Love Doesn't Matter - Chapter 110
Translator and Editor: Hue and Tea
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Chapter 110 – Will I Ever Fall In Love?
When the familiar four-wheeled carriage arrived in the courtyard, Kallia had a premonition.
Emilia had suddenly left to meet the Queen, coupled with the letter that had been returned in just one day.
Mitch read her the letter that contained these words:
The fact that I have seen the Queen must be kept absolutely secret. Tell no one but Mother and Charlotte. It’s an important matter affecting my life.
And only two days later the Duke appeared.
“Hello, Your Grace.”
“Greetings, Mrs. Bern.”
His characteristically composed look and tone only made Kallia’s heart more uneasy.
“How… did you get here? Emilia isn’t home.”
“I know. I already met her at the Ricardi Palace.”
As expected.
Kallia tried to calm herself and placed her trembling hand on her throbbing chest.
“Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?”
Unlike usual, Hadius didn’t refuse. The two of them walked slowly into the house.
As she boiled the water and took out the cups, Kallia’s hands trembled slightly. Behind her, she felt him fidget.
“Where are Emilia’s siblings?”
“Mitch went to the barn, and Charlotte took Beppy to Hedel. About Hedel… have you heard from Emilia?”
“Yes, I have.”
Memories of the early morning flowed through Hadius’ mind like water.
In the faint blue light of dawn, Emilia had opened up to him, telling him various stories.
From keeping the books of Lha Thrang, to renting the house, her impressions of Liberty Boarding School, Mitch’s school, and the major and minor quarrels between family members.
Hadius had listened intently, half asleep by the time she finished.
With every word Emilia uttered, a pleasant tingling spread through the parts they touched.
It was a strange feeling for Hadius, one he had never experienced before. Whatever her identity, he wished this fleeting sensation could last forever. He hoped such a feeling could be eternal.
“Would you like some tea?”
By now the water had boiled, and Kallia handed him a cup.
“Hedel’s house is old and dilapidated, but it’s quite charming. It’s more than a person like me could ask for. It’s all thanks to you taking care of us.”
“No, it isn’t. Except for this house, Emilia has obtained everything through her own efforts.”
Kallia looked at Hadius briefly before returning her gaze to the teacup.
“…Emilia is like a precious gem to me. I thought I would give up being her dishcloth, but how did she end up taking on important tasks like managing the ledger…? It’s both admirable and pitiful. To someone like me, Emilia is a most precious daughter.”
Fearing that her eyes might betray her tearful emotions, Kallia quickly brought the teacup to her lips.
“Since she was young, Emilia has always been this way. Smart, honest, and able to find her own way in any situation. But, Your Grace,”
At the end of her sentence, Hadius detected a slight tremor and raised his head slightly.
“This child is not as emotionally intelligent. Especially when it comes to matters of romance, feelings of affection or love. She’s completely clueless about it. She hides away without interacting with the villagers, and on top of that… she hasn’t experienced normal romance like Hailey and other girls her age.”
“…”
“Of course, it’s all my fault. As her mother, I should have taught her about such feelings first…”
Kallia struggled to control the trembling in her hand and managed to continue speaking.
“So, Your Grace, if… if you have any feelings for my daughter…”
Hadius put down his teacup and stood up straight.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Inadvertently, Kallia’s eyes widened to meet his calm, almost frightening gaze.
“I have something to tell you.”
He must have come with a purpose.
With trembling hands, Kallia placed her palms on her pounding chest.
“Emilia’s siblings and all of you, I wanted to tell you in their presence, but circumstances forced me to do otherwise.”
Without giving her a chance to think, Hadius revealed the conclusion directly.
“Emilia is carrying my child.”
“…!”
A breathless silence followed, then suddenly a storm raged.
Kallia felt her vision go pale and barely managed to hold on to the teacup that slipped from her hand. It didn’t break, but a sizzling sound accompanied the hot water splashing in all directions.
“According to the king’s decree, we were engaged, which basically meant that we were already married. At least that’s how I always saw it.”
Kallia gathered her resolve.
No matter what anyone said, Charlotte and Emilia were her daughters.
She couldn’t just sit back and watch Emilia’s life unfold.
For the first time in her life, Kallia felt a surge of courage she didn’t know she had.
“First of all, I want to thank you for not disregarding me and showing responsibility. For people like us… there’s nothing we can do, even if we are abandoned. But…”
Kallia swallowed the lump in her throat and went on.
“As for Emilia… what does she want? No, such a question might be pointless. Now that she is pregnant… what choice does Emilia have for herself? For this poor child…”
“Emilia and the child will never suffer disapproval or mistreatment.”
Hadius tried to reassure Kallia with a firm tone. But deep in her heart an uncontrollable fire flickered.
“But what of Emilia’s feelings… I need to know. Does the child… love you?”
He even said it casually when he said, “Forced to marry her?” The man’s eyes wavered for the first time.
“…Even if others think I’m crazy… If the child doesn’t love the prince, I have no desire to force her into a marriage she doesn’t want. I… I will do my best for my daughter and the child she will bear. Even if I am ill, it does not mean that I cannot raise a child.”
Confusion crossed Hadius’ face.
“I am not talking about following a loveless and unrealistic story. Although it is not easy to raise a child alone as a widow, Emilia and I have done well together. I think it might be better that way.”
“……”
“I am afraid that getting married will bring even more unhappiness. Being forced into marriage while pregnant, not wanting it… what will happen to Emilia and the child in the prince’s world…”
Hadius was silent, and Kallia became more determined.
“Please send Emilia home. I need to talk to her about the child myself.”
Hadius left the cabin and went straight to Hilden Farm. An indescribable fatigue weighed heavily on his body.
He expected her family to erupt in anger. Charlotte might be disappointed, and the madam might lose control and throw punches; he even thought of such possibilities.
He had thought Kallia Bern would be the easiest of the family members, but she reacted in a way he never could have imagined.
Does that child… love the young master?
It was a strange situation.
Until now, he had never desired ‘love’ even once.
Emilia’s feelings were of no concern to him. He thought it would end just like the statue she gave as a birthday present…
Hadius leaned against the carriage backrest and pressed his temples firmly.
An hour later, the carriage arrived at the center of Reinsburgh. When passing through the bustling square and turning a corner, the restaurant where Emilia worked came into view.
When that man appeared at the entrance, Ingrid lost her composure for a moment.
Reinsburgh was filled with well-off commoners, not enviable nobles. There were wealthy mansions and luxurious stores, and soon there would be a department store. However, if you looked at the pedigree, most were far from even matching ordinary counts.
The same was true for Ingrid. Thanks to her wealthy father, she had been invited to social gatherings and events, but she had never met anyone from a truly upper-class, centuries-old noble family, like royalty or dukes.
Yet now, she was standing in front of such a person.
The man who approached slowly with a retainer in tow was undoubtedly a ‘true aristocrat with a prestigious pedigree’ living in a high place she could never imagine.
“Excuse me.”
The man who appeared to be a retainer greeted her. Ingrid managed to tear her gaze away from his master and faced him.
“I came because of the matter concerning Elaine Mauve. From your residence.”
“Ah….”
He hadn’t said anything yet, but Ingrid was already shocked just by looking at the cold, distant aristocratic man beyond the retainer.
When Hadius left the restaurant, it was already past noon.
He thought about what else he had to do while looking at the long shadows stretching over the street.
He needed to stop by Krambitz and investigate that woman’s situation and check how things were progressing in Kund. He had to visit the Reinen Family soon. The other family was preparing a ridiculous party called the ‘birthday celebration.’
Since he couldn’t attend the graduation ceremony, attending that would at least avoid unnecessary suspicions. But Hadius found himself lacking enthusiasm for anything.
‘Does that child love the young master?’
Kallia Bern’s sharp voice penetrated his heart once again.
Emilia had said something similar.
‘I have never wanted anything as much as I… like you.’
What’s the difference between liking and loving?
What would it feel like to be loved by you?
Will you eventually… come to love me?
Hadius couldn’t bear it.
It was a strange yearning that made him feel like he would do anything to hear that answer.
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Rate the novel on Novel Updates.
Join our discord to receive the latest updates as soon as possible!
What Are Pilot Novels?
Pilot novels are novels that will only have a few chapters released from our group. We hope that someone else can continue these novels for the enjoyment of everyone!
lima92
Uaaaau!!!