An Unexpected Proposal

September 10, 2020

"Now, of all times?"

Alicia let out a hollow breath.

"I'm saying I'll do it now."

Cabelenus tightened his grip in frustration. Eight years of torment had already been enough.

"No, Your Highness. You cannot."

The child from eight years ago had long since died. Alicia, her eyes stained red, glared at Cabelenus. He had abandoned the child once before. He had no right to claim parenthood now. No matter what anyone said, Mikael belonged to her alone.

"…Dead?"

"Why are you surprised? Isn't that exactly what you wanted, Your Highness?"

"Alicia."

"The child you wanted dead, your child, died eight years ago."

Alicia clenched her teeth as she gripped Cabelenus's wrist. The man was unaware of Mikael's secret, and Mikael was far smaller than other children his age. For that, she was quietly grateful.

"I told you before—it doesn’t matter who the child's father is."

"Even if I told you I have a husband?"

"…"

"I'm happy now. I have no desire to go back to the past."

Alicia’s hand pushed Cabelenus away with casual ease. He stared blankly at the hand that had just rejected him before lifting his gaze to her. She stood tall, a smile on her lips.

"Not even once have I missed you, Your Highness. My life has been far too happy for that."

"…"

"Just go back. It’s laughable for you to act this way now after not searching for me even once in the past eight years."

"…I thought you were dead."

"…"

"I didn’t choose not to search for you. I couldn’t. No matter how much I looked, no matter how many times I searched, the only thing I ever found was confirmation that you were dead."

Cabelenus hurriedly grabbed Alicia’s retreating hand. The once-delicate fingers he remembered were now calloused and worn, just as they had been when he first met her.

"Is this how your so-called husband cares for you?"

"A country woman’s hands all look like this. I’m nothing special."

She had never felt ashamed of her hands before. But now, standing before him, they seemed pitiful. Unable to bear his unrelenting gaze, Alicia turned her head slightly to the side.@@novelbin@@