Looking for a Husband to Confine Me - Chapter 49.2
Chapter 49.2
I had simply wanted to avoid the Count and Countess, but I hadn’t expected Hector to be waiting. Perhaps he’d seen the Randy family’s butler meeting with me yesterday and had stubbornly waited, hoping for a confrontation.
“I see.” I nodded emphatically at Ricardo’s words.
“Then I’ve inadvertently caused you to speak with the Duke. I apologize for the delay.”
“No, Sir Div, there’s no need for you to apologize.” I waved my hand dismissively at his bowed head. He was far too serious, even about small matters. “Besides, I wanted to make my feelings clear to Hector.”
“…But was a confession truly necessary?”
“What?” I tilted my head at his disgruntled murmur. Ricardo was frowning. Had something upset him today? He seemed unusually negative.
“I simply meant, a confession wasn’t necessary, not to a fiancé who whispers sweet nothings to another woman and demands a separation.”
“…Confession?” I blinked slowly. Ricardo Div kindly elaborated. “Didn’t you tell the Duke you loved him?”
“Oh, no, that wasn’t… I was just telling him that I was sincere…” Hector seemed to think our engagement was something we both reluctantly accepted. That’s why he kept showing up so brazenly. I wanted to make it clear how I felt before he demanded the separation. ‘That wasn’t a confession. Besides, I said loved, not love.’ Past tense! But judging by Ricardo’s expression, it hadn’t quite translated that way.
“It sounded like a confession to me. Perhaps to him as well…”
“Absolutely not! Don’t misunderstand!” I sat up, raising my voice, startling Ricardo. He blinked, his eyes wide, then slowly nodded at my firm tone. “Understood. Please, be careful, don’t stand up in the carriage.” I sank back into my seat, soothed by his calming voice. Perhaps that’s why Hector had stood there so stunned and speechless. The thought of him misunderstanding my words now irritated me.
“How are you feeling? Are your injuries…” Ricardo smoothly changed the subject, sensing my discomfort.
“I’m fine. The healer took care of me, there aren’t even any scars.” I had felt intermittent pain for a couple of days, but even that had subsided.
“And you, Sir Div? Are you truly unhurt?” I hadn’t had a chance to ask after him before, after he fell into the chasm with the monster and faced numerous beasts. Of course, he had looked perfectly fine that day, which had made it harder to ask.
“I’m fine. It took some time, but it wasn’t a particularly dangerous opponent.”
“That’s good to hear.” I briefly recalled the monster that had fallen with Ricardo. It had been the size of four or five of Kishan’s beasts combined, its fangs and claws sharp enough to easily tear through the mansion walls. But of course. I had assumed he would be alright, but truly alright, not in any life-threatening way. Ricardo Dibeth seemed more skilled than I had thought.
“As I said that day, I apologize for failing to protect you and putting you in danger.”
“Don’t apologize. I was trying to save my brother, Kelliard. If anyone should apologize…” It should be Kelliard Hazel, not Ricardo or me. Ricardo seemed to understand, lifting his head and offering a small smile.
“I also heard about what happened. You saved His Highness, Bashar.”
“It was just… I was the one who needed help in that situation, not His Highness. I wouldn’t say I saved him…”
“Still, thanks to you, His Highness Bashar was unharmed. And you were injured in the process.” Ricardo’s violet eyes fell on my left arm, now smooth and scar-free thanks to the healer’s skill. But both Damian and Ricardo seemed overly concerned about my injury. ‘And it’s true that I helped Bashar.’ I closed my lips and nodded, not denying it this time.
“His Highness summoned you today to express his gratitude for that incident, and for the poisoning incident. So, there’s no need to be nervous.”
“Is that so? But the Kishan princes seemed to suspect me last time…”
“But you also saved His Highness Bashar.” Ricardo answered quickly, no longer sounding suspicious. “Besides, we’ve identified the traitor within the Knights who was colluding with Pazl. It has nothing to do with you.”
“…You found the traitor?” He nodded slowly, his platinum hair swaying gently with the movement.
