Chapter 45

I’ve been thinking about this too.

First of all, looking at the recent situation, Leah seems to like him.

Even though I’m her mother, I have no right to ignore her feelings.

‘I’m worried about the curse, though.’

For now, I don’t think Rupert will be a huge threat, as he’s friendly to us.

‘The situation has become more complicated than I thought.’

The original plan was for the story to flow as it was after my divorce.

But everything is going very differently.

I’m also curious as to why I have the precognitive dreams I’ve had before.

“Noel.”

Suddenly, Rupert called out to me.

“Yeah?

“You have a very serious expression.”

I realized that my emotions were reflected on my face.

‘This habit needs to be corrected.’

When I return to the mansion, I also have to participate in social activities, which is perfect for being attacked in this way.

“You don’t have to worry too much. Because I won’t create a dangerous situation for you and Leah again.”

It seems that he thought I was worried about the gargoyle incident.

“Are you talking about the gargoyle incident?”

Recalling him lying about Leah’s safety made me angry.

“I still hate lies, but I can’t blame you for putting a lord’s duties first.”

Rupert is not a good husband, but he will be a good lord to the people.

If he’s reflecting on it, that’s enough.

“I gave you too much advice yesterday, but that doesn’t mean I’m suddenly asking you to be a good husband. It’s enough just to get along better than before.”

“I don’t think it’s too much advice.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

He seems to have opened his heart to me a bit more since yesterday.

“Then, shall we properly reconcile now?”

I reached out and asked for a handshake of reconciliation.

Both parties are at fault, so now we have to work things out together and move forward.

“Let’s be partners who can trust each other.”

As Rupert had opened his heart to me, there was no better timing than this.

But Rupert just looked at my hand and asked.

“Partner?”

“I told you, I don’t want a good husband. Let’s just respect each other’s privacy and promise to be reliable partners.”

In the social world, love marriages are rare, but arranged marriages like ours are rife. But even so, I want a peaceful relationship.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in those things.”

I’m speechless.

“Didn’t you want a relationship that respects each other’s privacy not too long ago?”

Don’t say that you forgot. I remember it clearly.

“I did, but I changed my mind.”

He answered bluntly.

“Besides, I have decided not to make promises I am not confident about in the future.”

The back of my head tingled at the sudden declaration.

“Wait a minute, do you mean that you don’t intend to have a good relationship with me in the future? You said you sincerely asked me to return to the mansion!”

‘Didn’t we get a little closer yesterday!?’

“I intend to maintain a good relationship.”

Rupert looked at me.

He continued, “I don’t like your choice of words. Think again, Noel.”

He then turned around.

“I’ll go to Leah now.”

I looked at his back, puzzled.

‘What do you mean by choice of words? Are you saying that ‘partner’ is not the right word?’

So, what kind of relationship do you want to be with me?

Maybe, friend?

Isn’t ‘partner’ the most right word?

Does Rupert not like it?

‘Did you want to hear that we should be a loving couple?’

I can’t even imagine him being sweet to me.

‘But at this point, I have no choice but to be suspicious.’

It’s not like I’ve never been in a relationship in my previous life, so I wasn’t very dull either.

In other words, it means that it has been a long time since I had an interest in dating.

Summing up his actions so far, I have no choice but to reach the most reasonable conclusion, which is subtle and uncomfortable.

……Rupert, do you have a romantic interest in me?

I followed him, holding back the rising doubts.

‘There is no way to check right now.’

Rupert glanced at me following him.

“Do you want to go together?”

“If you make Leah cry, you need someone to comfort her.”

“I won’t make her cry this time.”

As he answered that, he walked slowly at my pace.

‘In the past, when I called out to him, he ignored me and passed by.’

It was an incredible change.

Meanwhile, I arrived at Leah’s room.

Rupert knocked on the door and called her.

“Leah.”

There was no answer.

I murmured.

“We ran into difficulties from the start.”

“Let’s see.”

He spoke stubbornly and turned the doorknob. Luckily, it wasn’t locked.

Upon entering, at first glance, Leah was nowhere to be seen.

“Leah, where are you?”

When I called out to Leah curiously, Rupert whispered, “Behind the bedpost.”

Only then could I find Leah.

Behind the bed, the child poked her head out.

With slightly teary eyes.

“……are you mad?”

Rupert replied, “Not at all. Rather, I’m here to apologize.”

“Father?”

Relieved, Leah hesitated and came out from behind the bed.

“But I cried.”

“Crying isn’t necessarily bad.”

I decided to lean against the door and watch their conversation.

Rupert gestured for Leah to come, but she didn’t come any closer.

“……”

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In the end, Rupert, who was a little hesitant, suddenly spoke, “Yesterday I was wrong.”

‘How can you apologize so easily!’

“I should have listened to you more.”

After saying this, Rupert glanced at me as if at a loss as to what else he should say.

‘Yes, it must be difficult yet.’

I gave him a hint by moving my mouth.

‘Listen to the reason yourself.’

He looked straight at Leah again.

“I wish you could tell me why you don’t like it there.”

Having said that, Leah, who was hesitating, approached him.

“……the mansion is scary.”

“Why?”

“When we go back, everyone gets busy again, right? Father, too.”

“It will different than before.”

Leah hesitated.

“……it’s always been difficult to meet father and mom. But I can meet you two here whenever I miss you.”

“It will be the same there.”

Leah still looked worried. Seeing that face, Rupert pondered for a moment and took the drawing he had just finished from his pocket.

“Here it is.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s a reply to the letter you sent me.”

“A reply?”

Leah looked at the drawing with a puzzled look.

“Really? Wow!”

Leah asked, pointing to each person drawn in the picture.

“This is mom, this is me, and the last one…… is this father?”

“Yes.”

Leah giggled a little.

“Everyone is smiling. It’s the first time I’ve seen all of us smiling together.”

Rupert sat on one knee and met Leah’s eyes.

“When we go home, we will all be like in this picture.”

Leah’s eyes widened.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Rupert paused for a moment. Raising his hand hesitantly, he tucked Leah’s hair behind her ear and continued to speak.

“Now, no one will leave you alone.”

“……”

“So, from now on, stop playing with Leander.”

It was touching, but in the end, it was mixed with a little selfishness.

Still, Leah laughed.

“Hehehe.”

Rupert, who was looking at Leah’s expression, awkwardly spread his arms, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

As if it were an unspoken sign, Leah hugged his neck.

It looked like it wasn’t the first time.

Watching that heartwarming scene, I noticed one thing.

‘Rupert and Leah have hugged each other before!’

Could that be the reason why the atmosphere between the two of them has softened recently?

Then Leah asked.

“Did father draw this?”

He answered frankly.

“No, I drew it with Noel.”

Leah’s eyes turned to me.

“Are mom and father not fighting anymore?”

“Of course.”

“Are you reconciled?”

Reconciled?

I remembered Rupert ignoring my reconciliation handshake before coming here.

“Well……”

When I answered vaguely, my shameful husband looked at me. What? Why?

Rupert stood up and approached me.

“Why are you hesitating? Are you going to destroy the efforts I made for Leah?”

As he whispered, I replied calmly.

“It is true that you ignored my reconciliation handshake.”

There’s one more thing to argue about.

“Has Leah hugged you before?”

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“You told me to be a good father. Why are you jealous?”