CH 5

[TN: I read back to see which pronouns were being used and the ML’s name is actually Jerald, not Jerald! Sorry, everyone. I’ve fixed this in the previous chapters as well as the summary.]

The news of the coup d’état and the coronation of a new emperor was heard only after going down to the village.

Pristin led a life as usual in the mountains where Claret left.

“…Ah.”

Pristin murmured with a frustrated expression.

“There’s no one to eat with now.”

Except for the fact that she often made the mistake of not getting the portion right when cooking.

‘Absence makes the heart grow fonder.’

It was surprising that it would be so noticeable. Pristin looked at the egg sandwich, which she had made more than usual of, with a puzzled look on her face. It would be impossible to finish it all in one meal, and it seemed like she would have to eat only that throughout the day. Just as Pristin was about to make peach juice as a finishing touch.

– Knock knock

She heard a knock on the door. Pristin turned her head, looking puzzled.

‘Who could it be?’

There was no one to visit now. Pristin wiped her hands on the apron and walked to the door.

“Who is it?”

As she opened the door, there stood a stranger. Pristine looked at him questioningly, and the man spoke.

“Are you Lady Pristin Lamont?”

“…”

How long has it been since she had been called that name? Pristin’s heart sank at the memory of the past.

She nodded quietly without expressing her feelings. Then, the man opened his mouth again, this time with a relieved expression, as if he had found the right person.

“I have come upon the summons of the princess.”

“If it’s the princess…”

“Princess Claret is looking for you.”

“Oh…”

“Please come with me to the palace.”

Only then did Pristin recall Claret’s promise, which she had forgotten for a moment.

‘But I didn’t expect her to actually call for me.’

Pristin thought Claret must have forgotten her. It was shocking in a good sense that it wasn’t the case.

“Please respond to the call of the princess. She really wanted to see the lady.”

“Please wait a moment. I can’t go like this.”

If she was going to the palace anyway, she needed to dress accordingly. The man nodded as if understanding.

“…”

Pristin, who closed the door, looked confused.

She didn’t expect things to turn out like this.

However, she soon moved to the closet as if she had made up her mind.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

After a long journey, Pristin arrived at Lunachest, the capital of the Limburg Empire. She was reunited with the princess and ended up touring the palace.

“…”

“…”

But she never expected such a situation.

‘To think I would attend the coronation of an emperor.’

No, that emperor happened to be her ex-boyfriend!

‘Well, his name is the same, but…’

Jerald was a common name. It wasn’t like Pristin didn’t notice. While facing Jerald, Pristin absentmindedly played with her teacup, wearing a serious expression.

In her head, memories of the past and current situations were intertwined and complicated.

‘Then Jerald finally…’

“What are you thinking about?”

“…Ah.”

Pristin, who was preoccupied with her own thoughts, raised her head in surprise at the voice coming from in front of her. However, soon after realizing that the person in front of her was not the Jerald of the past, but the Emperor of Limburg, she bowed her head again. Jerald’s eyes became a little sharp when he saw the sight.

“Why are you avoiding my eyes?”

“…”

“It’s upsetting.”

While saying that, Jerald persistently tried to meet Pristin’s gaze. Feeling burdened by his stare, Pristin unknowingly tensed her jaw.

However, she couldn’t completely shake off the feeling that his gaze was following her tenaciously even after avoiding it.

Eventually Pristin gave up and made eye contact with Jerald. While maintaining a calm expression as much as possible.

“You’ve never avoided my eyes before.”

“That was the case.”

In a voice of regret, Pristin nodded without denying it.

“In the past.”

Stretching the latter words, Pristin went on.

“Things are different now. Aren’t you the emperor of the empire?”

“…I’m sorry for deceiving you about my identity. At that time…”

“There’s no need for you to justify yourself. Whether it was me or Your Majesty, we both deceived each other.”

She also hadn’t been truthful about her own identity to him. So, even if he had something to hide from her, she couldn’t allow herself to feel betrayed.

Nevertheless, Pristin already realized that there was an inevitable sadness in the back of her mind.

No, perhaps it was resentment.

Pristin unknowingly bit her lower lip and opened her mouth.

“Anyway… I’m glad it worked out well.”

Having nothing to say, Pristin concluded so.

Jerald in front of her unknowingly narrowed his brows at such an attitude.

“Is that it?”

“…Yes?”

“Don’t you have any more questions?”

Jerald’s voice trembled slightly with anticipation.

“At least some kind of interrogation or resentment?”

“…”

“Why aren’t you asking me anything? We didn’t part ways in a normal manner.”

“…That’s true.”

Pristin said, looking at Jerald with an expression of unease.

“Your Majesty left without any explanation.”

“…”

“It wasn’t a normal breakup, that’s for sure.”

“…Yeah. Let’s just leave it at that.”

He said, still sharing his gaze with Pristin.

“Don’t act like you’ve forgotten about me.”

“I have forgotten, Your Majesty. I have forgotten about you.”

Pristin asked, shaking her head.

“It’s been a little over a year, hasn’t it? Since we broke up.”

“…”

“It’s been a long time. More than enough to forget someone who left without a word.”

“That’s…”

“Your Majesty told me to resent you, but I don’t hold any resentment towards you.”

However, in facing the unexpected reality, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was even a hint of resentment in her heart.

‘But even if that’s the case, what difference does it make?’

He was the emperor, and she was a fallen noble. Pristin’s gaze toward him grew deeper.

‘Now that things have turned out like this, I can understand why things happened the way they did back then.’

It seemed like she now knew why he had to leave so abruptly back then. Pristin understood. It somewhat diluted the resentment she had harbored. However, it didn’t mean that there were lingering emotions towards Jerald.

Pristin spoke sternly.

“But we ended back then. Naturally.”

“I’ve never once thought that we ended.”

“…So you thought that way, Your Majesty.”

In fact, Pristin thought so for some time. And she had eagerly awaited the day she would reunite with Jerald.

However, due to a series of unexpected events that occurred afterwards, she had come to the conclusion that waiting for him was no longer meaningful. Pristin shook her head slightly.

“Unfortunately, not me, Your Majesty.”

“Pristin.”

“I know you’ve gone through a lot. I’m curious about how you’ve managed to survive… but I won’t ask. After all, you’ve become the ruler of the empire.”

“If you’re only concerned about the outcome, then focus on the fact that we’ve come across each other again.”

“…Surely you don’t have any intention of starting a relationship with me again?”

“Why would you think otherwise?”

“Your Majesty.”

“I keep telling you. I never thought it was over with you.”

“I’ve been telling you, too. The two of us are already done.”

“Pristin.”

“Leave brief relationships in the past as memories, and put aside the thought of beginning again.”

Pristin quietly closed her eyes and muttered.

“Memories are the most beautiful when they remain as memories.”

“If anyone were to hear, they would think we’ve already seen everything there is to see.”

“…”

“That’s why we spent such a short time together. Is it possible that the time I remember and the time you remember are different?”

“…That’s true.”

Pristin fell silent for a moment before speaking again.

“That brief time, it was only a few months.”

“…”

“In the grand scheme of life, it’s practically nothing. So… just forget about it.”

“Pristin.”

“I was glad to see that you were unharmed. I always… wanted to know at least if you were alive or not, and today, that wish has been fulfilled.”

Pristin decided that she couldn’t stay in this place any longer.

And she tried to quickly wrap up the conversation.

“I hope you will become a righteous ruler from now on. And please make Limburg a better place to live.”

“Pri…”

“Well then, I will take my leave now.”

Without giving Jerald a chance to stop her, Pristin quickly stood up from her seat.

Then, after the greetings, she left the drawing room.

– Thud

As the sound of the door closing echoed, Jerald was left alone. He sat there, unable to move, wearing a grave expression for a long time. In the midst of the unexpected encounter with Pristin, it was already bewildering, but to hear her explicitly tell him not to even think about starting again, it was an unbearable shock.

After a while, low words escaped his lips.

“Who is agreeing?”

Having met again like this, he couldn’t just give up. With a deep gaze, he stared at the spot where Pristin had disappeared.

Unfortunately, he had no intention of moving as she wished.