An Unexpected Proposal-Chapter 55

"I told you before—it doesn’t matter who the child's father is."

"Even if I told you I have a husband?"

"…"

"I'm happy now. I have no desire to go back to the past."

Alicia’s hand pushed Cabelenus away with casual ease. He stared blankly at the hand that had just rejected him before lifting his gaze to her. She stood tall, a smile on her lips.

"Not even once have I missed you, Your Highness. My life has been far too happy for that."

"…"

"Just go back. It’s laughable for you to act this way now after not searching for me even once in the past eight years."

"…I thought you were dead."

"…"

"I didn’t choose not to search for you. I couldn’t. No matter how much I looked, no matter how many times I searched, the only thing I ever found was confirmation that you were dead."

Cabelenus hurriedly grabbed Alicia’s retreating hand. The once-delicate fingers he remembered were now calloused and worn, just as they had been when he first met her.

"Is this how your so-called husband cares for you?"

"A country woman’s hands all look like this. I’m nothing special."

She had never felt ashamed of her hands before. But now, standing before him, they seemed pitiful. Unable to bear his unrelenting gaze, Alicia turned her head slightly to the side.

"Your face is marked by the sun."

"…"

"Your clothes are worn thin."

"…"

His quiet observations made her ears flush red. A sun-darkened face, roughened hands, sleeves frayed at the ends—these were all natural things. But under his scrutiny, they no longer felt natural at all. Standing before him, she was no longer a mother—she was simply a woman.

"You truly do look like a humble villager."

"If you mean to mock me—"

"And yet, despite everything, you still steal my gaze as effortlessly as ever."

"…"

"You said you never wanted to see me again. That you were happy without me."

Cabelenus lowered his gaze, biting his lip. This was not the reunion he had imagined. He had not wished to see her as another man’s wife, carrying another man’s child.

He was furious. Furious, and then furious again.

He wanted to destroy everything. To turn the world upside down.

But he couldn’t.

No matter how jealousy and rage twisted inside him, the warmth of her presence overpowered it all.

In the end, above all else, what mattered most was that she was alive.

"I never forgot you. Not even once in these past eight years. I hated how time kept moving forward, how everything kept changing. It was unbearable. You were frozen in time, but I was forced to keep going."

"…"

"Tell me what you want. I’ll do anything."

As long as you stay by my side.

Cabelenus sank to his knees, his strength drained. Alicia swallowed hard as she looked down at the man who refused to let go of her hand.

"…This is already over."

"It’s not over."

"Being stubborn won’t change anything."

"If stubbornness is what it takes to keep you, I’ll be as stubborn as necessary."

He was nothing but contradictions—brutal, yet cautious.

"I have regretted it. Over and over again. No matter how many times I relive it, the only thing I see is not your smile, but your tears."

"…"

"I know you can’t trust me. But just once… Just give me one chance."

Her mind screamed that she had to refuse.

But his trembling hands looked pitiful.

His tearful eyes were unbearable.

Seeing the man who once burned like the sun now crumbling before her made her chest ache.

There had been painful times, yes. But there had also been happy ones.

But that was all. That was as far as it went.

Alicia strengthened her resolve and pulled her hand away.

"I can’t."

"Why?"

"Because my heart has changed."

"…"

"I don’t love you anymore. That’s all there is to it. There’s no other reason."

"Then use me."

Cabelenus grasped her hand again.

"Use you?"

Alicia’s expression twisted.

"There are people after you. The same thing that happened before… It could happen again."

"…"

"I will protect you. I will protect your child. Let me do that."

"There’s nothing in it for you."

"You’ll stay."

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"…"

"If I can see you, if I can be near you, that’s all I need."

Cabelenus spoke in an uncharacteristically rushed tone. He was afraid.

"But that’s your desire, not mine. And to begin with, I doubt the sincerity of your words."

"Alicia."

"I will protect my child. I always have, and I always will. But you have no place in that."

Alicia extended her hand and pushed him away. She hadn’t even used much force, but he stumbled back far easier than she expected.

"Go. And forget about me."

"Forget you?"

"Yes. Forget me. Live as if I never existed. You managed just fine for the past eight years. Keep doing that."

"I can’t. Not when I know you’re alive. How am I supposed to—"

"Then just tell yourself I’m dead. If that makes it easier to forget me, then by all means, do so. If that’s what it takes to sever our connection, then I have no other wish."

Alicia clenched her fists tightly. It felt like swallowing fire, but she couldn’t stop.

There was no going back.

Not anymore.

Now, she had something she needed to protect.

"Give up, Your Highness. The me who endured for love is gone. I can’t live like that anymore, and I have no intention of trying."

She would waver.

She did want to believe him.

But Cabelenus did not love her.

No matter how desperately he looked at her, no matter how earnestly he begged—this was not love.

And when he finally realized that, she knew exactly how he would react.

Cabelenus was a ruthless man. A man who would kill even his own child if necessary.

She couldn’t afford to forget that.

***

"Then what will you do? Will you just leave like this?"

"Of course not."

"Then should we take her by force—"

"I want to, but if I do that, she’ll never look at me again."

Cabelenus let out a long sigh and pressed his fingers against his forehead. When rage had surged through him, he had thought he could just drag her away by force. But looking at her now, standing tall and speaking her mind without hesitation, he realized he couldn’t. He was used to resentful glares, but that didn’t mean he wanted her to hate him.

Just knowing she was alive should have been enough.

But seeing her again… made him greedy.

I like you.

He missed that look in her eyes—the warmth that once existed there.

Cabelenus roughly ran a hand through his hair. No matter how much he tried to forget, her unwavering gaze still burned in his mind.

"Then what will you do? The lady’s resistance is no small thing. And that boy—no, the young master—already despises you…"

"Leave first."

"What?"

"I know what our enemies want. I can’t leave her behind. I’ll stay. You return to Schwarhan first."

It wasn’t even a question worth contemplating.

Cabelenus rose to his feet.

"Are you sure you can persuade her?"

"I have to."

His eyes gleamed with determination. At the end of his gaze stood a worn-down cottage.

***

The door swung open.

Alicia frowned instinctively at the familiar face before her.

She slowly tilted her head up and down, confirming the identity of her visitor.

It was no mistake.

Standing there, dressed simply in a loose shirt, was Cabelenus.

"What are you doing here?"

"The house looks old. I thought I’d check if it needed repairs."

Cabelenus tilted his head nonchalantly.

"I told you to leave."

"How can I leave without you?"

"Stop wasting your time. I’m not going back."

Alicia snapped coldly and walked past him, but Cabelenus matched her steps instantly.

"You said you don’t trust me. Then I’ll wait until you can trust me again."

"Your Highness, you’re a busy man."

"It doesn’t matter. You’re what’s important."

Cabelenus suddenly stepped in front of her, blocking her path. Alicia sighed and moved to the side, but he blocked her again.

"What exactly do you think you’re doing?"

"I want to help you."

"If you really want to help me, then move aside."

A shadow fell over Alicia’s face as he stood in her way. She wrinkled her nose in irritation.

After a moment, Cabelenus took a careful step back.

"I meant, if there’s hard labor to be done, use me."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because I don’t want you to struggle."

"I’ve done just fine on my own. I don’t need your help now."

"You said you have a husband."

"…"

Damn it.

A fleeting look of realization crossed Alicia’s face, but it was already too late.

Cabelenus’s lips curved into the faintest of smiles.

"You lied."

"I did not."

"Then?"

"My husband is away often for work."

Alicia raised her chin, forcing her expression to remain composed.

Cabelenus narrowed his eyes.

He couldn’t tell if she was lying or not.

More than that, she had a child. A child with auburn hair and gray eyes—colors he recognized.

"What kind of man is he?"

"What?"

"Your husband."

Cabelenus had never known words to leave such a bitter taste in his mouth.

Suppressing the burning rage in his chest, he stared at Alicia.

She hesitated for a moment before forcing out a response.

"…He’s a good man."

"A good man?"

There was no need for further words.

Cabelenus’s gaze drifted to her rough hands—hands that had endured years of hardship.

"You see? I told you. Rural women’s hands are like this. It’s not his fault."

Her hands had once felt awkward to show him, but now, after revealing them once, she didn’t feel as ashamed.

If it weren’t for Cabelenus, Alicia would have never thought twice about them.

They were not soft like they had once been, when she used to apply expensive oils. But because of these hands, Mikael had survived.

No matter what others said, she was proud of them.

"If it were me—"

"There’s no need for hypotheticals. It’s not something that will ever happen."

"…You’ve grown cold."

"I’m too old to let emotions control me."

Alicia quickened her pace.

She wanted to put as much distance between them as possible, but Cabelenus kept up effortlessly.

"How long do you intend to follow me?"

"Until you tell me you’re leaving."

"You do realize we’ve been repeating ourselves, don’t you?"

"I know. That’s the point."

"…"

"You’re stubborn, and so am I. So we’ll just have to see who wins."

Cabelenus avoided her gaze for the first time.

Alicia opened her mouth to retort but ultimately shut it.

No matter how much she spoke, he wouldn’t listen.

"Give it here. I’ll carry it."

"…"

"Alicia?"

"…"

"Alicia."

She heard him calling her, but she ignored him and grabbed a shovel.

If words didn’t work, she’d just act like he wasn’t there.

"So you’re going to ignore me."

"…"

"Fine. I don’t mind that either."

Cabelenus casually slung the shovel over his shoulder.

Alicia rose onto her toes, reaching for it, but no matter how much she stretched, she couldn’t reach.

"Stop messing around and give it ba—"

"Stop bothering my mother!"

Thud!

A dull sound echoed.

An apple rolled across the ground.

The world went silent.

Alicia and Cabelenus turned their heads at the same time.