The End of First Love - Chapter 49

“…Um, Lord Heinz. Is it really alright to leave everyone like that?”

Having completed the wedding ceremony without a hitch, Elizebeth now found herself inexplicably riding through the forest atop Heinz’s beloved horse, which had been tethered outside.

“They’ll be fine without us. They’ll just carry on as they please.”

No, that’s not the issue here…

What kind of guests would be okay with the main stars missing from their own wedding reception garden party? Imagining the chaos that was likely unfolding at the venue, Elizebeth let out a small sigh.

(Milia must be absolutely furious right now.)

Among the guests were the Crown Prince and his wife, Lilia, who had secretly attended despite their royal status. Elizebeth could even picture her father’s panicked face as he tried to manage the situation without the bride and groom present.

“Elizebeth, are you sure you should be worrying about others? Maybe you should be more concerned about yourself.”

“Eh?”

“Now that I’m married to you, I don’t think I can hold myself back anymore. Tonight, I’m going to utterly ravish you.”

“E-EHHHH?!”

C-Could it be… that this was his real reason for whisking her away?!

“What’s wrong? You look like a pigeon hit by a peashooter. Did you really think a simple vow kiss would satisfy me?”

The memory of the ceremony suddenly came rushing back, and her cheeks flushed hot.

The vow kiss, a sacred ritual to pledge eternal love. When Heinz lifted her veil, their eyes met, and their lips met naturally, without hesitation. Normally, it would be a brief kiss before pulling apart. But Heinz was anything but normal.

He had held her firmly by the waist, making escape impossible, and delivered a deep, passionate kiss in front of everyone.

The embarrassment that followed was beyond words…

Turning to face the guests afterward, she had to endure their stunned, awkward stares as she walked down the aisle. She’d never forget how that felt for the rest of her life.

“That was… that was way too much!”

“What was too much?”

“Kissing me like that in front of everyone… no one does that!”

As her words trailed off, Heinz chuckled above her.

“Adorable Elizebeth, it’s your fault. Do you really think I could’ve held back after seeing you with those tearful eyes and blushing cheeks?”

“B-But it was a sacred ceremony…”

“Exactly. A rare opportunity to send a warning—even to God.”

“…Huh? A warning?”

“Yes. That even if God dares lay a hand on my beloved wife, I won’t let it slide.”

“Hyah…!”

A seductive whisper echoed in her ear as he placed a kiss on her neck, igniting a sensual fire deep within her. His arms tightened around her waist, pulling her closer, as the horse accelerated through the woods.

“I’m reaching my limit. Let’s hurry.”

“L-Lord Heinz! W-Where are we going…?”

Even as her tongue threatened to trip over itself, she finally voiced the question that had been burning in her mind—where was Heinz taking her, leaving the reception behind?

“…To a place filled with memories of you.”

Surely, he must be thinking of the same place. That spring…

She found herself wishing it would be so.

The forest scenery, dappled with sunlight, flew by like the wind, gradually shifting into a familiar landscape.

“We’ve arrived, Elizebeth. I wanted to return here with you.”

The sparkling lake that stretched before her blurred through the tears in her eyes.

This spring was where everything began.

“If I hadn’t met you here, Elizebeth… I would never have known what it is to love someone this deeply. Without a doubt, you changed my life.”

To be with Lord Heinz…

That day, at that time—if she hadn’t met Heinz, Elizebeth’s life would have ended. It was he who brought color back into the gray world she’d been living in after her mother’s death. He had awakened her from the delusion that her first love was William, guiding her to see the truth.

It was because of Heinz that Elizebeth’s life now sparkled with color.

And yet, that’s why she felt so afraid—so afraid that it was all fleeting.

What if, deep down, she was nothing more than a burden to him? The fear lingered in her heart that, just like William, Heinz too might someday disappear from her life.

“I may have changed your life, Lord Heinz… but what if it was just a childhood impression? Something that fades with time? That fear never leaves me.”

“Heh… A childhood impression, you say? If that’s all it was, my feelings for you would have vanished long ago. But they haven’t. Because what I feel for you is far more intense than that.”

“But the human heart is fickle… If I keep relying on you like this, won’t you eventually grow tired of me—?”

“—Then why not just become completely dependent on me? That way, you’ll never be able to leave me.”

He said it with a faint, dangerous smile, and a shiver ran down Elizebeth’s spine.

To be trapped in a life dominated by him… And yet, she couldn’t deny it—part of her didn’t find that idea unpleasant. A life where she surrendered her entire self—body and soul—to Heinz. Maybe that was the ultimate form of happiness.

“But even if I wanted that,” Heinz continued, “I know you wouldn’t accept being caged. That’s exactly why I love you, Elizebeth. Because no matter how far you fall, you’ll always struggle to rise up again on your own will.”

(Struggling to rise on my own will…)

His words fell into place in her heart like a perfect puzzle piece.

(It’s always been that way…)

In the end, the one who always made the final decision—the one who took that step forward—was none other than Elizebeth herself.

“A life trapped by you… might not be so bad. But it’s impossible. Because I know the future me wouldn’t want that. I’d rather walk beside you than be protected behind you.”

A life walking alongside Heinz. Even if fear consumed her at times, even if her heart was plagued with uncertainty—there would be no more hesitation. His words would be her guide.

The words of the man who loved the version of her who kept standing up, again and again, no matter how much she struggled.