Chapter – 08
Betrayal (Cecilio)
After that. Lady Claudia clung to me, and everyone treated it as a matter of course. Even His Highness the Crown Prince.
It seems His Highness Alfonso also has a woman he loves. On the surface, they would play the part of a harmonious couple, strengthening the ties between their two countries. As long as they upheld that, they would mutually permit each other to cherish others in the shadows. That appeared to be his line of thinking.
And then, a binding magic was engraved upon my body to prevent me from fathering a child with her.
âIt makes me sick!
I am a knight. And yet, I have endured this treatment like a common prostitute for a year, and am to be rewarded with a title for it?
But, unable to change anything now, the day of the wedding arrives.
Lady Claudia, adorned in resplendent attire, offered a beautiful smile and whispered quietly, “You don’t have to offer me your congratulations,” before proceeding to the ceremony.
What do you expect me to do…?
Truly, I can no longer offer words of blessing. If Lady Claudia is to be married while His Highness Alfonso has another he loves, then she may be nothing more than a decorative ornament, or a tool merely for bearing children.
But there is nothing I can do. Even my own self is bound by you, leaving me unable to move!
When you show me a face like that, it makes it impossible even to resent you…
“*Cecilio, please. Just hold me once.*”
“…I am sorry. I cannot do that.”
The ceremony concluded without incident, and Lady Claudia, polished and perfected by her maids, was now to proceed to the nuptial rites of the first night.
“*Please, I beg you. I am about to be held by a man I do not love. To be held by him, even though I am not loved.*
*I won’t ask you to save me anymore…*
*Just once is enough. If you would only hold me, I know I can endure it.*
*…Please… Cecilio…*”
The body that gently clung to me was trembling.
To be held by someone you do not love… How much agony must that be?
And I am the one tasked with guarding that bedchamber.
No, don’t lay a hand on her, cut her off!
“*I love you. I’m sorry. I have always loved you.*
*I have loved you, always, always.*
*I’m sorry I couldn’t give up, but…*
*I love you, I love you, I am in love with you, Cecilio.*”
She whispered her love over and over, tears spilling down her cheeks.
Please, stop it now…
I cannot bear to see Her Highness the Princess like this!
My beloved master, whom I have always protected with care.
It is not love. Even so, I wished for her happinessâso why has it come to this…
“…I do not love you.”
“*Yes.*”
“I am not in love with you.”
“…*I know.*”
“This is… pity.”
“*…That’s fine. I love you.*”
I pulled Lady Claudia into my embrace. Tightly, tightly.
Branding this into my heart as an act of betrayal.
I held her tightlyââ
The next day, word arrived that Valeriano had been attacked by Grasses.
