Alberto couldn’t understand the reason behind it, and that made him feel frustrated.
He can’t forgive himself for making her feel anxious.
But he can’t even ask why she seems troubled because he may start to think that confessing his feelings might be a burden to her.
Alberto couldn’t hide his frustration with himself these days.
He wants to protect and care for her, yet he’s the one who is troubling her.
He continues to have days where he considers whether it would be better to erase his feelings altogether, but he ultimately concludes that it’s impossible to do so.
“I was surprised by how quickly Alberto acted. It shows just how desperate you were.”
Being teased like that makes Alberto feel uneasy. He remained silent and waited for Reynaldo to continue, but after waiting for a while, no more words came.
Feeling impatient, Alberto decided to ask the question himself.
“What are you going to do?”
Will Reynaldo tell her how he felt about her?
Or will he remain silent?
Reynaldo’s special feelings for Marie are apparent. After subduing King Gray, Alberto expected him to take some action, but he didn’t do anything.
Of course, Alberto is aware that Reynaldo is concealing Marie’s true identity in secret and has subtly taken precautions around her so that she won’t be used as a political pawn.
Furthermore, the way Reynaldo seeks consultation with Marie’s brother, who was her guardian, before taking any actions, makes Alberto feel like praising his proactive attitude once again.Alberto found it puzzling that Reynaldo didn’t act toward Marie in the same way as he did.
When his subordinate, Fiell, expressed his desire to have Marie work for the Knights’ Corps again, he thought that Reynaldo would surely put a stop to it. However, to his surprise, things progressed smoothly and effortlessly.
Although it’s possible to hire servants within the Knights’ Corps with the approval of the Knight Commander, Alberto was still concerned that no matter how much Marie started working for the Corps, she would one day be taken away by Reynaldo. Just as he had once taken her to the Rose territory.
Given the circumstances and his thoughts about what to do at that time, the situation felt perplexing to him.
That’s why Alberto’s asking him right now. What is he planning to do?
“I’m not going to do anything.”
The same jade eyes as Rosemary’s looked straight at Alberto.
His eyes now changed to a serene hue. It was different from the time when it was overshadowed by revenge.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly what I said.”
Nothing.
The man who had been so devoted to Rosemary, living solely for her sake, won’t do anything.
Reynaldo coldly smiled at Alberto, who appeared surprised and shaken.
“If Marie has feelings for you, I don’t mind. But…”
With an expression that made him be dubbed the “Icy Duke,” Reynaldo approached Alberto.
Long, slender fingers touch Alberto’s shoulder.
“As you are now, you cannot be with Marie the way you desire.”
“……”
Acting as if he knew the current Marie.
Alberto wanted to protest, but he couldn’t find the words. He knew that Reynaldo’s statement was true.
He knows that he can’t get her to respond to him as he is now.
But he doesn’t know how to change that fact.
He feels even more anxious when the problem is pointed out by a third party.
“I know that. But it’s still too early to simply accept it.”
Alberto’s eyes are neither despondent with resignation nor distorted with pain.
He gazed back at Reynaldo with a firm determination.
Can he really give up? He can’t even calm the swirling emotions within himself. Even if he were rejected, how could he possibly give up?
If there’s a chance, he wants to take it.
If there’s something that troubles her, he wishes to get rid of it.
If his own feelings are causing her to feel uneasy, he wants to remove that feeling.
He wants to protect her.
In the face of Alberto’s unwavering determination, Reynaldo finally breaks into a gentle smile.
“I look forward to it.”
Alberto couldn’t fathom Reynaldo’s thoughts. Sometimes he appeared to be a love rival, while at other times, he displayed gestures that appeared supportive, leaving Alberto perplexed.
However, Alberto has other things to think about.
The worries that he carries should be resolved by Alberto himself.
And beyond those answers, lies the answer of the person he thinks of.
Alberto had a faint yet strong conviction.