I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Side Story One – The Past (4)

Side Story One – The Past (4)

“Give up your dream of becoming a knight.”

“……”

Though Ricardo had somewhat expected this response, he was at a loss for words after hearing his father’s statement.

His father seemed to think poorly of his dream of becoming a knight. While becoming a renowned knight would certainly bring glory to the family, the Winkaiser name was already prestigious enough without it.

It was far better for Ricardo, the head of the family, to safely inherit the family estate than to go out to dangerous battlefields and die young, no matter how great his name might become.

“If you were born with the name Winkaiser, and especially as the firstborn, shouldn’t you fulfill that duty?”

“Father.”

“Either marry Lady Croft, or if not, then stop saying you want to become a knight and focus on your training as the heir of the family.”

A heavy silence settled in the room.

No matter what choice Ricardo made, it would benefit the duke.

If he married the Lady Croft family, who had no heirs, then their substantial wealth would eventually belong to his descendants.

If Ricardo gave up on becoming a knight, he could prevent the precious head of the family from being sent to dangerous battlefields.

“I will…”

With a pale complexion, Ricardo opened his mouth.

A sense of powerlessness weighed down on him. The burden was far too heavy for a thirteen-year-old to bear.

“I will get engaged to Bianca.”

Upon hearing Ricardo’s choice, Duke Winkaiser nodded.

Though he secretly hoped that Ricardo would choose to abandon his dream of becoming a knight, securing an engagement with the Croft family wasn’t a bad outcome either.

“Very well. Then I will take it as your agreement, and I will arrange the engagement ceremony myself.”

Of course, he could have forced the ceremony to happen, but he knew it would be much better to obtain Ricardo’s consent, even if it felt somewhat underhanded.

If Ricardo were to announce that he would abandon the family or even run away, it would be a disaster.

“Now go.”

“……”

Watching his son turn away in silence, the duke briefly regretted if he had been too hard on Ricardo.

“No. In the end, he’ll be grateful to me. My instincts are sharp. That little lady from the Croft family will be an exceptional young lady.”

After Ricardo left, Duke Winkaiser muttered to himself.

“Besides, seeing that stubborn boy willing to get engaged so easily means Bianca probably isn’t so bad for him.”

Picking up the papers he had been looking at a moment ago, Duke Winkaiser recalled that his son hadn’t resisted as much as he expected. When he had told him he couldn’t take the royal knight exam at fifteen, Ricardo had protested much more fiercely.

“Maybe that thick-headed kid actually has some feelings for her.”

Thinking back, he remembered that whenever there was a gathering of young noblemen at Winkaiser’s place, Ricardo always escorted Bianca, smiling the whole time.

“Or is he quite fond of her?”

Duke Winkaiser tilted his head.

* * *

“Ricardo!”

As soon as Ricardo stepped out of the room, Bianca, who had been waiting for him, quickly called his name.

“Bianca.”

Surprised by her voice, Ricardo lifted his gaze to look at her.

“Weren’t you going to the hall? Have you been standing here waiting for me? Your legs must be tired.”

At Ricardo’s question, Bianca felt tears welling up.

Though she didn’t know what had happened inside, his face was pale, and his voice lacked strength. Even in that situation, Ricardo was not ignoring her; rather, he was showing concern.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you there.”

With a pale face, Ricardo extended his hand. It was the escort that Bianca had always liked.

But Bianca couldn’t easily take his hand.

“Is it because I’m too young that you don’t like me?”

Summoning her courage, Bianca spoke.

Standing alone in the long hallway, she let out the words she had been thinking the whole time.

“I might be too young right now, but in just a little while, I will truly become a wonderful lady. So if you could just wait a little longer, Ricardo…”

“It’s not that, Bianca.”

Ricardo looked at Bianca.

The cute, lovely Bianca.

“You will become a wonderful lady. I know that.”

And the young and innocent Bianca.

“You will surely be a pretty and beautiful lady.”

“Then why do you dislike me?”

“It’s not that I dislike you.”

“Then what is it that you dislike?”

“I’m… scared.”

With hesitation, Ricardo’s hand reached out to touch Bianca’s cheek.

“I’m afraid I might make you cry.”

A single tear that had lingered on Bianca’s cheek absorbed into Ricardo’s finger.

“See? Even now, I’m making you cry.”

What Ricardo feared was precisely this.

That someone would cry because of him.

Being the firstborn of the Winkaiser family, the foremost ducal house in Sprendo, was not an easy position.

Even at a young age, he had to attend numerous gatherings, and at the gatherings of noble youths, he had to be the leader. It was burdensome to have every word he said listened to, and it was equally burdensome to attribute meaning to every gesture he made.

He became increasingly aware that even a seemingly trivial comment could hurt someone, and that someone might be sad about a decision he made.

It would be far easier for Ricardo to be a sword without ears, eyes, or a mouth.

“As long as I don’t cry, it’s fine, right?”

Even now, as pearly tears streamed down her plump white cheeks, Bianca asked this question.

His heart ached.

Ricardo liked Bianca, with her sparkling eyes. He liked Bianca, who smiled shyly whenever she saw him.

Not this Bianca, who was crying.

“Then, does that mean I can marry Ricardo?”

“It’s not that….”

At Bianca’s childish whine, Ricardo tried to say something, but when he saw her trembling lips, he couldn’t bring himself to say otherwise.

“I won’t cry.”

Bianca quickly wiped her tears with her gloved hands.

Even though her lashes were still damp and tear stains remained on her face, she acted as if all problems would be resolved by doing so.

And she even looked at Ricardo with a showy expression.

Though tears were about to well up in her eyes again from trying so hard, Bianca was doing her best.

“Bianca….”

And Ricardo understood that.

“I told my father that I will get engaged to you.”

“Really?”

Bianca’s eyes widened at Ricardo’s words.

“Really?”

Her repeated question carried both surprise and joy.

“Yes.”

Ricardo thought it unnecessary to mention that it was a choice he had no power over.

There was no need to say such things to Bianca, who seemed to be overjoyed in disbelief. He merely thought that he should be more careful with his words from now on.

Perhaps if he had been a bit less kind to Bianca, or if he had smiled at her a little less, or if he had indulged her less, she might not have liked him so much.

If that had been the case, she might not have dreamed of marrying him.

“I’m too… huh!”

Bianca, who had something to say, suddenly closed her mouth again, as she felt tears threatening to spill.

‘Ricardo told me not to cry!’

Though that wasn’t exactly what Ricardo meant, Bianca thought so, tightening her eyes and mouth.

“Bianca.”

And seeing Bianca, who had just a moment ago regretted not being kinder, desperately trying to hold back her tears, Ricardo couldn’t help but smile.

Yes, Ricardo liked this aspect of Bianca.

Her determination.

Her efforts toward becoming what she wanted to be.

It reminded him of himself, and he found it endearing.

“I hope that after some time, I will come to like you.”

At Ricardo’s words, tears began to well up in Bianca’s eyes again.

From surprise or joy.

Seeing the innocent expression of the girl, Ricardo took out a handkerchief from his pocket. It was a neatly folded dark blue handkerchief with a single white line. He gently pressed it against Bianca’s tear-stained eyes.

A black dot slowly grew on the dark blue handkerchief.

“If only we could have a wedding between two people who love each other.”

Ricardo’s voice was filled with affection.

It felt sad about the unknown future, as if he hated the fact that he was being swept away, while also feeling a slight hope that things might turn out as he wished.

For young Bianca, the depth of Ricardo’s feelings was simply incomprehensible, leaving her feeling sorrowful.

“I, I!”

Bianca raised her voice without thinking. She hoped that Ricardo, who had been looking down, would lift his gaze and look at her.

“I will become a perfect duchess!”

As his straight black eyes looked at her, she strangely felt energized.

“I will become a wonderful lady, and then, I will make Ricardo love me! For sure!”

Holding tightly onto the handkerchief, Bianca declared.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Ricardo lifted his hand and gently patted Bianca’s head.

“If that happens…”

After a slight hesitation, Ricardo began to speak. He was worried that this might unintentionally hurt Bianca again.

“Right now, it’s just an engagement due to the family’s promise.”

But in the end, Ricardo continued speaking.

“If I truly come to love you, then I will formally ask for your hand in marriage.”

It was a spring day when first love gently bloomed.