I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 67

(Unspoken Words)

Isabella: "What?"

'Why is he here? Forget about visiting, he avoided me whenever I went to visit him before.'

Isabella thought while frowning. 

"My Lady? Are you not happy about it?"

Anne asked, seeing Isabella's frown.

"..."

But without saying anything, Isabella just glared at Anne.

"I-I apologize, My Lady."

Anne stuttered. 

"It doesn't matter. He came here unannounced, so let him wait."

Saying that Isabella continued eating her breakfast. 

"I-I understand, My Lady."

After a while, Isabella finished her breakfast.

"Prepare for my bath."

"Ah-"

"What? Do you have any problems?"

"Wh-What? No way! How dare I?"

Anne said while bowing.

"Then hurry up and go."

"Y-Yes."

Saying that Anne rushed to prepare Isabella's bath. And Isabella randomly took a book from her bookshelf and continued reading it.

After a while, Anne came in.

"My Lady, Your bath is prepared."

"Hmm. Let's go."

Isabella said while closing her book.

After finishing her bath, Anne brought a blue dress for Isabella.

"Hmm. I don't like this one. Bring out another one."

"W-What?"

"Tch! Are you deaf? Why do I have to keep repeating myself?"

Isabella said, clicking her tongue.

"I-I apologize, My Lady."

Saying that Anne brought out another dress.

"Not this one either."

"O-Okay! I will bring another one."

And this continued for a while. After what feels like an eternity to Anne, Isabella finally chooses a red dress. 

"This looks good. I will wear this one."

"Okay!"

'Thank God she finally chose one!'

Anne sighed in relief.

After that, she helped Isabella put on the dress then did her hair. 

"Let's go then. Shall we?"

Isabella said with a smile.

"Alright."

After that, both Isabella and Anne got out of the room. And headed towards the parlour room where Roberto was waiting.

*

*

*

I hope he loses his patience and just goes back. I tried my best to waste enough time.

Ughh. Why is he here anyway? 

After walking for a minute or so, I finally reached the front of the parlour room. Two knights were guarding the door.

I guess he didn't leave. Tch! So annoying.

"Open the door."

"..."

The Knights who were guarding the door didn't say anything and just dazed at me.

Sigh~

Why do I have to yell every thirty minutes?

"Hey! Did you not hear what My Lady said?"

Fortunately, Anne did the scolding instead of me.

"I- Apologies, Princess."

The Knights bowed and apologized with a flustered face.

Sigh~

"Hey! Open the door already. You are wasting My Lady's time!"

What the- She just said what I was going to say. She is too smart…

"Her Highness, the First Princess, Isabella Von Hagen Loire is entering the room!"

The Knights announced my presence and opened the door.

"You stay here, Anne. I will enter alone."

"Alright, My Lady."

Anne bowed and stood in one corner.

Soon I entered the room.

Sigh~

I don't want to see his face.

"I-Isabella!"

Roberto stood up from the couch seeing me. 

What the- Why do you look so surprised? It was you who wanted to see me, wasn't it?

Anyways-

"Greetings, Grand Duke Roberto Silverwind. Apologies for the delay."

I hid my displeasure and greeted him politely.

"Oh. Greetings. And you don't have to apologize, it was me who came here unannounced."

Roberto replied, fixing his composure.

It's good that you know. Anyways, why does he look so tired? Well, whatever, it has nothing to do with me.

After that, I sat on a couch and said,

"So what is the reason for your sudden visit, Grand Duke?"

"That…"

I hope you didn't come here to waste my time… Is what I want to say.

"I haven't been- Uh."

"Can you hurry up? My schedule is tight today."

"I just wanted to see how you have been doing?"

"Well, as you can see, I am just fine. So you don't have to worry. So is there anything else you want to mention?"

"That…"

"Grand Duke, if there is nothing, then please excuse me."

I said while getting up from the couch.

"Wait. I- I haven't been feeling well, so I-"

"Ha!"

Roberto flinched hearing Isabella's scoff.

"So Grand Duke, do you want me to heal you? I apologize, but I am really useless. Did you forget that I can't use magic? I will not be able to heal you."

"Isabella! T-"

"What? Why did you come to me instead of going to Rubena? She can heal you with her heartfelt love."

"What?"

"That's not it, either? Then what do you want me to do? Should I try to soothe your pain? Do you want to hear my sweet words?"

"Isabella… "

Roberto said with a heartbroken face.

"Why are you here, Grand Duke? Please tell me quickly so that I can be done with it and leave."

"...Are you angry?"

My eyes widened at his question. This man… How can he ask that? Y-You… 

"No. How dare I get angry with the Great Grand Duke? I don't deserve to worry for you."

"No. You… Y-"

Roberto bit his lips then stopped whatever he was going to say.

"On the day of the Second Princess's birthday… Will you be my partner?"

"What?"

I asked while frowning. What is he up to? Why is he behaving differently from the past?

"Well, you are my fiance, so isn't it normal for us to join the Second Princess's birthday together?"

"Ha! Grand Duke… It was you who always declined my request to be the companion at any banquet."

Roberto flinched at Isabella's sarcastic laugh.

"And apologizes but I will have to decline your kind offer, Grand Duke. I think it will be better if you take your beloved Rubena as your Companion on the day of her birthday."

"Is... Isabella… Is that what you really want?"

Roberto said with a weak voice.

"Ha! You cease to break my expectations today, Grand Duke. And since when did you care about what I want?"

Huff* Huff*

I am angry. Why is he behaving this way? Just be like what you usually are. Stop acting like you actually care about me.

That way it will be easier to ignore you.

"Isabella… I apologize."

My senses snapped hearing that. 

"What? You did all that to me and now you are apologizing?! Do you know you sound like a hypocrite now? Do you know how much and to what extent you broke my heart? You…"

"Isabella…"

Roberto said while getting up from his chair.

"Don't come here!"

My eyes are teary. 

"Your every action and every word was nothing less than stabbing, Duke? I probably was, no I was clinging on to you, wasn't I? I apologize! I apologize for every inconvenience I have caused you until now! I apologize for disgracing your honour! I apologize for foolishly loving you…"

Isabella said with a sarcastic smile. But her eyes looked sad. She was crying.

"Isabella…"

Roberto called my name. His eyes were wide open. But then his expression changed. He said with a broken look,

"I… I didn't know…"

"Hah! You didn't know? A girl who was foolishly following you around day and night, you didn't know that she loved you? Or did you not know all the harsh things Your Knights were saying about me behind your back? Or did you not know what the Aristocrats were saying about you and Rubena? How they were making me a villain when all I did was love my Fiance? Was I really wrong?"

"Isabella…"

Roberto called my name with an almost broken voice. His face… looks like it will burst into tears any minute.

Why? Why are you making that expression? Why did you come at that time? The time of my death… Did you want to see me die? Then why did you look so desperate?

Don't… Don't do that. Don't make that expression.

I got up from my seat.

"I truly loved you, Grand Duke. But don't worry. I won't bother you anymore and I hope you will do the same. And I apologize for what I just said. Then please excuse me."

Saying that I slightly bowed and left the room without looking back leaving Roberto all alone.