LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 151
The Imperial Family Arboretum was a historic leisure place established by the first Emperor Alexander Bell around the time of the Empire’s founding.
With its proximity to the capital, even commoners visit it at least once in their lifetime, while nobles often come to stroll with acquaintances.
Today, a pair of men and women were walking through the neatly arranged arboretum.
“Truly, this is a landscape worthy of the first Emperor’s immediate affection.”
“I didn’t realize this was your first visit.”
“Haha, I’ve never had the chance to leave the Somerset Territory before.”
The blonde youth and the blue-haired woman were engaged in conversation, and at a glance, they appeared to be a lovely couple.
‘I’m the first woman to come to the arboretum with Lord Rupert!’
Amelia thought to herself, feeling that choosing this place for a date was indeed a good decision.
Determined to act before others, Amelia had boldly asked Rupert if he would like to go to the arboretum together, and she was now being rewarded for her courage.
“I once saw a tree that has lived for over a thousand years deep in the arboretum, and it was truly mystical.”
“Is that so? Then we must see it while we’re here.”
Leading Rupert deeper into the arboretum according to the plans she had made with her maid, everything had gone smoothly so far.
Just being alone with him made Amelia feel her previous anxieties and nervousness dissipate.
‘Back then, I had no idea he would be such a person.’
Reflecting on her first encounter with Rupert, Amelia never imagined she would come to fall for him so deeply.
His cold first impression and blunt way of speaking felt as if he were someone difficult to approach.
Rupert’s demeanor left a surprisingly strong impression on her because nobody had ever treated the daughter of a duke with such indifference.
However, it all started changing when he gave her a drawing of a fairy tale book resembling her.
Gradually, her feelings grew, and when Rupert quietly comforted her, who was scared she might be mistaken in her feelings, she realized.
She truly liked this man.
“Lord Rupert, I have something to say.”
“…Yes, please go ahead.”
As they walked, exchanging various topics, they had unwittingly ventured quite deep into the arboretum.
Once Amelia confirmed that no one else was around, she brought up her feelings to Rupert, who hesitated before responding.
“I like you.”
“…”
“So please, be my lover.”
To Amelia’s confession, Rupert surprisingly did not react with shock or embarrassment; instead, he remained silent with a serious expression.
Yet that brief moment of silence felt like an eternity to Amelia.
The confidence she had only moments ago had vanished, replaced by a terrible and anxious thought swirling in her mind.
“Amelia, I…”
Finally, Rupert opened his mouth.
***
“Rupert, you have received two marriage proposals, so you choose.”
“Father, I told you to decline marriage proposals for now.”
Rupert responded vaguely to Marquis Bradley’s request to choose from the marriage proposals he received, clearly bored.
.After his work achieved success and his family’s fallen fortune recovered, the marriage proposals that flooded in were countless.
But Rupert felt he didn’t even have enough time to focus solely on his work and business, so he rejected all of them.
Future proposals were set to be politely declined by Marquis Bradley as well.
“This isn’t something I should handle.”
If it were an ordinary marriage proposal, he would have dealt with it easily, but this time was different.
“Bluewell and the Imperial Family?!”
Upon discovering the identities of the senders, Rupert could only be astonished.
The marriage proposals with Lady Amelia of Bluewell and with Ioleen, the Emperor’s daughter, were more than enough to rattle his mind.
“What the… what is this?”
Rupert could not comprehend how things had come to this.
In fact, it was true that Rupert was one of the most sought-after suitors in the Empire, but these two suitors had a status that even Rupert had to step back from.
The value given by the Duke of Bluewell, the Empire’s top noble family, and the Imperial Family was something he couldn’t compare to, no matter how well he was doing.
“Wait a second…”
Suddenly, memories with Amelia rushed through Rupert’s mind.
He recalled their very first meeting, where Amelia displayed unusually strange behavior, and he could only hit his forehead.
“What a madwoman!”
From using Amelia as a model for the fairy tale book to requesting an invitation for the family banquet, it all seemed to come crashing back.
Not to mention, Amelia had even come to see him when he fell ill.
Although completely unintended, one could see this as the stirrings of a budding romance between them.
“So this is a story about someone I know….”
“Haha, young master. If some guy did that to my daughter and then claimed it meant nothing, I’d go visit the assassination guild.”
Pretending to talk about another’s story with Esteban, Rupert received the outcome of the assassination guild.
– “Lord Rupert, do you have plans this weekend?”
Amelia’s proposition popped up just as Rupert was reeling from the sudden marriage proposals, making it impossible for him to turn her down.
Now it was time for him to find a resolution.
***
“I like you.”
“…”
“So please, be my lover.”
Rupert looked at Amelia, who was confessing to him.
Even on Earth, it was rare for a woman to confess to a man, and to have a noble lady like Amelia do so in this medieval-like world was no easy feat.
Perhaps due to nerves, her lips quivered slightly, and her fingers pinched her clothing in anxiety.
It was clear to anyone that she was trembling.
‘Amelia.’
Could it be that, being the female protagonist of the original novel, she had regarded him as unrelated until now, which left her unruffled?
Now aware, Rupert felt his own heart race at her breathtaking beauty.
‘Is it my body reacting? Or am I the one reacting?’
Rupert, who had been reincarnated, was originally a character who liked Amelia.
An extra who had followed her around, drawing pictures and trying to win her favor.
That being said, he had already given up on the idea of being with the original female protagonist.
He didn’t want to cling to something impossible like the original Rupert.
But now, things were different.
Rupert now understood that this world was real, created by a goddess and not just the world of a novel.
He also knew that the future could be altered by the paths he chose and was not simply dictated by the narrative of the story.
Just like how Alex transformed from an outlaw to the esteemed Crown Prince.
Rupert stopped thinking and focused on the woman before him.
Amelia, with her striking blue hair, looked at him with trembling eyes.
Having waited for so long, it was time to give her an answer.
“Lady Amelia, since you spoke from the heart, I will respond honestly.”
“Yes.”
Rupert wondered what Amelia’s feelings were at that moment.
Feeling unable to speak, his heart pounded intensely.
“I…”
In terms of his feelings for Amelia, Rupert leaned towards liking her.
It seemed strange to dislike a kind and beautiful woman who liked him.
However, it wasn’t easy to just say he liked her for another reason.
“Do you dislike me?”
“It’s not that I dislike you, Lady Amelia. In fact, I like you.”
With his words that he liked her, Amelia’s expression noticeably brightened.
Since she had been worried that Rupert might find her confession burdensome, his current response soothed her anxious heart.
“Then is there another reason you can’t answer my confession?”
Noticing Rupert’s hesitation, Amelia pressed for an explanation, and he found himself compelled to speak his mind.
“I have a goal I wish to achieve.”
Initially, his responsibilities were solely towards his family, but now he had to lead many people.
The sense of responsibility Rupert felt was extraordinarily heavy.
If he were to make a significant mistake or become lazy, those who believed in and followed him would suffer greatly.
He had to continuously challenge himself and venture into new businesses while focusing on his work.
No one else but Rupert himself could carry out those tasks.
Thus, he couldn’t easily respond to Amelia’s confession. Asking her to wait for him to achieve his goals felt like an unreasonable request.
Upon hearing Rupert’s reason, Amelia’s expression turned complex.
At a glance, she seemed angry, but on another level, she looked as if she were deep in thought.
‘Even if she’s angry, I wouldn’t have a comeback.’
Rupert was prepared for whatever Amelia might do, even if she were to hit him in frustration.
But instead, she said, “So, will you be okay later?”
“Excuse me?”
“I meant, once you’ve reached a stable phase with your current work, will it be fine then?”
“Lady Amelia, this isn’t a short amount of time…”
Rupert’s words were cut off by Amelia’s finger touching his lips.
“My feelings of liking you are mine, and my waiting is also mine. So Lord Rupert, you only focus on your work.”
– Is it okay to wait?
Once Amelia finished speaking, she removed her finger from Rupert’s lips.
Now that he could finally respond, Rupert’s answer was already decided.
“When that time comes, I will undoubtedly respond to your confession.”
With a calm tone, yet a resolute conviction, Rupert’s answer was firm.
And as she watched Rupert, Amelia smiled through her tears.