When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 112



Only Noblemtl

#112. Sorry
2024.04.21.

Emilia blinked her eyes. Enrico, who was nervous about her reaction of just staring at him without saying anything, added impatiently.

“I think it’s okay to stay here together. Yes, should we just build a new mansion? We can tear down the current house and build it, or we can build it somewhere else.”

A cool breeze blew between the two of them. Her fluttering hair tickled her cheeks, and the scent of grass mixed with the cold air lingered around them.

Even though the ground was covered in pure white snow, there were quite a few grass leaves that could withstand the cold, so the scent did not disappear and occasionally revealed its presence.

Emilia carefully looked down at his hand that was holding hers. Unlike her, who was wearing gloves, he was not wearing anything, so his fingertips were red from the cold wind. He

used to wear gloves often, so why was he walking around bare-handed these days? Strangely, it seemed like his behavior was part of his lack of care, and her heart felt heavy for no reason.

She placed her other hand on the back of his hand, which looked cold just by looking at it.

“Of course, I’m not dissatisfied with your house right now. It’s just that if you’re going to live there for a long time, it’s better to make it more certain.”

His voice became agitated, as if he misunderstood Emilia’s actions as if she was trying to push him away

. What on earth was he trying to make certain of? He gradually blurted out random words as if he didn’t know what he was talking about.

Emilia raised her eyes again and slowly examined Enrico’s face. The rippling throat, the reddened eyes, the gloomy, sunken purple eyes.

The person who always looked languid and arrogant was losing all composure and revealing his transparent inner feelings.

Emilia lowered her eyebrows slightly, as if she was embarrassed. She had originally planned to talk to him at home after work, but now she felt like she had to bring it up right away.

“… … Did I cause trouble?”

The moment she opened her mouth, thinking that she had to talk even if it meant being late for work, he let go of her hand first.

He took a deep breath and exhaled, as if he knew she was in trouble but still found it difficult to pretend not to know.

“I didn’t mean to force you. No, I didn’t mean to force you. Anyway, I just want you to be with me. But… … . But, I don’t know anymore.”

“Your Majesty.”

“I just suddenly thought that I wish you were happy.”

“… … .”

“You don’t have to answer right away. I won’t say anything anymore, so think about it slowly and make a decision.”

Emilia’s eyes shook greatly. He slurred each word as he spoke, then frowned and laughed. It was such a painful laugh that it was painful even for the onlookers.

“No matter what you decide, I will respect your will. I want to spend my whole life asking for your forgiveness, but that’s something you have to give me a chance to do. I want to apologize now, even if it’s just insincere words.”

Enrico took a step back and placed his right hand on his chest.

“I’m sorry for hurting you all this time.”

His soft voice made her feel like crying. If you think about it, it wasn’t all his fault.

She had also taken on everything and signed the contract, and later she had unilaterally requested to break the contract and rejected his feelings, trying to hurt him in the same way.

Should she apologize in the same way, or should she confess her feelings? Her complicated mind gradually became blank and she couldn’t think of anything.

All she could see was Enrico standing alone in front of her. She felt like she would only cry if she opened her mouth, so she stared blankly at him for a long time.

***

She wanted to gather her emotions and speak, but there was no time for that. Enrico, as if he felt more responsible for her work, hurried her on her way back to work, asking if she was late.

Even though he probably wanted to hear an answer right away, he just silently watched her as if he was going to accommodate her.

Soon, the children who had met outside and were rushing into the ballet studio hesitated when they saw Enrico sitting on a chair in the corner.

Especially Marino, who had already met him once and had no good memories, was startled when he saw Enrico when he went to work. He was so surprised that he couldn’t even approach the piano for a long time. Although he

was handsome, he had an aura that made it difficult to approach him, so they couldn’t even approach him. Even Marino was scared, so the children’s guard became even more intense.

Emilia smiled and waved to the children who were watching from afar and didn’t know what to do. Only then did the children run over.

“Teacher, who are you?”

The children who were crowded around Emilia kept glancing at Enrico and whispering softly. The children’s eyes sparkled as if they were scared but couldn’t suppress their curiosity about someone they were seeing for the first time.

Emilia smiled again at his cute appearance. And Enrico’s face became even more pale at Emilia’s appearance.

Just by looking at her, she seemed happy living here. So, the thought that she would never leave this place gradually took over her mind.

‘Hmm… … This is going to be difficult.’

The problem was that the children who were watching Enrico were also starting to get very scared.

Emilia somehow knew why Enrico was acting like that. She thought that if she left it like this, he would dig the ground and even get his nose stuck in the sink.

“Who is that… … ”

Emilia looked at Enrico, stroking the backs of the children who were hugging her legs with their small bodies as if to comfort them. Enrico looked at her with a face devoid of expectations.

“The person you’re going to meet, teacher.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean?”

The children tilted their heads at Emilia’s ambiguous words.

“You’re meeting right now, right?”

“Hey, idiot. You’re saying we’re going to meet again.”

“Why am I an idiot! The person you’re going to meet, hmph… … Teacher, I don’t know what you’re talking about. “Are you meeting again?”

Emilia kept her gaze on Enrico as the children asked her questions. Enrico had a blank expression on his face, as if he couldn’t tell if what he had just heard was true.

“Yeah. You’re saying we’re going to be lovers now.”

Enrico suddenly got up from his seat. She lowered her eyebrows slightly and laughed at his helpless appearance, unable to even blink, only moving her lips.

“Lovers?”

“What’s a lover?”

“You idiot, you’re saying we’re going to get married.”

“Another idiot! I’m not an idiot.”

“Wow- Teacher, are you getting married?”

“Then, are you going to live here with me?”

Emilia was increasingly flustered by the children’s bright but high-level questions. She

had impulsively said it because she thought she should at least convey her intentions now rather than make him wait until the end of class, but the children continued to chatter as if they weren’t satisfied with that.

Bam, Marino stumbled and fell into his chair, touching the piano keys.

The children looked at Marino at the sound that woke them up, and Enrico, who had regained consciousness, strode toward Emilia.

“I… … . Will you meet me?”

He stuttered, uncharacteristically. His eyes were trembling with various emotions as he let out a trembling voice.

She looked up at him and smiled slightly and answered.

“Yes.”

It was a short but firm voice. The children looked at each other alternately as if they were seeing something new. They quietly observed the situation, as if they could tell that even the most innocent children would have a hard time fitting in between them.

Enrico’s chin began to tremble. He lowered his head slightly and covered his face with one hand, as if he didn’t know how to handle his intense emotions.

There were no tears flowing, but strangely enough, he looked as if he was crying with emotion.

“Mister, are you crying?”

The child who had been watching quietly asked impulsively. Enrico finally remembered where he was, took his hand away, and looked down at the child. There were no tears.

But the children blinked their eyes wide as they looked at the strangely moist purple eyes. Not caring about that, Enrico held Emilia’s two hands and bowed his head as if he didn’t care who was around.

Enrico reverently kissed the back of Emilia’s hands. The children’s eyes sparkled with pure joy, as if he were a prince from a fairy tale.

“Thank you, I’ll do it well. I’ll really be with you for life… .”

“I guess if it’s for life, it’s really getting married.”

“See? Am I right?”

Emilia eventually burst into laughter at the children’s whispers that kept coming in when the mood was about to change. She pulled away and pushed his shoulder as if telling him to raise his head.

“I’ll tell you later. I have class right now.”

“… … Okay.”

He wanted to hug Emilia and go back to the duke’s residence, but Enrico knew that he had to listen more than ever now, so he patiently stepped back.

“Teacher, can we go to the wedding too?”

“Huh? Oh, come to think of it, the wedding is not yet… … .”

Emilia was about to say this with an awkward smile.

“This is a place where not just anyone can come.”

Enrico spoke faster. Emilia and the children looked up at him with wide eyes.

“Instead, I will specially invite those who are here. It will be considered an honor to the family.”