held me.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
In response, I realized that the object that had caught my foot was a table leg decorated with a vase.
‘Like an idiot.’
I almost fell down because I didn’t see that.
I struggled to get out of Caleb’s arms, regretting my carelessness.
The fact that I almost stumbled alone was so embarrassing that I needed to get back to my room as soon as possible.
“I will help you, Elena.”
“What? No, no need to do……”
…that.
Caleb grabbed me in his arms before I could stop him.
I felt as if I were floating in midair, and I instinctively wrapped my arm around his neck.
“I could have walked by myself……”
Of course, I was only saying that.
I couldn’t possibly walk to my room with my leg trembling like this.
And I’d consider myself lucky if I didn’t trip over the table legs again.
I’m aware of my physical condition, but I’m saying it because I’m afraid Caleb will try to cope. Because I felt bad for him.
And I’m embarrassed to be held in this manner.
“I know.”
Then why?
It wasn’t a sound that came out of my mouth.
Caleb said out loud what I had been thinking inwardly, and I looked at him.
“I just want to hug you.”
As if he knew exactly how I was feeling at the time.
“Aren’t you hugging me too often?”
Caleb chuckled quietly.
The corners of his normally elongated brows were gently curved.
As if my whining is endearing.
I could tell by his gazes and facial expression.
How much he adores and loves me.
It would be strange not to feel such emotions when it was dripping like that.
“You know, Caleb.”
“Yes, Elena.”
Despite the fact that I am experiencing it myself.
“Do you love me?”
Nothing could be more sinister than asking such a question.
But I still want to hear it.
“I love you.”
“How much?”
“……I think you’d better not listen.”
“Do you know that saying that makes me want to hear more?”
Caleb averted his gaze, as if embarrassed.
Oh, it makes me more curious.
“Are you really not going to tell me?”
“You’ll only know my dishonesty.”
What the hell is that?
Becoming more curious, I stared at Caleb.
Caleb sighed and opened his mouth, as if looking away from me was his limit.
“Lord Vessel told me earlier that a child had confessed to you.”
Ah, he’s talking about Ryan.
“Why?”
“Do you really have to listen to it all the way through?”
“Yes.”
I answered as if it were a matter of course.
Caleb opened his mouth in response to my immediate response, as if he couldn’t help himself.
“When I heard that, I felt compelled to kiss you in front of the child.”
“What? Why would you do something like that?”
I unintentionally burst out laughing for a moment.
Caleb hugged me even tighter with a resigned expression, as if he knew I was laughing for some reason.
“I’m always anxious.”
“……”
“I’m afraid someone better than me will appear before you. So I’m afraid you’ll fall in love with someone else rather than me.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
Caleb made no response to my recitation.
I didn’t say anything else.
Because I knew no matter what I said, he wouldn’t be relieved.
‘Because I’m in the same situation.’
And I will continue to do so as long as I love Caleb.
As a result, I buried my fain on Caleb’s shoulder without saying anything.
The rough surface of the necklace in my hand pricked my palm.
Chapter 110
However, Baron Schuverno was incapable of question or object to Rina’s actions.
All he had to do was rush back to get his son home.
Because, in the first place, he had already asked Caleb to delegate all responsibility to his son so that Caleb would not hold the family responsible.
After the case was over, Rina thanked me and Caleb.
And lastly, she bowed to Edmund.
“Thank you very much, Young Marquis. Thank you very much for your intervention.”
Rina thanked Edmund repeatedly, and Edmund shook his head, saying it was nothing.
However, I noticed him rubbing his back hair for no apparent reason, as if he was feeling quite shy.
Later, Veloka, who had arrived late, learned of the situation and became enraged. She did, however, calm down after hearing about the man’s punishment.
In the midst of Rael and Veloka’s rage, Rina quickly regained her composure.
It was time for me to see them off on the carriage.
“Wait a second, Lena.”
Veloka suddenly grabbed me.
“I have something for you.”
“To me?”
“Yes, this.”
What Veloka gave me was a stone with a string.
“Aren’t you going to accept this?”
“Ah, I will.”
When I reached out my hand, Veloka handed it over without hesitation.
‘Is this a necklace? Or an amulet?’
It was a time when I had no idea what it was for and was just fiddling with it aimlessly.
“Huh? You don’t look happy. Did I just give it to you for nothing?”
“What? Ah, no… That is not the case. I just don’t know how to put this to use……”
“You have no idea how to use this? Do not fool me, Lena.”
Veloka grinned.
“This is your guardian necklace.”
My guardian necklace?
Wasn’t she give this to me as an engagement present?
Maybe because it was obvious that I was perplexed, Veloka added.
“I picked it up and intended to give it to you the last time we met, but I forgot.”
“The last time?”
“Remember when the three of us went out and met the lady who gave me the flowers? You held the lady at that time, do you remember?”
I agreed by nodding.
Because I clearly remember holding Vivian, who slipped as she stepped back in haste.
“At the time, that necklace had fallen to the ground. So I picked it up.”
“Well, Veloka… I don’t think this thing belongs to me, but Lady Vessel.”
“What are you on about? That necklace is your guardian necklace. That can’t possibly be that lady’s.”
“Guardian necklace?”
Then I was surprised because I remembered something.
This is the guardian necklace?
The necklace which Elena had since she was in a nursery?
“Really?”
“Why would I lie about something like this? Furthermore, who else would make and wear a necklace like this?”
I looked at the necklace in my hand.
There didn’t seem to be anyone who would walk through a rope in a stone that had nothing exceptional about it.
‘Does that mean this is truly mine……’
When Veloka first mentioned the guardian necklace, there were no memories of it at all.
Even with the necklace in my hand, it was the same.
‘I have no recollection of anything having to do with this necklace.’
This was the first time I had seen this necklace.
Above all, this necklace could not be mine.
Because I didn’t have this necklace with me on that particular day.
“In any case, I returned it to you.”
And after saying ‘see you next time,’ Veloka climbed into the carriage.
I unconsciously touched the necklace in my hand after the carriage had left. I could feel the stone’s rough texture.
“Then I will head back, too.”
“Please wait, Lord Vessel.”
Edmund greeted us and was getting ready to board the carriage.
Without realizing it, I had grabbed Edmund’s arm. Edmund was startled at the same time.
“W-the what’s matter?”
“May I ask you a question?”
Is it just me?
He appears to be looking behind me.
What’s the matter with him?
Caleb is the only one who is following me… No, that’s not the point.
“You mentioned a few days ago that Lady Vessel had lost something.”
“Yes, I did.”
“Can you tell me what Lady Vessel lost?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m not sure about that. She only said it was something precious to her, so I didn’t ask her anymore.”
“Is that so……?”
“Yes, but why are you asking? Lady, do you know what Vivian had lost?”
I couldn’t immediately respond.
Edmund called me after a brief hesitation.
“Lady?”
He looked at me in wonder when I turned my gaze and made eye contact with him.
“Ah, no. I don’t know.”
I let Edmund’s arm go.
“I was just curious, so I asked. Then, Lord Vessel, return home safely.”
Edmund, fortunately, didn’t seem to mind what I asked.
He simply greeted Caleb and me once more before boarding the carriage.
⇺⇺⇺⇼⇻⇻⇻
After Edmund went back, I clenched the necklace in my hand with a rather complicated mind.
‘Why did I lie?’
No, technically it wasn’t a lie.
I wasn’t sure if what Vivian had lost was a necklace.
I was only speculating.
‘However, I could give Lord Vessel the necklace and ask him to confirm it.’
But I couldn’t give this necklace to her.
‘Why?’
Why couldn’t I just give it to him?
A belated question arose.
Veloka stated that she picked up this necklace while I was holding Vivian.
This, however, was not mine.
Veloka, on the other hand, claimed that this necklace was a guardian necklace that Elena had worn since she was a child.
If the necklace’s design had been common and ordinary, I would have assumed it was a coincidence.’
If the design was simple, I might have dismissed this as a coincidence, but the necklace’s appearance piqued my curiosity.
When people say “necklace,” they usually mean a processed gem.
This is especially true for Vivian, the daughter of high-ranking aristocrats.
‘If this is truly Vivian’s necklace……’
An absurd idea occurred to me.
When I came up with this idea, I thought I was crazy because it was such absurd.
‘It can’t be. The person in Vivian’s body might be Elena. Such nonsense can’t possibly happen, can it?’
That denial, however, did not last long.
Because in order to erase my doubts about that ‘nonsense,’ I must first erase my existence.
Because I, possessing Elena’s body, was the one who proved that nonsense.
Not only that.
What had remained only a question in the meantime was directly related.
For example, where did the real ‘Elena,’ who existed before I took over her body, go?
And.
“……Elena.”
Like why Caleb fell in love with me rather than Vivian.
I cocked my head.
Caleb was looking at me with warm eyes.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“I’m a little tired.”
“I believe it would be best if we returned to our room and rested.”
“……”
“Now every guest has returned.”
Caleb quietly added.
Looking around, the engagement hall was really empty.
The only people I saw off were the people from the theatre and Lord Vessel, but I didn’t know when the other guests returned.
I decided to go back to my room as Caleb suggested.
My legs, however, trembled, whether because of the shocking thought or because I had been standing for too long.
Caleb seemed to notice that I was walking differently than usual.
“If walking alone is difficult for you, I’ll help you.”
“It’s fine. I can walk quite well on my own……!”
I moved and shook my head. But the issue was that I was moving without looking ahead.
I felt something stuck in my foot, and my body tilted forward.
Oops, it happened in an instant without even letting me to be surprised.
Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me into his arms before I could close my eyes.
Caleb, of course, was the one who held me.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
In response, I realized that the object that had caught my foot was a table leg decorated with a vase.
‘Like an idiot.’
I almost fell down because I didn’t see that.
I struggled to get out of Caleb’s arms, regretting my carelessness.
The fact that I almost stumbled alone was so embarrassing that I needed to get back to my room as soon as possible.
“I will help you, Elena.”
“What? No, no need to do……”
…that.
Caleb grabbed me in his arms before I could stop him.
I felt as if I were floating in midair, and I instinctively wrapped my arm around his neck.
“I could have walked by myself……”
Of course, I was only saying that.
I couldn’t possibly walk to my room with my leg trembling like this.
And I’d consider myself lucky if I didn’t trip over the table legs again.
I’m aware of my physical condition, but I’m saying it because I’m afraid Caleb will try to cope. Because I felt bad for him.
And I’m embarrassed to be held in this manner.
“I know.”
Then why?
It wasn’t a sound that came out of my mouth.
Caleb said out loud what I had been thinking inwardly, and I looked at him.
“I just want to hug you.”
As if he knew exactly how I was feeling at the time.
“Aren’t you hugging me too often?”
Caleb chuckled quietly.
The corners of his normally elongated brows were gently curved.
As if my whining is endearing.
I could tell by his gazes and facial expression.
How much he adores and loves me.
It would be strange not to feel such emotions when it was dripping like that.
“You know, Caleb.”
“Yes, Elena.”
Despite the fact that I am experiencing it myself.
“Do you love me?”
Nothing could be more sinister than asking such a question.
But I still want to hear it.
“I love you.”
“How much?”
“……I think you’d better not listen.”
“Do you know that saying that makes me want to hear more?”
Caleb averted his gaze, as if embarrassed.
Oh, it makes me more curious.
“Are you really not going to tell me?”
“You’ll only know my dishonesty.”
What the hell is that?
Becoming more curious, I stared at Caleb.
Caleb sighed and opened his mouth, as if looking away from me was his limit.
“Lord Vessel told me earlier that a child had confessed to you.”
Ah, he’s talking about Ryan.
“Why?”
“Do you really have to listen to it all the way through?”
“Yes.”
I answered as if it were a matter of course.
Caleb opened his mouth in response to my immediate response, as if he couldn’t help himself.
“When I heard that, I felt compelled to kiss you in front of the child.”
“What? Why would you do something like that?”
I unintentionally burst out laughing for a moment.
Caleb hugged me even tighter with a resigned expression, as if he knew I was laughing for some reason.
“I’m always anxious.”
“……”
“I’m afraid someone better than me will appear before you. So I’m afraid you’ll fall in love with someone else rather than me.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
Caleb made no response to my recitation.
I didn’t say anything else.
Because I knew no matter what I said, he wouldn’t be relieved.
‘Because I’m in the same situation.’
And I will continue to do so as long as I love Caleb.
As a result, I buried my fain on Caleb’s shoulder without saying anything.
The rough surface of the necklace in my hand pricked my palm.
