the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Choose Me

"Can we talk?"

Marian stared at the stream.

The water rushed over smooth stones, indifferent to human suffering.

Lucky water.

Then she laughed.

Softly.

Without humor.

"Now?"

The single word struck Adrian harder than he expected.

Because they both knew what she meant.

Now?

After the morning was over?

After Elena?

After work?

After duty?

Now?

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Adrian exhaled.

"I deserve that."

Marian finally looked at him.

And to her annoyance, he looked tired.

Not guilty.

Not defensive.

Tired.

The realization did not make her feel better.

"Marian..."

The familiar way he said her name almost weakened her resolve.

Almost.

"I’ve been trying."

The moment the words left his mouth, she closed her eyes.

Of course.

Trying.

The wrong thing to say.

"Have you?"

Adrian frowned.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"When?"

The question came quietly.

"When have you tried?"

Silence.

Marian folded her arms.

"When was the last time we spent an afternoon together?"

Nothing.

"When was the last time you came looking for me because you wanted to see me?"

Still nothing.

"When was the last time we talked about anything that wasn’t an argument?"

The silence stretched.

Long.

Painful.

And Marian felt her heart crack a little more.

"There."

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

"You’re being unfair."

The words hit like a slap.

Marian laughed.

That terrible laugh.

The one that always appeared when she was too hurt to cry.

"Unfair."

"Yes."

For the first time, frustration entered Adrian’s voice.

Because he was tired too.

Months of this.

Months of the same argument.

Months of trying to explain something Marian refused to believe.

"You keep asking the same questions."

"And you keep giving the same answers."

His patience snapped.

Just slightly.

"Because they’re the truth."

Marian stared.

"Are they?"

Something dangerous flashed across Adrian’s face.

Not anger.

Pride.

The pride of a man who had spent his entire life being believed when he spoke.

He was the Crown Prince.

Ministers questioned his policies.

Foreign nations questioned his decisions.

Political rivals questioned his judgment.

That was normal.

Expected.

Part of the crown.

What Adrian had never expected—

what he had never learned how to endure—

was Marian looking at him as though she doubted his word.

"Eighteen years."

His voice lowered.

"We’ve known each other for eighteen years."

The hurt in his eyes caught her off guard.

"Do you think so little of me?"

Marian froze.

"What?"

"You think I would lie to you?"

The question landed heavily between them.

Adrian took a step forward.

"I am not some careless noble sneaking around behind his fiancée’s back."

His eyes locked onto hers.

"If I wanted someone else, I would tell you."

And Marian’s heart broke.

Because he believed that.

Every word.

Which meant he still didn’t understand.

"No."

Her voice softened.

And somehow that was worse.

"I don’t think you’re lying to me."

Relief flickered across Adrian’s face.

Briefly.

Then Marian continued.

"I think you’re lying to yourself."

Silence.

The relief vanished.

Immediately.

Because that accusation was somehow worse.

"Marian."

"No."

She shook her head.

"No."

Months of pain finally spilled out.

"Every time I mention Elena, you defend her."

Adrian sighed.

There it was again.

Elena.

Always Elena.

"Because you’re being unfair to her."

The answer came automatically.

Instinctively.

And the moment it did—

both froze.

Because he’d done it again.

Again.

Again.

Marian laughed.

A sound dangerously close to a sob.

"There."

"What?"

"There."

Her voice trembled.

"I say her name."

A breath.

"And your first instinct is always to protect her."

Adrian rubbed a hand over his face.

Frustration building.

"Because she hasn’t done anything wrong."

"Neither have I."

Silence.

The words hung between them.

Sharp.

Painful.

Neither have I.

Marian swallowed.

"I’m your fiancée."

The words came out quieter now.

More vulnerable.

More dangerous.

"I’m the one standing here."

Another breath.

"I’m the one crying myself to sleep."

Adrian’s expression changed instantly.

Pain.

Immediate pain.

But Marian couldn’t stop.

"I’m the one wondering why the man I’ve loved for eighteen years looks happier with someone else."

"Marian—"

"Doesn’t she know you’re engaged?"

The question came out almost pleading.

"Doesn’t she know?"

Adrian’s frustration surged.

"Why are you blaming Elena?"

Catastrophic silence.

Because there it was.

Again.

Protecting Elena.

Again.

Marian looked away.

Suddenly exhausted.

"Do you hear yourself?"

"Do you hear yourself?"

The response came immediately.

Adrian’s voice rose for the first time.

Actually rose.

"You keep talking about gossip."

"Gossip?"

Marian stared.

"You think I’m talking about gossip?"

"What else am I supposed to think?"

The words burst out of him.

"No matter what I say, you don’t believe me."

He spread his hands.

"No matter what I explain."

Another breath.

"No matter what I do."

His voice cracked with frustration.

"You’ve already decided I’m guilty."

For a moment neither moved.

Then Marian whispered:

"You care about her."

The words barely reached him.

Adrian answered immediately.

"Of course I care about her."

Silence.

The moment the sentence left his mouth, he regretted it.

Because that wasn’t what he meant.

But it was what he said.

And Marian heard it.

Every word.

The ache in her chest became unbearable.

"Then what am I supposed to think?"

Her voice finally broke.

Actually broke.

Months of pretending.

Months of hoping.

Months of waiting.

Gone.

"I want you to choose me."

Silence.

The world seemed to stop.

No accusations.

No anger.

No pride.

Just truth.

Choose me.

And for the first time in his life, Adrian lost his composure.

"I have."

The words came sharp.

Immediate.

"I have chosen you."

Marian froze.

"I chose you years ago."

His voice rose.

"You think I would have asked for your hand otherwise?"

Another step.

Another crack.

"I have never once questioned a future with you."

And there it was.

The Crown Prince.

The man who had planned his entire future around her.

The man who had never imagined a different ending.

The man who genuinely believed that should have been enough.

"Then why do I feel like I’m losing you?"

The question shattered whatever remained of his anger.

Because Adrian didn’t know.

He truly didn’t know.

For a long moment he simply stood there.

Lost.

Cornered.

Helpless.

Then he asked the question that had been haunting him for months.

"What do you want me to do?"

His voice sounded tired.

So tired.

"Tell me."

A helpless laugh escaped him.

"What do you want from me?"

Silence.

Then the truth.

The one thing Adrian had been trying not to admit.

"I don’t know how to make you believe me anymore."

The words fell heavily between them.

And suddenly all the anger vanished.

Leaving only exhaustion.

Because he meant them.

Every word.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Then Adrian looked away.

Toward the forest.

Toward the mountains.

Toward anywhere but her.

When he spoke again, his voice was quiet.

"Maybe we need time."

Marian went still.

"Adrian."

"We keep hurting each other."

His shoulders sagged.

"We keep having the same fight."

Another breath.

"And I don’t know how to reach you anymore."

The words were meant to be honest.

A plea.

A surrender.

Marian heard none of it.

All she heard was:

Time.

Distance.

Space.

Not:

Stay.

Not:

Fight for me.

Not:

Choose me.

Time.

Something inside her finally broke.

Quietly.

Completely.

For a long moment, she simply stood there.

Then she smiled.

A beautiful smile.

A devastating one.

The kind that hurt more than tears.

"I understand."

The moment she said it, Adrian knew she didn’t.

For the first time that afternoon—

fear entered his chest.

"Marian—"

She stepped back.

A tiny movement.

It felt like a kingdom separating.

"I think I’d like to be alone."

Then she turned.

And walked away.

This time she didn’t expect him to follow.

And for the first time in eighteen years—

Adrian didn’t know how.

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