Between Your Letter and My Reply

Chapter 160

『 Translator – Divinity 』

Why did he make the same face when he looked at her as when he talked about ‘Lady Lintray’? It was because Lilliana was ‘Lady Lintray,’ and he had to make her understand that.

But to do that, he had to bring back her lost memories, and he didn’t know what kind of adverse effects it might have on her.

Moreover, Casey would kill him if he tampered with Lilliana’s memories.

Damian scratched his head in frustration.

It seemed like Lilliana didn’t want to change their relationship, regardless of his or her feelings.

If he were to respect Lilliana’s wishes, the answer to how he should treat her was already clear.

But Damian didn’t want to do that.

“I know that Lily’s feelings won’t change, so I have no intention of doing anything more. That’s why Lily treats me like a best friend. Because she knows I won’t cross the line.”

He recalled the conversation he had with Eugene the day before.

Just like with Eugene, if Damian didn’t cross the line that Lilliana had drawn, she would probably cover up yesterday’s incident and his feelings.

But Damian couldn’t understand why they had to maintain this pretense, both Eugene and Lilliana.

If his feelings were overflowing, how could he not cross that line? He didn’t like the idea of wasting his emotions by keeping them tightly bound.

He left the bathroom and went out to the backyard overlooking the ocean. There were traces of the others cleaning up the barbecue grill.

He sat down on one of the randomly placed chairs and looked at the ocean. He was glad to be alone.

His mind had been complicated at first, but listening to the sound of the waves and the cries of seagulls calmed his thoughts. Only one thought occupied his mind now.

He liked Lilliana.

He was confused about what to do with this feeling that he couldn’t control.

He liked her radiant blonde hair. He liked her eyes, which sometimes seemed to hold the sky, and sometimes the blue of flames. He liked her round forehead and her straight nose.

He liked her expression that always seemed to sparkle. He liked her reliable spirit, seemingly unyielding to anything despite her small and slender frame. Most of all, he liked the smile she gave him.

Right now… he just liked Lilliana.

He didn’t want to lose this precious thing. Lilliana was the most precious and important thing he had found in his 21 years of life.

He didn’t intend to force his feelings on her. Lilliana truly looked hurt yesterday. Even though it wasn’t true, he couldn’t explain it, and that’s why Lilliana looked like that.

Damian didn’t have the wisdom to handle this situation any better. It was the first time he realized how foolish he was.

Then… wouldn’t it be better for Lilliana if he just did as she wished?

Reaching that conclusion, Damian felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

He had finally become certain of his feelings. He finally seemed to understand Lilliana’s feelings, even if just a little. Why did things have to turn out like this?

Frustrated, he picked up a pebble and threw it towards the ocean. The sound of the stone falling into the water after drawing a parabola was too faint to be heard.

***

“Lily, wake up. We have to eat breakfast and leave soon.”

Casey knocked on Lilliana’s door while munching on bread. The other three had already woken up and were eating breakfast, but Lilliana was still asleep.

About ten minutes after Casey woke her up, Lilliana came down to the dining room, dressed and ready. She yawned languidly and greeted the three men staring at her.

“Good morning, everyone.”

Lilliana’s eyes were bloodshot, and her face was full of sleepiness. Since she usually enjoyed sleeping in, the others didn’t react much to her appearance.

Along with the others who responded to Lilliana’s greeting, Damian said nonchalantly, “Good morning, Lilliana.”

Lilliana briefly lowered her gaze, then looked back at Damian and replied with a smile.
“Good morning! Is everyone done eating? A piece of toast with jam is fine for me. Ah, of course, it would be nice to have coffee with it too.”

Eugene handed Lilliana a well-toasted piece of bread, and she spread apricot jam on it and took a bite.

“We’ll leave for Nichio once Lily finishes eating.”

“Whoa, I really overslept.”

Lilliana looked at the clock, which was already approaching 9:30, and felt a pang of guilt.

“Lily oversleeps every day.”

“Not every day! I’m also busy in the mornings when I have classes. Eugene, I’m not a lazybones, really!”

Eugene laughed at the lighthearted banter between Casey and Lilliana.

For some reason, Damian felt relieved at the sight of their usual morning routine, with the addition of Eugene.

As Damian expected, Lilliana was trying to maintain normalcy. Though he didn’t know how she truly felt.

Damian glanced at Lilliana, who was chewing on her toast.

What is Lilliana truly feeling right now?

He wanted to know her true feelings, but at the same time, he didn’t.

***

Around lunchtime, they finally arrived back in Nichio. Eugene personally drove Lilliana, Casey, and Damian to their house.

Before parting ways with Eugene, Lilliana gave him a light hug and said goodbye.

“It was really, really nice to see you, Eugene.”

“We can see each other again,” Eugene said, and Lilliana smiled as she stepped back from him.

“That’s right. We can see each other again.”

“It was nice meeting you too, Casey and Damian.”

“Nice meeting you too. Take care.”

“Thank you for everything.”

After receiving their brief farewells, Eugene, still seeming reluctant to leave, said to Lilliana again, “Call me anytime, whether it’s by phone or letter, whenever you want to contact me. Okay? Don’t lose my contact information, and make sure to contact me if anything happens, okay?”

Lilliana laughed and nodded at his firm words.

“Okay, okay.”

Eugene finally got in his car with a relieved expression.

“Then, I’ll really be going now. Lily, see you again.”

“Okay! Take care.”

Lilliana watched Eugene’s car drive away, then turned around. She couldn’t hide her disappointment and loneliness.

Seeing that expression, Damian felt a sharp pang in his heart.

Eugene still had feelings for Lilliana, so why was she making that face even though she knew that? He suddenly wondered if Lilliana still had feelings for Eugene.

“Lily, are you sad?” Casey asked.

Lilliana clung to his arm and replied, “Well, a little? But it can’t be helped. In this situation… I can’t just go around meeting my friends freely.”

Casey immediately replied to Lilliana’s dejected voice, “It’s okay. The situation will get better soon. So don’t be so down.”

“That’s right. I have you now, brother.”

Lilliana smiled and looked at Damian.

“And Damian too.”

Damian couldn’t understand what she was thinking, making such a lovely expression at him.