My New Love That Isn’t Fated - Episode 26

Narvira, looking delighted with the apricot jam she had just bought, climbed into the carriage waiting on the main street.

After talking to Harvey about Lilia, Narvira insisted on seeing her. That’s how they ended up at the open-air market.

Originally, they had planned to just watch her from a distance and leave quietly.
But—an unexpected incident happened. Narvira was relieved they had been able to protect Lilia.

“…That woman. Should we have turned her over to the guards?”
“For throwing the bottle?”
“Yes.”
“She’d probably just get a strict warning for something like that. If it happens again—and if Lilia gets hurt—then it would be a jail sentence. In that case, hand her over to the guards immediately. Owen, keep an eye on Lilia. People who are deeply obsessed can be the most dangerous.”
“Understood, brother.”
“Lilia is a strong woman. Even after going through something like that, she didn’t complain once.”
“Yes. …Even though she would’ve been allowed to cry.”

After parting ways with his brother, Owen headed home.

Even last night, when he had seen Elad and that woman—Louise—together, Lilia had only shown a brief moment of sadness. That was all.

She was clearly trying to move on with her life.

To Owen, that made her shine. And at the same time, it was painful to see.

He wished she would lean on him a little more. That she would say it if things were hard, or if she was hurting.

It felt like something inside her was holding back all of her emotions.

Maybe he was imagining it. But maybe he just—
“…just want her to rely on me.”

Back home, Owen murmured this to himself as he boiled water and added coffee grounds to the pot.

Lilia belonged in that quiet library. On Saturdays, there were reading sessions for children.
Owen loved listening to her gentle voice as she read stories aloud.

Of course, he didn’t sit among the children and listen directly, but from his usual seat by the window, he could just barely hear her voice.

Her calm, soothing tone was like spring sunlight filtering through the trees.
Listening to it had become a small joy every Saturday.

Just knowing he’d see her again tomorrow made his otherwise routine life feel suddenly vivid and full of color.

For the past few years, he’d lived quietly, buried in ancient texts.

He’d vaguely assumed he would keep living like that until the end.
But now…

As the water bubbled and the rich aroma of coffee filled the room, Owen found himself thinking about Lilia’s new life.

When it came to her and Elad, he knew he was an outsider.

He had no real place in that story—just feelings he’d kept to himself.

He couldn’t intervene. If he did, it might only make things worse. And that left him feeling helpless.

Still, he hoped that when Lilia was finally freed from her home, he could be there to support her.
Not just watching her from afar in the library—
but walking beside her.

As a friend, at the very least. And if he dared to wish a little more—
then maybe, someday, as something more.

On Sunday morning, Owen dressed neatly and made his way to the fountain square.

It was still early—nine a.m. While the square would usually be bustling by midday, it was still fairly empty.

The sky was gray with thick clouds, and a light mist hung in the air.

When the clock on the fountain tower struck nine, Lilia was still nowhere to be seen.

“Good morning, Owen! What a surprise to see you at this hour.”

The Rainy Night Café ran as a café at night and a diner during the day.

Sienna, who worked the daytime shift, spotted Owen and ran over to him.

“Good morning, Sienna.”
“Hmm. Owen, you’re dressed kind of nicely today. Is this a date?”
“…Is it that different from usual?”
“It feels like you made an effort. Just kidding—you always look cool.”

Sienna laughed cheerfully.

She worked both day and night, and Owen often wondered when she even slept. According to her, she stopped working around midnight and slept upstairs in the home above the shop.

“There aren’t that many people who drink coffee in the middle of the night,” she had once said. “So my dad can manage on his own from late night to early morning.”

Come to think of it, Owen had never stayed at the café past midnight either.

“You’re meeting Lilia today, right? Good luck!”
“…It’s not a date.”
“But you hope it’ll turn into one?”
“You shouldn’t tease adults.”
“Haha. I spend so much time surrounded by grownups, I forget how young I actually am.”

Sienna was still in her teens.

Owen sighed. Was he really acting so obviously excited that even a teenager noticed?

Still… What had happened to Lilia?
He knew she wasn’t the kind of person to break a promise.

Even though they had only truly spoken for the first time two days ago, he had watched her at the Tenegro Library for a month now. He knew her better than their brief conversation would suggest.

Could something have happened…?

Just then, he noticed a woman walking unsteadily down the main street.
Owen stood up.

It was the middle-aged woman who had been with Lilia at the open-air market—her maid, most likely.

Her face was pale, and she looked shaken.
Owen rushed to her side.

“You’re Lilia’s maid, aren’t you? What’s wrong? You look awful.”
“You’re… the man from yesterday… Your Highness… I know it’s asking far too much, but please—please save Lady Lilia!”

She clung to Owen, desperate, like a drowning person grabbing at a piece of straw.