Edited Novel of IBTMITL (Chapter 201-256)

Chapter 218

"What are you doing?"

I said, removing Perez's hand from the necklace.

His eyes still felt hot, but I didn't make any more eye contact.

"Like this."

I covered the necklace with the shawl after returning it to its place.

And then I pulled the string hard and tied it up.

The glowing red ruby was no longer visible.

"I'm burying it."

I spoke as calmly as possible.

"There is no future between me and you. It's just a relationship that will end someday."

"Deputy Patriarch."

Perez tried to say something but I cut him off.

"Now that I've succeeded Lombardi, I can take a breather, but what about the Emperor?"

Perez kept his mouth shut with his eyes full of words.

My heart ached at his sorrowful face.

"You must defeat the Empress and you must be appointed as the Crown Prince. And then you'll have to spend your time as the Crown Prince safely and become the Emperor. Are you still going to continue your relationship with me, who can't be an Empress?"

I shook my head.

Even with Perez, there are limitations.

"At this rate, Your Highness will achieve nothing."

When I saw Perez, my heart that's pounding again was slowly sinking.

It was right to sort out here for the both of us.

"There is a long way to go for the Prince to become the Emperor. And the Imperial knights were divided in half right now, right?"

Perez nodded silently.

I am glad that you are taking my words well.

But apart from that, another throbbing from heart ache came.

I put my hand on Perez's chest, hiding my expression as much as I could.

It was the place where my heart ached.

"That's why I'm burying it. We each have something to accomplish. And then at some point..."

It'll all go away.

I was going to say that.

But my lips won't open.

I couldn't bring myself to say that.

It was because I wasn't sure myself either.

Will this mind really forget as the time passes?

Will all the desire to hurt a person like this disappear?

At that time, Perez held my hand in his chest.

It was a frighteningly warm hand.

And slowly, he pulled my hand and gently rubbed his face with it.

With a deeper gaze fixed on me.

At that moment my heart seemed to sink.

It was because I realized that what I said a while ago did not push him away, but instead stimulate him more.

"If I bury my heart, it will not disappear."

Unlike me, Perez said with conviction.

"Deputy Patriarch."