When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 109



Only Noblemtl

#109. Last Choice
2024.04.18.

Emilia wanted to close her eyes again when she saw Enrico’s face, which seemed to be suppressing her emotions that had reached their limit.

However, his face was so desperate that it was hard to turn away any longer. Where did the person who always looked down on everyone as if they were stones on the roadside go? The person in front of her had completely changed. Either

order me to dance arrogantly like before, or treat me like a doll so that I can shake off my lingering feelings. Her feelings for him were becoming increasingly irresistible.

“… … For now, let’s talk after I wake up.”

In the end, after much thought, she decided to avoid him for a while. The time of dawn had the power to make her emotions even more vulnerable, and her head, complicated by her emotions at a loss, was giving her a headache.

“Are you trying to run away again?”

“No. I’m tired too, and the Duke… … How long have you been asleep?”

Enrico’s condition in front of her was particularly serious at first glance. He seemed to be holding on with his mental strength, but judging from his bloodshot eyes and rough skin, it was clear that he was crushed by old fatigue.

“I don’t know.”

Enrico answered nonchalantly. His eyes were shining brightly, as if the person in front of him was more important than his own condition.

Emilia grabbed his wrist and pulled him down, as if she absolutely could not do it.

His beautiful face did not disappear just because he was haggard, but the atmosphere seemed very precarious. It seemed like something big would happen if he left it like this.

“… … The Duke, please go to sleep for now.”

“I’m fine. You-.”

“The Duke is the one who needs sleep more than anyone else right now.”

Emily said firmly. Then she motioned to his hand and her leg in turn.

“Are you going to touch me again like before?”

“… … I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have, but I rolled my eyes because I wanted to hold on to you in case I lost you again.”

“Then I don’t think you’ll go somewhere else to sleep, so for now, please sleep at my house.”

Enrico slightly arched one eyebrow. As if asking if it was okay, but as if he wanted to, his purple eyes transparently revealed various emotions.

Emilia nodded with a sigh, wanting to rest from this emotional exhaustion for a moment.

However, she couldn’t tell him to lie down next to the bed, so she pointed to the sofa near the fireplace as a second-best option.

“Over there instead.”

For a moment, disappointment flashed through Enrico’s eyes.

***

The sky today was extremely clear, as if the snow that had fallen in a flurry yesterday was a lie. If it weren’t for the traces of snow on the ground, it would have been a dream.

Emilia stared outside, staring at her white breath for a moment before grabbing her water jug.

The weather seemed to be getting colder especially quickly this year, and since she didn’t know when it would snow again, it seemed better to get water from the well in advance when the weather was nice.

‘… … I feel like I’m being watched.’

Perhaps if it weren’t for Enrico’s presence quietly following her, her steps would have been much lighter. Unlike herself who tossed and turned but quickly fell asleep, Enrico’s face was one that hadn’t slept a wink.

She understood that he was anxious because she had tried to leave at dawn, but she was worried about how long he would endure this state.

She should have been fed up with his forceful attitude even for a moment at dawn, but she was so nervous. Her own mind had also not been properly organized for three years. All

she could hear was the sound of stepping on the snow. She had always walked alone, but for the first time, it felt awkward to have someone next to her, so Emilia glanced at him.

However, Enrico’s gaze met hers as she continued to watch her as she walked, and she sighed.

Fortunately, it was the weekend. If it had been a ballet class day, she would have been at a loss as to what to do with Enrico, who was stuck next to her and wouldn’t leave.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Unlike Emilia, who was wrapped tightly in a thick, long coat, Enrico was only wearing a coat that she would wear in the fall.

And yet, there was not a single hint of cold. Emilia looked Enrico down with an expression that seemed to indicate that she was more concerned.

‘Put your hands in your coat pockets… . . ’

The backs of his hands were slightly red from the chilly temperature.

“Just wait inside.”

“You know where you’re going.”

“I have no intention of running away now. I just haven’t said anything yet because I don’t know what to say right now.”

“Once I organize my thoughts, my actions will change accordingly. If you plan on going back with me, I’ll tell you, but if you still don’t think so, you’ll try to run away again, right?”

“No. I won’t leave without saying anything anymore.”

Whether it was affirmative or negative, she was going to talk to him for now. If he denied it, he might not accept it, but she was willing to try persuading him a few times, so there was no need to run away right away.

“I can’t let you go. Even if you reject me, I have no intention of accepting it.”

Her voice was cautious, but strangely enough, it was telling. Even though she was feeling a little discouraged, Emilia felt a sense of relief because she thought his arrogant personality was not going anywhere.

She had been worried that he might lose himself and live a life swayed by it like yesterday, but now that she looked at him, it seemed like his stubbornness hadn’t completely disappeared.

“… … Put your hands in your pockets. Turn up your coat collar.”

His eyebrows furrowed slightly. It seemed as if he was uncomfortable with her not answering.

Emilia stopped with a helpless expression as she watched Enrico, who was still staring at her, not even thinking about putting it in. Then she went in front of him, who had stopped, and extended the hand that wasn’t holding the water jug ​​to the collar of his coat.

He silently looked down at her as she raised her collar to cover her neck and put her hands out in her pockets one by one.

She looked at her neck and hands with satisfaction, and then lightly touched his cheek with her fingertips for the last time. Her eyes, which had been filled with discontent under her brows that had naturally widened at his gentle touch, shimmered with a strange light.

“Your cheeks are too cold… . Even if I told you to go home first, you wouldn’t go, right?”

“… Yeah.”

“Okay. Then I’ll go quickly.”

Enrico turned around and looked at her slender back for a moment before noticing the large water jug ​​shaking in her small hands.

He had been so focused on her face that he hadn’t paid any attention to what she was holding, but now he noticed it.

“Huh?”

“I’ll take it.”

“No. I’m wearing gloves.”

“… . Then hold my hand with that one.”

“Yes?”

Emilia blinked with a puzzled expression. The bad atmosphere of her leaving and the like had only been a few hours ago, and he suddenly wondered what kind of atmosphere this was.

One thought came to mind for a moment,

but the sight of him, who always carried his back proudly, holding a large water jug ​​made me laugh. It was amazing how he could look so strange, as if he had put the wrong piece together, when he was just holding a water jug.

As I looked at the hand holding the water jug, I noticed another large hand naturally reaching out its palm to me.

Since his body temperature was high, I used to think that whenever I held Enrico’s hand, it was hot. But the hand I saw now looked red and very cold.

‘… … It’s cold. It’s just a hand.’

Emilia chewed the inside of her lip and reached out her hand as if she had made up her mind. His hand, which was held at an angle, was as cold as ice, unlike before, which was always warm, and it was startling.

The corners of Enrico’s mouth twitched slightly. For the first time, his eyes, which had been trembling anxiously, were stably capturing her.

His long fingers slipped between her fingers and interlocked them.

“It’s much better.”

It was a satisfied voice. Even though he was wearing gloves and his body temperature wouldn’t be transmitted, his face noticeably softened.

A calm atmosphere hung between the two of them, making it seem like last night wasn’t a dream.

“Isn’t it? Are we standing precariously on thin ice?”

It was obvious that this atmosphere would be maintained depending on his choice, but he wondered how long his somewhat relaxed expression would last. As he realized this anew, a strange tension suffocated his mind.

What on earth should he choose? He had tried hard to deny him and choose to leave, but he had to make that complicated choice again.

“You live in such a remote place. What if a strange guy like yesterday sticks to you?”

“He’s not a strange person. He’s the one who plays the piano.”

“Piano? Now that I think about it, how have you been here?”

“… … Didn’t you come here after investigating everything?”

“I didn’t even think about finding out. I was busy rushing over as soon as I heard you were here.”

Emilia looked at him with a surprised expression.

“I heard you were here?”

“Yes. Princess Carent said she saw you.”

“How about me?”

“… … Well, I didn’t think to ask that.”

Enrico lifted the hand he was holding and brought it to his mouth.

“I needed to see you as soon as possible.”

His lips were pressed against the back of my gloved hand.