My Fiancée Hates Me

Chapter 30: Painted Memories P.3

[Past Life]

I felt my body being shaken from being carried around. When I opened my eyes, I saw Garett's face. I

was being carried by Garett.

"...Garett?"

"Arielle, you are awake..."

There was an expression of urgency on his face.

"...Are we still on the run from pursuers?" I asked as I held my head.

"...Yeah. We need to find a place to hide from."

The pain from my head was increasing.

"Ow..."

He touched my head gently.

"You are bleeding so much!"

I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I'm fine! We should find a place to hide soon. Do not mind me and continue at your speed."

Garett found us a hunter's shack to hide in. He placed me down against the wall and lit some firewood

in the fire pit.

We were safe for now, but things were not looking so good for us. Garett was slightly injured and must

be exhausted from carrying me around. Even the condition of his sword was not looking too good...

From the amount of shadows I saw before, I remembered seeing at least six shadows. No matter how

skilled Garett might be, I doubt that he could protect me and himself from six assailants.

My head continued throbbing, making me lose consciousness here and there repeatedly.

I opened my eyes again from a daze and saw Garett stripping from his clothes. More than the fact that

his top half was bare, I noticed how he had a small mole near his left shoulder blade.

"Ari...Arielle..."

"Erik..."

I am really sleepy right now...

I felt myself being encased in a very warm state. When I opened my eyes again, I saw that I was laying

on top of what seemed like someone's bare chest. It was Garett's chest. He seemed to be asleep as

well.

I seemed rather confused as to why I was there and suddenly noticed that I was nearly completely

nude. I felt like panicking, but I felt the need to find my clothes as the first order of business. I collected

my clothes that were resting by the fireplace and quickly dressed myself.

"...Why was I undressed?"

I saw that my injuries were properly dressed and covered up.

"Are you up?" Garett said as he sat up.

"Y-Yes," I said as I looked away from him.

I was unable to look him in the eye due to his toned body being right in front of me.

"How is your head?"

"Much better..."

"You had a fever, and the fire was not enough...I am sorry about earlier."

"You only did what you had to," I said as I looked back at him.

The bandage over his arm started unraveling. I quickly went to his side and began helping him dress

his wound properly.

"Thank you..."

"I should be thanking you. You saved me earlier."

"I haven't saved you yet. We are still on the run from Marquis Pillar's son and his men...The

mercenaries are most likely from the Balik Empire."

"Balik Empire? The bordering country...Why? Of course, there is unrest, but capturing me could start a

war," I said.

"This is more than revenge. They want something more..."

Will I ever see Erik again?

I felt my hands shaking.

Garett brought my head to his chest to calm me down.

"I will bring you back to him no matter what..."

"Yeah..."

I felt like I could believe his words in that moment.

"Garett, do you mind me asking why you left to come here without telling me anything?" I asked.

"...That is..."

He seemed perplexed by my question.

"You don't have to answer or anything," I said. "I was just curious."

"No... I want to answer. There were rumors of infidelity around you."

"Those are baseless rumors!"

"It might be baseless, but such rumors are detrimental to a new Queen. Erik came to me and told me

that I was the most discerning person in question...I thought that I could protect you by leaving your

side. Erik agreed with my decision and sent me here."

"...You left the capital because of me? You and I are not–"

"That is not true...For years, I have been in love with you and still am," he said as he laced his fingers

with mine.

"Erik..."

"He knows as well...He said that if you were to choose me, he would be fine with your decision."

"...Isn't that the same thing as abandoning me?"

"He loves you so much that he would prefer you being happy over his own happiness. No matter what This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

he says, he cares for your happiness more than anything else in the world..."

"That's more than enough for me to not accept your feelings," I said as I moved my hand away.

I suddenly felt the contact of his lips. Garett had pushed me down under his weight and pinned my

wrists to the ground. It was too rough and forceful for me to push away. It was about another minute or

so before he moved away.

"...Back then, I could barely leave a finger on you. Seeing you again so close, I have been driven to the

point of no return. I cannot help but want to touch you again."

"Even if you do this, I won't become yours," I said as I stopped struggling.

"...Maybe so," he said as he released my wrists and gently stroked my head.

Garett gave me one of the gentlest kisses I ever received before. I was unable to put my strength in my

pushes when I could feel his years of unrequited feelings packed into one kiss.

I was definitely a pushover from letting him continue to kiss me even though I loved my husband. My

feelings for Garett never went away...I always did have some feelings stored for him deep inside my

heart, so oddly when he kissed me, I felt a little happy despite how unfaithful these feelings were.

The next sound that I heard was the crackling of the fire.

"...I'm sorry," he said as he got off of me.

I sat leaning upright against the wall in a daze and stared at an empty wall.

"Ow..."

Garett needed to change his bandages. He had invigorated his wound so much that he had he had

bled through his second round of bandages.

I crawled over to him and helped him wrap a new set of bandages.

"You are under no obligation to help me," Garett said coldly.

"I cannot stand seeing people hurt..."

"...That is just like you, but if you get this close, I will bite you again," he said as he wrapped his good

arm around my waist.

My heart raced slightly.

"In your state, you can barely lift a sword..."

"Now, I wouldn't say that. I can still lift other things."

My face became flushed.

"You..."

Garett stared deeply into my eyes with his quivering green eyes.

"Arielle, I love you. Please runaway with me."

I pushed on his chest.

"I never once forgot about you. You were always in the back of my mind even before all of this, but I am

sorry. I cannot abandon everything for you. It is all too late for that..."

"I understand," he said as he hugged me tightly. "When we leave this place, it will truly be the end of

everything between us, including my feelings for you."

More than my body, my heart hurt more than anything...

The cabin was not a very safe location. We had to head out immediately. I was able to walk on my own,

but I was still suffering from blood loss.

"Your Highness, this way," Garett said as he helped pull me uphill.

"Thank you," I said as I took his hand.

The cabin was raided as expected.

We continued running again. Our pursuers caught up to us despite that distraction from earlier. I injured

my leg from moving in the darkness and was unable to keep up even with Garett pulling me along.

"Just a little more, Your Highness..."

I released his hand.

"You can escape by yourself. I am just a burden...Tell Erik that I did not make it even if I am held

hostage. Even if I am taken hostage, I will find a way to end myself before they are able to negotiate a

trade for my life."

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me along again.

"You are going to become a mother! The hope of the next generation lies in your hands, so you cannot

give up now. If you cannot continue living for the kingdom, then live for yourself."

I touched my stomach slightly.

"For the future..."

I am possibly carrying the future Prince. One day, he will see the light and protect our future.

"They are over here!" a man shouted.

We were so close to the fortress. To be found like this...

Garett pulled me behind a tree and hid me in the bushes.

"I will lead them away," Garett said as he kneeled before me.

I grabbed his sleeve.

"What can you do by yourself?"

"I could die for you," he answered resolutely.

"No...You cannot die..."

"We cannot let them have you under no circumstance. That idiot King would not hesitate to put the

people's lives in danger for you, so you must escape."

"...What will I tell my child about their savior?"

Garett kissed me on the lips before smiling awkwardly.

"He is still madly in love with you."

Garett shook my hand off and began running in the opposite direction. The sound of multiple steps

followed afterwards.

"You liar...You said that you would stop your feelings for me," I said as my tears dropped

incessantly.