Everyone Realized the Saint Was a Fake, but She Still Thought She Was Fooling Them - Chapter 19

Lianna suddenly found herself going horseback riding with Bartlett and Wallace. When she told Bartlett about Celeste’s condition, he seemed to become much more serious.

Wallace kept saying, “Strategy, strategy,” over and over. However, since Lianna knew Celeste’s personality well, she believed unnecessary strategies would be meaningless—if anything, they would have the opposite effect.

So, Lianna advised Bartlett, “Right now, she’s feeling down because of Lord Brode. Why not try comforting her first? I think she’s regretting not seeing his true nature. But it’s clear that Celeste cares about you, Bartlett. If you close the distance a little, and maybe even just say, ‘I’m here for you,’ that might be enough.”

“Celeste isn’t the kind of woman to jump straight to another man just because her engagement was broken off,” Bartlett insisted. But Lianna shook her head.

“Don’t worry. She treated Lord Brode with care as her fiancé, but now that they’re no longer engaged, I don’t think she’ll dwell on it too much. Of course, she probably doesn’t feel like moving on so quickly either, so it’s better to keep it light—maybe just arrange the next meeting.”

“She’s not dwelling on it?” Bartlett asked anxiously.

“I think so. Celeste often talked about wanting to be a good wife, but I never really heard her say she loved him. I figured that might change if they got married, but as for love… it didn’t seem to be there yet,” Lianna explained.

“I see…” Bartlett looked relieved, yet also slightly deflated, as if he had been prepared to give Celeste up.

They reached a hill with a nice view and found some shade under a tree to let their horses rest.

Wallace had been leading Lianna’s horse like an attendant the whole way, but when it was time to help her down, his servant-like attitude suddenly disappeared. The moment Lianna grabbed Wallace’s outstretched hand, he pulled her close, completely wrapping her in his arms despite her surprised “Ah!”

Lianna turned bright red. “W-Wait! What are you—?! Bartlett is right there!”

Ignoring her small, trembling protest, Wallace tightened his embrace and whispered into her ear, “It’s my fiancé privilege.”

“No, wait, I wasn’t prepared for this!” Lianna’s body stiffened in shock as Wallace spoke softly in her ear again.

“I’ll make you forget about Ernst.”

“Lord Ernst has a fiancée… it’s not like…” Lianna tried her best to argue.

Wallace gently stroked her hair. “That may be, but feelings are a different matter. Still, our engagement won’t be broken. You’ll have to seal away your feelings for Ernst.”

“Seal them away…?”

“Yes. I know it won’t be easy right away. But if I fill your heart completely, you won’t have time to think about Ernst.”

With that, Wallace moved his lips from her ear, softly kissing her forehead as he traced along her hair.

Lianna’s heart skipped a beat. A kiss, even if only on the forehead! A tender, caring kiss…

Flustered and embarrassed, she blushed deeply. “Wallace!! Bartlett is still here!”

However, Bartlett had been deliberately looking in the opposite direction for a while. He lazily waved a hand at them. “Go ahead, enjoy your moment. Don’t mind me.”

Wallace glanced at Bartlett before turning his attention back to Lianna. “See? Bartlett says it’s fine.”

“He did not say that! Waving his hand isn’t the same as giving permission—he’s obviously paying attention!” Lianna retorted.

From a little distance away, Bartlett called out, “Sorry for being in the way! But Wallace is trying his best, so just pretend I’m not here and carry on!”

“Bartlett! That’s not helping!” Lianna almost cried.

“No, listen! Lianna, you need to accept Wallace so you can finally get over Ernst!” Bartlett shot back.

“That’s embarrassing! Don’t say that out loud!” Lianna turned even redder.

Wallace, still holding her tightly, pouted playfully. “I don’t want to marry you while you still have feelings for Ernst.”

Lianna felt the warmth of Wallace’s body and her heart pounded. “If we get married, I’ll never mention Lord Ernst again. That would be proper etiquette.”

But… lately, I don’t think about Lord Ernst as much… Actually, the person I think about before sleeping is Wallace…

Not knowing her thoughts, Wallace held her a little tighter, pressing his cheek against her hair. “Etiquette isn’t the issue. I want all of your heart.”

“All of it?” Lianna’s heart raced even more. He must know how she feels by now.

Wallace gently stroked her shoulder with his soft hand. “Yes, all of it! Celeste was engaged to Brode even though Bartlett was there. If I were in Lord Brode’s position, I wouldn’t be able to handle it. Even if he didn’t know about Bartlett, he probably would have married Celeste anyway because of the political advantage. But for me… if my wife loved another man, it would drive me crazy. I want you to love me.”

Lianna, still in his arms, softly spoke. “…Wallace, will you really marry me?”

Wallace was taken aback. “Why would you say that, Lianna?”

Tears welled up in Lianna’s eyes. “I was engaged to the Crown Prince for so long, and then he broke it off. After that, I admired Lord Ernst even though he was engaged. I must seem like a damaged noblewoman.”

“Is that what you think? You’re not damaged, Lianna! I’ve loved you for so long! Even when you were engaged to the Crown Prince, I couldn’t give up on you. When your engagement was broken, I was happy, but I had to go to a neighboring country. I kept wondering why things never worked out for me… but now, this moment, makes it all worth it. I will keep loving you!” Wallace lightly brushed Lianna’s cheek with his fingertip.

“I never really thought about your feelings before… I’m sorry. But… what will Duke Kianan, your father, say? Will he accept me?” Lianna asked hesitantly.

“Of course he will! That’s obvious,” Wallace declared.

He hugged her tightly once more before finally letting her go.

A damaged noblewoman… So that’s how Lianna saw herself.

Is she holding back because of my family? No… it’s about her feelings for Ernst…

Wallace pressed his lips together tightly, trying to suppress his emotions. “Ugh, my head is going to explode.”

He shook his head as if trying to clear his troubled thoughts.