One Day, My Fiancé Brought His First Love Along - Chapter 130

Carlisle ran away. He didn’t have the courage to go inside. And when he turned back, Aireen’s expression confused and startled remained vivid in his mind.
He was terrified of being left behind.

And I couldn’t do the same. I was too shameless. Even if Aireen was drawn to another man… still. I had never once been attracted to Judith. Not for a single moment. But Aireen was hurt. So it’s the same.

Carlisle drifted deep into thought. By the time he returned to the Levart mansion, it was already late at night.

“Are you here?”

Though the household was already preparing for sleep, Butler Hilter came forward without hesitation and greeted him.

“I’m too late.”

“It’s alright. Have you eaten?”

He hadn’t. But he didn’t even notice his own hunger. Carlisle nodded, saying he had, and made his way to his room.

“Carlisle.”

Just as he reached for the doorknob, the voice of the one he cherished most called out to him.

“Aireen…”

His half-bowed head turned toward the voice. He stood frozen in place.

“Why are you so late?”

Aireen, calm as ever, approached and asked gently.

“Did something happen? I didn’t hear anything about your schedule today.”

He hadn’t said a word. He didn’t show up at the fountain.
He just vanished, unlike his usual self. She could’ve been upset with him—should’ve been.

Why didn’t he show up? I waited for a long time.

But there wasn’t even a trace of anger on Aireen’s face. Only concern.
Carlisle’s throat tightened. Still, he managed to respond.

“I had something I needed to do. I’m sorry I didn’t let you know beforehand. Aireen, what about you?”

“Ah, me too. And… I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in person. It all came up so suddenly—I had no choice but to ask Setsu.”

Her voice softened near the end. She looked up at him with her chin tucked slightly, brows furrowed—an apology hidden behind a hopeful, shy expression.

To her, it was a quiet plea: Please don’t be mad. Look at me kindly.

Carlisle felt like his heart was tearing.
With that innocent face, she had hidden her meeting with another man.
How happy must she have been…?
He wanted to ask. But he couldn’t.

Instead, he forced a faint smile and said,

“It’s alright. Don’t push yourself too hard. Can we finish work together tomorrow?”

“Uh… yeah. It might be a bit tough. But how about we go home together the day after? We can buy something tasty for dinner and head back. What do you think?”

“I’m fine with anything. As long as it’s with you.”

“Here we go again,” Aireen smiled, a little flustered. “Anyway, you must be tired. Get some rest. See you tomorrow.”

She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek before running off to her room, her cheeks slightly flushed. She even waved at him before disappearing behind the door.

“Good night, Aireen.”

Carlisle, unaware that tomorrow was her scheduled duty day, spent the night lying awake—gripped by misunderstanding.

“There’s a small festival today. Over in the square. Do you want to go?”

Aireen, who had just finished eating, asked as she wiped her lips.

“Anything’s fine.”

“You’re saying you’re tired, but still okay? You haven’t looked well lately.”

“Not at all. I enjoy whatever you like. It’s fun. It’s not tiring, so I’m fine to go.”

Aireen, who had been observing Carlisle with narrowed eyes, gave a small nod.

“Then let’s go.”

The two of them walked toward the square. Carlisle silently watched her from behind as Aireen took a step ahead, full of anticipation. Then, his eyes dropped to her hand gently interlocked with his.

The next day, due to a complete misunderstanding of the mountain spirit, Carlisle was sent back to the mansion first—just as Aireen had said she would.
In truth, Aireen had only gone to take care of something for his sake. But Carlisle, not knowing that, thought it had to do with the red-haired man.

Suddenly, something surged in his tightly clenched fists. His eyes stung from holding it in.

“Carlisle, it looks like it’s here. There are more people gathering now.”

Aireen pointed around with bright, sparkling eyes.

“Carlisle, can you hold our spot for a moment? I’d like to go buy some skewers.”

She asked him this right in front of the concert hall—just before it began.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Actually, I’m still a little full. I think I’ll walk around a bit.”

“But… can I eat the skewers?”

“Of course. Are you planning to buy them yourself? For the ship-building project?”

“…Okay. Just be careful not to get caught in the crowd.”

“I’m a proud vice-captain, remember? I’ll be fine.”

“Then hurry back.”

With a cheerful smile, Aireen turned away and disappeared into the crowd.
Carlisle didn’t take his eyes off her—not even for a second—afraid he might lose sight of her again.

Halfway through her return, just as Aireen came back with the skewers she’d been craving, someone suddenly approached her.

“I—!”

Carlisle, who had been ready to jump up at any moment, fists clenched, stopped.

Aireen was smiling. That red hair again.

His legs gave out beneath him. He watched the two with heavy, sunken eyes.

The man’s face couldn’t be seen clearly. He had stepped out suddenly, blocking Aireen’s path from an angle—as if to catch her by surprise. Only the side of his face was visible, and even that briefly.

Aireen talked to him for a long time. She kept smiling. And slowly, the color drained from Carlisle’s face. Jealousy began to rise like a tide.

I wanted to rush over and pull them apart.
To cover Aireen’s eyes so she wouldn’t see him.
To build a wall between her and the world, so only I could see her smile.

But I couldn’t. Not with what I’d done.
With what right?

Eventually, Aireen waved and made her way back to him. She sat down beside him, the faint scent of earth still lingering on her clothes.

“Carlisle, these skewers are amazing. Want to try one?”

She held one out—already bitten.
Normally, she wouldn’t hesitate to share, but this time, she didn’t open her mouth again.
As if, if she spoke even once more, her carefully kept smile might shatter.

Carlisle didn’t respond. He only shook his head.

“…It’s really good. Next time, let’s eat a little more for dinner and buy some to share. I’ll get three then.”

Aireen, muttering quietly to herself and full of determination, turned forward again—licking her lips and focusing on her food.

“Okay, let’s begin!”

The voice announcing the start of the performance boomed through the square.
Aireen’s eyes sparkled again as she focused on the stage. Carlisle simply watched her side profile in silence.

The scene from earlier kept replaying in his head.
Aireen smiling at that man.
Chatting with him so naturally.

Under the atmosphere shaped by just the two of them, Carlisle had vanished.
Aireen didn’t mention the man again. She became entirely focused on the performance.
Carlisle was left behind in that silence—miserable and forgotten.

He looked down at his own trembling hands. They looked so pale—cold.

And all he could see was that man’s red hair, draped like a shadow across his mind.

What does that man have that I don’t?

What am I missing?

What did Aireen think was lacking in me?

A thousand tangled thoughts stormed through his mind.
And even as the performance came to a close, those same questions remained—tightly knotted and unanswered.

“It was fun, wasn’t it?”

Aireen looked up at him, cheeks slightly flushed, and smiled with innocent joy.
Carlisle didn’t answer. He just stared at her in silence—watching quietly, even as the crowd slowly began to leave, one by one.

Sensing something odd in his expression, Aireen’s smile slowly faded.

“What’s wrong, Carlisle? What is it?”

Her voice was gentle, full of concern. Carlisle’s eyes stung, but he held back.

“…Aireen.”

“Hm?”

“That man…”

“Man?”

Her eyes widened slightly, confused—as if she truly had no idea what he meant.
Carlisle hesitated. Then slowly moved his lips.

I didn’t mean to say it like this. I wasn’t ready. But the emotions were overwhelming.

I wasn’t prepared. Maybe I never would be. I didn’t know how to accept the idea of Aireen leaving me.
It wasn’t that I could move on—I just didn’t believe I’d survive it.

“A man? What do you mean? Huh?”

Carlisle gently reached out and cupped Aireen’s right cheek. Her tense expression softened under the warmth of his touch.

“Aireen… I love you. Really.”

The quiet confession settled between them. Aireen blushed, flustered by the suddenness of it, yet something in her gaze turned serious.

“I know. But what’s going on now? Tell me, Carlisle.”

Carlisle looked at her as she met his eyes directly—steady, unwavering.

“Aireen, I’ll love you for the rest of my life. You’re the only one who matters to me, and I swear that’s the truth.”

“…”

“I’ll love you even if you hate me. Even if you forget me. Even if you walk away. Even if you never look at me again.”

“…What the heck…”

“So I don’t care—even if you can’t let go of that guy.”

“What?”

Embarrassment flickered across Aireen’s face, her lips twitching as if she couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. She listened silently, a faint trembling in her hands betraying the emotions she struggled to hide.

Carlisle misread her hesitation for rejection. His voice grew quieter.

“The man with the red hair. In a ponytail. The one you were talking to before the performance…”

Aireen’s expression twisted oddly. She wasn’t laughing, nor was she crying,
It was a face that sat on the edge of absurdity.

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