One Day, My Fiancé Brought His First Love Along - Chapter 44

Training was as grueling and exhausting as always. The moment the final movement ended, bright relief lit up the faces of the knights.

“I’ll head out first!”

“Good job, everyone!”

“Sir Setar, you’ve got some dirt on your face. Aileen, aren’t you coming with us?”

“Oh—no. There’s something I’m still not confident about. It’s better to get it right while it’s fresh—it makes things easier in the long run.”

“I’m pretty confused myself, but I’m off. The best way to deal with work is to push it to tomorrow! Bye, everyone!”

The knights, unaware of the tension that existed between their acting commander and one of their peers, parted with cheerful jokes and goodbyes.

Aileen stayed behind, swinging her sword a few more times to correct the parts she still found lacking.

Far across the training ground, one knight remained. He hadn’t left either. And Aileen could feel his gaze on her—sharp, steady, and unmoving. But she didn’t bother speaking. It wasn’t worth the effort.

“Hoo…”

After sheathing her sword, Aileen exhaled deeply and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Just as she turned to head back toward the Khan Order’s quarters, a large shadow stretched behind her.

There was only one person who could project such presence and weight.

Without even flinching, Aileen turned to face him.

“…What is it?”

Her voice was calm, her expression blank. Because of the height difference, she had to tilt her chin up slightly to meet his gaze.

Carlisle, on the other hand, lowered his chin just enough so that his half-lidded eyes met hers directly.

The violet eyes that once looked at her so warmly were now cool, almost indifferent. The faint red sheen in them did little to soften the chill in his stare. His pupils trembled faintly.

He had taken his medicine. He was sure of it. But his chest ached.

Lately, the pain came every time he saw her like this—with that cold, distant expression on her face. Even the medicine couldn’t keep it at bay anymore.

A long breath escaped him—one he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.

This was the result he had chosen. He had hurt Aileen on purpose to get here. This was the price of his choices.

Still, it felt like a sharp spike was being driven into his chest, over and over. His heart dropped, and despair made it hard to breathe.

He knew—clearly—that he didn’t deserve her anymore. But dulled as his feelings had become in so many other things, when it came to her, they were still raw. Still painfully alive.

Aileen’s eyes told him to hurry up and speak. She was waiting.

Out of sight, Carlisle clenched and relaxed his fists again and again. His palms were slick with cold sweat.

If only you knew… That I’d rather rip out my own tongue than say what I’m about to say.

But he had to. Swallowing down words that burned in his throat, Carlisle finally opened his mouth—slowly.

“I submitted the annulment papers yesterday.”

His face was calm, his tone unshaken. There wasn’t even a flicker of emotion to be seen. And because of that, Aileen couldn’t read what he was truly feeling.

“Sorry it took so long. I apologize again.”

He said he was sorry, but nothing in his expression suggested remorse. It sounded like just another routine apology. That made it feel even more surreal.

Suppressing the emotions rising in her chest, Aileen stared at his blank face.

“The approval should come within a few days. Just hold out until then. You’ll be free soon.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say, “It’s over now.” He couldn’t say, “I’m no longer your fiancé.” Those words, at least, he didn’t want to admit—not with his own mouth.

Because when she looked at him just now—just for a second—there had been light in her expression. It felt like her heart, wounded so many times by his own hand, might finally start to heal.

And so, he hardened his expression further. He couldn’t let her see it.

That’s why Aileen couldn’t read him at all.

Aside from the moment Judith had told him to send the annulment quickly, Carlisle had always looked like this when facing her—empty, indifferent.

“…Alright.”

Aileen replied.

Carlisle slowly closed his eyes, then opened them again.

It was finally over.

Aileen felt the weight of that ending settle in her chest.

Eight long years of a love that wouldn’t dry out no matter how much time passed—finally extinguished.

Five years of living side by side with someone she once thought was her everything—truly ended now.

Emptiness surged inside her, swallowing her thoughts whole. She wanted to say something. Anything. But no words came.

That was the truth of it. No matter how long you love, how deeply you feel, how much you cherish it—sometimes, a single sentence is enough to end it all.

That was the kind of relationship they’d had.

And when that realization hit her, Aileen tilted her head to the sky, just to stop the tears from falling.

Whatever Carlisle still felt—or didn’t—that time they had shared belonged to her. It was hers. Her memories. Her love.

Of course it hurt.

That had been the brightest time of her life. A love that was pure, given with no expectations or calculation.

If she ever married in the future, it would likely be political. Arranged. Nothing like this.

That love—those years—would never come again.

Steadying her blurred vision, Aileen looked at him once more.

Since the moment he’d spoken, his expression had remained unchanged. He was calm, unmoved.

The tide of time and memory crashed into her, but he stood like stone. Only she was affected. Only she was left behind.

And then, Aileen understood.

Carlisle hadn’t held onto even a fragment of those years they’d shared.

While she was mourning what had been—a time now stained and painful—he didn’t need to grieve. He already had someone else.

Judith.

So, Aileen erased the emotions that had swelled inside her. She erased the sorrow.

She wouldn’t even hold onto the memories. She wouldn’t let herself be that foolish.

At that moment, Carlisle brought Aileen back to reality with a final reminder.

“When the annulment is officially approved, the imperial court will notify House Revart as well.”

“…Alright.”

With that short reply, Aileen thought he would turn away as usual—but instead, Carlisle stood still, quietly staring at her.

Cold eyes locked tightly with hers—hot and tense, despite their chill.

Just as Aileen began to look away, Carlisle, expressionless until then, tilted his head slightly to the side.

Her mind froze.

Like a thunderbolt striking her thoughts, a question without an answer fell on her.

Why?

A small ripple flickered across her eyes, which had started to grow distant again.

“Then… I’ll go.”

With a curt farewell, Carlisle turned his back and walked away. He looked thinner than before, yet still broad-shouldered. As she stared blankly at his retreating figure, Aileen muttered under her breath.

“Why…?”

That subtle tilt of the head—it was a habit of Carlisle’s that only surfaced when he wasn’t feeling right.

Aileen knew. She had watched him long enough to notice these things. Things not even Carlisle himself was aware of.

Shouldn’t this be a moment of celebration for him? Wasn’t this what he had wanted for so long?

Then why… did he look like that?

But the only person who could answer that was already gone.

The people of House Revart, upon hearing that the annulment had finally been submitted, criticized Carlisle for taking so long to follow through.

But even amid their complaints, they couldn’t hide their joy. The miserable connection had finally ended—they were free.

Ashite, who arrived late from a mission and heard the news after the fact, didn’t hesitate to mess up Aileen’s hair in a flurry of proud affection. She promised—boldly—that she’d find her someone better, and told her to just trust her.

“Aileen, this is for you.”

It was a rare day off. Aileen had been lying on her side reading in bed when Sera approached, holding out a sealed envelope.

“Thanks, Sera. You can go now.”

“Would you like me to bring some cookies?”

“I already had a whole plate. Did you forget?”

“Oh, right? Well, if you want more, just let me know. Today, I won’t stop you from eating as much as you want.”

“…Suspicious.”

“It’s just… today’s a happy day.”

Her round, gentle face curled into a smile filled with joy. She didn’t say it outright, but both of them knew why.

“Yeah. Thanks, Sera.”

With a soft chuckle, Sera slipped out of the room. Once the door was fully closed, Aileen sat up and opened the envelope.

[Notice: The annulment request between Aileen Revart and Carlisle Avergue has been officially approved.]

A clear, official declaration that the bond between her and Carlisle was now completely severed.

For a moment, she felt that same sinking weight in her chest as when she’d first received the annulment papers. But only for a moment.

Her heart wasn’t racing. Her chest wasn’t shaking with panic.

Maybe I’ve just accepted it, she murmured to herself, the trace of bitter laughter in her voice.

She turned to the rest of the documents. There were additional clauses added to the original compensation Carlisle had offered. Had guilt weighed on him a little more in the meantime?

With blank eyes, Aileen read through every word, then carefully folded the papers and placed them deep into her desk drawer.

Her chest felt like someone was dragging their hand across it—slow, heavy, and dull. She lay back down on the bed and shut her eyes tight.

“I heard the annulment was officially finalized, Carlisle.”

Judith entered the study, dressed in a striking red gown that boldly revealed her shoulders. Her voice flowed like a song, light and soft—but there was unmistakable excitement beneath it.

Carlisle didn’t react. His eyes remained fixed on the papers in front of him, his pen moving in steady strokes.

Scratch, scratch. The rhythm of his pen answered her in his place.

“You’re officially free now. Or am I wrong?”

No matter how he responded—or didn’t—Judith continued as she pleased. Floating across the room like a butterfly, she perched herself atop Carlisle’s desk and reached out to cover the documents he had been reading.

“Your future bride-to-be is here, and you won’t even look up?”

“I’m busy, as you can see.”

Still, his gaze stayed on the papers.

“How unfortunate—seems I’ve added more work to an already busy man.”

For the first time, Carlisle looked up.

Their eyes met in the air sharp, silent tension stretching between them.

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