I No Longer Have Love to Offer You - Chapter 24

Ricardo Hylas was born as the second son of the Hylas Count family. He had an older brother two years his senior whom he remembered playing with often. From early childhood, he had two close friends—Marietta Fleur, the count’s daughter who was the same age, and Mirabelle Lumiere, the count’s daughter a year younger.

The four spent many days together each year, as their parents were also on good terms.

In their younger years, they played and tumbled about like true siblings, but as they grew older, reality set in. It was around this time that Ricardo began to notice the differences between himself and his brother.

Ricardo’s older brother, Ludovic, was a capable child who excelled at everything. With a calm demeanor and broad perspective, he often took on the role of watching over the younger three when they played together. While Ricardo was proud of his brother, he also began to harbor feelings of inferiority.

“Ludovic is reliable. He always looks out for everyone,” Ricardo’s parents would say whenever the children played together.

“If Ludovic is with them, we don’t have to worry,” the head of the Fleur family would agree.

Gradually, Ricardo grew resentful of the fact that only his brother was relied upon. Of course, he understood that a two-year age gap made a difference especially in childhood, where two years could feel like a lifetime.

But still.

Even if no one else compared them, Ricardo was the one who cared the most. Perhaps if he had just one thing he could surpass his brother in, things might have been different. But whether it was academics or swordsmanship, Ricardo could never quite measure up.

And so, Ricardo burdened with an overachieving brother, grew increasingly discontent. To an outsider, having such a dependable older brother would be considered fortunate, but Ricardo couldn’t see it that way. Perhaps it was just his nature.

How many years had passed since he first became aware of this inferiority?

Though Ricardo had grown better at hiding his feelings with each passing year, he was still a child at heart. Sometimes, his emotions would spill over like when a trivial exchange with his brother left him sulking in the courtyard of the Hylas estate.

“Ricardo, what’s wrong?”

Marietta was the first to find him crouched by the bushes.

“…Nothing.”

Ricardo answered curtly, but Marietta immediately sat down beside him. She peered up at his downcast face with innocent curiosity.

“You wouldn’t be here if nothing was wrong.”

“It’s none of your business, Marietta.”

“Don’t say that. Did something upset you?”

“I told you, it’s nothing.”

Their back-and-forth continued for a while, but in the end, Ricardo was the one who gave in. Under Marietta’s persistent questioning, he reluctantly began to spill his true feelings.

“Hmm… But why compare yourself to Ludovic?”

Ricardo’s eyes widened at Marietta’s question, as if she couldn’t fathom why he would even worry about such a thing.

“Because everyone praises him.”

“But does Ludovic being praised hurt you in any way?”

“Well…”

Stumped by Marietta’s innocent logic, Ricardo fell silent. She was right, Ludovic being praised didn’t actually harm him. It only made him feel like his pride had been wounded. And even that was just his own perception.

“Ricardo is Ricardo, isn’t he? There’s no need to compare yourself to Ludovic. I like you just the way you are!”

Her beaming smile felt like sunlight piercing through the dark clouds in his heart. Pure affection, untainted by comparison, warmed him from within.

That was the moment.

From then on, Marietta became someone special to Ricardo.

Perhaps the trigger had been something small. But in that very instant, she had given him the words he needed most.

I love Marietta.

With that conviction burning in his chest, he vowed to protect her smile.

From then on, Ricardo worked even harder to become worthy of her. Even if he couldn’t surpass Ludovic, he refused to slack in his studies or swordsmanship. Thanks to his efforts, he even managed to surpass his brother in swordsmanship if only slightly.

With each step of his growth, his desire to marry Marietta and spend the rest of his life with her only grew stronger.

So when talks of an engagement between the Hylas and Fleur families arose, he was overjoyed until he learned that the engagement was between Ludovic and Marietta. The news sent him spiraling into despair.

Why did it have to be Ludovic? Ricardo was also a son of the Hylas family shouldn’t either of them have been an option? Especially since Marietta was an only child. As the second son, Ricardo could have even married into the Fleur family.

But his parents wouldn’t listen to his feelings.

“The engagement is between Ludovic and Marietta.”

No matter how many times he asked, their answer never changed.

When Ricardo tried to argue about the Fleur family’s succession, he was simply told that the heir would be chosen from among their relatives. And with that, the matter was closed.

Left behind with nothing but his own heartache, Ricardo could only watch as Ludovic and Marietta’s engagement was finalized.

He couldn’t accept this reality. One where his own powerlessness had sealed his fate. Even if the engagement was already set in stone, he couldn’t stop himself from desperately searching for a way to change it.

Had it not been for the accident that befell Mirabelle’s parents, he might have eventually resigned himself to the inevitable.

The accident was nothing short of tragic. Seeing Mirabelle in such pain was agonizing for Ricardo, and he genuinely wanted to help in any way he could.

But that pure sentiment would later give rise to something far darker.

“Ricardo, until you’re married, it’d be difficult to invite you over.”

Ludovic’s words were nothing short of a ban. A declaration that Ricardo would not be welcome in their future home. Had Ludovic and Marietta married, Ricardo would have been consumed by unbearable anguish. Yet, he knew he wouldn’t have been able to stay away from her.

Ludovic, aware of Ricardo’s feelings, had taken preemptive measures to prevent any complications.

Logically, Ricardo understood. But his heart refused to accept it.

Isn’t there anything I can do?

Driven by that thought, he made a proposal to Mirabelle. One that would shatter the bond between the four childhood friends forever.

“Mirabelle, would you spend the rest of your life with me?”