I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 104

Given that he mentioned family circumstances weren’t good, the likelihood of it being the former was high. However, even if he was hiding, if Rix were a noble, someone would recognize him.

In the capital, there were numerous nobles and sharp-eyed attendants.

‘Maybe Rix isn’t a noble after all.’

But then again, his occasionally visible arrogance and noble-like behavior didn’t fit that explanation.

‘He’s truly a mystery.’

Ivonne stared blankly at Rix, who was reading the newspaper quickly with his cool violet eyes lowered.

‘What exactly is Rix’s true identity?’

She was intensely curious, yet at the same time, she didn’t want to know. The longer she remained ignorant and learned about Rix through personal experiences, the more afraid she became of discovering his true identity.

‘I don’t want to admit that everything I knew about Rix was a lie and that he never really existed.’

Especially now, she found herself in love with him. To discover that the man she fell for after resolving to stay strong despite past hardships, was a figment of her imagination would be too cruel.

Then, suddenly, Ivonne thought,

‘Rix is a character in a romance fantasy, so technically, he is a fictional character….’

After all, Rix was just a character from a book. The whole world itself was someone’s creation.

‘Thinking like this makes knowing Rix’s true identity a little less scary….’

Ivonne’s feelings for Rix were so varied and complex that she felt she could get lost in them.

After finishing reading the newspaper, Rix finally realized he was reader the paper Ivonne had given him.

“Oh, I-I-Ivonne!”

Startled, he took the newspaper from her belatedly. His pale face flushed as he felt dizzy with embarrassment.

“I-I-I’m so sorry.”

Stammering several times, Rix quickly knelt before Ivonne. Her face, which had been smiling teasingly, turned to one of shock.

“R-Rix? Why, what are you…! Oh no, please get up!”

Ivonne hurriedly grabbed Rix’s thick forearm to lift him, but he didn’t budge.

“I dare not…!”

His voice trembled. He sounded like someone who had committed a grave crime or blasphemy.

Even his neck, revealed as he lowered his head further, was pale with fear. Instead of lifting him, Ivonne could only support his head to keep it from hitting the floor.

“Rix, what is this… No, it’s just a newspaper! It’s no big deal to look at it for a moment!”

Ivonne couldn’t understand.

‘Is this really something to react this way to?’

It wasn’t polite, but it certainly wasn’t a reason to show such intense self-reproach. It took her another ten minutes to get Rix to stand up. He kept apologizing, almost to the point of pleading for forgiveness.

“It’s okay. Seriously, it’s okay. The news was shocking, after all. The kingdom of Osbloom declaring war is quite startling. Naturally, anyone would be shaken….”

Ivonne abruptly stopped speaking. She had almost said, ‘Just like how I ran to you, realizing my feelings of love.’ When she fell silent, Rix tilted his head slightly.

“Ivonne?”

“No, it’s nothing. Anyway, it was that shocking. I’m not upset about it. Even if I was, I’ve already let it go.”

“Really…?”

“Yes, really. What bothers me more is you apologizing excessively like this.”

“That, that is… I’m sorry….”

“I mean, stop kneeling!”

Rix attempted to kneel again, prompting Ivonne to cry out in exasperation. She felt like fainting. Her head spun and her chest tightened.

What woman would be happy to see the person she loves groveling before her as if worshiping some higher being? Any sensible person, especially someone like Ivonne who had sworn off toxic relationships, wouldn’t find any joy in it.

Resisting the urge to clutch her throbbing forehead, Ivonne asked,

“Why do you keep apologizing? I’m fine. Please, stop lowering yourself in front of me…”

“But I made you worry…”

At that moment, Ivonne felt a surge of emotion.

“Rix, do, do you not like it… when I care…about you?”

Just days ago, Ivonne had been agonizing over his behavior. She was sure she had unconsciously expressed her feelings for him through her actions. Someone as kind and perceptive as Rix couldn’t have missed it.

Yet, he continued to act as if he didn’t notice, and perhaps he found it uncomfortable. If he didn’t even like her caring about him…

‘That would mean there’s absolutely no chance…’

She already knew there was no hope. But thinking it silently and hearing it confirmed were two different things. The overwhelming feeling of unrequited love, mixed with despair and affection, welled up as tears in her eyes.