When Pride Fell At My Toes - Chapter 45



Only Krnovel

#45. The Meaning of Love
2024.02.14.

Before she could hear anything, Enrico’s hands were faster. He hugged her waist and pulled her back. Emilia didn’t even think about escaping from his hands, just watched the bookshelf move while still being held.

The books in the remaining sections suddenly disappeared inside as the back of the bookshelf opened, and the bookshelf, which was now completely empty, squeaked and was pushed toward the room. Emilia stared blankly into the open space, as if it were a door.

“The structure is unique.”

Enrico muttered as he put her down. He had seen many secret rooms, but it was the first time he had seen one open like that, so it was amazing.

“Oh, this is the right place. I went down these stairs!”

Behind the bookshelf, there was a small space where one person could enter, and there was a staircase that led down to the basement. Enrico took the lead, holding the lamp that was in the room.

Emilia hurriedly followed him. Looking at his broad back as he went down without hesitation.

“… … There must be a lot to look through.”

When they arrived at the basement, a space similar to a study appeared. There were dozens of boxes and many wrapped items.

Emilia slowly looked around and walked toward a box that seemed familiar.

‘Oh, that’s right. You jokingly told me to come find it later because you were hiding treasure here.’

When she actually looked at it, memories she thought she had forgotten came flooding back. Her father had said that the box she had scribbled on when she was young was no different from a treasure chest. Emilia slowly opened the lid of the box.

And finally, she found what she wanted. Her father’s last letter.

***

Enrico raised an eyebrow at the unpleasant, damp smell and looked at Emilia’s small back. He sat down in front of some dirty box and stayed in that position ever since.

Suddenly, his slender shoulders shook. Enrico, who had been watching from behind, quickly approached her with his feet.

“Sob, sob… … .”

Emilia was crying sadly, shedding transparent tears. She looked so sad that she couldn’t even cry properly.

It was a sight that he couldn’t understand. This woman had been strangely blind to her family since long ago. It was too many mixed emotions to say it was because of guilt, so it was too hard for him to distinguish. She

had found her weakness in that family, but the woman who had bitten into it seemed so stupid in the first place. Why would she sacrifice herself for those who are already dead? The thought that had been repeating since the first contract was gradually reaching the end.

She had the ability to buy what she wanted, but she was suffering because she bought it. It was quite interesting for a first-time user. It was funny that there were people like that, and it was so different from her.

However, the more he watched, the more frustrated he became with her actions.

‘What is family?’

Since he didn’t understand affection for family in the first place, Emilia Este seemed like a problem he would never be able to solve. If only he had shown me those blind eyes, my current situation would have been much better.

“Is it that important?”

She held her breath for a moment at his soft voice, which was shedding tears sadly.

“… … Yes?”

There was a strong sense of incomprehension in his trembling voice. Her gaze entangled with hers as she turned around.

His expression was not visible. Emilia slowly straightened her knees and got up from her seat. He grabbed her arm, which was staggering at that moment.

“Why is family so important?”

He repeated the question as if he wanted to hear the answer. His eyes looked particularly dark, perhaps because the light was not shining.

“They’re dead anyway. Why are you so obsessed with them?”

Emilia slowly wiped away her tears and kept her gaze on him. She suspected that he was being sarcastic as usual, but she felt her heated emotions calming down on their own at his unusual atmosphere.

He was making a face that she truly did not understand. He was the one who exploited the dead as a weakness, but he didn’t know why he was being swayed by this.

Emilia looked at him with new eyes. He, who had been arrogant and emotionless, seemed different. She thought of him, who loved art more than anyone else, but rather than cherishing it, he simply expressed it as excessive possessiveness and obsession.

“… … Because I love you.”

“What?”

“Because you are my only family, and you loved me more than anyone else.”

Enrico’s beautiful brows furrowed. It was a reaction as if the word love itself was strange. So what on earth is that? For some reason, it seemed like his eyes were telling him this.

Maybe this person doesn’t have emotions, but rather doesn’t know because he has never received them.

A thought suddenly crossed his mind. There was a rumor that Enrico had never appeared at an official event since the death of the previous king and queen when he was young.

Just by looking at how Alessandro and Enrico treated each other, it was clear that the royals weren’t on good terms.

As Emilia’s silence grew longer, Enrico stared at her wet lips with even more persistent gaze. The ticking of the clock continued to follow her as if urging her on.

Emilia lowered her eyebrows and looked up at him. Her tear-soaked eyelashes fluttered.

“No matter what I say, you probably won’t understand.”

Her face looked awkward, as if she didn’t know how to say it. Enrico tilted his head to the side. For some reason, she lowered her eyes as he slowly began to strangle her.

“If the Duke ever has someone precious to him, then you’ll definitely understand.”

“… … Don’t avoid him.”

Enrico whispered in a low, murky voice. For some reason, when Emilia averted her gaze, the string holding her back seemed to snap.

Precious person? Those were such unfamiliar words to him. He didn’t really understand, and there was no need to, so he didn’t need to listen. Why did Emilia avoid eye contact while saying that? The veins on his neck stood out.

“… … .”

She looked back at him with a puzzled face at his words. Only he was reflected in her clear eyes that were still wet.

Silence stretched out between them for a few seconds. The unpleasant feeling from earlier disappeared like snow melting in her eyes that contained only him.

Was it because it was so new? It was so strange that the woman who first piqued his curiosity devoted her life to unfamiliar emotions that he could never understand, so he kept asking.

If it had been someone else, he would have just laughed and dismissed it as stupid, but was it because of this woman?

“Um… … . Duke, could you let go of my arm? I need to check it out.”

Emilia wiggled her small body as the silence grew longer and longer, checking his expression. As she moved to slightly release his arm, she noticed that his other hand was carefully holding the letter so that it wouldn’t get crumpled.

Something precious. Something he didn’t have.

Enrico’s dry eyes trembled.

At one time, she thought she was a foolish woman. Even though she hated herself for using the death of her precious parents, she tried not to show it. She

was a woman who tried to control her emotions and ran forward only to do her best in the work given to her. In some ways, she might have a stronger single-minded nature than he, who was obsessed with art.

What if that slight, undivided, upright affection was directed at her? As

soon as she thought about it, she felt a chill. The problem was that she couldn’t clearly tell whether it was a chill from feeling bad or a feeling that came from another meaning.

Enrico’s hands loosened as he became lost in thought. Emilia didn’t miss the gap and slipped away.

“I think I’ll have to check here until late. Go up and rest first.”

Enrico’s mouth tightened slightly at her actions of sending him away, as if the only thing he could think of in this strange atmosphere was his family.

He felt a strange impulse. Even though he had Emilia now, he still wanted to have her completely. How could he make those eyes look at him? He wanted to know exactly where the creepy feeling he had a while ago came from.

He stared at her carefully folding the letter and putting it in his pocket without looking at her, then opened his mouth.

“What kind of letter is it?”

If he didn’t know his impulses, he should first know about that precious thing. He nodded toward the pocket containing the letter.

“Ah… … .”

She blinked for a moment, as if she didn’t know he would be interested.

“Since we’ve come this far, shouldn’t I know?”

“… … It’s a letter my father left behind.”

He could tell that was the general idea. He was just curious about what it said. His eyes narrowed, wondering if he should just ask her to hand over the letter.

“I think my parents were worried that what they were doing might harm me.”

Fortunately, she opened her mouth before he could. He relaxed his expression and quietly listened to her story.