Who is the Fake Bride? (21)
Roelin looked curious as she began wondering why, and Kergel opened his mouth with a narrowed forehead.
âBy the way, your face looks weary. You havenât been feeling well lately anyway.â
It had been the moment when it was finally revealed why Kergel still had that stiff look.
He looked at Roelinâs face and carefully swept her cheek. Her face was naturally reddened by his affectionate touch. No, not only her, but Lucy and Silloa, who all saw the scene, blushed as well.
Lucy was still blushing before she managed to regain her senses and quickly took Silloa out of the bedroom. And after the two were left alone, Kergel caressed her cheek and opened his mouth once again.
âHow are you feeling?â
ââ¦â¦Iâm ok.â
âIt doesnât look like that at all. Youâd better go back to bed.â
âHey, um, Your Majesty!â
Roelin raised her voice in dismay at Kergel, who was now holding her. But he just walked to bed while hugging her regardless. Then, he placed her down on the soft sheet and took a seat next to her.
She instantly lowered her head to avoid showing her flushed face. And Kergel just gazed at her like that.
After a little while, it eventually occurred to her that she should apologize to him, too.
No, she had to apologize to him more than anyone else.
Roelinâs red face began to shadow slightly. She bit her lips with her head down and slowly opened her mouth.
ââ¦â¦Iâm sorry, Your Majesty.â
ââ¦â¦â
âYou already know everything, so what more can I even give you? I have nothing to say but sorry.â
ââ¦â¦Why didnât you say that to me? You said that you had come here in order to live like a human being a little while ago.â
ââ¦â¦â
Roelinâs eyes shook. As she talked about this and that with the thought of solving Kergelâs misunderstanding a while ago, she thought that she even talked about the previous conversation she had with them without realizing it. She lowered her eyes and shut her mouth for a moment before she continued.
âIt was never me, but my sister whom you had proposed to.â
The moment she put the words into her mouth, her heart ached. But she couldnât stop talking.
Now that she had deceived him, she should be making a formal apology to him.
âYouâve already seen it, so you know about it, right? My twin sisterâ¦â¦ She looks just like me. Thatâs why Iâm here to marry Your Majesty, on behalf of my sister.â
âShe must have pushed your back because Iâm a monster.â
Kergel said with a smirk. He was angry to think of her as someone who had to come here as if she had been pushed regardless of her own will, but on the other hand, it felt rather strange to think that he was able to be married to this woman thanks to it anyway.
âShould I be happy or angry about this?â
The moment Kergel smirked, Roelinâs voice shook once more.
âSo Iâ¦â¦ I canât even make an excuse to you. I donât deserve it at all. Youâve been tricked into having a wedding, a companion ceremonyâ¦â¦â
Roelinâs eyes throbbedâthump, thump, thump. When she said it out loud, she felt more ashamed of the crime she had already committed. She eventually sobbed without even asking for forgiveness for her own cowardice.
Her slender shoulders slowly trembled.
At that moment, Kergel grabbed her shoulder and hugged her in his arms.
The scent of his body brushed against the tip of his nose. It was cool and amiable, such was his body odor. Roelin stopped the tears from pouring down again and swallowed the tears all up.
âYes, you donât have to make any excuses at all.â
ââ¦â¦â
âBecause you didnât do anything wrong.â
âYour Majestyââ
âYou never hide anything from me. In front of me, youâve always been Roelin. Not that arrogant Royal girl. Thatâs enough. I donât even know what it was actually like to start with.â
âYour Majesty, butâ¦â¦â
Roelin was in his arms as she looked at him and shook her head. Then, Kergel wrapped her cheeks in both of his hands before he spoke in a rather stern tone.
âYou are my only companion.â
Kergel had spoken his heart out.
Regardless of the revelation, this poor woman was still his companion.
There was no need to confirm it separately at all. He didnât need a companion as a descendant of the wolf, but as a man named Kergel, he just longed for this woman right in front of him.
âYour Majestyâ¦â
âI love you, Roelin.â
ââ¦â¦!â
Roelin opened her eyes wide at Kergelâs words while she was still talking to him. He confessed again as she faced the blue eyes that were looking straight at him.
âWhen did it start? Yeah, maybe it was right from the beginning. Youâve been in my eyes since I first saw you. Even if I was not looking, I just kept on thinking of you and I was also curious about you.â
ââ¦â¦â
âWhy am I like this; I was dumbfounded. I met the arrogant Princess in person and it was amazing that she was not only about to laugh, she even wanted to tell jokes. So, let alone hating it.â
Kergel looked at Roelin with smiling eyes while covering her cheeks. He even felt a childish satisfaction as he looked at himself in her eyes, which were trembling as if she was embarrassed.
At this moment, the fact that she was looking at him made his heart proud above all else.
âBut it all comes down to oneâs heart. I love you. I canât help but wonder what youâre doing. Seeing you makes me smile and makes me want to share one more joke with you.â
ââ¦â¦â
âBut can I have a woman other than you as my companion? You said that I am also a person, Emperors are humans too. Before being an Emperor, who had to have a companion for various purposes, I am just a man who has only one woman in his heart.â
ââ¦â¦â
Tears slowly streamed down Roelinâs cheeks. Kergel wiped away the tears with his hand that was cupping her cheek. Roelin then held the hand tightly and spoke in a trembling voice.
âMe, too⦠Me, too.â
Kergelâs eyes were wide open at her words. She curled her eyes and spoke to him a little bit louder.
âI love you, too. I love you, Kergel.â
ââ¦â¦!â
Kergel again widened his eyes open in disbelief. Then, as he became unable to control his overwhelming heart, he embraced her as hard as he could.
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