CHAPTER 78: NO REGRETS

My breathing faltered.

The translucent lines of the notification still flickered before my eyes, making it seem as if time had stopped. I was used to the system’s interference — it forced choices on me, pushed me toward certain actions that I sometimes strongly disliked. But this notification... it was different.

"One step closer to his heart"... "Mentor, or... more?"

I felt the blood rush to my cheeks. My heart was beating so hard that I was worried Roger might hear it.

"Lady Weinstein?" His voice brought me back to reality. Roger tilted his head slightly, his gaze betraying his concern. "Are you... okay?"

I blinked rapidly, trying to dispel the haunting glow of the text. The notification disappeared, leaving behind a heaviness in my chest and a strange excitement.

"I... yes," I exhaled. "I’m fine."

But that was a lie. I wasn’t fine.

I tried to remain calm, but this sudden system notification turned everything inside me upside down.

That’s because it was a notification that only the main character received in the game! As in other similar games, this game also had a mechanic that allowed you to track your progress in relationships with love interests.

And depending on how far the player’s relationship with a particular character had progressed, the player would receive such notifications from time to time. Of course, for this reason, I was also very familiar with this feature, as I had encountered it many times while playing the game. And yet...

What the hell happened?

What progress in my relationship with Roger?! I didn’t sign up for this!

I remind you that I am not the main character here! Not me!

I wanted to scream these words in the system’s face, if it had a physical embodiment. But unfortunately, all I could do was agonize over it deep inside, wondering at what point my life had taken a wrong turn.

I could have continued to agonize over this for a long time, if it weren’t for the fact that Roger was still standing in front of me. Yes, he was still standing there, looking at me with a slightly surprised expression, because my mood had changed so suddenly.

Finally, recovering from these disturbing and obsessive thoughts, I somehow pulled myself together and said:

"Mentor..." I repeated, trying to make my voice sound more confident. "It sounds like I should be looking after you, not the other way around."

A faint smile flashed across Roger’s face.

"And yet I cannot allow myself to remain indifferent," he replied calmly but firmly. "So, if you have really decided to leave, I will accompany you."

I opened my mouth, about to object to this proposal again, but in the end I closed my mouth and changed my mind. If everything is really as I think it is, then I suppose all my objections will be pointless anyway. The lines from the system notification were still clearly before my eyes.

All right. I took a deep breath. In fact, my head was already too sore to deal with all this. So in the end, I decided to just give up and accept my fate.

"All right, if you insist."

After I gave my permission, Roger’s face showed relief and joy that he couldn’t even hide behind his usual impassive expression.

But I just shook my head, contemplating this scene that didn’t look too promising for me.

"What about the duke?" I asked. "Have you informed him of your departure?"

"I will send someone to inform my father," Roger nodded, his voice quiet but firm.

"All right."

I took another deep breath as I finally had to follow Roger.

We stepped out into the courtyard. The air was cool, stars twinkled above the palace towers, and muffled music could be heard in the distance—the ball was still going on. The laughter and conversation of the guests drifted through the open windows.

We approached the carriage, which was waiting with the other vehicles near the gate.

"After you, ma’am," Roger said, opening the door and offering his hand.

"Thank you, Sir Roger," I replied, trying not to touch him longer than necessary.

The young man helped me get in first, then got in himself. The carriage started moving, and the wheels creaked on the gravel. We rode in silence for several minutes. I looked out the window, trying not to meet his gaze.

Behind the glass, I could see the lights of the palace, then the dark alleys of the park leading to the city. Nevertheless, the silence that reigned in the carriage weighed heavily, like an invisible burden.

Even without looking in his direction, I could tell with certainty that Roger was still looking at me. His gaze was almost palpable. Nevertheless, I was not going to give in to that gaze and continued to ignore him.

I was already feeling too miserable as it was.

"Lady Weinstein," Roger finally spoke. He broke the silence, and I flinched, though I tried not to show it.

I had to answer him, though I would have preferred to remain silent.

"Yes, Sir Roger?" I asked, trying to sound calm, but my voice trembled slightly.

I turned to him, and our eyes met. His blue eyes were filled with something I couldn’t even name. In the dim light of the carriage, they seemed even more extraordinary.

"During these six months... have you thought of me at all?" Roger asked, and there was a vulnerability in his voice that I never expected to hear from someone like him.

His words clearly took me by surprise. So much so that for the first few moments, I couldn’t even find the words to speak.

Honestly? Not really... In reality, I’ve had too much to do over the past few months to think about the heroine’s love interest, who was at war.

However, just as I was searching for words to give him a neutral and evasive answer, Roger spoke up without waiting for my response.

He turned to me, and his eyes, the color of the stormy sea, seemed even darker in the dim light of the carriage, reflecting the faint light of the street lamps.

"To tell you the truth... I thought about you every day while I was there," he confessed unexpectedly.

"...."

"Even when it was too hard, I remembered you and found the strength to keep fighting. In the trenches, in the rain, when bullets were whistling overhead. Your face... it was like a beacon in the darkness for me."

After these words, his voice trembled, and I noticed how he clenched his fists on his knees, looking down.

Roger Dickens, a war hero and son of a noble family, always seemed so confident and unshakable. But now... now he looked almost fragile.

I could only stare at him in shock.

No, wait.

I had a bad feeling about Roger offering to walk me home, but this... No, damn it, isn’t this going too far?

What was this sudden confession? I don’t like this at all!

My heart was pounding, and I clenched my fists on my lap, trying to control my emotions.

The carriage turned, and the streetlights outside the window gave way to dark alleys where the wind rustled the leaves, creating a whisper-like sound. I swallowed, trying to collect my thoughts at that moment.

"Lady Weinstein, I am truly grateful to you," he said suddenly, his eyes shining in the dim light, reflecting the faint moonlight shining through the curtains.

"For what exactly?" I asked, finally deciding to interrupt his monologue.

"Do you remember the scarf you tied around my head? It was thanks to that scarf that I was able to win and return alive. It was all thanks to your blessing."

No, it was just a scarf that I was forced to tie around your head! What the hell kind of blessing was that? I could barely contain my hysterical laughter.

I remained silent and perplexed as this outrageous scene continued to unfold before me. Meanwhile, Roger continued, not letting me get a word in edgewise:

"While I was there, I thought a lot about what I would do first when I returned. And I decided... that regardless of the consequences, I would have to do it so that I would have no regrets."

His words hung in the air, heavy as a stormy sky. They seemed to stop time, filling the space between us. No rustling, no sounds — just this tense silence that meant so much.

While I remained in a slight stupor, Roger Dickens suddenly leaned forward and bent toward me. It all happened so quickly that I didn’t even have time to realize what was happening — I just felt the distance between us shrink to an impossible degree.

His lips were almost inches from mine, and I could feel his breath — warm, with a slight but recognizable taste of the wine he had been drinking at the banquet. This aroma mingled with the subtle woody notes of his perfume, creating a dangerously attractive combination.

Moonlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating his face, which was now so close.