One Day, My Fiancé Brought His First Love Along - Chapter 118

Carlisle wandered through darkness.

He saw a glimpse of his younger self, shunned by the people of his town. Then came the memory of when he had entered the academy, running toward survival with nothing but raw determination.

And then, the days he met Aileen.
The only days in his life that had ever been colored with light.

Carlisle. I already have wealth and status. That’s enough for me. And besides, you’ll earn your own title soon, right?

As if by magic, just as she had said, he became a nobleman.

—I’m happy you’ve earned the title of count. I would’ve loved you even without it, even if you weren’t a noble… but now, maybe you’ll have a little more peace in your heart.

He knew it was selfish of her—but he was glad. Not because of the rank, but because he felt that maybe, just maybe, he’d become a man worthy of Aileen.

His background was something he could never change. But at least, now, he might be a little less embarrassing beside her.

—I love you, Carlisle. Of course I do. I want to marry you.

The awkwardly spoken proposal he had rehearsed so many times—Aileen had accepted it with a beaming smile, even saying the word “marriage” before he could bring himself to say it.

How happy he had been in that moment.

It felt as though all the light in the world had gathered just above Aileen’s head. It was so dazzling, he could hardly look at her straight.

She might’ve misunderstood back then. Maybe she thought he was hesitating. Maybe she thought he wasn’t sure.

But it wasn’t that.

It was just that she was so beautiful… and his heart so full… he had felt that if he looked too long, his tears would fall right then and there.

It might’ve been the happiest moment of his life.
After meeting Aileen, every day had felt brilliant—so much so that it was hard to even pick one as more special than the rest.

But the joy didn’t last long.

—A broken engagement? And… pregnancy?

The image of Aileen smiling as she accepted his proposal… chatting excitedly as their wedding approached… was soon replaced with her devastated expression—when the truth about the false affair with Judith came to light.

And then she cried, looking at Judith’s swollen belly.

Carlisle bit down on his lip.

How… how could he ever make this right?

“Aileen, I’m so sorry. Everything was my fault. I’m sorry for ignoring you in front of Judith. In front of the other nobles. I’m really, truly sorry.”

Carlisle begged endlessly.
Begged before the Aileen who kept crying without a word.

If only she would scream at him. Hit him. Curse him.
That would’ve been easier to bear.

“I won’t hide anything ever again. I won’t say it’s for your sake just to excuse my actions. I promise, I’ll tell you everything next time.”

He meant every word.
Seeing what his choices had done—he had made a vow.

“I’m sorry, Aileen. I know this is selfish… I know I don’t deserve to ask… but if you could forgive me just once—just once—I’ll never ask for more. I know we can’t undo what’s happened, but still…”

Was it just his imagination?
Aileen’s sobs seemed to be quieting.

Carlisle, overwhelmed with all the words he had locked inside for so long, spoke again—like he was in a trance.

“If you give me one more chance… I swear I’ll do it right this time. I’ll never make you cry again. So please… don’t look at me like I’m a stranger. Please… take me back. Let me love you again, Aileen.”

He couldn’t hold it in anymore.
Not after seeing those pieces of their past—the beautiful fragments of their love.

How could he ever have believed he could hurt her and live on without her?

It had been arrogance. Pure arrogance.

“I know I have no right to say this… but I don’t have long left. So if you could just see me with a little mercy—even pity, even a lie—I’ll accept anything. Just… love me again, Aileen.”

The Aileen who had been silently crying with her head down—finally lifted her face.

“…I love you, Aileen.”

It was the face she had once shown him long ago…
and yet it still looked exactly the same.

And then—

“Carlisle!”

He opened his eyes.

At last, Carlisle’s deep blue eyes landed on Aileen. It had been three full days.

“Carlisle!”

Aileen, who had been sitting quietly beside his bed, jumped to her feet in shock. The chair she’d been sitting in toppled backward, but she didn’t notice. Her eyes were fixed only on him.

Was this a dream?
Had Carlisle really… woken up?

Then, slowly—his eyelids fluttered.

That was when she finally realized—it was real. And she called his name.

“Carl… lisle. Carlisle! Carlisle!”

“…Aileen.”

His voice was hoarse, rasping from his dry throat.
At the same time, drop… drop… tears streamed from Aileen’s eyes, dripping from her chin onto his lips.

Even just keeping his eyes open looked difficult. He couldn’t turn his head, so Carlisle moved only his gaze, searching for her face.

Aileen’s lips parted soundlessly, as if something were stuck in her throat. Carlisle quietly watched her with wet eyes.

And then, after staring at her as though trying to etch her into his soul—he finally spoke.

“I love you.”

“…What?”

“I love you, Aileen.”

The whisper that escaped his lips was an unexpected confession.

All he had done was apologize… over and over again.
And now—barely awake, barely breathing—he told her he loved her.

Aileen froze where she stood.

Seeing her face, Carlisle’s expression darkened. The fullness in his heart began to drain away.

Had he been too late after all?
Was his heart now something that no longer meant anything to Aileen?

He had been told how little time he had left to live—but truthfully, he hadn’t truly grasped it.
It was only when he coughed up blood in front of Aileen, when he tasted pain so unbearable, that he finally understood—clearly and deeply.

He really might never see her again.

The fear consumed him.
And the moment he opened his eyes, the confession had spilled out.

He hadn’t expected her to accept him right away—but still, the silence that followed wrapped him in despair.

“…Me too.”

“…What?”

“I love you too, Carlisle.”

Just before he could be completely swallowed by hopelessness, Aileen pulled him out.
She looked him straight in the eyes and said it.

Was this really happening?

Only moments ago, he had been panicking when she said nothing after his confession.
And now that he’d heard the very words he had longed to hear, it didn’t feel real.

This time, it was Carlisle who froze.

And once again, Aileen brought him back to life.

“I’m sorry I turned away. I’m sorry I ignored you.”

“…Aileen.”

“I love you.”

Her tears still flowed endlessly, but she was beautiful as ever.
Her softly moving lips still looked as delicate as a bird’s wings.

It was real.
That voice—speaking of love—was Aileen’s.
The person forgiving him… was Aileen.

Carlisle’s eyes, already red and swollen, brimmed and spilled over with tears.

Seeing those tears, Aileen spoke with determination.

“Don’t die. You can’t die, Carlisle. No—I won’t let you.”

“…Okay.”

His answer was calm, but Aileen’s tone grew firmer.

“Santinu said he’d break the curse. We just need to wait a little longer. Once it’s lifted, we can go back. We can undo all of this.”

“…”

“Even if it fails, it’s fine. I’ll still be with you. You don’t get to push me away anymore. This is the price you pay for lying to me. You’re going to hold my hand, you’re going to hug me, and you’re going to kiss me. That’s the only way you can make this right.”

“…That’s…”

“There’s no such thing as ‘can’t.’ If you remember that all of this is your fault, then don’t say anything else.”

Carlisle didn’t respond.
No—he couldn’t.

He was the one who had broken everything. He had no right to say a word.

“If there’s something you truly don’t want, I won’t force it. I’ll try. And if it doesn’t work, we’ll decide then. So… don’t worry.”

“…Okay.”

“Get better first. Then we’ll talk again.”

“…Alright.”

“Thank you… for surviving.”

Aileen’s hand slowly reached out, hovering just above Carlisle’s.

The news that Carlisle had woken up was quickly delivered to Ashite.

He had been busy keeping watch over Siran, but the moment he heard, he bolted out of the underground prison as if the place were on fire.

Bang!
He flung open the door to the room where Carlisle was resting—but as soon as he was about to step in, Ashite froze.

The one he had come to see was Carlisle.

He’d rushed here without a second thought when he heard the news—but now that he had stopped to think about it… Why was he running like this for Carlisle, of all people?

“…Big brother?”

Hearing his sister’s hoarse voice snapped him back to his senses.

“Y-Yeah.”

“Why are you just standing there?”

Her question was casual, but her tone was tired.
Ashite, still stiff like a statue, finally moved again—awkwardly stepping inside the room.

Support