Life as a Tower Maid: Locked up with the Prince - Chapter 290
Chapter 290
Translator: Yonnee
—
Albert was silent beside me. I discreetly wiped the tears that had gathered at the corners of my eyes and stared at him.
His gaze was fixed on the image of me laughing happily with my family.
Just as I had watched my parents to remember them, he continued to watch me at this moment.
“I think I understand a little what family means.”
Knowing what his family had been like, I couldn’t easily speak. I just waited for him to talk.
Eventually, a gentle smile formed on his lips. His expression as he looked at the past me was as warm and gentle as the sunlight.
“You were happy.”
He turned his head to look at me.
“Growing up like this, you were able to give such love to me.”
After he spoke, Albert chuckled lightly, his expression becoming more serene.
“Growing up and coming to me, you were able to teach me what happiness is.”
Watching him learn about me was peculiar.
I had thought that someday, once we get married and start living together, he would understand more about me, but I never imagined it would be so direct.
Perhaps this was a better way.
He read every detail of the scenes I couldn’t remember with acute sensitivity.
“Jung-in is so cute…”
Blanc, who had been intently watching me, murmured.
Albert looked at Blanc, which prompted him to clamp his mouth shut.
“Alright, I won’t say such things…”
“It’s good to see you catching on quickly.”
Blanc protested, and Albert calmly responded.
“This is a fight of fools.”
From behind, Alexander shook his head in dismay.
I burst into laughter seeing the three of them huddled together, sharing stories.
I hoped that my laughter would reach my parents a little.
I wanted to let them know that their daughter was this happy.
So they wouldn’t worry about leaving me alone.
* * *
Afterwards, for three days, Jung-in and her group continued to watch over the Jung-in of the past.
Albert took the lead more enthusiastically than anyone.
Every moment was precious to him. Not a single minute or second could be wasted.
He was reluctant to even blink. His desire to see everything about her was always sincere.
Albert saw Jung-in crying profusely as she graduated from elementary school and saw her chattering away while eating tteokbokki with her friends.
Young Jung-in had the same personality as she does now. He was drawn to her very different childhood.
And he felt fortunate that Jung-in had not had as difficult a time as he had.
Of course, it wasn’t all good times. Albert also saw Jung-in after she lost her parents, spending time shut away in her room.
Jung-in was uncomfortable showing this side of herself, but Albert couldn’t compromise.
He wanted to see, understand, and love all aspects of Jung-in.
Jung-in had seen his past too, the moment he was about to end his life, and even the moment he had been obsequiously at people’s feet—all of which she understood and accepted.
Wasn’t it natural for her to want to embrace all of that about him?
That’s what love is.
The sight of Jung-in shut away in her room starkly reminded him of his old self.
So you had moments like this too.
Albert realized again that just because she always seemed cheerful didn’t mean she had no shadows.
And he thought highly of Jung-in.
The fact that she could smile and love people, knowing how to protect herself after such hard times, made him fall deeper in love with her.
He resisted the urge to interfere with the past every time.
For the present Jung-in, he knew better than anyone that he shouldn’t meddle, but the impulse was always there.
Being a dragon contractor, he was all too aware that he had the power to change the situation.
‘I am such a selfish man.’
He wanted to know everything about her by revisiting her past, yet he could only watch without intervening.
He was afraid to ask Jung-in what she was thinking.
As if sensing his thoughts, Jung-in approached first and patted him on the back.
“I’m okay, Albert. It’s because I had those times that I became who I am now.”
Do you know the saying, ‘After the rain, the ground hardens’?
It seemed like Jung-in was asking more to alleviate his guilt.
Blanc and Alexander asked what kind of odd thing that was. The heavy atmosphere suddenly lightened, just because of Jung-in’s presence.
After the difficult times had passed, Jung-in returned to her original self.
And they went back through her university days up to the moment she got her first job.
Given the limited time they had, they could only see bits and pieces of Jung-in’s past.
But there wasn’t a moment Albert couldn’t love. She always shone brilliantly wherever she was.
After seeing all of her past, he thought.
‘Maybe I was born to love you.’
No, not maybe.
He was certain of it.
To meet Jung-in.
He felt as if he was born for that very purpose.
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