Can't Come Back - Chapter 30
Discord Server: Hush Mittens
The two started getting ready for the banquet. There were a lot of things that had to be bought and set up ahead of time, so they were very busy for a few days.
“I think Aishtar Mountain wine would be a good choice for the drinks.”
“Then I’ll try to find something to eat that goes well with the wine.”
The first task was to choose drinks, appetizers, and easy drinks.
“We need to get some new covers. Maybe I should ask Lady Astian what I should do.”
Then, they got ready things like tablecloths, curtains, and dishes that would set the mood of the dinner hall.
“Let’s invite the House Astian and Baron Handel for now, and…”
“Why don’t you also invite the Crown Prince and Princess?”
It was also very careful work to choose the most important people to invite. One of the most important parts of the dinner was choosing the people who would be there.
“Isn’t there a party coming up at Marquis Astian’s house? Since both of us have been invited, it would be interesting to see who else is there.”
“Yes, I think that’s a good idea, Cain.”
Dress was the last thing. As the family’s hostess, she had to pay extra attention to this since she was planning the dinner.
“Should the dress be a little fancier than normal? Since we are the ones who are throwing the party.”
“I agree that would also be better. Also, we should match the clothes my brother wears.”
“…Yes. Shouldn’t we, don’t you think?”
Berlia replied to Cain’s words with an angry tone in her voice.
Berlia was sad that she had to help Dean get ready for the banquet. It started to feel more real that her husband Dean would be back soon. Dean had already gone back to the house by the time this banquet took place. Berlia felt sad every time she thought about her husband coming back soon.
Cain also felt the same way. He never once felt bad about not being the successor. But ever since he met Berlia and learned that she felt the same way towards him, Cain couldn’t stop thinking, ‘If only I had been the Duke.’
But he couldn’t hurt his brother, just like Aslon couldn’t hurt his brother in the play. It was just too bad that these two people didn’t meet at the right time. He didn’t want to feel bad about wanting to love Berlia even more.
* * *
At the home of Marquis Astian, there was a banquet. Not only Marquis Astian, but also his wife, had good connections in the social world. Because of this, a lot of people were called to the banquet without any fuss.
Cain and Berlia were invited as partners. People knew that the two were going to the banquet together because they had been at the banquet at the Imperial City. Because of this, no other women had asked Cain to be their partner recently. Even if it was only for a moment, Berlia was happy to be seen as Cain’s partner. But the fact that everything would be different in a month made her feel sad. Berlia had been feeling a mix of happiness and worry over the past few days. Only Cain and Berlia were in the carriage going to the dinner hall at Marquis Astian’s house. Now that Berlia and Cain were alone, she wanted to tell him how she really felt. She thought that talking to Cain would be better than being alone and worried.
“Cain, the truth is that I worry every day,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
As they looked at each other, Berlia did not look happy. Cain asked her what had happened because he thought something had happened.
“…What should we do if someone else finds out about us?”
Cain had the same fear that Berlia did. Both of them had thought about it, but they didn’t want to talk about it until now because they were afraid it would ruin their happiness.
Cain was also upset that he had to keep seeing Berlia, who was married to his brother, behind her back. Even if Dean and Berlia were to get a divorce, it was unlikely that he would take Berlia, who was married to his brother, as his own wife. If there really was a way, the only thing they could do would be to leave everything behind and go somewhere else.
Cain thought that wasn’t possible, though. This was because Dean had given Berlia’s family too much.
“It is something that hasn’t happened yet. Berlia, don’t worry.”
Cain had a point. It wasn’t something that had happened yet. Berlia couldn’t stop her fears from getting worse, though.
“I won’t be able to stay a duchess if people find out. I wouldn’t fit in with the elite. My family will definitely think I had an affair with my husband’s brother. If everyone turns against me, I might not be able to see you.”
In this way, her mind just kept going crazy. And the end of her stories were always terrible. There was never a happy finish in any of the stories she made up.
“No one, not even our families, can know about our relationship. I’m so worried about what they’d think of us if they found out.”
She was worried because of these things and thoughts. Because their relationship wasn’t right, she couldn’t seem to get rid of this worry.
After a short time of silence, Cain spoke up.
“…Then, do you want this to end?”
When Cain brought up the subject, he looked sad. He must have had a lot of trouble before he brought it up.
“If the fear of being caught by others is greater than the joy of being with me,” he said, and Berlia’s heart felt like it was dropping as he spoke.
“There’s nothing we can do either.”
Cain must have felt the same way. She wasn’t the only one. She knew this was true.
“I wasn’t the only one who was worried, but I was too focused on myself to notice.”
Berlia didn’t tell Cain about her thoughts because she doesn’t want to end her relationship with him. She cared more about being in a relationship with Cain than to care about what others think. If she didn’t care about Cain, she wouldn’t have been so worried. She was about to say that she didn’t mean for things to end.
“But I don’t think I can give up even if you do.”
When Berlia kept hearing Cain’s words, she felt like she was about to cry. Even though she couldn’t be a princess anymore and everyone was avoiding her, Berlia still loved Cain. The same was true for Cain.
“Berlia, you are already very important to me.”
Berlia’s eyes were filled with tears. All this worry was for nothing in the end. She couldn’t break up with Cain but she was afraid of being caught and worried about what would happen afterward. Berlia chose to stop being afraid of what people would think of her.
She wanted to give everything to the love she felt right now, like a moth that jumps into a flame even though it knows it will burn.
The ball at the Astian Marquis House was big and lively, and many lords went to it to meet each other. But neither Berlia nor Cain could be found in the hall.
“Has Lord Cain been seen?”
“I think I saw him when it started, but now I’m not sure…”
“Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen Lord Cain in a while.”
When Prince Hakarton heard that Cain would be there, he said yes to Marquis Astian’s offer. When he got to the ballroom, he looked for Cain right away, but he couldn’t find him.
“Didn’t he already leave?”
“I don’t think he left so early. Maybe he’s in the living room or outside taking a walk.”
After the ball started, the two of them went to a quiet corner of the house to get away from prying eyes.
“Mmm…”
“Ah…”
Their hearts were full of longing for each other. A love that could never be told to anyone else. It was as if Selene and Aslon, the sad heroes of a play, had become them. The drama’s sad finish stuck with them, which made them want each other even more.
In a hidden corner of the house, Cain and Berlia were making out.
“Mmm, ha…”
As they held each other close, they continued to kiss passionately, causing their clothes to get messed up.
This was where the servants hung out together. The rooms set up for the nobles were being occupied by the other nobles. And there was no reason for the staff to come here now, right after the ball had started. Also, there was another lounge closer to the hall for the servants.
People had a hard time getting to this place for many different reasons.
“Haah…”
Still, there was always the chance that something unexpected would happen. The two of them were careful not to make any noise other than the sound of their breath.
It was when Cain was gently stroking Berlia’s waist and sticking his tongue deep into her mouth.
“Oh, come on. What’s going on?”
A voice was heard from outside the door, which was a surprise.
Lady Karen, was the one who owned the voice. Berlia noticed her right away.
“I need to get back to the ballroom, but where’s this?”
Step, step. They could hear footsteps coming closer and closer to where they were. Quickly, they pulled their lips apart and looked at each other. Their faces were full of tension.
“Is there anyone there?”
Thud, thud.
Karen was possibly lost in the big mansion because she was opening every door she could see.
“What do you think we should do?”
Berlia asked Cain the question with her mouth.
“For now, it’s best to hide ourselves.”
In a quiet, hidden place where no one would walk, the looks of the two people who were caught off guard and their slightly messy clothes. If they were found in this condition, there would be no question that something was wrong.
Cain cleaned Berlia’s clothes quickly. He looked around and saw a big cabinet full of cleaning tools. It seemed like a good place for the two of them to hide. They hid their bodies in a corner of the living room in a cabinet for cleaning goods.
They could smell something musty. Also, it was hard to stand still in a place that was so small. But they were stuck where they were until Lady Karen left.
“Of all the people, it had to be Lady Karen…”
Karen secretly liked Cain. She didn’t know what kind of gossip would start if Karen found out about them. Berlia prayed quietly that Karen wouldn’t come into this room and would turn around and go back.
Thud.
Berlia had hoped that the door to the room where they were would be closed, but it was open. The shuffle of Karen’s feet could be heard more clearly.