If You Wish to Have Me - Chapter 137

“We could change the sailing schedule, but if we suddenly change it without any particular reason, quite a few people involved would find it strange.”

Manoa, who had been glancing at Kisa, explained with additional details.

Since the wedding invitations had already been sent to the guests, she too seemed to know what kind of day this was.

Kisa returned the paper to her and shook her head.

“It would be absurd to change the schedule just because of me. I’m not that shameless. Let’s go with this date, Miss Manoa.”

“……Are you really sure it’s okay?”

“Of course it’s fine. Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be the optimal day to avoid pursuit? Everyone will be distracted on the wedding day.”

Manoa simply nodded and moved on to the next topic without asking anything further.

“For the ship to depart on time, Miss Kisa needs to come to the port by morning. To do that, you’ll need to leave Count Vansfelt’s estate very early at dawn.”

She had apparently already decided to help Kisa even before today’s meeting, as she presented a detailed plan.

“We can prepare the carriage heading to the port on our end. However, if a suspicious carriage wanders around the noble residential area in the middle of the night, it’s likely to draw suspicious looks, so Miss Kisa needs to come out to the main road and board the carriage there.”

“I’ll go. No matter what happens, I will definitely go. But to think you’re doing this much for me…… How can I ever repay this kindness?”

“It’s nothing special. You don’t need to repay me—just extend a helping hand when you encounter others in trouble as you live your life. Of course, when your circumstances allow it.”

Kisa looked at the person sitting across from her with admiring eyes once again.

She had already felt respect after reading about her life story, but now a different dimension of emotion had emerged.

A small aspiration to become such a person herself sprouted in Kisa’s heart.

After that, the two women continued their conversation, preparing for the decisive day.

She would have liked to stay here all night discussing it, but that would have been an imposition on Manoa, and considering the Vansfelt coachman who would be waiting for Kisa, she had to return before it got too late.

The most important thing Kisa had to be careful about until that fateful day arrived was not showing any suspicious signs to anyone.

“I probably won’t be able to see you off that day since I’ll have other commitments. So this will be our last meeting.”

Before Kisa got up from her seat, Manoa gazed at her and spoke quietly.

“I wish you luck. I hope you’ll be able to live the life you want in the new land.”

The life you want. Count Vansfelt, who had raised her all her life, and Seyard, her lover, had both tried to bind her, yet a woman she had only recently met was wishing for Kisa’s freedom and happiness.

Life was truly unpredictable.

Kisa had always thought she was quite unlucky with people.

Her father, then Daniel, Melissa and Princess Arta, and even Seyard whom she had trusted.

Those who had been close to Kisa or whom she had secretly liked had all betrayed her expectations without exception.

She had even begun to suspect that she might never be able to trust people again.

However, if there were people who disappointed her, there were also people like Manoa who moved her.

Perhaps she would meet more good people in the future.

Parting ways with the environment she had lived in all her life and starting over in a new place would certainly be a difficult journey, but it wouldn’t be filled only with hardships.

Feeling a gentle hope rising within her, Kisa formally bowed to Manoa with proper etiquette.

“Thank you so much, Miss Manoa. I will never forget this kindness. May fortune be with you as well.”

Manoa replied with a gentle smile, and that was the last image Kisa saw of her.

****

The wedding. The day she had been eagerly anticipating with excitement until just recently was now awaited with completely different meaning.

“Now, put that there and that over there.”

“Hey, you there. Move it carefully. It would be a disaster if you dropped it.”

In the courtyard of the Hillan estate, where winter had retreated and spring had arrived, wedding preparations were in full swing.

Kisa watched the workers with somewhat mechanical eyes, then turned her head upon sensing an approaching presence.

“Seyard.”

The man with his perfect bearing as always wrapped his arm around Kisa’s waist.

She almost hesitated for a moment, but Kisa successfully leaned into him naturally without showing any sign of it.

“Did the meeting go well?”

“Yes, there wasn’t much to discuss anyway. With the most important matter of my life just around the corner, I can’t let myself be distracted by trivial things.”

“That’s right. Time really flies. To think the wedding is already three days away.”

“Soon we’ll officially become husband and wife.”

Facing Seyard who smiled with pleasure, Kisa also wore a happy smile.

“I wish that day would come quickly.”

“…….”

Seyard was silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to the workers and asked.

“Are you satisfied with the ceremony venue? It’s still just a rough framework, so if there’s anything you’d like to modify, please tell me now.”

“There’s nothing in particular. I’m completely satisfied with it. It’s exactly what we’ve been planning together all this time.”

Even if it suddenly poured unseasonably heavy rain on the day, they had the perfect backup plan of moving the ceremony indoors where the engagement ceremony had been held before.

It would certainly be a beautiful wedding. If everything went according to plan, that is.

Seyard seemed to have more to say but kept his mouth shut.

The two of them quietly watched the outdoor wedding venue being set up in the courtyard for a while, then returned to the mansion at Kisa’s suggestion.

Since most of the preparations related to the wedding were already complete, they spent their time as usual—drinking tea, having meals, and going about their normal daily routine.

Brother Vishius, who had decided to stay at the Hillan estate until the wedding, joined them and livened up the atmosphere with his witty conversation, making it an enjoyable time.

Then, as the sun was setting, he returned to his room saying he had evening prayers, leaving just the two of them.

“I think I’ve lost some weight from nervousness. It would be terrible if the wedding dress I had altered doesn’t fit—maybe I should start snacking from now on.”

Kisa spared no effort in trying to appear like an ordinary bride-to-be.

“It’ll be fine. I’m more worried that you might get indigestion from forcing yourself to eat more.”

“That’s true too. Oh! Look at the time. I should get going now.”

When Kisa looked at the wall clock and got up from her chair, Seyard also rose to his feet.

“Seyard, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Having said that, Kisa nestled into his embrace.

Since their meeting before last, Kisa had completely shed any remaining awkwardness and acted exactly as she had before.

Just as they had been affectionate lovers before she opened that secret room.

Seyard, who had opened his arms to hold Kisa in his embrace, lowered his body.

Then Kisa brought her face close to his as if she had been waiting for this moment, and soon their two lips met.

The farewell kiss was sweet as always, but not very long.

After fully feeling the gentle touch that wiped away the saliva from her lips, Kisa took a step or two away from him.

“You don’t need to see me off. You must be tired too, so you should go inside and rest soon. Well then, good—”

“Kisa.”

But Seyard, who had cut off her words, closed the distance with his lover once again.

Seyard, who had taken Kisa’s hand, opened his mouth with a strange expression.

“Won’t you tell me now?”

“Tell you what?”

“The reason your attitude suddenly changed.”

There was no need to ask what that meant.

Since he hadn’t made any special mention of it even when Kisa had changed her approach and started acting like before again, Kisa was a bit flustered.

But part of her also thought that what was bound to come had finally arrived.

Kisa pondered for a moment before answering.

“Do I really have to say it with my own mouth?”

The words “I thought we agreed to just pretend not to know and move on” were left unsaid.

“I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. But I want to know what you’re thinking. Especially if it concerns me.”

Seyard’s hand, which was holding Kisa’s hand, gradually moved up toward her wrist.

“I would wait for you to tell me eventually, but unfortunately, my patience seems to have reached its limit.”

Kisa withdrew her hand from his as inconspicuously as possible.

She immediately cupped both of Seyard’s cheeks with her hands.

The reddish-brown eyes that met hers widened slightly, as if her action was unexpected.

“Fine. I’ll tell you. Seyard, I was quite disappointed in you over that matter. The reason I stayed holed up at home for so long was because I didn’t want to see your face.”

“Kisa…….”

“But the longer the days without you went on, the more I came to realize one thing keenly.”

I love you.

At that moment, the man drew in a sharp breath.

“I was disappointed in you, but I still love you. And I can’t help this love myself.”

Even as she declared her passionate love, Kisa thought in her head that she would need to change her plans.

She had planned to go home like this today and review her escape plan once more, but it seemed she would have to postpone it until tomorrow.

“Seyard, I love you.”

Kisa whispered the same words as before and kissed him.