It made my chest hurt as if a weight had been placed on it. His words had truly been heavy, and the fact that they’d come from a former classmate only made it worse. I hadn’t fully been able to digest what he’d said enough to be able to talk about it.
“If possible, I’d like you to tell me about the rest.”
“I think if I tell you, it’ll only bring you pain too,” I replied.
Ana was someone I could confide in now, but I couldn’t bring myself to do so for this. It was already a very heavy topic, but Hugo had also given me advice to toss Ana to the side. It wasn’t something that I wanted her to hear.
“I’m sure the reason you’re not telling me is because I’m not reliable enough, but...even so, I’d like you to share a little bit with me.”
“You? Not reliable?! Not at all! There’s absolutely no way that’s true! It’s just that...I don’t want you to be hurt.”
Before I knew it, I’d stopped walking and turned to face Ana.
“Sir Gino, as spouses, we’re meant to support each other, are we not? If there’s a heavy burden you’re carrying, I wish to share it with you. You don’t need to worry about me. As long as you’re by my side, I’ll be able to overcome anything with a smile,” Ana said, puffing out her chest with a smile as gentle as a lake sparkling under the soft rays of the spring sun.
“Ana! How are you such a wonderful person?!”
“That’s close enough, Sir Ginorious!”
I lost control of myself when faced with what was certainly the cutest person in the world, and the next thing I knew, Bridgette was pulling me back by the collar.
“Is your brain as primitive as a monkey’s, Sir Ginorious?! We’re on a main street where carriages are parked! Don’t you know you’ll hurt the young madam’s reputation if you do something so shameless in front of all these people?!”
Her words hurt, but the fact that she had to warn me twice today hurt even more.
Currently, Ana and I were in the forty-eighth drawing room of the Sevensworth mansion, called Aventurite. On the table was a collection of snacks. After finishing dinner, we’d decided to have some wine. Unlike when we had tea together, we were sitting on the same sofa, our shoulders touching, instead of across from each other on separate couches.
There were only a few candles lit around us, creating a small radius of orange light while the rest of the lavish room was draped in a faint darkness. This was most likely Ana’s doing as she remembered how I preferred fewer candles, but she didn’t mention or boast about it at all. She’s such a wonderful person!
“So...this is by no means a happy story, but I’d like you to hear me out.”
I began telling her about my meeting with Hugo and how he’d given me his father’s ring, which was incredibly important to him. I also told her about his grudge-filled words. Ana was the only one in this world who knew how ugly I’d been in my past life. Despite all those years of people laughing at and putting me down for how I looked, Ana accepted me with a gentle smile. That was why I was sure I could tell her everything.
“I don’t think Sir Hugo truly hates you from the bottom of his heart,” Ana said.
“Thank you for saying that.”
“I didn’t say it to cheer you up but because I believe it to be true. I truly think that if Sir Hugo despised you, he would not have entrusted you with the final present he received from his father. The same goes for his advice. He wouldn’t have done any of that if he truly bore you ill will.”
“But then why did he give me this?”
“I’m sure he wanted something to remain that proved he once lived. He was so frightened of the memory of him fading that he wanted at least someone to remember him, which is why he entrusted you with the ring. I believe that’s why he said it gave his life purpose. His advice to toss me away is probably the same, in that he wants you, the person who will remember him forever, to keep on living no matter what.”
What she said made sense. Rings that were proof of being the head of the house were worn at all times, but Hugo had put the ring onto a chain and made it into a necklace for me. I couldn’t understand why he’d do that, but Ana’s explanation made everything clear.
The ring he’d given me was proof of being head of a family, but in his case, this was a family that soon wouldn’t exist anymore. I couldn’t wear it in a way that was visible to everyone, so he’d put it on a chain for me to wear under my clothes. This could be proof of how he didn’t want me to forget him.
“But why...me?” I asked, looking down at the ring.
“I can’t think of him choosing anyone but you, Sir Gino. You’re the person he was fixated on beating but never could. Even though he held a confrontational attitude toward you when we were students, I believe he accepted who you were. It makes sense that you’re the person he would want to remember him the most.”
That...might be true. Ana’s so smart, as usual. She was so kind and had spent a long time thinking about the feelings of others, so she was a veteran when it came to putting herself in others’ shoes. Despite having lived for a much shorter length of time than me, she already far surpassed me in that regard. She was much more in tune with other people than I was.
“If the time comes when you need to toss me away...I’d like you to do so. I don’t wish to become deadweight for you. I wouldn’t resent you at all for doing so. If I could be of service to you, that’d make me happier than anything.”
“Ana, there’s no world in which I’d ever toss you away. That would absolutely never happen. Did you forget the vow I made before the gods during our wedding? I told you I’d never let go of you or leave your side ever again. Vows before gods are the most absolute, and I intend to keep mine even if it costs me my life.”
I already knew what life without Ana was like. How could I ever leave a woman as kind and pure as her? I felt so much love for this cute girl who cared about me so much and offered me her gentle words. Ana smiled at me, looking at me closely. I felt myself sucked in by her smile and couldn’t think of anything else but her.
“That’s close enough, Sir Ginorious!”
My mind had gone blank except for the single thought of Ana. Before I knew it, I’d embraced her and even stolen a kiss. Now, Bridgette gripped the back of my collar, forcibly hauling me back. Oh, right. I forgot she was here. The rest of the room was dark, so I’d lost track of her.
“Sir Ginorious! Do you know where you are?! This is a drawing room! Do you plan to humiliate the young madam by making her walk the halls with disheveled clothes and makeup?! Do you know who cleans these rooms? The servants!”
“Oh, uh, well...”
For greater nobles, it was pertinent for them to always walk around with proper clothing, even in their own mansions. They had to always exude dignity as the lords of the mansion, which included dressing and sitting properly. If their clothes got even a little bit dirty, they needed to change immediately.
That was why there weren’t many noblewomen who painted, as dresses with stains on them couldn’t be worn ever again, meaning they’d have to be replaced, which got expensive fast.
“Do you have a brain on par with a goldfish?! How can you never remember to act in a way that doesn’t risk the young madam’s honor?!”
Bridgette’s words were harsh. This was my third time being lectured by her today, and I looked away, unable to bear the freezing look she was giving me. In the direction of my eyes was Ana, sitting there while looking down. She’d grown so red that I could practically see steam rising from her head, and her eyes seemed moist. She must’ve been embarrassed by Bridgette’s implications. Sheesh, she’s so cute! How can she be so cute?!
“Why are you smiling, Sir Ginorious?!” Oh, crap. I was in the middle of getting lectured. I got so entranced by Ana’s cuteness, I couldn’t help but smile. “Why are you always like this?! You’re so impulsive when it comes to the young madam! It’s like you get tunnel vision! Please use your brain at least a little bit!” Bridgette’s voice echoed across the room.