That Lady’s Stalker - Chapter 16
“But, Liv. That’s the truth. No one gets hurt by the truth.”
“Oh my…”
His calm expression was maddeningly concerning. How many times had he been torn apart by words to be able to say such things without a hint of a frown?
“Don’t cry, Olivia. Don’t waste your tears on such things.”
“What do you mean ‘such things’? You did nothing wrong! The black hair is just a superstition. Don’t belittle yourself like that.”
“You’re speaking just like my mother.”
For the first time, Asher smiled at her with what seemed like joy. But Olivia couldn’t find happiness in his smile. The more he smiled, the more her heart sank deeper.
“I was greedy. I wanted you so badly I couldn’t control myself. That’s why I kept lingering around you. I’m sorry. I truly am…”
“Be greedy. I’ll let it go a hundred times. I like everything about you—your face, your voice, your hair, your body, even your toes. I love the way you look at me. I love your flowing hair. So take responsibility. You were the one who seduced me first.”
Asher’s eyes widened in disbelief, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
No matter how many times she told him he wasn’t cursed, that he wasn’t dirty, he wouldn’t listen. It was nearly impossible for him to escape the mindset he had lived in for so long.
So instead, she wanted to show him that he was loved, that he was wanted by her, the very person he longed for.
“Liv.”
“I’ll take responsibility for you too.”
* * *
Even without Oliver reminding me, I probably knew already.
What my feelings for you truly meant. But I didn’t want to know. I was afraid.
Afraid that I would act foolishly like others in love.
Afraid that I would lose myself in that intense emotion and forget everything else.
But it was all just an unfounded fear. Since that moment in the cabin when we confirmed our love, everything had seemed beautiful.
From Viscount Hans’s scruffy beard to the horse droppings in the street.
Ah, my love. How can I express the feelings from that moment any better than this? Never before had I resented my limited expression as much as I did now.
I wanted to convey my entire heart to you, but it felt like I was failing to deliver it properly, and that frustrated me.
Still, I hadn’t forgotten the words you spoke while we were happily wrapped in each other at the cabin. I had heard tales of the prince confined in the eastern tower.
I thought it was just a rumor, but through your story, I realized it was the truth.
You had only shared the softer stories with me; the rumors were far more severe.
Someone knocked on Olivia’s door, but she didn’t notice. A pair of worried eyes peeked through the slightly ajar door.
After watching Olivia for a moment, the eyes blinked slowly, as if letting out a sigh, and then disappeared.
* * *
On a leisurely afternoon, Olivia found herself sitting across from Asher. It was their first tea time together. Ever since they spent a day in the cabin, he no longer avoided her. However, he wasn’t actively approaching her either.
“Asher, what is it about me that made you follow me around?”
Olivia asked, cupping the cup with both hands, her expression fresh and vibrant. She felt it was remarkable to be able to sit face to face and talk with him. She was surprised when he readily nodded at her suggestion for tea.
“Why are you asking such a thing?”
He looked away, seemingly flustered, which only made him more adorable to her.
“I’m curious. You must have fallen for me at the victory banquet, right?”
“No.”
“No? Really?”
Then when did it start? He had definitely been following her since that time.
As Olivia tilted her head in confusion, he covered his mouth with his hand. He was still blushing.
“No, it was… before that.”
She was taken aback. Had he been watching her for a long time? The banquet had merely been the trigger? After all, it wasn’t that she had no connection to Asher; he could have been watching her from afar.
“So when was it?”
“Quite… a long time ago.”
If she had heard those words from anyone else, she would have felt a chill. But it was Asher. It was even better that way.
Thank goodness he always looked perfectly composed. Knowing that he had been watching her made her reflect on her past more carefully. Then an unusual thought struck her.
“Then why didn’t you come to me sooner?”
It was indeed a strange thought.
Asher seemed momentarily taken aback by the question, as if he hadn’t expected her to ask such a thing, and he stared at her directly, his mouth slightly open in surprise.
“Weren’t you upset?”
“Of course I was! If you had come sooner, we could have been together much longer. Time is precious.”
“Liv… you always exceed my expectations.”
Asher laughed aloud. It was a different kind of laughter than the quiet smiles from the cabin; it was more like he couldn’t contain his joy.
Pouting and grumbling, Olivia couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
“Asher, you were the same. Nothing ever went the way I thought.”
Even though the weather had turned warm to the point of being hot, she couldn’t bring herself to suggest they head inside. She didn’t want to break the current atmosphere.
A refreshing breeze passed by, gently brushing against her, as if to reassure her.
