A Practical Guide to Ending a One-Sided Love - Chapter 71

Leila could not find words to deny it. As he said, that really had been the purpose of the meeting.

Perhaps today was a good opportunity to make him give up on her completely. Now, their positions were reversed.

“Since he is the match my father chose, it will probably end up that way.”

Even if she inwardly thought that she would rather die than marry that man, she answered out of stubbornness. If she said she would marry, perhaps he would finally abandon her.

She did not want Bjorn to keep making such despairing expressions. A relationship that only hurt each other should end as soon as possible. Of course she would keep loving Bjorn forever in her heart, but she did not wish the same for him.

“Since it doesn’t matter who the partner is, the wedding will be held as soon as possible.”

Words she did not mean flowed out on their own. At the same time Bjorn’s already pale face turned ashen.

Her heart ached and she worried terribly about his condition, yet she could not retreat halfway here.

If she kept watching him struggle, it felt like she would collapse first.

“I will forget you and live well. So please, you must also live happily.”

That at least was sincere. Even somewhere she could not see, she hoped he would find true happiness. She hoped someone else could accomplish what she never could. He could take all the happiness left in her life, she only wished he would live well.

But contrary to that wish, Bjorn stepped away from her with a corpse-like face. Her heart felt torn apart, yet thinking this was the better ending for him, she hardened herself and did not stop him.

After that day, Bjorn’s visits in front of the Bailey residence stopped as if all his prior visits were a lie.

* * *

The human heart was truly deceitful. Recently, Leila felt that with her whole body.

Another month passed since Bjorn stopped appearing at the manor’s gates. She had wished he would not come, yet when he truly did not appear it felt strange.

Honestly, she missed him terribly. Going to the temple to pray was no sin, so she even had the absurd thought of stopping by. Since the last time she saw him he looked so unwell, she wondered whether he had recovered.

But she must not. Though he always seemed fragile, he was strong in another way, so he was probably doing well. If she could meet him again someday looking healthy, that would be enough. Leila suppressed the urge to see him.

Perhaps the sudden silence proved her judgment correct. His feelings must not have been that deep after all. Even if she had accepted him, it would have ended similarly.

Even thinking that, among the belongings she brought from home she could not throw away the items holding memories of Bjorn.

If she married Viscount Coleman, would she have to discard these too.

Several more days passed while she remained stuck in inexplicable sorrow.

“Miss Leila, there is a guest who wishes to see you.”

An unexpected visitor had come. At the maid’s words that a paladin wished to meet her, Leila’s heart began to race uncontrollably.

Could it be Bjorn? Had he come again because he still could not forget me?

Now she might not be able to refuse him outright. Her longing had grown so much she was close to forgetting why she rejected him at all.

However, contrary to her expectation, two unfamiliar paladins with dark expressions were waiting in the reception room. One was a man of medium height with a gentle face, the other a tall young man.

“Greetings, Miss Bailey. I am Allen Bain, a paladin of the Holy Chivalric Order.”

“I am Todd Cameron, Miss.”

Without understanding anything, Leila greeted them in turn.

She had an ominous premonition.