Chapter 318: Chapter 318 - The Teddy Bear And The Lady (1)
Chapter 318 – The Teddy Bear And The Lady (1)
“…Euugh . ”
Mirabelle, who was sleeping in bed, opened her eyes in a cold sweat . The sound of heavy breathing escaped her lips even though she had already emerged from the dream .
“Haah, haah . ”
She brushed her arm against her damp forehead and looked around . The room was still dark . Ever since she left the Ruford Empire to study in the Freegrand Kingdom, she had had countless nights like this .
She turned to the familiar toy tucked next to her bed . It was a teddy bear that was an unusual bluish-black color, and was wearing a large jacket meant for a man . It was the last gift her mother had given her, but it also reminded her of someone else . The bear was the exact color of a certain person’s hair, and wore the jacket of that very same person .
‘…Kuhn . ’
Mirabelle mentally repeated the name that she could not say out loud . Even when she closed her eyes, she could see him beneath her eyelids . She even remembered the words she said to him .
— I’ll let you go . I won’t blame you if you don’t come back . Wherever you are…I wish you all the best .
It was true that she let Kuhn go that day, but the words she spoke were clearly a lie . Because she never let him go . Three years had passed since Carlisle became emperor of the Ruford Empire, since Paveluc died from the rebellion, and since Crow was born . Even after more than three years of separation from Kuhn, Mirabelle’s heart longed for him . He continually appeared in her dreams and prevented her from having a good night’s rest . She hoped this longing would gradually disappear, but strangely, it only deepened every day .
Mirabelle pushed away her blanket and raised her upper body . Though she was a delicate girl, the maturing of her womanly figure was evident beneath her nightgown .
She sat on her knees and stared at the teddy bear . She hoped that Kuhn was happy, like the last farewell she left him . Truly .
But sometimes…
She wished he was unhappy . She wanted him to come back to her .
After a moment, Mirabelle inwardly scolded herself for even thinking of such an idea, and went back to wishing for Kuhn’s happiness . Three years later, Mirabelle still had trouble arranging her feelings regarding Kuhn . She spoke in a low mutter .
“Today…I had a dream that you completely forgot me and passed by me like a stranger . ”
While she waited for her emotions to die down, Kuhn probably already forgot about her . But there was nothing she could do . Mirabelle looked at the teddy bear with a sad smile .
“Would you come if I waited…?”
Ironically, even in a dream, that did not happen . Mirabelle understood it was hopeless . Still, this was all she could do .
Presently, Mirabelle was an aspiring fashion designer in the Freegrand Kingdom . Although she started as an apprentice, she soon rose to prominence and was now leading the fashion world with every outfit she made .
As Mirabelle worked a sewing machine, a maid approached .
“My Lady, Master Harry Krauss has come to see you . ”
“Really? Please let him in . ”
Mirabelle quickly put aside the dress she was making and stood up from her chair . Krauss and Freegrand have been dealing with clothing-related businesses ever since she came to study here . As a result, she naturally became close to Harry, who was similar in age to her .
Kkiig .
The door opened and Harry came in . He, too, had grown out of his boyish looks, and had a slender, masculine face . In fact, Harry was very popular in the social circles, as there was nothing he lacked, including family, ability or character .
Harry greeted Mirabelle with a playful smile .
“How have you been?”
“Very well, thank you . I know you traveled far away for work, so I didn’t expect you to come in person . ”
“The timing was right, so I stopped by to see you . ”
“Have a seat . Do you want some tea?”
“Not at all . I only need to look at your face . ”
Mirabelle couldn’t find the words to reply . Unlike her, however, Harry calmly went to the table and spoke again .
“All the dresses commissioned from you were sold at a higher price than expected . Well, the dresses are in style in the Freegrand Kingdom, so it’s natural . ”
At the same time, Harry took out a coin purse and set it on the table with a heavy sound . Mirabelle approached the table and checked the contents of the purse . Her eyes widened when there was more money in it than she thought .
“You made this much profit?”
“There were many ladies who wanted to wear the dresses you designed . ”
Harry spoke in a modest tone, but no matter how many people wanted a dress, he never would have made this much profit without his business skills as well . Mirabelle couldn’t hide the joy in her face .
“Thank you . Because of you, I can prepare next season’s clothes without any worries . ”
“You’re welcome, but there’s something else I’d like to ask . ”
“Tell me, what do you want?”
“I would be honored if you would accept my request for a date today . ”
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“Oh, don’t joke . ”
Mirabelle tried to playfully pass it over, but the expression in Harry’s eyes turned serious .
“If I said this was not a joke, would you take it seriously?”
Mirabelle couldn’t hide her embarrassment . If Harry had made this offer to another woman, she might have danced with joy . His pedigree was excellent after all .
But Mirabelle didn’t feel that way . There was someone else she couldn’t forget . She smoothed her expression and spoke in a level voice .
“You’re the successor to the Krauss family, so you must constantly be getting requests from social circles . Why are you saying that to me?”
“Well, you’re in no position to talk . You’re the sister-in-law to the all-powerful Emperor of the Ruford, and the beloved sister to the Empress . ”
“Shh! Someone might hear you . ”
Mirabelle’s eyes darted around the area to see if anyone was listening . In truth, she hid her identity in the Freegrand Kingdom and worked under the pseudonym of “Belle” . If she didn’t, a large number of Freegrand nobles would have already come to her house and bothered her .
Since childhood, Mirabelle hadn’t socialized much because of her weak constitution, and very few people knew of her face because she went abroad . Nevertheless, she still ended up with countless marriage proposals .
“I won’t deny that your background is appealing . But that doesn’t mean that’s the only reason why I want to meet you . I like everything else about you as well . ”
Mirabelle was already an attractive and charming young woman herself . She had a pure aura about her, and she had matured enough to start catching other people’s eyes . In addition, she had outstanding talent as a designer . Harry liked it all—Mirabelle’s personality, appearance, talent, background .
However, Mirabelle’s expression remained unmoved in face of Harry’s sincere confession .
“I…I still like to work . ”
“You know you can’t just do designs here forever . ”
Because Harry and Mirabelle were both nobles, they could not escape their duty of marriage . It was a fact that both knew without having to say it . Realistically, the two were a perfect match for each other, but Mirabelle was unable to accept the offer . She already had someone on her mind .
“…I’m sorry . ”
In face of Mirabelle’s unmoving refusal, Harry was forced to retreat . It would only be more difficult if he pressed any further . He responded in a light voice .
“Very well . Just tell me if you change your mind . If I may say so myself, I am an excellent man . ”
“I must go now . There’s someplace I have to be right away . ”
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Even in this situation, Harry was always busy . Mirabelle gave a nod . It would only be more awkward to continue this conversation anyway . Harry stood up first, and Mirabelle rose to see him off .
“Thank you for selling my commissioned dresses as well . You must be very busy, and thank you for coming here in person . ”
“Not at all . ”
After a final farewell, Harry strode out of the mansion . Mirabelle stared at his increasingly distant figure, then turned away . She went back to her room and sat at her sewing machine . Her heart tightened as she recalled Harry’s words .
Harry was definitely a perfect man . If she married him, she would be guaranteed a stable future . She would not only have wealth, but respect throughout her entire life .
However, Harry was not a man who made her heart beat . Mirabelle knew that . Harry seemed like the most obvious choice, but there was a hole in her heart that couldn’t be filled by him .
‘…Girls like bad boys . ’
Mirabelle smiled at the sudden thought . Then, as always, she went back to work to forget her longing for Kuhn .
Mirabelle’s fragile constitution did not change completely while she was abroad . One day she would be bedridden, and another day she would be wholly devoted to work .
Then, one day .
A maid approached Mirabelle, the latter who was deeply focused on transferring a design from her head to paper .
“My Lady, there’s a man here from the Ruford Empire . ”
“Man? Ah!”
A thought that had been lost in the business of her mind suddenly surfaced . For the past three years, Elena regularly sent supplies each year . Mirabelle refused at first, but like clockwork every year, Elena always sent fur and difficult-to-obtain medicines before winter came .
‘Is it already that time?’
Come to think of it, it had been quite cold lately . The first snow of the season would be soon . Mirabelle nodded to the maid .
“Put the luggage in the room, and provide warm food to the party who endured a difficult journey to get here . I’ll greet the man in charge myself . ”
“Yes, My Lady . ”
The maid obeyed swiftly, as she had also become familiar with this annual custom . Mirabelle returned to her desk and went back to sketching on the paper . Only the sound of the pen scratching filled the room .
Before long, there was a tap on the door . Mirabelle thought it was the maid with further news, or perhaps the leader of the party that brought the supplies .
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“Yes, come in . ”
The door opened and someone stepped in . Mirabelle was about to stop what she was doing and put down her pen, but before she even could even lift her head to see the person, she heard a voice that she had long missed .
“It’s been a long while . ”
Thud .
Mirabelle’s heart dropped to the ground . Her heart immediately recognized the person without him having to introduce himself . She slowly lifted her wide-eyed gaze to the person in front of her .
There stood a foreign man who looked out of place in this room, watching her . His shock of bluish-black hair stood in contrast to his pure white skin .
Kung kung kung .
Mirabelle’s heart started beating even faster than ever . Her pen unknowingly slipped from her fingers and rolled onto the floor . She struggled to force a word to leave her mouth .
“…Kuhn?”
“How have you been?”
At Kuhn’s casual greeting, Mirabelle still doubted whether she was still in real life . Kuhn coming to see her…was everything she had dreamed of .
He began to walk towards her desk .
Kung kung kung kung kung kung .
Mirabelle’s heart drummed madly at the sight . Having gone three years without seeing him, she thought she might have forgotten a little bit about him . But as soon as she looked at his face, she knew . Despite the distance and time, he had not changed one bit .
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