âYou knew. Didnât you make that choice knowingly, Reyev?â
McLion checked the newspaper and spoke to Reyev, who was speechless.
The two checked the article on the front page of todayâs newspaper.
News of the engagement of Duke Ian Cherville and Grace Bennett.
McLion knew that both of them were in love with each other.
He knew, yet he was determined to be by her side.
However, he couldnât even avoid it and his heart ached whenever he saw it with his own two eyes.
âWhoa. Really?â
At the clear voice ringing in his ears, McLion turned his head away from the tree.
Grace was sitting in the far garden. She was spending a happy time with Ian with her beautiful smile.
âPhew.â
McLion let out a breath as he had no choice but to look at that figure.
Friend.
He could now be by Graceâs side in the name of a friend.
There was a clear invisible line between them.
The limit of friends.
The moment he crosses that line, his relationship with Grace will crumble like a sand castle.
It was a reality that was no different from that time with Sellonia.
ââŠSelli.â
He suddenly thought of Sellonia, who had laughed dejectedly two days ago.
Sellonia, who met Grace in Roblanc.
If Sellonia had even put her hand on Grace then, he wouldnât have stood still.
Of course, it wasnât that he didnât understand Selloniaâs heart.
However, the human mind wasnât a mountain that stayed in place, but a moving sea.
It couldnât be stopped from flowing, and it couldnât be settled.
He met Grace and realized it for himself.
He didnât know what had started.
The moment he came to his senses, his feelings for Sellonia had disappeared like melting snow, and Grace had entered the void.
âI thought you would stay by Selliâs side.â
McLion muttered to himself to Reyev, who was still holding on to his silence.
At the time, he was on high alert that Sellonia might harm Grace. He had no idea what kind of feelings Sellonia might have.
Yet now that he thought about it again, her being alone stuck in his mind.
Because Ian, him, and even Reyev turned against her in an instant.
âThe Knightâs Oath is so light that it can be issued to many people.â
He sneered sarcastically.
Reyev, who had interfered with Sellonia in everything, eventually betrayed her.
He pretended to be virtuous and honest, and it was ridiculous.
âSir McLion even gave her your heart, didnât you? If youâre going to take it back, why did you give it to her?â
Reyev, who was choked up, couldnât stand it and raised his voice.
McLion had touched the guilt that remained like a burden in his heart.
âWhat, jerk? Iâm just being true to my heart right now!â
McLion grabbed Reyevâs collar as the hot-tempered fellow he was.
His golden eyes shook wildly, with the momentum to hit Reyev at any moment.
âThe same goes for me.â
Reyev faced McLion without blinking an eye.
It was meaningless to judge who was right and wrong here now. After all, they were all the same traitors.
âIf it hadnât been for my heart then, Selli would have died.â
McLion always glared at the unlucky Reyevâs expressionless face and roughly let go of the collar he was holding.
He wanted to turn that face into porridge, but he held back as he remembered Graceâs request for them to get along well.
âThen why donât you protect her until the end? You hate it, so now youâre stealing back your heart.â
âNonsense! Towards Sellonia, Iâm still âŠ!â
McLion, who was swept away by emotion and raised his voice, stopped talking when he sensed something strange.
For an instant, a look of bewilderment appeared on his face.
Towards SelloniaâŠ? Whatâs next?
âMcLion!â
At that moment, after talking with Ian, Grace ran towards him waving her hand.
âDonât run. You can fall.â
When he saw her smile, which was more dazzling than the sunlight, he got up from his seat with a soft expression as if nothing had happened.
Then, without hesitation, he walked towards Grace.
His silver hair glistened in the warm sunlight.
The friendly yellow eyes in his mysterious and handsome face curved pleasantly.
The confusion up until now had disappeared.
As if he never had such worries in the first place.
ââŠâ
Reyev, who read the confusion reflected in McLionâs eyes for a moment, was suspicious.
What was that, just now?
As ifâŠ
âSir Reyev, come on!â
However before he had time to think, Graceâs voice flew in again.
She was beckoning Reyev to come.
In the end, Reyev couldnât resist the gesture, so he cleared his head and moved on.
To Grace Bennett, whom he loves.
***
The original story is over.
Whether itâs a happy ending or a sad ending.
No matter what, she reached the ending, and the time she was living now is after the ending.
Because the novel was from the subjugation of the Demon King to the wedding of the two a month later.
In other words, there was no longer any bond from the original story that was enforced.
âMiss, can I really eat with you?â
âOf course. Eat as much as you want. If thereâs anything you want to eat, order more.â
Sellonia comforted Ella, who was in disbelief, and drank the cocoberry juice in front of her.
They had been out at a cafe in the northern part of Monterra Street at Ellaâs persistent request for a change of pace.
As Grace warned, the news of their engagement was on the front page of the newspaper today, two days after that.
The publicâs attention was focused on the announcement of the engagement between the daughter of a commoner baron family, who wasnât noticed by anyone, and Duke Ian, who was always chosen as the number one groom.
âWhat kind of bullshit is the romance of the century! Isnât that newspaper crazy? Itâs the same newspaper that was talking nonsense the other day!â
âThatâs right.â
At Ellaâs enraged words, perhaps thinking of the article again, she muttered as if it were someone elseâs business.
She didnât really feel any emotion.
The article described the meeting between Ian and Grace as a fateful love affair.
To the point where she wonders if he bribed the newspaper company. If someone who doesnât know the circumstances sees it, they will accept it as such.
But it was only this newspaper.
The rest of the media and public opinion were all on her side and blaming Ian.
He was the one who openly cheated on her though he had a publicly known fiancee.
Because of their betrayal, the bond and fellowship they had built up to this point had been thrown into the trash for a long time.
After admitting everything, her mind was organized and her complicated thoughts were relieved.
Today, only one thought filled her head.
âWhat are you going to do next?â
âArenât you going to keep going to the healing center?â
Ella asked with a puzzled look as Sellonia twirled a straw with her fingers and muttered words.
âRight. But there are still three months left of the leave period. I will unconditionally fill all three months and return to work. Office workers have to play when they can.â
Because thatâs the eternal law of office workers.
âWell, then how about shopping?â
âThatâs a day or two, too.â
âHow about visiting the nearby attractions?â
âI must have been to most places on the past dates, though.â
âAh⊠Ah! Then how about a trip?â
âIâm tired of adventures.â
Ella groaned and fell into trouble as everything she said was blocked.
But she really couldnât help it. She was tired of travel and adventure.
Just a few months ago, she fought a bloody war against demons that popped up without warning and climbed the castle while rolling over a cliff.
There was even a time when she walked for two days covered in sticky monster blood.
She still gets a fever when she thinks of the hardships she went through then.
If it wasnât for the main leadâs buff, it was an adventure that would cause her death long ago.
âThen youâd better just stay at home.â
âRight? That would be best, right?â
âYeees.â
Ella shook her head, looking at the young ladyâs brightly colored face as if it was the correct answer.
âYeah. What else can I do?â
The celebration has been set in three weeks, so until then sheâll just rest at home. There was nothing the duchy didnât have.
As there was plenty of money for Sellonia to play and eat.