The End of a Special Contract Romance (8)
“Why couldn’t I have understood your heart sooner? Even after becoming a mother, I never once knew what you truly wanted.”
“Mom….”
“Even yesterday, that was the case—I lashed out in anger instead of trying to understand you. A kind and gentle child like you wouldn’t lie to your mom without reason….”
The Marchioness’s voice trembled faintly. Her eyes, laced with guilt and remorse, brimmed with unshed tears.
Yesterday, she had been stunned by the sudden words, and in the presence of the Countess, she had been thrown into disarray by her daughter’s rude behavior, her mind reeling in confusion. It was a side of Iris she had never seen before, which only amplified her shock.
And so, she had let her own sense of betrayal lead the way, unleashing nothing but fury without pausing to consider her child’s feelings.
But afterward, as she turned over Eric’s words from that moment in her mind—and now, hearing her daughter’s true heart laid bare—the Marchioness reflected deeply on her past actions.
Iris had been hinting at her burdens all along, in subtle ways. She knew that Iris would respond to her words with awkward smiles, that she wouldn’t engage properly with her eager suggestions. And yet, she had pressed on relentlessly, forcing the marriage forward without a care.
It was she who had disregarded the wishes of the very person involved, bulldozing ahead on her own whims, until she had driven Iris to tell outright lies.
That realization filled her with such profound regret that the Marchioness let her tears fall.
“I’m sorry, Iris.”
“…….”
“I’m truly sorry for only now coming to understand your heart. I promise I won’t force an unwanted marriage on you ever again.”
As she spoke, gently stroking her daughter’s cheek, tears welled up in Iris’s eyes as well, glistening at the edges.
She had a sibling born just a year after her, and because of that, she had never once been able to let her guard down with her parents, never able to throw even a single tantrum without reservation. Now, her voice choked with emotion as she asked,
“Even if I never marry for the rest of my life, would that be okay? If I become a burden to the family, if it brings shame or wears away at your affection for me?”
“Iris, your mother loves you more than anyone else in this world. The joy I felt when you were first born—it’s a feeling I’ve never known again in all my life.”
It was true that she had lavished more attention on her spirited second daughter, who bubbled with energy, and on her much younger youngest child, with their wide age gap. But that didn’t mean the Marchioness loved Iris any less than her other children—not for a moment.
It was simply that she had always been too quick to assume things about her eldest.
Iris would manage just fine on her own. She was a child who had never once caused her parents worry. She listened so well that there was no need to fret over her.
“I’ve always been so grateful to you. You can’t imagine how thankful I am that our daughter grew up so splendidly, even under parents as flawed as ours.”
“…….”
“But that’s not why I loved you. Even if you had defied us at every turn, stirring up nothing but trouble, I would have loved you just the same. So….”
The Marchioness steadied her ragged breaths, her chest heaving, and gazed straight into Iris’s eyes, enunciating each word with deliberate care.
“Don’t ever worry that our love might one day fade away.”
The tears that had gathered at the corners of Iris’s eyes now traced warm paths down her cheeks. A wave of relief crashed over her, leaving her gasping for air.
By then, the Marquis had drawn quietly to her side, and he laid a gentle hand on his daughter’s shoulder as he spoke.
“Your mother is right, Iris. We’ll respect whatever you choose and support you through it all.”
“Dad….”
“But now that I think about it, I’ve never once expressed these feelings to our eldest daughter. Your father was truly in the wrong.”
The Marquis bowed his head low in apology. The careless words he had flung out in ignorance, right in front of Iris, came flooding back to him now, each one a fresh sting.
“If what you want is to forgo marriage altogether and remain here in the marquess’s household, then that’s what you shall do.”
“……Are you really serious, Dad?”
“Of course! As marquis, if a talented soul like you chooses to serve the family, I’d welcome you with arms wide open.”
And with that, he spread his arms wide in a genuine laugh. Iris wiped the tears from her face and threw herself into her father’s embrace. The Marquis drew both his daughter and his wife close, enfolding them together.
“I’m sorry, Iris. For causing you such pain with our own foolish ambitions.”
“No, it’s not like that. I love my family so much—I just wanted to do even better for you, to show you only my best self.”
They had loved one another deeply, all of them. But a failure to communicate had turned that love into tragedy.
The three of them clung to each other for what felt like an eternity. Adrian, who had been watching from afar and gauging the moment, finally bounded down the stairs and wedged himself eagerly into their midst.
Laughter rose among them—warm, unforced, the kind that echoed softly in any close-knit family.
* * *
“I surrender, I surrender. Just do as you please, Eric.”
The Countess flicked her hand dismissively, her face etched with exhaustion. Seated across from her was her son, grinning like some arch-nemesis, his eyebrows drooping in mock defeat.
Ever since their return from the House of Marquis Hugo, Eric and she had clashed in argument after argument. He had apologized to his mother profusely, all the while striving to make her see his side.
He had explained it until his voice grew hoarse—why he and Iris had been left with no other choice but to take that path.
“Back then, it was the best option we could come up with. If I’d told Lady Hugo right from the start that marriage was off the table, you would have just kept parading other prospects in front of me, wouldn’t you? That’s why we did it that way.”
“So, what about now? Any plans for marriage going forward?”
“……No, I’m sorry.”
His tone was as soft as ever, but there wasn’t a shred of give in him. The Countess, her patience finally snapping at this unyielding eldest son, thumped her chest in frustration. Lord Roberts, her husband, had washed his hands of their stubborn firstborn ages ago, throwing up both arms and feet in defeat—and his utter indifference to the whole affair only fueled her ire further.
And yet, through it all, Eric had steadfastly shielded Iris, redirecting every barb toward himself. In the end, he had wrung a full concession from his mother.
“Date whoever you want, chase whatever dreams suit you—live your life, fry and all! I’ll content myself with doting on our daughter from here on out!”
“Thank you for understanding, Mother. I’ll make sure to tell my sister to look after you properly.”
“Oh, heavens—who on earth does he get this thick skull from? Enough, enough!”
Before her skyrocketing blood pressure could send her toppling, Eric slipped away from the scene with impeccable timing.
For all that, his mother was no one to renege on a promise. From now on, she wouldn’t pry into his romances or breathe a word about marriage.
Back in his room, he retrieved a small box from the drawer of his desk. It was the gift he had purchased in the Kingdom of Kent, meant for Iris, but one he had never mustered the courage to give.
Eric opened the box quietly and peered inside. A necklace emerged into view—a delicate flower crafted from emeralds and diamonds, catching the light.
He had found it in a modest little jewelry shop. With no suitable souvenirs catching his eye amid his wandering, he had simply drifted into the place on a whim.
As he wandered through the market alone, lost in his thoughts, someone called out to him in recognition.
“Hey! If it isn’t the young scholar from the Setron Empire—fancy running into you here!”
“Oh, hello.”
“What brings you to a place like this? Picking up a gift for your sweetheart, perhaps?”
It was an elderly scholar he’d met at the academic conference. Eric found it awkward to deny the man’s assumption outright, so he simply offered a vague smile. The scholar, taking that as confirmation, pointed toward the display of necklaces and declared with self-assured cheer.
“Well then, you should get her a necklace! In the Kingdom of Kent, gifting a necklace to your beloved carries a special meaning, you know.”
“What kind of meaning?”
“It’s a way of saying, by giving her an accessory that rests closest to the heart, that you like her so much you want to be just as close to her.”
With a hearty pat on Eric’s shoulder, the old man bought a pair of earrings for his own wife and ambled off.
Left behind, Eric spent hours deliberating before finally purchasing an emerald necklace that sparkled with the same crystalline gleam as Iris’s eyes. But once he returned home, it struck him as far too extravagant, and he couldn’t bring himself to give it to her.
…Now it’s time to give this to her and bring things to a close.
He could no longer drag out their contract romance. He needed to confess his true feelings to Iris honestly and end it cleanly.
For her sake, and for his own.
Just then, a letter arrived from Iris, suggesting they meet. Eric tucked the necklace into his pocket and headed to the appointed spot. It was the park where they’d had their third date—the very place where their pretend romance had begun.
Beneath the lush canopy of manicured trees, Iris stood waiting. The thought that this might be their last meeting filled Eric with a pang of regret, slowing his steps.
Yet he stopped just five paces from her and called out.
“Lady Hugo.”
“Young Lord Roberts, thank you for coming.”
Eric shook his head. If anything, he was grateful she’d reached out first. Otherwise, it might have taken him longer to muster the courage.
“First, let me apologize to you properly. I’m sorry for blurting it all out at my house that day without even consulting you. It must have put you in a terrible spot.”
Iris clasped her hands together politely and bowed her head. Startled by the sincerity of her apology, Eric waved his hands hurriedly.
“No, no—it’s fine. It was something we would have had to face eventually anyway. If anything, you breaking the ice like that seems to have smoothed things over for me.”
“I’m truly relieved to hear you say that. I felt so guilty, thinking I’d only made things awkward for you because of me.”
“Not at all, so please don’t give it another thought.”
Eric smiled gently. Iris returned a faint smile of her own.
A brief silence settled between them. Watching her face, lost in thought as if she had something to say, Eric decided to speak first.
“Actually, there’s something I want to tell you, Lady Hugo.”
“…Oh, really?”
Caught up in her reverie, Iris reacted a beat late, then nodded encouragingly for him to go on.
Ahem. Clearing his throat, Eric gripped the box in his pocket tightly and pressed on.
“I know this might catch you off guard, coming out of nowhere. But it feels like this could be my last chance to tell you how I feel, so I’ll risk being forward.”
“…?”
“I like you, Lady Hugo.”
Iris’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected confession. As she clapped a hand over her mouth, Eric continued steadily, without faltering.
“I fell for you at first sight, but I knew our feelings weren’t mutual, so I tried to bury those emotions deep.”
“Young Lord Roberts…”
“But lately, those feelings I’ve worked so hard to suppress have come surging back. I suppose that means we no longer need to pretend to be lovers. So, just this once, at the end, I wanted to be honest about how I feel.”
Finishing his calm, unwavering confession, Eric held out the box containing the necklace.
“This is the gift I mentioned buying at the conference last time. Consider it a token for all your hard work over these two years—no strings attached, so feel free to accept it without worry.”
“Ah…”
Iris took the box in a daze and gasped when she saw the necklace inside. It looked unmistakably luxurious—hardly something one could accept without a second thought.
Seeing her at a loss, Eric added softly.
“If it’s too much for you, you can always give it back. I knew my confession might be turned down, so you can just forget about it if you’d like.”
“…Who said anything about forgetting?”
Eric had expected her to smile awkwardly, perhaps hand back the necklace with some polite deflection. Instead, she surprised him with a response that cut straight through.
Her gaze met his directly, steady and unflinching. By now, Iris had composed herself, and she spoke to him with quiet resolve.
“I’ll be honest about my feelings too, Young Lord Roberts. I like you as well.”
“…What? Is that really true?”
“Yes, truly—I like you. But… I’m sorry, I still have no intention of getting married.”
Iris laid it all bare, holding nothing back, though the words came hard. Eric gazed at her in silence, his eyes holding an inscrutable depth.
“I’ve lived my whole life as someone’s daughter, someone’s little sister, someone’s big sister. And because of that, I don’t want to live as someone’s wife or mother anymore.”
“…”
“I just want to live as myself. I want to remain Iris Hugo, just as I am, for the rest of my days.”
Sweat beaded in her palms. Clutching the gift box tightly, Iris met his eyes squarely and asked, tentative but earnest.
“But… would that be all right with you?”
If he said no here, she was prepared to hand back the necklace without hesitation and sever both the gift and their budding connection.
Tension made her heart race faster than usual. Eric took a step forward, his eyes fixed on hers—bright and expectant as she waited for his reply.
The five paces between them shrank to one in an instant.
“Iris, I would never want you to sacrifice your life for my sake.”
For the first time, his voice—firm as roots sunk deep into ancient earth, yet supple as a spring breeze—spoke her given name.
Iris looked up at him, breathless, as he drew near. He was smiling more radiantly than she’d ever seen, his face alight with joy.
“If you’re going to live as Iris Hugo forever, then as Eric Roberts, I’ll cheer you on until the day I die.”
“…You mean that? Truly?”
“Of course. What matters more than any formal union is the respect we have for each other.”
Eric tilted his head slightly toward her, hands clasped behind his back. In the clear depths of his eyes—revealing the unyielding core of his heart—Iris finally let go of the last thread of doubt.
“I don’t want us to be a duty or a burden to one another. Not a chain that weighs someone down, or an obstacle blocking the path ahead.”
Eric reached out and lifted the necklace from its box. Iris swept her hair to one side, making it easy for him to fasten it around her neck.
Moments later, the sparkling emerald pendant—mirroring the luster of her own eyes—hung against the pale column of her throat.
“The end of love doesn’t have to mean marriage, does it? If we walk hand in hand as lovers for life, wouldn’t that be a perfect happiness in itself?”
Iris nodded in agreement at his words, delivered with a warm grin. She stared at him intently, as if pondering something deeply, then hesitated before shyly tugging at the hem of his coat.
“Eric… would it be all right if I kissed you?”
In answer, their lips met softly. It was a kiss so profound that the mere peck in the library felt like a trifling accident by comparison.
Summer sunlight filtered through the gaps in the trees, bathing them in a bright, blessing glow. It marked the moment when two people, united only by a shared purpose in a contract romance, found their hearts entwined and blossomed into true lovers.
