ELND Chapter 72

Chapter 72

The Fountain Dyed in Blood

“We don’t need any more words between us.”

The deep blue eyes that had been gazing down at me grew even softer.

When I looked up at his beautiful face as though bewitched, his large, warm hand touched my cheek.

I gently wrapped my fingers around his hand that cupped my face.

And the moment I closed my eyes—

At last, a soft touch brushed against my lips.

Cedric’s lips.

Then, through the small space between us, he deepened the kiss.

His movements were both insistent, as if to bind me to him, and yet endlessly tender.

That blend of urgency and gentleness made my heart pound violently.

“Haa…”

My heated breath brushed against my slightly damp lips.

The fresh scent of a spring night… and Cedric’s fragrance rode upon that breeze, tickling my nose.

Everything about the moment seemed to stir my heart in wicked, dizzying ways.

Our second kiss was more careful, more affectionate—and somehow even more loving.

When our lips finally parted, far more time had passed than either of us had realized.

We gazed at one another in silence, and then shy smiles bloomed on both our faces—
like two young lovers who had just confirmed their feelings for the first time.

Still smiling, I looked up at him again.

“Say it once more, Cedric.”

His lips curved into a soft smile as he met my yearning gaze.

“Say what?”

“That what you truly want… is the me that exists right now.”

I wanted reassurance.

That the reason he had once regretted everything wasn’t because he longed for the old Rebecca,
but because he had fallen in love with who I was now.

That I was worthy—truly worthy—to be the one and only partner of his life.

That I didn’t need to fear being betrayed by love ever again.

“Hmm?”

When Cedric stayed silent, I grew slightly anxious and urged him softly.

But Cedric hesitated, looking a little troubled.

“Well…”

My unease began to bubble up again when he muttered—

“Is this… some kind of trick question?”

“A… trick question?”

“You know, the kind where they tell you to pick the right answer,
but it turns out there are multiple answers and you end up failing anyway…”

He pursed his lips, then continued.

“Something the mischievous professors at the Imperial University loved to pull.”

I blinked, and then let out a breathy laugh once I understood what he meant.

When I covered my mouth to stifle my laughter, Cedric awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

“I just don’t want to say something like ‘I love you more now than before’
and have you hate me for it again.”

He seemed genuinely cautious not to say the wrong thing in front of me.

And seeing him act so bashful—so unlike the Grand Duke he was—made it even harder to suppress my laughter.

He’s unexpectedly adorable, isn’t he?

When I kept laughing behind my hand, Cedric’s eyes narrowed.

“Stop laughing, Rebecca.”

Though his tone was low and deliberate, there was still a trace of gentle fondness—like one chiding a child.

Suddenly, he pulled me tightly into his arms.

“I said stop laughing.”

And then he playfully nipped at my ear, not enough to hurt.

“Ow.”

I feigned pain and shot him a teasing glare—
otherwise, he’d see how flushed my cheeks had become.

“Cedric.”

“Yeah?”

I gently slipped out of his arms and stepped back slightly.

“Stop worrying and just be honest with me.”

“…”

“Because I like who I am now too. I’ll never go back to who I was before.”

A mischievous smile spread on his lips.

“Are you sure you’ll never go back?”

“Hmm… probably?”

Cedric chuckled quietly before answering.

“Then yes, I love the you that stands before me now.
If you hadn’t changed, I think I’d still hate you even now.”

When I rolled my eyes playfully, he wrinkled his nose like a mischievous boy and pulled me into his arms again.

He held me there for a long time, his embrace strong and full.

Then, after exhaling deeply, he spoke again.

“You might find this strange… but I think I finally understand who you used to be.”

“What do you mean?”

He slowly released me and gently held my shoulders.

In his blue eyes shimmered deep affection.

“The way you used to worry about me,
the way you grew jealous of those around me,
and how you’d end up doing foolish things because of it.”

“…”

“I see all of that in myself now—when I look at you.”

He paused, a small smile curving his lips.

“It’s something I’d never experienced before.
A feeling so overwhelming I couldn’t control it with reason.
I felt pathetic for being so petty… and yet, whenever I saw you, I couldn’t help it.”

“…”

“Now I finally understand a little of what you felt.
Because somehow, I’ve started to resemble the person you once were.”

Cedric lowered his gaze for a moment, his voice trembling faintly with emotion,
then met my eyes again.

“Rebecca, ever since I fell in love with the you of now…”

The word love slipped from his beautiful lips again,
and my heart thudded wildly in my chest.

Cedric gently took my hand.

“It’s finally time I gave you this.”

He knelt down on one knee and reached into his jacket pocket.

What he pulled out was a small box—
just the right size to hold a ring.

“Cedric… you don’t mean…?”

He smiled faintly and slowly opened it.

Inside was a ring adorned with a dazzling red gem that sparkled under the light.

“This is the proposal ring passed down through generations in my family.”

“…”

“A symbol of the Grand Duchess—the mistress of House Twins.
That’s why, regretfully, I never gave it to the former Rebecca.”

The blue eyes looking up at me gleamed as brightly as the gem itself.

“So it may be late… but I want to give it now.
To the woman I, Cedric Twins, truly love.”

Still kneeling, Cedric’s gaze never wavered.

Realizing what was happening, I instinctively covered my mouth.

“Rebecca Twins,” he said softly.

“The one and only partner of my life.”

A pleasant shiver ran through me, my pulse racing uncontrollably.

The man I had always dreamed of—Cedric Twins—

was now declaring me as the only companion of his life.

And this moment… it’s real.

That truth sent my heart into wild disarray once more.

And just as Cedric’s lips began to move again—

That was when it happened.

THUD!

A heavy, sickening sound—like something massive had fallen from above.

Startled, both of us turned toward the glass doors leading to the terrace.

Then came the screams—piercing, blood-curdling shrieks echoing through the hall.

“KYAAAAAH!”

The screams multiplied, spreading through the crowd like wildfire.

“AAAHHH!”
“S-Someone… someone fell!”

The sound alone shattered the romantic atmosphere in an instant.

Cedric’s beautiful smile vanished, replaced by alarm.

What in the world just happened outside?

He seemed to have the same thought, his brows furrowing darkly as he stared through the glass.

“At times like this, I truly resent being the Grand Duke of this Empire.”

It was clear that their interrupted moment had frustrated him—
but as the Grand Duke, he couldn’t ignore an incident occurring at the Emperor’s birthday celebration.

“Let’s go, Cedric.”

I tugged on his hand, urging him. He sighed deeply, resigned.

We hurried out onto the terrace.

There, countless guests were already leaning over the railing, staring down at the grand hall below.

Some couldn’t stifle their screams; others hurriedly shielded the eyes of their wives or lovers.

What on earth… happened?

A terrible sense of dread crept up my spine.

And when Cedric and I finally reached the railing and looked down—

My eyes widened in shock.

The grand champagne fountain that had been decorating the first floor in glittering splendor—

was now stained a chilling, dark red.

Floating within it was a body.

Still hand in hand, Cedric and I rushed downstairs.

The scene was far more chaotic up close.

The champagne, dyed red with blood, overflowed from the fountain,
and several noble ladies had fainted and were being fanned desperately on nearby sofas.

“Your Majesty, what on earth happened?” Cedric asked the Emperor, Letitz.

The Emperor seemed relieved to see him, taking a deep breath and steadying his voice.

“It appears someone fell from the top balcony.
They hit the fountain headfirst… I don’t know if they survived.”

Just then, the head of the palace guard arrived and bowed before the Emperor.

“Your Majesty, I came as soon as I heard there was an incident in the ballroom.”

“Good. Over there—the fountain,” the Emperor said, pointing.

“Identify the victim. And find out exactly how this happened.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At his order, the guards moved swiftly toward the fountain.

Please… don’t let it be someone I know.

The thought flickered in my mind.
Even so, I couldn’t bring myself to go near enough to look.

Instead, I scanned the room for familiar faces—

But none were there.

No Duke Bold.
No Camilla, Henry, or Lovelia.
Not even Adrian.

Especially Duke Bold… I haven’t seen him since he stepped out with Cedric earlier…

A chill of foreboding swept through me. I turned toward Cedric—

And at that moment, the captain of the guard shouted across the hall:

“Your Majesty! The identity of the deceased has been confirmed!”