I Ran Away And The Reverse Harem Started Chapter 143

Daniel called Rosie’s name in a low voice.
But she didn’t seem to hear him, her back still turned, as if his words were swallowed by the wind.

Her wavy hair, braided into a single plait, was tousled by the breeze, loose strands fluttering softly. Watching the strands sway—redder than the sunset itself—Daniel swallowed nervously.

He was about to call her name again when Rosie suddenly turned.

“Daniel? When did you get here?”

With the sun setting behind her, shadows brushed across her face, but her lavender eyes shone bright.

In that moment, a memory from childhood surfaced—
the day he’d been slapped by that ill-tempered baroness, and she’d held her own cheek as though it hurt, staring at him with worried eyes.

Daniel stared at her briefly before shaking his head, pulling himself out of the haze.

“It’s almost dinner. You were gone so long, I came to see. What were you doing here?”

He masked his tone with mock sulkiness. Whenever he wanted to hide his feelings, acting a little cynical worked best.

He stepped along the narrow path weaving through the lavender fields. With every step his polished shoes pressed into the damp ground, the space between them shrank.

“Nothing much. Colin just told me there’s a pretty lavender field down here. I thought I’d take a look before we leave Shamit.”

“Ah, right. You two were out there sketching for hours earlier.”

Not what he’d meant to say.

The careless words slipped out, and Daniel sighed inwardly.

Ugh, did that sound like jealousy? Why do I always end up grumbling instead of saying what I mean?

Rosie, of course, tended to give him that fed-up look whenever he reacted too sharply to Colin’s name.

No doubt, this time she’d scold him again—“he’s practically family, why would you be jealous?”

Come to think of it… wasn’t that on the list I saw once? “Men women hate: the jealous type.”

The thought of that old gossip magazine article flickered through his mind. Meanwhile, Rosie stayed quiet for longer than expected.

By now she should’ve rolled her eyes, maybe even snapped at him.

When he glanced at her, though, she surprised him with a sudden question.

“If it bothers you so much, why didn’t you come out yourself?”

“…?”

Startled by the unexpected response, Daniel stared at her, then stepped closer.

Maybe it was the rich lavender scent or the glow of the sunset masking it, but now that he was closer, he noticed her cheeks were faintly flushed.

She asked again.

“Tell me, Daniel. Even if we start dating, are you going to stay too busy with work to make time for me?”

“…What?”

“I mean… if we get married someday too. Would you still be buried in paperwork while I’m off watching the sea and painting alone?”

“…What? What did you just say? Married—what?”

Just then, the wind rushed strong, carrying away her last words. Daniel’s chest tightened with urgency as he stepped closer—so close now he could almost touch her.

As he approached, Rosie ducked her head sharply, as though to shield herself. The sight burned deep inside him. Daniel moistened his lips with his tongue, then gently lifted her chin with his fingertips. Her face tilted up obediently.

Her lavender eyes looked up at him through narrowed lids, filled with a trace of frustration. For some reason, the corners were reddened.

Daniel struggled to steady the turmoil in his chest.

“…Did something happen between you and Colin—”

“Just answer me, Daniel Leandro. Are you going to keep leaving me bored and alone?”

Now her brows arched in a sulky expression. And she pressed on with words he hadn’t expected.

“When we were in Hollis, I was honestly jealous of Sasha and Ralph. Spending all day together, raising their kids together… they’re so in sync, probably because they’ve been together forever.”

“…”

“I was jealous. Really.”

“…”

“I have so much family now, but seeing Sasha and Ralph as a married couple… it made me want something of my own too. Something like what they have.”

It wasn’t as though Daniel hadn’t thought the same.

In fact, I…

If he ever married, not by a king’s arrangement or out of duty, but freely, with his heart—
there was only one person he could imagine as his partner.

Which was why he thought he could guess what she was trying to say. His throat burned, parched.

Still, he waited. Patient. He wanted to hear her finish.
He wanted to know if her heart, her words, matched his own.

By then, his eyes were fixed only on her lips, watching intently for the words about to spill out.

Rosie blushed under that gaze. Then, as if summoning courage, she spoke softly—

Her time with Colin earlier, her solitary walk through the lavender fields, all of it seemed to have awakened this resolve.

“…If I were ever to have what Sasha and Ralph share, I think… it would be with you. But if we did, and you still left me alone and bored like this, it’d be unbearable.”

“…”

“So I want you to say it clearly. If you’re going to keep leaving me like this, then don’t even start—”

Mumbling shyly, stumbling over her words, Rosie thought herself foolish.

And before she could finish, something soft brushed her lips, then withdrew.

Her eyes went wide. Daniel stood right before her now, bent at the waist, meeting her gaze.

“Wha—what was that?”

His black eyes gleamed with sunset light, clear and transparent.

“That… was my answer.”

“…What?”

“Don’t leave you bored, right? That was my answer to your confession.”

His fingers, once lifting her chin, now grazed her lips. Whatever she’d said—confession or complaint—he had chosen to interpret it his way.

“You were really saying you want me to keep life fun. To always stay by your side. Isn’t that it?”

“…Not for life. Just… at least if we’re dating, or if things go further. Then, yes.”

At that, Daniel’s lips curved into a slow smile.

“I promise. I’ll make sure you never have to feel bored or hurt for the rest of your life.”

“……”

“My thoughts are always full of you.”

Rosieta suddenly remembered the first time she had kissed Daniel—behind Roan’s townhouse, under the dusky night sky, lips meeting for the very first time.

Now that everything that needed to be resolved was finally over, she felt it was time to give her answer to the confession he had made that evening in the garden.

The only reason she had delayed her reply back then was because there had been too much to deal with first…

Hesitant, she raised her eyes to him. Daniel’s face already carried the flush of someone who sensed happiness drawing near.

She thought—she couldn’t make him wait any longer. And so, one by one, she let the words she had kept inside her heart spill out.

“…Let me start with the past. Ten years ago, I’m sorry for vanishing without a word. I can’t tell you why, but it wasn’t because I hated you.”

“……”

“And… thank you.”

“……”

“For not giving up on me. For finding me. For letting me stay by your side.”

From the moment she’d been dropped into that rundown orphanage, he had been there. And when their being together began to feel natural, she’d been pulled away again—only for Daniel to be the one who brought her back.

He was the one who had promised to be her roots.
The one who urged her not to run, but to stand and fight.

Rosieta slowly reached out and placed her hand on Daniel’s cheek. His warmth spread across her palm. Meeting his deep black eyes, she hesitated briefly before drawing her lips into a soft smile.

“Can I stay by your side from now on…?”

“……”

“If my answer to your confession isn’t too late—if I haven’t come back too late…”

Her confession turned into a trembling whisper. After ten long years, she was finally asking if she could begin again with him. Daniel gazed at her intently, his face grave.

“Daniel, is it all right if I start over, by your side?”

“……”

“I love you too. So much.”

“……”

“Sorry… for taking so long to say it.”

With the swell of emotions, pearly tears slid down her cheeks, glittering in the reflected glow of sunset.

Daniel listened quietly to her confession. Then he lifted the hand that had been touching her chin and brushed away the tears at her eyes.

As he stroked her damp cheeks, he spoke.

“This time, I won’t let go.”

He vowed inwardly that she would never again have to bear her burdens alone.

Watching her tears fall, he made that silent promise.

And so, Rosieta and Daniel chose each other—for the life ahead of them.

Shhhhhh—

The salty sea breeze rose from the cliffs, bending the lavender in a single direction. Surrounded by the scent of flowers, the two kissed again.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

“Ah—cosmos flowers.”

In front of the ivory-colored mansion of Count Drunia, blooms stretched wide.

The breeze was cool, the sunlight soft. The sky soared clear and high above the ridges, bright and perfect, as though arranged just for today.

“Rosie, how do I look?”

Lucas came striding out from the busy house. It was a ground-floor room used as a parlor. I was sitting by the bay window, watching the chairs and tables being set in the garden for the outdoor ceremony, when I turned my head.

Lucas, dressed in a wide-sleeved white shirt and a pale blue vest, stood with his arms stretched wide.

“Does it suit me? How do I look? I had this outfit made just for today!”

His hair had grown down to the nape of his neck, now tied back in a short tail. He looked positively thrilled, as if about to set off on a trip.

I rose from my seat and pretended to inspect him from all sides.

“Handsome.”

“Really?”

“Why would I lie? You look especially good today!”

At my exaggerated praise, Lucas’s grin grew wider. We chatted excitedly about the dinner and desserts we’d have after the ceremony. To an onlooker, we probably looked like cousins fooling around at a relative’s wedding.

That was when Roan walked into the room, clicking his tongue.

“Miss Jensen, is picking out your brother’s outfit really what you want to be doing at your own wedding? And you—show some tact, brat. Can’t you see the adults are busy?”

He was more irritable than usual, scolding Lucas harshly. Predictably, Lucas bristled and shot back.

“Rosie only has to put on her dress, right? Her hair and makeup are already done. What’s the problem if she plays a little?”

Roan shook his head, exasperated, then gestured toward me.

“Not today. Miss Jensen, put this on.”

“Sorry. But… I’m not ‘Miss Jensen’ anymore…”

“It’s just habit.”

Still bickering with Lucas, Roan ushered me out, leaving me holding a dress awkwardly in my arms. I sighed softly.

Heading back toward my room, I passed the corridor window and caught sight of the bustling staff and family outside.

The Büllosen family and Lynne’s family were now chatting naturally in the back garden, exchanging greetings. I smiled at the scene, then turned my gaze.

There, standing tall beside them, was Daniel.

Clad in a tailcoat, his black hair slicked back, he stood in the garden. Today was our engagement ceremony.

Three months had passed since the Rumiz trial. In the heart of autumn, we were to be engaged.

Not married—engaged.

Daniel had originally wanted marriage right away…

At twenty-three, I wasn’t considered particularly young here. It wouldn’t have been strange to marry immediately.

But the opposition was too strong.

To be clear, the king wasn’t among them. Far from it—he had even sent a bouquet to celebrate our engagement.

The problem was two women.

“What? Marry a man you’ve known less than a year, when you don’t even know the ways of the world?!”