Chapter 8 – I’ll Love You Forever (1)

However, soon, she grimaced as Terio’s promise rang once again in her mind.

On that day, Terio said those words again.

“Even if I’m in tears, I will tell you again. I’ll love you forever.”

It would have been better if he didn’t say that.

“We’ve been together for a long time. And I know about people’s fickleness and their inability to keep their promises.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Do you really?”

Terio tried to keep his expression even, but Goyo could clearly see his agitation since she had spent more than a decade with him. For a moment, she questioned herself whether she should try to appease him or not. But after she thought it over again, she lowered her slightly raised hand and kept it to herself. She didn’t want to do it anymore. She was done.

“Keep this in mind, Terio. I don’t want to hear anything after our engagement is legally formalized. At that time, even if you cry, get angry, or make a fuss, you won’t be able to do anything to reverse the decision. And I won’t help you either. So, if you don’t tell me now, it’ll be all your fault.”

Goyo said blandly. However, even though she thought she had spoken quite explicitly, Terio didn’t answer. He merely looked at Goyo in the eyes as he kept the same expression. Confusion.

Terio looked utterly confused. And that in turn puzzled Goyo. Was he unaware of his feelings yet? Or did he think that he had to keep his promise to her? Or did he think it was burdensome to break up the marriage from his side?

Did he need time to think first?

While thinking that, a smile graced Goyo’s serious face and she shrugged her shoulder.

“I called you just to tell you that. Everything is a mess, isn’t it?”

“Goyo…”

“Sorry, I’m not feeling well, so I’d like you to go home for today.”

Goyo rose up from the sofa. She turned her back and tried to leave the living room, but Terio’s arms suddenly encircled her and held her back. He was hugging her as he buried his face on her shoulder.

It’s been a long time since Terio hugged me.

Alas, all Goyo felt from the act was indifference. There was not even the slightest ripple in her emotion that she could feel.

Before, she had loved him so much that she always hoped he would return to her. But now, her heart didn’t even move. It was as if her heart had been buried along with her death in the future.

Although Goyo had never let out any words about eternal love from her mouth, she was still saddened about the fading feelings in her heart.

“… Since when did you know?”

“I hadn’t known you for just a day or two.”

“I’m sorry Goyo. I…”

His voice was shaking. And though his face was buried in her shoulder, she could hear his guilt mixed with joy, that came from the bottom of his heart at the chance of parting amicably, from his voice.

“The engagement, please let it never happen.”

“Ok, Terio.”

Without feeling any sorrow, Goyo merely nodded her head in agreement.

It had finally come to this.

Still, now she didn’t have to hear the resentment he harboured for her anymore. She didn’t have to bear the blame for Melissa’s death. Or the resentment he felt because of said woman’s death. She didn’t have to wait for Terio to have a new lover or think on when she should choose to die. She didn’t have to think over those things anymore. For everything had been rewritten due to this decision.

“You will tell our parents.”

“I will.”

“And one more thing, there’s a condition for this.”

Goyo said as she pushed Terio away. When she mentioned she had a condition, he looked baffled as he asked, “Condition?”

“It’s not a big thing. I just want you to come with me to the imperial ball next month. It’s a hassle to find another partner.”

“I didn’t know you liked the ball.”

“I had another reason. It doesn’t matter if you tell our parents first.”

She looked at him questioningly, silently asking ‘You’ll do it, right?’ with her eyes. Considering it was an easy request to fulfill, Terio easily nodded his head in acquiescence.

“Thank you.” With an excited face, Terio thanked Goyo.

What is he thankful about? Because I’m the one who ended our relationship first? That I have gently let him go? Or is he thankful because I notice his feelings first without him speaking up and he thinks I am being considerate of his feelings?

Thank you for what?

Despite her thoughts, she still smiled back when she saw Terio smiling at her.

“You didn’t have to thank me, just be happy.”

You killed Melissa. If you hadn’t refused the offer, if you had let me go, she would be alive now.

Honestly, Goyo was curious. The man who blamed her for Melissa’s death, the man who could not let go of his resentment until the day she died… what kind of thing that he would face this time around?

If it was Goyo, and not Melissa, who was driven to the edge of the cliff due to his whims and died… who would he blame at that moment?