ELND Chapter 62

Chapter 62

The Fall of the Villainess (2). 

Cedric clasped the necklace around my neck, then gently stepped back.

Even so, the distance between us remained close.

He traced the ruby hanging from my throat with the tip of his finger, his voice low and tender.

“How could I ever be angry with you?”

I stared quietly at his lips as that deep, resonant voice flowed out.

Those beautiful lips hesitated for a moment before a shallow sigh slipped through them.

“You know by now that when it comes to you, I can’t help but do whatever you ask.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

Cedric’s brows drew slightly together.

“Are you trying to act as if nothing happened? Or do you really think nothing happened at all?”

There was a tinge of hurt in his expression as he asked that.

He looked away, briefly rubbing his brow — but when his eyes returned to me, they were calm and unwavering.

“I’m sorry, but either way, I can’t agree with you.”

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper near my ear — close enough that our breaths mingled.

“That night, we were in each other’s arms. And that fact doesn’t change.”

My mind went completely blank.

If I understood him correctly, then… did that mean… that night, we—

“Wait… Are you saying we… spent the night together?”

“…”

“You and… me?”

When I asked, half in disbelief, Cedric slowly blinked.

After a pause, his lips parted again — and what came next nearly made me faint.

“Yes, we did.”

We just stared at each other for a long moment, dumbfounded.

“Rebecca… you mean you really don’t remember anything from that night?”

Oh no.

Everything suddenly made sense.

That night, I’d been fuming, wondering what on earth I had done wrong to make him act like I was some kind of criminal.

Turns out, it wasn’t a small mistake.

The ever-rational Cedric would never have been the one to suggest such a thing first — not even if he had been tempted by me recently.

But I, on the other hand, had always been a bit more emotional than logical… and yes, I’d certainly been drawn to his good looks.

Oh god. I must’ve jumped him while I was drunk. Damn it.

I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.

Just a few days ago, I’d rejected his confession — said I didn’t want a light, fleeting kind of love.

And now? I’d gone and seduced him, only to spend the night with him myself.

What must Cedric think of me now?

I thought I’d finally shaken off the image of the ex-wife who was obsessed with the bed, and now this…

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

And if I admitted I didn’t remember any of it, that image would just get worse.

But lying would only make it worse later when the truth came out.

When I glanced up, Cedric was watching me with eyes full of expectation.

Oh, to hell with it.

I shut my eyes tight and confessed.

“Yes, Cedric. Honestly… I don’t remember anything from that night.”

Even after I stammered out the truth, he said nothing for a long time.

Is he angry?

I peeked at his expression — only to find, strangely, that he looked relieved.

It was as though the storm cloud hanging over him these past few days had finally cleared.

“So when you said it was a mistake… you meant because you didn’t remember it?”

His eyes gleamed with hope.

Ah, right. I did say that, didn’t I?

At this point, I couldn’t even blame him for thinking I’d lost my mind.

Not that he’d be entirely wrong…

I cleared my throat and tried again.

“I don’t remember, but… I figured I must’ve done something stupid while drunk. Maybe I slurred nonsense, or… threw up, or something…”

Of course, the truth was that what I’d done went way beyond that.

But I couldn’t say that aloud — that would be the same as declaring that our night together had been a “mistake,” which would only crush his pride.

And judging by the faint upward curve of his lips, I’d made the right call.

He let out a long, relieved breath.

“So it wasn’t that you were denying what happened… you just couldn’t remember. That’s… that’s a relief.”

“…”

“Really… a relief.”

He murmured softly, almost to himself.

Then, after a brief silence, he took my hand gently in his.

“Since you don’t remember, let me remind you.”

“…”

“Before we held each other that night, I told you this.”

Each time his long fingers brushed mine, warmth spread through my palm.

“Cedric…”

The tingling reached all the way to my heart, and his name slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

But he only continued, eyes fixed on our joined hands.

“I told you that from that night on, you’d be the only one who could either save me… or completely destroy me. And that I’d never regret it.”

His blue gaze, which had lingered on my hand, lifted to meet mine.

“I still feel the same, even now.”

He looked into my eyes and spoke again, firmly.

“Even if you hurt me. Even if you use me. I’ll still accept it.”

“…”

“It’ll hurt, sure… but that pain will be mine to bear.”

He crinkled his nose playfully, though the smile that followed was tinged with sorrow.

“This isn’t some fleeting whim, Rebecca.”

It was an answer — the answer to what I’d said when I turned him down before.

“Of course, the fact that I finally held you should’ve proved that much already…”

When I looked up at him silently, he went on.

“But if that’s still not enough… then give me a chance.”

“…A chance?”

“Yes. A chance to heal your wounds.”

Those blue eyes looked straight into mine — steady, sincere.

And in that gaze, I felt something I couldn’t deny.

That I wanted to believe him — wanted to trust him, completely.

He spoke again, driving the final nail in.

“I’ll make you believe in love again. In me again.”

His lips curved into a slow, confident smile.

“Whatever it takes. I’ll make it happen.”

It was a declaration of war — clear and bold.

Meanwhile, in a shabby inn room tucked away in a northern alley…

Noise from the bustling market drifted in through the cracked window frame.

Camilla stood by the window, pacing and nervously biting her thumbnail.

Her eyes were sunken, bruised with exhaustion, and her hastily tied hair was a tangled mess.

But she didn’t care — or rather, she couldn’t.

Her mind was consumed by one thought only: her husband, who had just walked out after declaring their marriage over.

How could he say that to me? This… this has to be some terrible mistake…

She gnawed at her nail again, eyes darting anxiously.

He had always been patient with her — indulgent, even, despite her selfishness.

He must’ve said it out of anger. He wouldn’t really abandon me… he loves me too much for that…

She tried to comfort herself.

But then his cold eyes — eyes that had looked at her as if she were filth — and those merciless words replayed in her mind.

Panic welled up, choking her.

“No, no… he can’t leave me. He can’t! He loved me so much — pitifully so — there’s no way he’d throw me away like this!”

No one could take the title of Countess Dimitri from her.

Not unless I give it up myself… Camilla Dimitri.

She had planned to relinquish it — but on her own terms.

When the time was right.

Once she’d secured enough wealth to start anew with Henry, her lover — and once she’d spun their relationship into a glamorous love story that would let her keep her social standing even after multiple divorces.

Everything had been perfectly planned.

Until now.

“It’s all ruined! Everything is ruined! Aaagh!”

Camilla screamed, yanking at her dark hair.

One failed investment — and the astronomical debt that followed — had cost her everything.

Not just her husband’s affection and her social reputation… but even Henry Bart, the man she believed was her one true love.

Now even he had begun to pull away, drifting back toward Lobelia.

Lobelia… How is it that you, who never even tried, always take everything from me? Why do you get everything?

She shrieked in fury.

At that moment—

Click.

The door opened, and a man stepped inside, pulling off the hat that had been shadowing his face.

Camilla blinked, startled.

“H-Henry…?”

Tears welled and fell down her cheeks.

Henry, looking utterly indifferent, closed the door behind him and leaned against it.

“Tch. What’s got you all worked up this time?”

“You… you came…”

Dragging a worn chair across the floor, Henry sat down, legs crossed, glancing at his watch.

“So? What did you want to talk about?”

“Henry… I’ve missed you so much…”

When she reached for him, he coldly brushed her hands away.

“Make it quick. If I stay too long, Lobelia will get suspicious.”

“…Lobelia will get suspicious?”

Her face twisted, venom seeping into her voice.

After all the nights they’d spent together — and now he was worried about Lobelia?

Camilla had always known Henry was a shallow man, but she’d never thought he’d turn that cold toward her.

The man she once adored suddenly looked revolting.

“So that’s it, huh? I’ve lost everything — the money, the house — so I’m useless to you now?”

Her jaw trembled.

Henry said nothing, simply looking away.

That silence — his silent yes — stabbed straight through her heart.

Her knees nearly gave out.

“Henry… Do you know what I’ve done for you? What I’ve sacrificed?”

Her blurred gaze fell upon the fruit knife resting on the table.

Her eyes sharpened with sudden, blazing rage.

“You… you bastard!”

And before Henry could react, she lunged — knife in hand — straight for his back.