•?••? ? ?••?•

“My answer is…”

Ray’s heart was pounding in his chest, making it difficult for him to look directly at Iva. But it was an important moment, so he tried to focus.

Iva, with a serious expression on her face, suddenly smiled brightly, raising the corners of her lips. She used her hand to support her face.

“How do I look right now?”

Ray’s eyebrows twitched at the unanswered question.

“What?”

“Tell me quickly. How do I look right now? Am I beautiful?”

She brushed her glossy hair behind her ear and wore a brazen expression. Ray’s heart was still pounding hard, but he tried not to let his expression falter.

“…You’re beautiful.”

As Ray finally spoke the words he had repeated in his mind a thousand, no, ten thousand times, he felt his emotions for her deepen.

“Duke, it seems your eyes can see better now.”

“My eyesight has always been good.”

“I think I’m too beautiful as well. That’s why I don’t want to get married based on this beauty.”

Iva lowered her hand and spoke in a firm voice.

“I don’t want to marry like a common noble woman, I want to live and be respected as Iva Blanche, not as anyone’s lover.”

“…”

“Living a life that is only for me.”

It was a prepared excuse so that I wouldn’t see him again after today’s date. When I had coldly rejected him before, I was rude, so this time I wanted to say it warmly.

“But still, I had a great time today.”

Ray, who had been gazing at Iva without properly blinking, weakly smiled at her words.

“The meal was good, and it was nice to see a side of you that I didn’t know. It was fun being at the park together too.”

“I see.”

“But that’s all. It didn’t turn into love.”

Iva’s tone became resolute.

“It was burdensome for me, everything you did for me and your efforts to impress me.”

“…I see.”

‘Everything Young Lady does is a burden to me.’

‘…’

‘Coming to me, watching my every move, begging me.’

‘But I…’

‘Stop. Just stop now.’

With words similar to what Ray had said in the past, Iva rejected him as well.

“Now let’s go back to being strangers.”

Iva extended her hand for a final farewell handshake. Ray wanted to refuse, feeling that this would truly be the end, but his hand was already reaching out. He couldn’t bring himself to reject her.

“If that’s what Young Lady wants, then I will do so.”

He carefully wrapped his hand around her delicate one. They shook hands formally as if the deal had been sealed, and then let go.

“Well, I’ll go back first. Duke, take some more rest before you leave.”

“Miss Iva.”

It was the first time Ray called her by her name. Her body, which was about to move, froze involuntarily.

“Yes, yes?”

“If I suit your tastes, will you come to me someday?”

“What does that mean?”

“Even after several years, if I continue to hold onto these feelings, would you be willing to give me one more chance?”

With a desire to sway Iva’s heart even just a little, the words came out first.

“No.”

Rather, it was a poisonous statement to her, so Iva immediately refused without even taking a breath. Why does he look so distressed? How many times have they even met?

“I don’t believe that the Duke’s feelings will last long.”

“What?”

“I’m sure you’ll quickly find another Young Lady to like.”

It was a remark directed towards Julian, who would soon appear before Ray. As Iva spoke, his expression hardened.

Even though he had poured out his sincerity to Iva, she had been completely unaware. For the first time, a sense of disappointment emerged from Ray.

“Although my feelings towards you, Miss Iva, were burdensome, there hasn’t been a single moment when they weren’t genuine.”

Iva was further perplexed by his slightly angered tone.

“Perhaps I will remember this moment for longer than you think, Miss Iva.”

Liar.

“I have no confidence, but I will try to forget. I don’t want to burden you with that.”

You don’t even know anything.

“You’re the first person to make me want to be seen as a man, not a knight.”

Just listening to him, Iva’s heart sank.

No, I’ve been dumped by him dozens of times in my past lives. Just because I rejected him once, he says these things? Well, what an impressive one-sided love he has.

Iva met his gaze with equally sharp eyes.

“If you can’t forget, then remember it on your own.”

“…”

“Live while dwelling on the moments you were with me.”

Just like I did in my past life.

“That’s the burden of being rejected.”

Although they were clearly facing each other, their gazes seemed to diverge into the depths.

“Take care and live well. I will also live very well.”

With those words, Iva left the park first. Ray couldn’t bring himself to get up and could only stare at the spot where she had been lying next to him just moments ago.

•?••? ? ?••?•