One Day, My Fiancé Brought His First Love Along - Chapter 104

Carlisle paused after speaking, taking a moment to catch his breath.

He glanced at Aireen, trying to read her expression. But her face remained perfectly still, showing no reaction. It felt like he was slowly sinking deeper into a pit of despair.

Even so, he knew he had to explain everything every reason, every justification, no matter how hollow it sounded now.

That he entered the contract with Judith knowing what he knew. That it was a choice made entirely for her sake. That with the curse threatening to end his life soon, it was the only thing he could leave behind for her. That if he simply disappeared without a word, she would spend the rest of her life searching for him. So, instead, he’d chosen to make her hate him—to help her forget.

…And if possible, after lifting the curse using Marquess Hessiden, he had hoped—just once—to approach her again. If she could forgive him.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say it. Aireen, as she was now, wouldn’t hear it. Wouldn’t want to hear it.

And more than that… he realized now those words, no matter how sincere, were just more lies. Just more pain. Just more excuses to ease his guilt.

To Aireen, everything he said would sound like a justification—a coward’s attempt to explain away betrayal. And she would be right. He had stood beside Judith. Spoken of marrying her. Danced with her in front of everyone.

How could he undo that now? No reason, no excuse, could change the fact that he had hurt her, humiliated her, and left her reputation in shambles.

His own choices were suffocating him. It took him a while to force out the next words.

“…I kept the curse a secret. I told Judith Hessiden nothing about why I agreed to the contract, and she said that was fine. She accepted it.”

“……”

“I took the medicine regularly, made sure not to show any symptoms. But at some point… I started to suspect she already knew. And later, I realized—if Marquess Hessiden really is colluding with the northern tribes, then it’s entirely possible he told her everything.”

Carlisle’s brow furrowed as he reflected on the past.

“But even if she knew… it didn’t matter. My goal was still the same. To make you give up. To make you stop caring about me.”

His voice trailed off.

Uneasy, he cautiously looked at Aireen again—but she still wore the same unreadable expression.

He knew she’d already been told the truth. But her complete lack of reaction was terrifying.

Carlisle bit his dry lower lip, then pushed on.

“I agreed to pretend to be the father of Judith Hessiden’s child. She would act as my fiancée. We’d present that image publicly. And in private, we’d stay out of each other’s lives.”

“……”

“We barely touched. Not even a brush of fingers, unless it was absolutely necessary. Even when we appeared in public, it was limited to simple gestures—nothing more than a polite escort.”

The more silent Aireen became, the more desperate Carlisle grew. And so, without meaning to, he began saying things he never should’ve said in the first place.

But they were true. He wanted her to see him—even just a little. To understand, even the smallest bit, that not everything had been a lie.

“…If the wedding had gone through, maybe—just maybe—Marquess Hessiden would’ve helped lift your curse for Judith’s sake.”

He didn’t know if it was coincidence or a response to his desperate honesty, but for the first time, Aireen spoke.

It wasn’t an answer, exactly. More like a quiet murmur to herself.

“…Maybe.”

But even that was enough to make Carlisle feel grateful—like he could breathe again.

When she lifted her eyes to meet his, he flinched. But he didn’t look away.

Even her cold stare was welcome—because at least it reached him.

“I don’t know how much Marquess Hessiden has learned,” Aireen said, “but he probably doesn’t know I confessed about the curse.”

That made sense. Aside from Santinu, the only ones who had encountered them during their isolation were the Tanil tribe—and they were all gone now, slain by Santinu, Carlisle, and Aireen.

“We spent several days alone together, yes. But I doubt he thinks I told you anything during that time. If I’d wanted to make you hate me, why would I confess?”

“……”

“So if I ever do come face to face with Hessiden,” she added, “I’ll make sure to let him see how much I despise you. That way, he’ll assume we said even worse things to each other while stranded.”

It was a cold, calculating conclusion—and it marked the end of Carlisle’s long explanation.

Still, Aireen’s face betrayed nothing. Not anger. Not sadness. Not even curiosity.

Carlisle didn’t dare guess what she was thinking.

In the past, he could have read her easily. But not now. Not this version of Aireen. Now, she was a complete mystery—like walking through dense fog where nothing could be seen ahead.

Only after a long silence did Aireen slowly part her lips.

“So, your point is… they don’t know anything yet. And I should act accordingly.”

“…Yes.”

“I understand. Though, even if you hadn’t told me all this, I would’ve acted the same.”

Even if you hadn’t listed off all those excuses, it wouldn’t have changed anything. My choices were already justified. All you did was waste my time.

Carlisle could almost hear the unspoken words clearly ringing in his ears.

As he watched his face go pale, Aireen thought to herself: perhaps there was a cruel side buried inside her all along.

The truth was, she could have ended it with a simple “I understand.” But she didn’t.

She kept speaking, even knowing she didn’t have to. And as Carlisle mentioned Judith’s name again and again—calmly explaining everything—those past memories came flooding back with vivid clarity.

Until just yesterday, even when Edys had explained things, or just moments ago when Carlisle admitted the engagement was a contract, she had nearly begun to soften.

But the moment she heard Judith Hessiden’s name escape from Carlisle’s lips—again and again—her emotions came crashing down like a tidal wave.

She hadn’t realized it until now, but the wounds caused by their deception ran far deeper than she’d thought.

And yet, somewhere in the depths of her heart, a small breeze stirred. It had started the moment Carlisle admitted that everything with Judith had been a lie.

If he had simply fallen out of love with her… if that was all there was to it… letting go wouldn’t have been this hard.

She had believed she had erased her feelings for him. But now and then, her emotions surged beyond control. Regardless of how she felt about him now, the weight of what they once shared refused to vanish.

How? How could someone who once said he loved her go on to love another? How could he offer his heart to someone else and then tell her goodbye?

That part—that he gave his heart to someone else—was what hurt the most.

She had trusted him. And that trust, once broken, left her with a level of pain so intense it made her physically sick. If she could, she would have cut those memories from her mind—every moment that had anything to do with Carlisle.

And yet… now he was telling her it had all been a lie. That he’d never had feelings for Judith. That he had only played the part.

It was as though a small hole had opened in her tightly sealed heart. And through that narrow space, a breath finally slipped through—carrying a chaotic mix of emotions: anger, sorrow, relief, understanding, and maybe, in the tiniest part, forgiveness.

“…I’m sorry for wasting your time. Truly.”

“If you’ve said everything you need to say, may I leave now? I’m a little tired.”

Aireen cut him off coldly, her expression heavy with exhaustion.

It wasn’t just physical fatigue—she was emotionally worn out too.

She probably didn’t want to hear yet another apology. Not now. Carlisle held back his desperate need to say more and finally let her go.

When Aireen returned home, Duke Revart was waiting for her—with a grim, heavy expression.

Even at a glance, she could tell. He knew everything.

She exhaled deeply, steadying the tension in her chest.

“You’re home early, Father.”

“Aireen. Come with me. We need to talk.”

So Carlisle must’ve allowed the Duke to be told. She hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

Behind her father stood her mother, Duchess Revart, her expression cold and unreadable. Edys must’ve given permission for her to be told as well.

Aireen, struggling to keep her breathing steady, followed them into the room.

“…His Majesty told me everything.”

The Duke’s voice was low, and he didn’t speak again for a long moment.

“Carlisle Avergue is cursed. He’s running out of time… and everything he did was part of an act. A performance.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

Aireen responded calmly, without hesitation.

The Duke ran a hand down his face, the weight of the truth settling on him.

When he had gone to meet the Emperor, he thought he’d hear something like We’ve traced Marquess Hessiden’s schemes, or at most, a formal apology for sending Aireen and Carlisle into an isolated mission together.

Never—never had he expected something like this. It was a blow straight to the heart.

He had hated Carlisle Avergue with everything he had. The man had seemed to wound Aireen deliberately, harshly, cruelly—and that had only fueled his rage.

If Aireen hadn’t acted with such composure… if she weren’t a knight held in such esteem by the Emperor… if she weren’t considered an essential asset to the Diert Empire… he wouldn’t have let it go.

His beloved daughter had shed countless tears. That wasn’t the future he had envisioned for her when he approved the engagement. And every day since, guilt as heavy as iron had crushed him.

But now… he learned it had all been a lie. A carefully constructed performance.

He had been so stunned; he hadn’t been able to speak for a long while—even with the Emperor right in front of him.

What was he supposed to do now? Thank Carlisle Avergue for playing the villain? Or berate him for going so far?

Conflicted and heavy-hearted, he returned to the mansion. And at last, he shared everything with his wife.

It had only been possible because Edys had allowed it, understanding his emotional turmoil.

The Duchess, too, was shaken. She sat in silence for a long time.

Then finally, she spoke—

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