Violet Zerotta’s Hasty Marriage - Chapter 64

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“…Violet, I still can’t forget Aldrick’s expression from that time. Even now, just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes!”

Simon, who had been recounting Aldrick’s past as if telling the story of a hero’s life, indeed had tears welling in his eyes.

“And then, you appeared before him as he returned home. You believed in him, waited for him even when you didn’t know if he was alive or dead, and you even welcomed him warmly!”

Did I… really welcome him warmly?

As she tried to think through the haze in her mind, Violet felt a pang of guilt and quietly buried the memory of their reunion in her heart.

“Of course, afterward, you did deal him a wound that might never heal… but everyone makes mistakes, don’t they! I’ve already forgotten all about that, hahaha!”

The pang in her conscience became sharper at Simon’s words. She wanted to offer some kind of excuse, but perhaps because of the alcohol, only a murmur escaped her lips. At the same time, the image of Aldrick in her memory grew even more heart-rending.

His appearance on the day of their reunion, trudging home covered in dust. The gaunt face he wore after she fled from him. All those images surfaced in succession.

He had endured so much in the knighthood, and had been so lonely on top of it all. She’d suspected it, but since Aldrick had never spoken of it himself, she’d never known the details.

And it had been true that he’d kept the wedding ring all along.

‘Why would he keep something so worthless…’

Yet Aldrick had carefully held onto that pitiful little ring.

What must he have been thinking as he looked at it on the battlefield? As Simon had said, did he think of Violet as a fleeting family, even just for a moment?

Recalling how he had behaved on their wedding night, it was hard to imagine, but thinking of the Aldrick she knew now, it was strangely believable.

He was lonelier than he let on.

And come to think of it, Violet had also thought about Aldrick often while living alone. They had been far apart, but they had both been thinking of each other—that realization made her heart ache with tenderness.

Still, despite those emotions, Violet’s head was growing increasingly clouded under the influence of the strong drink. Simon, perhaps in a similar state, started mumbling, his words stretching longer.

“To think… that guy who used to bite at anyone like a stray dog in the knights’ order now acts like a tame lamb only in front of you… Honestly, it’s kind of creepy… but still… I much prefer the Aldrick of now. You know what I mean, don’t you, Violet?”

As Simon said, Aldrick had once seemed much more guarded, bristling with edge. She had changed a lot since meeting him, but maybe Aldrick, too, had changed greatly because of her.

With her mind completely soaked in alcohol, Violet found old memories flashing through her head like a revolving lantern. Their first meeting at the temple, their reunion, and the Aldrick she’d seen just recently.

Her first impression of him had been that he was a sullen, unfriendly boy. And when they met again, she’d thought he was an awkward, unreliable young man. Yet Aldrick had become a loving partner, a dependable husband.

Yes. Even now, thinking of those days warmed her heart.

Even now, as a lord and lady living in a castle, life was not bad, not at all. In fact, it was more happiness than she could ever have hoped for.

Still, at times, she remembered the old house in Saint-Lour.

Being alone for the first time and getting through each day. The time she spent with Aldrick after his return. All of it had been warm and beautiful memories.

Though their time together in that house had been short due to her sudden departure, their honeymoon afterwards had remained a joyful memory.

Violet wanted to let herself sink into that nostalgia. More truthfully, she just wanted to fall asleep and carry this good feeling with her.

But Simon Lambert didn’t allow that. Apparently, he was the kind of man who became extremely talkative when drunk.

“Anyway, Violet… I ask you, please, continue to look after Aldrick well. Maybe I have no right to say this… but I truly care about that guy. Even if he’s never told me, I’m sure he’s always longed for human warmth. He needed someone to lean on. I cantell youhow gladIamthat hefoundyou…”

Simon’s alcohol-scented words began to slur into a blur.

Drowsy, Violet’s upper body swayed like Rosetta’s wobble doll. Then, when Simon asked a question, she vigorously nodded her head.

“You’re right, Simon. Hearing your story… I really do think Aldrick is incredibly lucky.”

With the alcohol making her lightheaded, she beamed.

“Because… he has a friend like you. Maybe Aldrick… was born under a lucky star when it comes to people.”

“With such touching words… I, really… Violet!”

And just as the subject of the conversation—Aldrick—returned, what met his eyes was a scene of two drunkards laughing and crying together, performing a comedy act in perfect unity.