This BL Novel Is Ruined Now - Chapter 174
Chapter 174
Translator: Yonnee
RP: Haebaragi_syk
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At the remarkably astute observation, she involuntarily opened her mouth.
“How did you know?”
Once again, it was Zatro and not Leo who answered the question.
“Ah, come on, I saw what happened at the Launcer Village with my own eyes. I’d have to be blind if I still couldn’t take a hint after that, wouldn’t I?”
“……”
“And besides following you around, didn’t it obviously look like love was overflowing from his eyes? Honestly, I thought our youngest lady might really opt for polyandry.”
“……”
In the face of the pointed criticism, she tightly sealed her lips and averted her gaze.
‘Ethan didn’t say those things for no reason… My hesitation probably looked like that to others…’
Her fingertips, fidgeting and twitching, repeatedly grasped and released the hem of her dress.
Leo directed her attention back to him.
“Lady Reina.”
When her gaze met the determined line of his jaw, Leo began to carefully express his thoughts.
“Zatro’s words may sound crude, but based on our observations, it does seem as though you’re opening a portion of your heart for Lord Elijah to you just in case you and His Excellency Gerard might have a falling out.”
It’s like Ethan said the same thing word for word. Did he plant some eavesdropping spell somewhere?
“Haa… That’s not really the case… I genuinely have no romantic feelings for Elijah.”
“However, His Excellency Gerard might not see it that way, will he?”
“Ethan said the same thing…”
“Lady Reina, love is not just one-sided. In a mutual relationship, you may have to consider and sacrifice a lot. Even if it means pushing someone precious away.”
“Sacrifice…”
“Yes. Lady Reina, are you willing to consider and sacrifice as much as it takes to be with His Excellency Gerard?”
Although delivered with a calm tone, the underlying question in that statement was significant. It left Reina unable to provide an immediate answer.
Fortunately, they both gave her enough space to think.
For a brief time, Reina was lost in thought and couldn’t come up with an answer. Then, as the petals were carried by the wind, she raised her head.
“If I were asked that question, I’d naturally say ‘yes.’ But in a situation where I have to give up the people around me like Elijah… I genuinely don’t know.”
If Ethan were to have heard that, it would sound honest, yet brutally so. But these were her sincere feelings.
Leo had nothing but understanding for her. He gave her space to think.
“I just want everyone to get along. But… that’s my selfishness, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Lady Reina. It would be selfish on your part.”
Leo’s response showed no hint of hesitation.
“Just as I thought…”
Leo breathed out lightly as he looked at Reina, wearing a sardonic smile. He spoke, as if to console her.
“Lady Reina, you can’t always be a good person. So, you have to become the bad person to one or the other of them. If you can accept that, you’ll know what to do.”
* * *
“You can’t always be a good person.”
As Leo’s advice from a few days ago echoed in her mind, her busy hands came to a sudden stop.
“To someone, I have to become the bad person…”
Indeed, Leo truly saw right through her. She had confirmed her love for Ethan and her desire to be with him. That’s why she had proposed to him.
However, as Leo guessed, she didn’t want to be the harsh one. Despite deciding to be with Ethan, she couldn’t push Eli away.
“But now, it’s time to take action.”
It had been a week since her conversation with Ethan. After she had been dithering and trying to delay it, time had passed like this. In the meantime, just how much was Ethan’s heart hurting?
“Indeed, I’m a terrible lover…”
Determined now, she rose from her seat, addressing her secretary nearby.
“I have some business today, so I’ll retire first.”
“Yes, Director.”
Fortunately, thanks to the additional staff that had been recruited, the affairs of the Bureau of Efficient Technology had become more manageable, and leaving an hour early didn’t present any major problems.
“Thank you for your hard work, everyone.”
“Of course, Director!”
With her farewells, she gathered her belongings and headed in the direction of the building where the Ministry of Human Resources was located.
In terms of order, it might have been more logical to deal with Eli and then face Ethan, but after a week without seeing her beloved, she was sorely missing him.
“Whatever Ethan asks of me, I’ll do my best to comply.”
With that determination in mind, she made her way towards the building housing Ethan’s department.
As she entered the garden in front of the building, she noticed a man in the distance. He was examining a peony tree with an air of contemplation, as though he were carefully selecting a flower.
As she approached, preparing to call out, she hesitated.
She was going to, at least…
If not for the fact that he had picked a flower and handed it to a woman. There was a bright expression on his face.
“Ethan…?”
The voice that left her lips was barely audible, and it quickly withered away.
‘Who is that woman…?’
Her lavender eyes began to dart intensely.
‘Why is Ethan giving her a flower?’
And why was that woman accepting it so naturally?
Confused thoughts raced through her mind.
‘Ethan doesn’t interact so casually with anyone else…’
Others found Ethan difficult to approach. So why…
‘Why is he holding someone’s hand so naturally…?’
Her chain of thoughts suddenly stopped short.
‘What? Hold on a moment.’
Who’s holding whose hand?
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