6.7 The Struggle of a Reincarnated Marquis’ Daughter
…He took the trouble to appear before me. This might be the last time I’ll ever see him.
I tried my best to find the right words to convey my feelings, but I just couldn’t.
Alfred stroked my head, except his strength wasn’t something that should have been used on a maiden.
“Uhm, that hurts a bit.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Alfred relaxed his grip.
Such wish fulfillment…
When he touched me as if he was pouring a tiny bit of love into me. I felt myself trembling deep inside.
Ah, it feels so good…
With each stroke, I felt my heart easing.
In this house, there were those who were close to me—who’d cry for me. I learned that there were many of them.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but feel the loneliness lurking in my heart widening.
Oh, how I yearn to see Lord Alfred…!
I reached toward Alfred, about to touch him. It felt like we were hugging each other, which was slightly embarrassing.
I’ve been waiting for this from the bottom of my heart.
I wanted to be liked, I didn’t want to be hated. I wanted to do this, I wanted to be like that. All the things that had worried me in the past no longer mattered to me.
Even though he was nothing more than a hallucination, the concern in his eyes made me stop thinking.
“Uhm, I think I’ve gotten over my rebellious phase. Now, I feel like apologizing to many different people…”
“Is that so?”
Alfred laughed. It wasn’t a bitter smile, but a really gentle one, so much so that my nose tingled.
“But a little change of heart isn’t enough—no, far from it. At the end of the day, I’m still me. And, how should I say this, there isn’t a single good thing about me.”
Suddenly, my vision became blurry. I realized that I was about to cry, my eyes brimming with tears.
“That’s not true.”
As I looked down, someone lifted my chin. Alfred had a very helpless look on his face.
“You are strong-willed, unwavering, and very articulate. You’re lively and bold, yet keen. You have a bright and cheerful personality. You’re the liveliest. Juliane is the best woman.”
“Wow, this hallucination sure is heaping praises on me…”
“It’s the truth. Hence why it’s painful to see someone as stubborn as you looking depressed.”
Alfred’s voice fell on my head. Our eyes met again. Afred’s eyes were a little wet.
His words and attitude weren’t at all contrived. Hallucinations sure were amazing. It was so well done that I gasped.
Ah, my cheeks are burning.
“I, love you…”
Those words came out of my mouth, straight from the heart. I was surprised at my own honesty.
He embraced me tight again. Wrapping my arms around his back, I hugged him back just as strongly. I was enveloped in his arms. Alfred’s well-trained body was hard, yet it felt as if I was cocooned by softness.
“Did you receive the gifts I gave you? There should’ve been a hair clip among them.”
“Yes, I received everything. That hair clip should be in the box over there…” I pointed at the bedside table.
Alfred stretched his arm while still holding me. Deftly, he pulled the box toward him.
“Well, now I see that pride is pointless. When I was a child, I always thought no matter what I gave you, you’d just laugh at it. Eventually, I thought I’d get back at you. Before I knew it, I wanted and felt that I had to be well off for the woman I love.”
Alfred gave me a get-well gift every day, so the box was overflowing with gifts.
A choker, a white ribbon, gloves, a bracelet that looked like a friendship bracelet, a small music box, anklets, earrings, and a necklace. Also, a fan and a lace handkerchief.
Like gently plucking a flower, Alfred took out a hairpin from among them.
“I wanted to surprise you, so I didn’t say anything. I saved up, thinking of giving you an extravagant surprise. I was such a fool. I chose these gifts while thinking about what I’d have given you every year if I hadn’t been so stubborn.”
Alfred stroked my bangs as if to gather them together. I felt the tortoiseshell hair clip set into the top of my forehead.
“You were preparing to leave home and make your own way somewhere, weren’t you?”
“Uhm, well, how should I put it, you’re not entirely wrong…” I smiled awkwardly.
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