My New Love That Isn’t Fated - Episode 20

Owen clutched the jar of apricot jam he had caught and let out a deep sigh.
Lilia, stunned by the unexpected turn of events, quickly bowed to Owen, Harvey, and Narvira.
“My apologies for not greeting you properly. I’m Lilia Griez. I’m sorry you had to see me in such an embarrassing state. Owen, thank you so much for helping me.”
“You don’t need to worry about it,” Owen replied.

After Harvey spoke in a calm voice, Narvira waved her hands and bounced lightly as she explained the situation.

“My uncle really likes—uhm, no, I mean—he said the handkerchiefs you made were so cute! I really wanted one too, so I asked Father to bring me here!”

Seeing the adorable princess, Lilia smiled warmly. Irma and the others, though still feeling a bit awkward, also smiled at the charming sight.

“I want a handkerchief too!” Narvira said brightly.
“I’m so sorry, they’re all sold out,” Lilia apologized. “But if you’d like, you can tell me your favorite animal, and I’ll embroider one for you. I’ll give it to Owen so he can deliver it to you.”
“Really? Yay! Thank you, Lilia! I want a little owl, just like Uncle’s!”
“Eh…?”
“Uh… well…”

Lilia blinked at Owen, surprised.
He frowned slightly and turned his gaze away. Then, as if giving up, he spoke.

“…Actually, I already knew you had a shop here. I bought a handkerchief with an owl embroidered on it before. I wasn’t planning to tell you.”
“I see… Thank you so much. But why keep it a secret?”

To Lilia, it was something to be grateful for — Owen had bought something she made.
If she had known, she could have properly thanked him.
She tried to recall if she had seen him at her shop before, but she couldn’t remember all her customers.

“Sorry, Uncle. I let it slip,” Narvira said, looking guilty.
“It’s fine, Narvira,” Owen reassured her.

“Aah! Now that you mention it,” Lilia said, clapping her hands together, “I remember talking a little about ancient writing with a gentleman who bought an owl handkerchief.”

She recalled the encounter with a well-dressed man.
At the time, Owen had been wearing a hat, hiding his face, but now that she thought about it, his voice and the shape of his lips seemed familiar.

“So it was you, Owen,” Lilia said. “I didn’t realize. What a coincidence.”
“Some might call that fate,” Harvey joked.

Lilia shook her head quickly.
Owen had only spoken to her because she could read ancient writing, nothing more.

“Anyway,” Owen said seriously, “I’m just glad you’re safe. If that bottle had hit you… it could’ve been really bad. You might have even lost your sight if you were hit the wrong way.”

His voice carried a hint of anger, and Narvira echoed his feelings.

“Yeah! It was awful! Absolutely terrible!”
“Narvira, calm down,” Harvey said gently, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Though I do understand why you’re upset. Lilia, does this kind of thing happen often?”

Feeling embarrassed, Lilia answered carefully.

“I’m truly sorry for making even Her Highness and His Majesty worry. That was the first time I ever spoke with her. I didn’t know she felt that way about me.”

It seemed Louise resented Lilia.
Lilia had foolishly assumed that Louise thought she was happy, loved by Elad.

“Thank you again for saving me,” Lilia said. “But I realize now… I need to take responsibility. I plan to speak properly with my husband. I need to think carefully about my future.”

“You should just leave him,” Narvira said firmly. “Right, Uncle?”
“…That’s for Lilia to decide,” Owen replied. “It’s not our place to interfere.”

“But we can at least give advice, can’t we?” Harvey said.
“Lilia, no fish can live in a tank where the water is never changed. My mother died trapped in stagnant water. She didn’t know how else to live.”

Harvey spoke with a faraway look in his eyes.
His mother had been the queen — the official wife of the king.
But in the kingdom’s history, she barely made a mark.

That was because the previous king had married many wives, one after another.
While kings sometimes took multiple queens when no male heir was born, in the previous king’s case, it was said he revived the harem simply for his own pleasure.
Lilia wondered how Harvey’s mother had felt, living in such circumstances.
Maybe, just like her, she had been someone who was never truly chosen.

“No one is really to blame,” Harvey continued. “You can’t control people’s hearts. In the end, it’s all about what you choose to do. Where you live, how you live — those are decisions only you can make.”

“Thank you,” Lilia said, bowing her head. “I’ll treasure your words and keep them close to my heart.”

“Christopher spoke highly of you,” Harvey said with a smile. “He said you always work so cheerfully. He’s grateful you chose to work at the Tenegro Library, even with your amazing education.”

“Mr. Christopher has always been very kind to me,” Lilia replied warmly.

“Owen worries about you too,” Harvey said. “Don’t ever forget that there are people who care about you. It’s okay to ask for help sometimes. You’re not alone.”

Then Harvey pointed to the apricot jam still in Owen’s hand.

“That’s the last one, right? Since that woman didn’t want it, I’d like to have it. It looks delicious.”
“I want some too, Father!” Narvira added.

“This… I’m keeping it,” Owen said firmly.
“Uncle, you’re being mean! How childish!” Narvira pouted.

They ended up arguing for a while over who should get the apricot jam.
In the end, Lilia had to calm them down, promising, “I’ll make a lot more and deliver some to Owen!”

While they chatted and laughed, Lilia found herself forgetting about Louise and Elad, even if only for a little while.

Still, she couldn’t help but notice that Irma and the others looked worried.