When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 110



Only Noblemtl

#110. Your Shadow
2024.04.19.

Emilia stared at the back of her opponent’s hand and then naturally looked up at Enrico’s long eyelashes.

Even though there was a glove between them, she felt a strange sense of heat. Soon, he slowly raised his head and met her eyes again.

‘Is this the right decision?’

And the moment she saw his eyes, Emilia had a belated question.

If Enrico never stayed still like this, would she really be able to calmly overlook all of his actions and think about the future? She wasn’t sure.

She wasn’t sure if it was a good choice to let him stay at her house in the first place.

Even if she told him to go, Enrico wouldn’t have left anyway, but he seemed to have accepted him too obediently from the beginning. As soon as she saw his face, she said it naturally, as if she was possessed by something.

Three years ago, she was just in a hurry to leave, and she thought that if her body grew distant, her heart would grow distant too.

At that time, I didn’t expect him to come to me like this, but even if he actually appeared in front of me, I didn’t think I would be shaken like this. I thought he was being ruined because of me , so I tried to leave. However

, after meeting him for the first time in three years, he was already ruined, and there seemed to be no room for him to get better.

‘… … Maybe he could get better. But what if he doesn’t?’

Emilia walked slowly with a pensive face. Enrico, who was suddenly walking with his mouth shut, looked anxious and held the hand she was holding tightly.

However, Emilia was so busy thinking about Enrico that she didn’t pay attention to Enrico, who was looking down at her from the side, even when she was getting water and coming back. She

didn’t even notice the cold wind blowing against her cheek as if to wake her up, and she just walked along.

***

Enrico naturally ate dinner with Emilia and even tried to help her clean up.

However, since she had never done anything like this before, she just stood around as if she wanted to do something, but she didn’t really help.

So eventually, she became irritated by him and pointed to a chair as if telling him to stay still.

As the moonlight descended, silence came to all sides. The only things that could be heard were the sound of firewood burning and the sound of the kettle boiling.

‘I won’t go until I answer… … . But even if I don’t go back to him, I won’t go.’

It seemed obvious that this life would continue until he answered that he would return to the duke

’s residence. Emilia didn’t deny her feelings for Enrico, but she didn’t immediately say that she would follow him. She didn’t even know how much certainty she wanted.

Emilia sighed inwardly and picked up the kettle that had finished boiling. And when she was about to pour water into her teacup, a knock on the front door echoed throughout the house.

‘Who is it on this night?’

Instead of Emilia, who hesitated for a moment and blinked, Enrico made his move first. He went to the front door naturally and opened it without asking who it was.

“Your Majesty, I brought your bag just in case.”

The one who came was Fabio Federico. Emilia opened her eyes slightly wide at the sight of Fabio, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, and put down the kettle.

Then, as she quietly walked toward the front door to greet him, Fabio lifted the bag he was holding slightly and gave her a glance.

“Miss Emilia, it’s been a while.”

“… … Yes. It’s been a while.”

“I’m glad you seem to be doing well.”

“Um, Fabio… … .”

Fabio’s face was so haggard that she couldn’t even say that he seemed to be doing well. Since Enrico was not in good condition, it seems that Fabio, his confidant, naturally became like that.

When Emilia vaguely trailed off, Fabio raised the corners of his mouth as if he understood.

“I’m fine. I’m just worried about the Duke.”

“Give it to me.”

Enrico only stared at the bag, as if he had no interest in Fabio. Emilia glanced at Enrico, who was accepting the bag, and shut her mouth. He

must have decided to stay here since he already packed his luggage. Was this okay? She had a strange feeling.

“Stay here while I wash up.”

Enrico, who was accepting the bag with a nonchalant expression, nodded at Emilia. Even without saying anything, it seemed like he was telling Fabio to keep an eye on him.

Then Enrico headed straight for the bathroom, looking back repeatedly. He glared at Fabio, showing a look of anxiety, as if telling him to keep an eye on him, but he eventually disappeared from sight with a reluctant expression.

Fabio and Emilia quietly watched Enrico like that, then looked at each other.

Emilia slightly moved aside so that he could come inside and gestured to him.

“Come in. Have you eaten?”

“Then excuse me. I ate earlier.”

Fabio politely placed his hat in front of his chest and went inside. He slowly looked around and headed toward the table.

Emilia brought the still steaming hot teapot and slowly poured it into the teacup she had placed on the table. The tea leaves, made by drying spring flowers, floated beautifully on the cup.

“Thank you.”

Fabio awkwardly accepted the teacup. The modest house was so small that the living room and bedroom seemed vaguely separated.

It wasn’t a bad place to live alone, but Fabio couldn’t believe that Enrico, who had been living in such places since birth, had spent the night here.

“… … Did the Duke eat?”

“Yes, it was just a simple pasta, but he finished it all.”

“Everything, everything? Is that true?”

“Yes.”

Why would she lie about that? Emilia blinked with a bewildered face.

“You’re eating… … .”

Fabio, who didn’t notice Emilia’s expression at all, simply put both hands in front of his mouth as if he was deeply touched.

“Thank you very much.”

Then he suddenly bowed his head deeply in greeting. Emilia shut her mouth with an embarrassed expression. Since they were at home together, they had only eaten, so why was he expressing such loud gratitude?

Since Enrico had lost so much weight, I had expected that he had skipped a meal. However, judging from Fabio’s reaction now, it seemed that he had skipped a meal.

“I apologize to Miss Emilia, but I am truly glad that we are meeting again like this. If I had been a little later, the Duke might have never been able to get up again.”

“Huh? He couldn’t get up… … .”

“You might think I’m exaggerating, but the Duke’s condition was really that serious. He didn’t do anything and just looked out the window. “She didn’t even want to eat or drink water, so I forced her to take nutritional supplements, but when she reached her limit, I forced her to eat even watery food.”

Emilia’s face turned pale in an instant. I thought she looked haggard because she couldn’t sleep, but it seemed like there were many other problems as well.

Fabio clasped his hands on the table and looked down.

“Even though I was so rude, the Duke didn’t say anything as if he had lost all willpower. Insomnia can be induced by sleeping pills, but since there are limits to what you can eat, the same situation had to repeat itself every time.”

“… … Ha.”

Eventually, a deep sigh escaped his lips. He hadn’t realized that his life was even more serious than what he saw in person.

When Emilia stared blankly into space with a complicated expression, Fabio, who had been looking up at her, suddenly lowered his head. He stopped just before his forehead touched the table, avoiding the teacup.

“I know it’s burdensome to say this, but I couldn’t help it. I sincerely apologize.”

“… … .”

“I know you haven’t made up your mind yet. But I’m just grateful that you didn’t immediately kick me out, Your Highness.”

“… … Fabio. Raise your head.”

“I’m sorry, but I wish you two could take a moment to think. Wasn’t our separation at the cabin too sudden?”

Emilia finally shut her mouth tightly and lowered her gaze. The colorful flower petals floating beautifully in the teacup were turning the clear water a light pink.

“Please, please. It’s almost like Miss Emilia, whom you thought you’d never see again, has come back to life.”

Her heart ached. She didn’t feel good when he said it, but hearing it again from Fabio made her feel even more uncomfortable and painful.

‘… … Could it be that he didn’t want to live?’

The lonely figure of him spending each day, thinking he was dead and losing all motivation, was somehow vivid in her mind.

Unlike what she had thought he would forget her soon, he had been in pain for too long and eventually couldn’t forget her and came to find her.

In a way, it was a situation where she could have been angry and said that she had made fun of him, but Enrico just kept desperately holding on to her.

Eventually, Emilia heard the sound of Enrico running out of the bathroom in a hurry and looked at him, who had not even dried himself properly.

It was painful to see him acting so anxious and crazy, even though Fabio was there.