I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 132
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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“……”
“Also, knowing that Herix is the Crown Prince who put out a bounty for me, I still tried to talk to you. So, you should know by now that I’m not planning on running away, right? Then why haven’t you taken off the shackles yet?”
As she asked this, Ivonne had an inkling of the answer already.
‘Is it because you’re scared?’
Was he worried that if she could use magic again, she would disappear right in front of him? Or that she might escape to a place he would never find her again?
If that’s the case, one ultimate question had surfaced, one that hadn’t been considered until now, despite everything.
‘Why… did Herix stay by my side, even while pretending to be Rix?’
Was that all? Normally, close companions don’t act like this out of fear of being abandoned. They don’t keep someone chained just to stay close. Yes, this was an obsession.
Ivonne had finally reached that realization. What was the true foundation of Herix’s deep feelings for her? She instinctively felt that the answer to this question might come from Herix’s next words.
And this feeling wasn’t just Ivonne’s.
‘Is it okay to say it…?’
Right now, Herix seemed to have softened considerably. How could he not? After all, Ivonne had basically assured him she wasn’t going anywhere.
‘Maybe… now is the time to talk about ‘that’.’
A sense of anticipation swelled in her chest. The final piece between them was close to being filled, and with it, the puzzle would be complete. Her mouth itched to speak, and she felt as though she’d mastered the art of restraint—but now, maybe she had reached her limit.
The shackles that had kept her from leaving, that had once been so necessary for him, now felt like an obstacle to trust between them. What had once been essential was now the very thing standing in the way of a true connection.
‘Alright, let’s speak about everything now. Tell her that there was a time when I was with her in a different form, and now, let’s say it.’
Herix had made up his mind, but unfortunately, the two weeks during which Ivonne had disappeared had taken away his certainty.
‘But what if… what if the Ivonne before me now feels differently than the one I knew?’
She might not want him anymore. She’d said she didn’t still like Blitzen, but that didn’t guarantee that she still loved Herix as she once did. Or maybe, the betrayal and resentment still outweighed the love.
‘What if she says she doesn’t want to tame me anymore? What if she says she won’t be with me? What if she says we should go our separate ways? Then… what then?’
If that happened, Herix would have no reason to remain by her side any longer.
Ivonne might no longer care about Herix now that all the truths have been revealed. In the worst case, her hatred for him might grow even stronger.
‘Everything… it could all just be a fake forgiveness… a way to take the shackles off and escape from me. There’s no way she’d forgive me so easily.’
His chest, which had been swelling with anticipation, quickly deflated. Herix spoke in a quieter voice.
“Then… then, can you tell me why you left? Why didn’t you contact me? Why were you with that man?”
“…What?”
“I won’t hide anything from Ivonne. I’m serious. I’m trying to tell you everything. If I’ve missed something, if you ask me, I’ll tell you. I’m ready for that. So, so… can you also tell me?”
“….”
“The story of… the time you disappeared.”
His voice had grown rough and deep, and his violet eyes, which resembled storm clouds, darkened even more. He didn’t seem angry, but he certainly didn’t appear calm either. Ivonne suddenly realized something.
‘I never told him about that.’
She had spent so much time questioning him about his story, but she had never once mentioned the time she was gone. Guilt began to creep up on her, and she quickly spoke up.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I must have worried you a lot. I didn’t say anything, did I? Well, it’s actually my fault.”
“Ivonne’s… fault?”
Herix looked puzzled, and it reminded Ivonne of the time when he had blindly said that Ivonne never made mistakes. His expression was exactly the same as it had been then. Perhaps that was why Ivonne felt a bit embarrassed to tell the truth.
“Um, well… I guess there’s no need to drag it out. I just drank a glass of wine and passed out. For a whole week.”
“…?”
A huge question mark seemed to appear above Herix’s head. Seeing that, Ivonne wanted to make herself invisible, to hide in a hole somewhere.
“…It’s true.”
She muttered it in a barely audible voice. It was that embarrassing.
The doubt on Herix’s face, which would’ve been more fitting for someone hearing about tea being made from wine, was enough to shake her confidence. She had managed to keep it together until now.
But this time, Ivonne, feeling utterly mortified, slapped her forehead and whispered in embarrassment.
“I went to the Ortensia Republic to escape Blitzen, remember? He was even tracking Isaac.”
Herix, still full of confusion, quietly nodded. He looked like a scared child, worried she was going to scold him again.
