I Refuse This Life, Your Highness! - Chapter 109 (END OF MAIN STORY)

The Duke greeted Yuraine warmly, his usually stoic expression softened by his words: “I wanted to see you sooner.” Despite his composed demeanor, such sentiments made Yuraine’s heart flutter. She took his hand and stepped out of the carriage as the sun dipped below the horizon.

As they walked together toward her chambers, the Duke inquired about her meeting with her parents. Holding hands despite the onlookers, she responded lightly, “It was alright. We didn’t talk for long.” She then expressed her decision not to return to Airdren, to which the Duke replied with subtle relief, “That’s good news for me, though I feel a little guilty saying so.” His words brought a rare laugh from Yuraine, and the two continued together to her room.

Inside, the Duke’s concern resurfaced when Yuraine mentioned her earlier headache, though she assured him it had vanished upon seeing him. As he gently brushed her hair aside to check her expression, he remarked on the beauty of her hair, comparing it to crafted jewels. His tender and poetic words, though unexpected, resonated deeply with Yuraine, filling the room with warmth.

The atmosphere grew increasingly intimate as the Duke lifted Yuraine onto her desk, where he leaned in for a kiss. Their playful exchange turned into a deeper connection, their actions reflecting a bond filled with trust, love, and mutual longing. The night unfolded with increasing intimacy, each moment drawing them closer emotionally and physically.

Later, as they found themselves beneath the canopy of their bed, exhaustion mingled with contentment. Yuraine, though physically spent, felt a lingering desire to remain close to the Duke. His presence was her sanctuary, their bond an unshakable foundation amidst the turmoil of her life.

The world before my eyes blurred. In the midst of sharp, relentless pain, I clung to him as if we would never part, and he made no effort to pull away. We held each other tightly, more closely than any embrace in the world, for what felt like an eternity.

Afterward, we remained entwined for a long time, only parting to wash ourselves once the sun had fully set. Despite the exhaustion that should have rendered me immobile, I felt strangely clear-headed and light. Noticing my healthy complexion, the Duke asked:

“Shall we go up to the tower?”

“Now?”

“Yes. I hear they’re testing the fireworks for the coronation tonight. They should be starting soon.”

Fireworks… It had been ages since I last saw them. Though I worried about climbing the narrow, towering staircase of the palace spire, the thought of seeing fireworks was more compelling.

As it turned out, my concerns were unnecessary. The Duke carried me up the steep spiral stairs of the spire without so much as pausing to catch his breath.

“I can walk, you know.”

“I want to carry you.”

The climb, which would have left me stopping to rest every so often, was nothing for him. By the time we reached the top and opened the door, a gust of cold wind swept in. I pulled my fur-lined cloak tighter around me and approached the railing, gazing out over the capital’s dazzling nightscape.

“They’ll launch them from over there,” the Duke said, pointing toward the distant river bridge. I could make out figures moving about, though they were too far away to discern clearly.

The view of the capital at night was unlike anything in Iser. As befitting the capital, it was grander, with taller buildings and more elaborate decorations. The lights of the city reflected off the river, creating a shimmering expanse of gold and silver. I stood in a daze, watching the scene unfold, until the Duke stepped up beside me.

“Yuraine.”

“Yes?”

“When you said you didn’t want to turn back time…”

I turned to face him.

“It felt like something shattered in my mind. Like a glass wall…”

“…”

“And I realized I couldn’t let go of this reality. Until then, I’d thought that if I failed, I could just rewind time.”

His eyes were fixed on me, steady and calm.

“But now I know that’s not the answer.”

Turning back time isn’t a solution. Starting over doesn’t solve everything—in fact, the more you repeat the same mistakes, the deeper you sink. Instead of running from the present, you have to overcome it to reach the future.

Just then, the sound of an explosion echoed, and the world lit up. I turned to see another firework launch into the sky, blooming like a flower in the night. Some failed to ignite, but the dark, indigo sky quickly transformed into a sea of light.

In that moment, I embraced the Duke and kissed him amidst the glowing fireworks.

Flags adorned the entire duchy.

The castle gates stood wide open, and cheerful citizens roamed the streets. Occasionally, someone would shout, “Long live the Grand Duchy!” at the top of their lungs. After Lyol’s coronation, Iser officially declared its independence as the Grand Duchy.

Lyol’s coronation was modest, in deference to the recently deceased Emperor, yet elegant. He pledged to be a good ruler and joked—half seriously—that anyone who thought otherwise was welcome to come for his head.

Soon, it was time for the Duke and me to step out onto the balcony to greet our people—now our citizens. The ceremonial attire of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, passed down through generations, had been modified with more elaborate details for the occasion.

When the balcony doors opened, a thunderous roar erupted from the crowd below.

“Long live the Grand Duchy!”

“Long live the Grand Duke!”

“Long live the Grand Duchess!”

I waved lightly at the crowd, then glanced at the Duke. Our eyes met immediately. I smiled.

The brilliant afternoon sunlight bathed us in its radiance.

The future awaited us.

<The End>

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