To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

4. The Girl Born in the Lowest Place

“Your Grace, is that rumor true?”

The three men seated opposite Emmett, donning flamboyant patterned cloaks unusual for the capital, were vassals of the Lartman Ducal family. Though they had just arrived and could have rested longer, upon reaching the Lartman residence in the capital, the first thing they brought up with Emmett was:

“We’ve heard rumors in the capital that Your Grace has fallen in love with some noble young lady.”

“That is…”

Caught off guard that the rumor had already reached his vassals, Emmett was unable to continue speaking. One of the vassals spoke up in a small voice:

“And they say she’s the fake Saintess…”

“Oh!”

Another vassal’s stern voice cut him off.

“What does her status matter? If His Grace likes her, that’s enough.”

“Indeed. It’s better than the Duchy passing to some distant mongrel relative.”

“You make a fair point. I spoke too hastily.”

Emmett had long rejected the marriages they had arranged for him, causing the vassals’ concerns to deepen day by day.

Of course, it wasn’t out of the naive desire to simply marry a woman he loved that Emmett had rejected them. He had merely been excessively loyal to the Emperor, evading marriage as he intended to use it as a tool for the Emperor’s sake.

However, such things had become meaningless to him long ago, and he no longer intended to foolishly dedicate his life to the Emperor.

When Emmett didn’t refute their words, the vassals grew even more excited. Since they seemed unbothered whether Liv was truly the fake Saintess or not, Emmett let out a sigh. It didn’t seem like he could easily calm them down.

“Wasn’t she the first young lady His Grace invited as a partner to the estate?”

“And they say you even gave her the Ducal pendant!”

“Isn’t that practically a proposal of marriage?”

Now they were gazing at Emmett with sparkling eyes.

“Your Grace, so you truly won’t propose to her?”

He could no longer remain silent. If he could provide a brief explanation of his situation to someone, it would be safest to disclose it to his vassals. Finally, Emmett slowly opened his mouth:

“If it were only up to me, I would wish to do so. If I could marry her and receive her love, I would want for nothing more.”

“Oh…!”

“But I have committed a grave wrong against her.”

As Emmett fell into a pensive expression, the vassals exchanged glances. It seemed he had made some mistake based on his words… but they couldn’t simply pass up this opportunity to have their lord marry.

“Your Grace, why not propose while conveying your apologies?”

“That lady has liked you for a long time too, so what’s the issue?”

“In fact, a proposal could be a good chance to convey your sincere feelings.”

Those words, which didn’t seem persuasive at all, strangely caused ripples in Emmett’s heart.

‘That’s right, if I only avoid her, I can’t find a chance to apologize…’

Could he truly apologize to Liv?

* * *

“No way, Sister will definitely accept his proposal, right?”

Hildegard, with her pure innocent face, looked at Emmett with an exasperated expression.

“If you’re not even going to propose to Sister Liv, why are you being so affectionate towards her? I really feel bad for Sister!”

“Is… Is that so?”

“Yes, it’s wrong to be affectionate without any intentions. That’s just playing with her feelings.”

The waves stirring in Emmett’s heart from the stone thrown by his vassals were now being whipped into a raging storm by Hildegard’s words fanning the flames. He hadn’t considered it from that perspective. Could Liv think he was simply toying with her feelings as well?

“After all, Sister Liv can’t marry anyone except the Duke of Lartman. Because there are relentless rumors in high society that the Duke loves her!”

“I see…”

“It’s as if the Duke is obstructing Sister’s marriage prospects. But our family wants to marry Sister Liv off somehow, so at this rate, she may end up as an elderly nobleman’s concubine!”

“That cannot happen!”

Emmett cried out loudly without realizing it:

“Such a thing must never happen!”

“Exactly, so hurry up and propose to her already!”

Hildegard was looking at Emmett with an irreverent gaze, as if regarding a fool. Her previous demeanor of respecting the high-ranking noble Emmett had completely vanished. In Hildegard’s eyes, he seemed inept when it came to such matters of love.

“Sheesh, looking at the Duke of Lartman, I’m getting so exasperated…”

‘I know Liv’s heart. But do I have the right to propose to her?’

Under Hildegard’s piercing stare, Emmett fell into serious contemplation. At first, he had thought even proposing to Liv was a sin. But after hearing Hildegard’s words, not proposing seemed to cause her more distress.

Considering the circumstances, perhaps he did have the right to propose to Liv…

Upon realizing that, Emmett felt an unusually elated sensation. Just imagining Liv accepting his proposal set his heart racing.

‘Yes, proposing may be the right thing to do.’

He loved Liv Hamelsvoort. This was an undeniable fact.

Until now, his relationship with Liv had become complexly intertwined over a long period, and Emmett harbored various emotions towards her.

When he had first met Liv, he had been fond of her. But seeing her incomprehensible aspects, he had also viewed her as selfish at times. However…

‘The divine punishment.’

After experiencing that, Emmett couldn’t help but love Liv.

To be honest, he wanted to make Liv his own. Especially when Hayden appeared, he felt that desire even more strongly. Hayden’s strange interest in Liv had indeed caused Emmett to feel a sense of crisis.

He couldn’t remain idle any longer. In the time Emmett hesitated to express his love for Liv due to his guilt, her heart might change, and she could end up marrying another man.

…No matter how firmly he resolved not to expect anything from her, Emmett simply couldn’t imagine Liv being with another man. No, just the thought felt like his heart was being torn to shreds.

Liv whispering words of love to another man, being held in his embrace. Gazing at him with yearning, affectionate eyes…

‘Damn it.’

In an instant, Emmett’s expression contorted. He couldn’t allow such a thing to happen.

Emmett wanted Liv in his possession. He wanted to hold her in his arms, to be the only one qualified to whisper love to her.

‘This is my selfish desire. But even if I must atone, I want to stay by her side.’

Finally, he seemed to gradually grasp the mindset he should adopt.

* * *

Along the path leading to the estate, lined with stone pillars sparkling like embedded jewels under the sunlight, Liv shyly smiled as she set foot on the grounds.

As Liv alighted from the carriage, as usual, Emmett escorted her into the Ducal manor’s garden. Occasionally, Emmett would pick flowers from the backyard for Liv and teach her their names, so Liv expected he would do the same today. Even the perpetually overcast Holy Hilysid Empire seemed to have welcomed spring, with the sky a dazzling blue hue, and Liv felt unparalleled happiness amid this familiar, tranquil day.

However, instead of showing her flowers, Emmett took Liv’s hands in his and gazed at her with a solemn expression.

“Liv.”

“Yes?”

“There is something I wish to tell you. Will you hear me out?”

“Of course.”

As Liv answered with eyes sparkling as if an angel had sprinkled stardust on them, Emmett swallowed thickly before continuing:

“I want to help you bring down the Emperor… No, the current Emperor.”

“Ah yes, you said as much before.”

“These words come from my sincere heart once more. Not merely following your wishes, but I too genuinely desire to topple the Emperor.”

“Why is that?”

“…Do you not detest the Emperor?”

At those words, Liv tilted her head as if unable to comprehend the question and answered:

“Well, you said he forcibly usurped the place of the previous Emperor. In that regard, I think the Emperor was in the wrong.”

“…”

For some reason, upon hearing her response, Emmett seemed to close his eyes in anguish before meeting Liv’s gaze again and speaking:

“You have the right to be angry at the Emperor. That right is also the reason I have come to feel this way.”

“I see.”

“At the same time, I want to make you happy.”

At those words, Liv shyly lowered her head in embarrassment. Whenever he treated her kindly, Liv didn’t know how to respond.

Her heart would race until it felt like bursting, heat would spread through her body, her hands would tremble uncontrollably, words wouldn’t come out properly, and she would feel embarrassed meeting his gaze. Liv didn’t know how to control these feelings, but she thought this state wasn’t unpleasant at all. Whenever she felt these emotions, Liv was reminded once again that she was a living, breathing human.

“…Going forward, I want to remain by your side for life, protecting you. I will restore everything to you and make you happy, as I promised before.”

“Ah…”

“So I wish to say these words to you.”

Emmett reached into the bushes and presented Liv with a bouquet of pale pink roses. Liv accepted the bouquet with flushed cheeks.

‘Oh, wait, this is…’

Liv’s eyes widened as if realizing something. For this situation was undoubtedly, according to what she had learned from the gods long ago…

“Liv.”

“Yes?”

“Will you marry me?”

Yes, anyone could see this was clearly a scene of a marriage proposal. Receiving a proposal from the one she loved was something Liv had dreamed of since long ago. For she considered being promised marriage by her beloved the most beautiful thing of all…

For a long while, Liv gazed down at the pale pink rose bouquet in her hands.

Of course, her heart longed to immediately accept Emmett’s proposal. But before that, there was something Liv had to do.

“Emmett.”

“Yes.”

“There is one thing I want to ask.”

Liv, who usually smiled brightly before Emmett, now regarded him with a serious expression.

“Do you love me?”

“I…”

At that moment, Emmett’s lips, about to give an answer, didn’t move. With a shocked expression, he could only open and close his mouth wordlessly before finally closing it. Seeing that, Liv gave him a melancholic smile.

“You don’t love me, do you.”