Chapter 63 : Instead, I’m going to make amends.

“..I’ve been thinking about it ever since, what we should do now, after we made our mistake.”

Natalia’s tears made him feel even more protective of her than usual.

But there was no way the two of them could let their emotions get in the way of their conversation.

Live honestly with yourself without deceiving your heartーーー Because Leopold now knows that it’s just an excuse that only looks beautiful on the outside.

“I accept your words. But I need to talk to you, too.”

“..what?”

Wiping her tears, Natalia looked up.

“You were kidnapped this time by that man, albeit a childhood friend, and you spent a night in the same house with him.

I know that nothing happened to you, but the world won’t see it that way.”

“..I guess so.”

“We’ve kept quiet, but we can never be absolutely sure. So, Natalia, there is always the possibility that you will be exposed to some unpleasant news in the future, but this is something the Reinalpha family could have prevented.”

“Um, what do you mean?”

For a moment, Leopold’s mouth tightens as if enduring something. Then, slowly, word by word, he began to speak as if he were chewing.

“I had neglected to give you an escort. And my father.. he was aware of it and didn’t care. He doesn’t care what kind of harm is done to you.”

“..”

“You have suffered wounds you should not have had to suffer, because of my blunder and my father’s malice.”

“Leo..”

Natalia was slightly blindsided, as if she had been struck dumb, and then lowered her eyebrows as if she was troubled.

“Leo, why are you such a.. if you hadn’t said that, that would have been the end of it.”

“I can’t do that. I have already discussed this matter with my father.

Natalia, I want to make amends to you as a part of the House of Reinalpha. “

“Amends..?”

“You will have to decide what to do with yourself by the time you graduate from the school at the latest.

I promise you that the Marquise of Reinalpha will fully support your wishes for the next few years so that your father will not be able to take advantage of you until that time.”

“Eh..?”

“If you want to leave your parents, we will take care of it. If you want to study, we will find a school for you. Of course, we will pay for it.

If you want to work, I’ll find you a safe place to work.. if you want to get married.. it’s hard to find a high ranking noble, but.. I’ll surely find you a good partner.”

“..”

“I will do whatever I can with the power of the marquise. Although you’ll be a commoner, you’re already an adult, so after cutting ties with them, you can leave immediately.

The power of the marquise is not all-powerful, but I will do everything I can to make your future a little easier.”

“..oh, Leo.”

Natalia’s mouth fell open, even though she meant to be talking about something serious.

Leopold’s beloved soft smile appeared before her eyes.

As she gazed at him, Natalia bowed her head deeply.

“Thank you. I’m very happy. I was sure that as soon as my father found out.. that Leo and I had broken up, he would come to me immediately with a marriage proposal.”

“..I see.”

“I know I should probably decline your offer, but I’m going to accept it brazenly. If I can decide, I would like to decide my own future.”

Natalia laughed as she said this, looking somewhat flustered.

“..I’ll be right here.”

“Thanks, Leo. For everything.”

Natalia looked up dazedly at Leopold, who had finished his discussion and stood up from his seat.

They exposed their innermost feelings to each other.

And they talked for about an hour.

He promised to support Natalia in exchange for giving up his marriage with her and accepting an engagement to a young lady recommended by his father.

Leopoldo hopes that this will at least help Natalia.

I can’t be her prince anymore, because I failed to be one.

I had originally come here with the intention of saying goodbye.

I had no idea that Natalia would tell me that before I had the chance to say it out loud.

“This is.. I guess you could say I’ve been dumped..”

Leopold leaned against the door of the ward and muttered to himself, then suddenly noticed a commotion across the hallway.

He looked around to see what was happening, only to find a familiar face there.

It’s Unukan, one of the shadow guards in the service of the Marquise of Strydom, who sneaked into Alejandro’s mansion ahead of Leopoldo.

While the nurses were hurriedly moving around, Unukan was talking to the doctor.

“Thes1..Unukan. What’s the matter, what’s wrong?”

Unukan looks up upon recognizing Leopold’s voice.

“Oh, Leopold-sama, I didn’t know you were here. As a matter of fact, I have just received word that he has regained consciousness.”

“..Alejandro?”

Unukan nodded.

“I have just sent the news to Rembrandt-sama.”

“I see.. that’s why the doctors are in such a panic.”

“Yes, they are examining him now.”

Two weeks later, after he jumped off the bridge to the river.

Alejandro, who had sustained a serious neck injury, remained in a coma for the entire time.

And that Alejandro finally woke up just now.

Leopold gulped in anticipation of what the doctor would tell them after the examination, which was never going to be a satisfactory result.