CH 99

Why is he here?

Why is Valery here?

Is this an illusion? Suddenly?

“…”

His gaze seemed to hold me still. So tight that I could neither pick up the umbrella nor take a step back.

Again, the sound of heavy footsteps was heard. Now, the distance between us was less than three steps.

This wasn’t an illusion. A calm expression hiding his feelings looked down at me. His bright hair fluttered in the wind, his fairer skin than before, and his tightly closed lips were real. He looked a little more mature and sharper. Even though he was still stunning, he looked more dignified than anyone else.

“…”

“…”

Maybe for a while, I stared at him. He looked at me that way too. My heart throbbed as if there was a deep and hollow hole. My throat tightened, and my chin was tense. I had to ask why he came and tell him to leave, but I couldn’t open my lips.

The snowflakes were getting stronger again. Even in the pouring snow that covered the vision, I could see clearly. Tears welled up in his clear purple eyes, and only after they fell was I able to move my body.,

I took a step forward instead of stepping back. Only two steps remain. If I took two more steps, I would be able to smell his body scent that I had forgotten.

One step left. I slowly reached out to him. Valery narrowed the remaining step. He leaned down. My hand touched his cheek. Tears welled up again and ran down his cheeks. His throat moved greatly.

“… I’m sorry.”

The first word he uttered was an apology. Why? He had nothing to apologize for.

“Why are you apologizing…”

“I for sure need you.”

“…”

“Bella, all I need is you.”

He slowly crumbled. His knees touched the ground, and his hands caught me so I wouldn’t run away. That large figure sobbed.

I think I stood there for a while as he caught me. Oh, maybe I liked this man. In the end, he came to me like this. Again, he held onto me like a nightmare and said all he needed was me. He needed me.

“…I really meant it.”

I took his hand and slowly bent my knees. “You are so mean, Valery.”

“…”

“I cut you off first for all this time, but why are you coming back like this?”

Do you know how hard it was for me to end our relationship again?

Valery gave strength to his hand that was holding me. It felt like his stubbornness that he couldn’t let me go anymore.

“Valery.”

“Yes.”

I made eye contact with him and put my hand on his cheek. His eyes shook and wrapped my hand.

“…I love you.”

“…”

“I love you, Bella.”

I closed my eyes tightly. His tense breath was palpable. I stayed for a long time as if I were savoring it again.

Sometimes, when I dream of him coming to me, I always think that I need to send him back. It wasn’t possible for someday, but if he really came to me, I would have to send him back for his sake. I thought that was my job

However, I realized it now as he really appeared. That I’ve been missing this person all along. I still loved him then and now. I really missed him a lot, like how he missed me.

I opened my eyes again and opened my mouth while holding his cheek. “I’m the daughter of Lucellai Rudbihi.”

“…I know.”

“My last name is Rudbihi.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“There will be many difficulties because of me.”

“It’s better than not being able to be with you. I just need you by my side.”

Fearing that I might run away, he hurriedly continued. At the same time, I raised my lips as I looked at his face and spoke.

“I like you too.”

“Still—!”

Valery’s eyes, which were about to retort just now, widened for an instant.

“I missed you a lot too.”

As he smiled, the corner of his eyes shook, and tears fell again. Then he hugged me as if to crush me. Even though it was suffocating, I didn’t reject his hug. Rather, I hugged his large body and patted him.

“I love you.”

“…Me too.”

“I love you.”

“…”

“I love you, Bella.”

I ended up pouring out the tears I had been holding back in his arms.

* * *

It was a little while later. I brought him to my house, although getting him to stay away from me was a bit difficult.

However, there was a little problem. Ian was also on the tall side, but when Valery came in, the house looked really cramped. Even compared to Kuren, who had more muscles, and if Ian, Amaterin, and Kuren were being combined, they would be bigger than Valery. Strangely enough, I felt like the house was cramped just because Valery was there.

“…This house is very narrow.”

“It’s not narrow at all.”

“…Even if it’s narrow, I won’t kick you out, so you can be honest.”

“It’s not like that at all.”

I sat him down on the chair as he tried to cling to me, then poured hot water from the kettle on the stove. After putting in the tea leaves and waiting for a while, I held it out to him.

“Warm your body.”

“Yes.”

He accepted the teacup as gently as a gentle animal. I sat down on a chair diagonally close to him.

“The fact that I’m here… Did you know that?”

“…Yes.”

“I see.”

How did he know so well? It was clear that I was the only one who thought that I had hidden well.

“Ah, it’s time for Ian and Ami to come.”

“Who is Ami?” asked Valery vigilantly.

“My friend, whom I met here. She comes here to eat breakfast every day. With her husband.”

Maybe it was just my feeling, but Valery’s expression became softer as soon as the word ‘her husband’ came out. Perhaps it was because I hadn’t seen him in a long time. It’s about more than two years long, at least for me.

“Ami made a lot of fuss when Ian came, but I think she’ll make more fuss when she sees you, Valery.”

He raised his eyebrows as if he were wondering what I was saying.

“She’s very curious. I’m sure she will ask about our relationship. But she hasn’t come. It’s past the time she usually comes.”

It was an hour later than her usual visit. We’ve been in that stupid position for a long time. Before I knew it, Valery’s teacup was empty.

“You have to eat your breakfast here. If it’s still morning…”

I got up to put it in the skin, then he pulled me. I was helplessly dragged along without hesitation and burst into laughter briefly when I saw him hugging my waist tightly.

“I’m trying to make breakfast.”

“…Like this.”

“You want to stay like this?”

Saying so, he hugged my waist more strongly. I patted his soft hair, swept his neck and back, then patted him. Then he let out a big breath as if he was finally breathing.

I could feel everything about him in my hands, but I felt like I was constantly wondering back and forth if this was an illusion or reality. Maybe he felt the same way as I do. Inevitably, I swept his head and back for a long time until he was satisfied.

In the end, even after breakfast time passed, and toward noon, Kuren, Amaterin, and Ian didn’t even show their nose. Even when we moved and sat in front of the fireplace.

I guessed that Ian, who was quick-witted, heard Valery’s voice and prevented them from coming. Anyway, I thought this was better since I might have to sweat out explaining about Valery when Amaterin came.

Valery only clung to me. When I was at the dining table, he hugged me and didn’t let go, but when I recommended he sit in front of the fireplace, he hugged me from behind and didn’t let go.

“…I’m not running away. I have nowhere else to go from here anyway.”

“It’s just that it’s been so long. I still feel like this is a dream.”

“You came to me directly like this. This is not a dream.”

“Yes, and yet I think you will be gone a while later. So please stay like this for a while.”

“Really…”

I gave up and said, looking at the firewood burning on the stove. “I’ve heard about you sometimes too.”

“…”

“I wasn’t going to listen because I thought my heart would be weakened if I was curious, but I was listening to your news before I knew it.”

“…”

“I don’t think I need to do that anymore. It’s because you showed up like this, Valery.”