INWY~101

Chapter 101

Several days had passed.

Henry arrived in Florian about a day later than planned—roughly four days after Dante had come to see Riena late at night.

Henry met her not at Florian’s train station, but at the seaside where they had met so many times before.

A strange expression flickered across his face.

“I… I’d like to talk for a moment.”

His voice sounded slightly strained.

Riena simply nodded. They stood together, facing the ocean.

Though he suggested talking, neither spoke first.

A strange, almost uncomfortable silence hung between them, echoing the odd expression Henry wore.

It was Henry who broke the silence.

“At the farewell ceremony, I saw His Highness, the Grand Duke.”

Riena turned sharply, her eyes wide.

The farewell ceremony?

She looked at Henry, silently asking for explanation.

But Henry shook his head slightly and continued.

The detail itself wasn’t important.

What mattered now was—

The Grand Duke… he knows.

“…Did His Highness say anything?”

Riena’s gaze flickered nervously.

How could Henry know? Had she—by chance—threatened him in that time?

“You knew already, then.”

Henry’s faint smile betrayed that he’d read her thoughts clearly.

Even the smallest expressions on her face gave her away.

He clenched his fist briefly.

The Grand Duke was no match for him. Henry had known this all along, though he had played along for appearances.

Even if he didn’t need to win, he wanted to protect her—Riena—from that man.

“I met Admiral—along with my superior. I recently got promoted to captain, so I was told an immediate promotion wasn’t possible… but I was offered a better post.”

Henry continued, though he doubted whether she’d care.

From Riena’s perspective, it must have seemed strange to suddenly shift from talking about the Grand Duke to his own military position.

“He wants me to move immediately. Honestly, it’s less a suggestion than an order. That’s the military for you.”

He said it lightly, without much force.

After a brief pause, he added, with some effort:

“…I want to go with you.”

He didn’t just continue speaking.

Henry looked at her directly.

Unlike Dante, whose questions were manipulative, Henry was honestly asking for her opinion.

Riena blinked slowly, trying to understand.

His calm, gentle voice continued.

Always considerate, he softened even more now, for her sake.

“Even if we aren’t married—though that’s the plan—we could go together. There’s officer housing. You’d have to leave in the morning, but we could come back in the evening, have dinner together…”

The kindness in his words carried an undercurrent of urgency.

Hearing it all was almost overwhelming for Riena.

“Henry.”

She spoke softly, stopping him, shaking her head slowly.

“I can’t. Henry… that’s a lie—and—”

“I like you. I promised I would protect you.”

Henry spoke his truth without hesitation.
It hit her with a weight that was far from light.

“Come with me, Riena. Together… no one there will know you. You might never have to see the Grand Duke again. That’s what you wanted, right?”

It was true.

And it still was. But…

Biting her lip, Riena shook her head again.

“Thank you. Truly… I’m so grateful to you, and I’m sorry. It must have been hard for you to help me at all, and yet you hid me, brought me here… gave me a chance at a new life. I’m really thankful.”

It wasn’t the same kind of sentiment as with Dante, but she genuinely appreciated everything Henry had done.

Slowly, she expressed her heavy gratitude toward him.

“But, Henry… I like you, yes, but not in that way.”

“….”

“I’m grateful for your feelings, but I’ve never felt love for you. If I ever gave you the wrong impression, I’m sorry.”

Her eyes, deep and steady as an old oak, met his.

No confusion, no hesitation—only clarity and quiet resolve.

Henry opened his mouth briefly, then lowered his head.

He was almost as tall as Dante, maybe slightly taller.

So Riena, being shorter, could easily read his expression if she wished—but she didn’t.

She knew it would be improper.

And she could already imagine the expression he would wear.

Henry’s hands trembled slightly.

Riena reached out slowly, gently taking one.

Even this gesture carried no romantic meaning.
Henry would have known.

Still, a faint warmth transferred through their joined hands.

Abandon him. Just as mercilessly as you did before.

Dante’s words from that late night echoed in her mind.

Mercilessly… as I was merciless to you.

It didn’t make sense.

When had she ever abandoned him? If anything, it had been Dante who had tried to push her away.

Riena exhaled and blinked quickly.

The thought of Dante’s sharp, yellow eyes—so different from his words and actions—returned to her.

All those scattered emotions, mismatched from his actions and voice… yet in that moment, his eyes had looked genuinely hurt.

Even now, thinking positively of him made her laugh bitterly.

She raised her gaze slowly.

…Ah. Yes. That look.

“Why do you stay? Doesn’t it hurt? Aren’t you afraid?”

Riena couldn’t answer.

The reason was obvious.

She reflected briefly on her own heart, reminded herself of her initial purpose.

And she thought clearly: there wasn’t much time left.

She couldn’t speak it aloud.

So she offered a smile instead.

It was her best effort.

“…I like it here. I know it’s improper toward you… but this place keeps me alive. That’s why I don’t want to leave.”

She didn’t cover it with lies.
Riena found comfort in the truth, easing her guilt just a little.
She hoped he could feel the same way.

“And I hope you don’t feel guilty about me. I want you to be well, Henry.”

Her words were sincere.
And Henry felt every ounce of her heart.

He looked at her quietly.
Her resolve was firm enough that persuasion wouldn’t work.

But she didn’t look unsafe.

In fact, she seemed a little more at ease than before.

Henry’s first love had failed.

He had to accept that fact, however reluctantly.

Still… maybe he would ask one more time.

His expression suggested he was debating this silently.

Riena blinked and pressed her hand more firmly into his.

Henry’s eyes, jolted back to her, met hers again.

“This is a good thing. Something to be happy about. The treatment you deserve, Henry—”

Riena hesitated, then offered a soft, genuine smile.

“Thank you. I won’t forget it. Truly.”

She didn’t apologize for not going with him, didn’t promise to meet again.

She didn’t want to lie to him.