Chapter 5- Apology
The trials were over, and the results were just as he anticipated.
Canonically, Valerie would have been suspended from attending classes for three months and the news of engagement annulment would have made her a laughing stock back home. Not to talk about, her father had to pay a hefty sum as compensation.
Those moments she spends back at home, all alone, change her personality. She yearned for Austin and got betrayed by him. However, even after annulment she never stopped loving him. Even when she returned as a Parasyte General, she just desired to become one with Austin.
… but all Valerie received was betrayal again.
The protagonist, Rhea, couldn't defeat Valerie head-on, so she used Austin to lure her…before stabbing Valerie in her back.
Such an unfortunate fate and all because an idiot failed to notice the feelings of his fiancée.
….
The headmaster asked Morkel to stay and told the others to leave.
Austin, along with others, walked out of the office at once.
The blond Prince could feel the shy gaze of his fiancée on his back. It seems she couldn't bring herself to walk beside him.
'Haa…what an adorable girl…'
Austin was about to ask Valerie something when suddenly Rhea asked, "Austin…can you accompany me for a bit? I want to talk to you."
Hearing that, Rudolph and Parkinson's faces darkened. Even without looking at her, Austin could tell that Valerie's expression shifted.
Rhea looked serious and Austin could guess what she had to say. However,
"Let's chat tomorrow. I want to stay with Valerie for the time being." As he said, Austin held Valerie's hand and urged her to stand beside him.
The violet-haired looked at him with her sharp eyes turning round in astonishment.
Austin glanced at her and instantly looked away. The way she was looking up at him was too damn adorable.
'Gah…control Luke…you can't pet the adorable creature here…control….'
Rhea glanced at their connected hands, a frown dancing on her forehead before she nodded and wordlessly walked away.
Parkinson immediately followed her while Rudolph remained standing.
With his eyes narrowed, he said, "What happened to you? You never spoke so indifferently with Rhea before."
Austin sighed, a little surprised that the big man cares about things like emotions and sentiments, before he said, "Look Rudolph, I was just stating the fact without showing any partiality. If it seems rude, then you should say sorry."
Rudolph nodded, "Okay sorry. See you later."
Saying so, the taller one walked away, leaving a dumbfounded Valerie behind. She couldn't understand what just happened so she looked back at her lord.
Austin smirked; easy to manipulate that guy is.
He looked at the lovely princess beside him—urging her to lower her head immediately—before asking, "Should we walk around a bit?"
Naturally, she didn't disagree.
….
The two of them left the main building and Austin led the girl to the garden on the front side of the campus. He was not aware of things located in the academy, so he just wandered mindlessly with Valerie by his side.
They were no longer holding hands as Austin kept his hands hidden inside his pocket and walked a few steps ahead of his fiancée.
"Why didn't you stand up for yourself back there?" Austin asked, prompting her to raise her head and look at him.
Valerie then slowly lowered her eyes and muttered, "I…was wrong, and by remaining silent, I was accepting my mistake."
Austin slowed his pace until he was beside her before asking her with a smile, "So you regret reacting when she damaged the dress I gifted you?"
"Never…!" Her voice pitched a bit high, but soon she calmed down and relayed her honest thoughts,
"I…would react the same if someone tried to damage what's precious to me. However, I should have been careful when attacking her."
Seeing her downcast gaze and her fragile self, a sense of protectiveness was born in his heart for this girl.
He got to know this girl just an hour ago, yet, her situation and pitiful self made his heart melt.
"I was there, Valerie." Austin began, his eyes now looking at the darkening sky.
Valerie looked at his charming face as she heard him saying, "I was there all along…when you entered the common hall to the point when the fight broke out. I saw everything."
Taking a pause and letting a weary sigh seep through his lips, he added, "Initially I was angry that you attacked Rhea. She could have lost her life…but then last night I found a picture album of ours that made me remember several things."
Although he was making up things, Austin made sure that he had a photo album with Valerie.
"The person who became my first friend despite my worth and status in the royal family. Someone who never judged me for my abilities but looked at my true self. Someone who encouraged me to move forward and healed my wounds when I got hurt."
With a smile, he looked at the girl, who didn't steal her gaze this time, before adding, "People came to know this better version of Austin after I became a student here. But the person who made me the man I am right now is you, Val."
Valerie's feet slowly came to a pause and so did Austin's as they gazed into each other's eyes.
Tears rolled down her eyes as she stared at Austin with numerous complicated emotions swirling in her mind.
She thought…he forgot all of it. She thought she was no longer needed. She assumed he didn't need her so he would throw her away.
However, when Austin took out the ring from the box and slid it back where it was, she knew,
"Please forgive me for what I have done, Val."
…she knew that he needed her. Just like how she needed him.
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A/N:- Not even once I stopped smiling during their conversation. Save the book in your library, and a big thank you to those who wrote a review even though the book has yet to hit ten chapters.
Especially in this phase, every collection, every review, and every comment helps. So big thank you to all of you..