Chapter 19 – Stay Where I Can See You (1)

She did not want to be thrown away.

Alicia looked at Cabellenus with anxious eyes.

She promised to live, but it was still too daunting.

She could not get a sense of how she could live normally like other people.

Even so, her purpose of life was not clear either.

The only thing that she eagerly anticipated was the man in front of her.

She wanted to stay by his side somehow.

“If you had value, I would not have kept you alive.”

“…….”

“I’ve never considered your worth before. Just…….”

Cabellenus, unable to speak, buried his face against her shoulder.

If he continued to reach out like this, it would eventually reach his grasp, but for some reason, his stomach felt empty.

Even if he hugged and touched it, it did not feel like he had anything.

“……Why are you doing this to me?”

“It has no meaning. It’s just interesting.”

Yes, this was a simple interest.

It had to be.

Thinking this, Cabellenus embraced Alicia in his arms.

Even though she was small and skinny, whenever he hugged her, his arms felt full.

However, it was only for a moment.

He was very satisfied with hugging her, but the moment he held her in his arms and realised that she was not his, everything became futile.

As much as there was a sense of fullness, the feeling of emptiness when it disappeared was also great.

“……Then, what if Your Grace’s interests cool down?”

Alicia’s voice was dry, but Cabellenus was unaware of it.

“I’ll let you go when that time comes.”

Could this interest really cool down?

Even though nothing was certain, Cabellenus responded mechanically.

Cabellenus von Schwarhan Blanche

Ever since his birth, he had never forgotten the weight of his name.

And, nothing could take precedence over the weight of the name.

That was how it should be.

“……If so, can you make one promise?”

“Promise?”

“If your interest cools, you’ll be the first to let me know.”

She wanted to tell him not to throw her away, but she could not.

Cabellenus was not a man she could catch just because she wanted to.

His gaze was always strong, and he clearly knew what his goal was.

There was no way such a man would show sympathy because Alicia was clinging to him.

In truth, she was more worried that she would cry over nothing, causing him to despise her and throw her out more quickly.

“……Do you want to leave me?”

“…….”

“Why don’t you answer?”

It was a brief pause, but even that offended the man who stood in front of her.

“That—”

“No. Don’t tell. Don’t do anything.”

His hold on her arm tightened.

Everything was a mess, just like a bunch of tangled thread, but she dared not untie it.

It was not supposed to be obvious.

As long as it was Cabellenus von Schwarhan Blanche, it would never be.

“You can’t go anywhere until my interests cool down, so don’t think about it and stay where I can see you.”

Of course, he knew that what he said was a contradiction as he was the one unable to let go of the woman in his arms.

Cabellenus kept his mouth shut and hugged Alicia more tightly.