Reincarnated as a Villainous Aristocrat in an Otome Game, So I Bought the Main Heroine with Money - Chapter 68: Going to Get Clarice

Chapter 68: Going to Get Clarice

As I walked through the grand corridors of the ducal estate, my pace unconsciously quickened.

The path to Clarice’s room felt far longer than I remembered.

I had already declared my resolve and received permission from Duke Everett to take her with me.

But still—how would she react?

Just thinking about it made my chest tighten with anticipation.

(Clarice… how do you see me now?)

Shaking off the thoughts, I took a deep breath.

At the end of the hall, her door finally came into view.

I stopped in front of it and knocked lightly.

“Yes?”

“Clarice, it’s Cerios.”

A pause—then, a voice from within.

“…Come in.”

Her tone was indifferent, but I could hear a hint of tension beneath it.

Carefully, I pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Her room was as orderly as ever—a reflection of her composed nature, elegant and refined.

And there, sitting in a chair by the window, was Clarice.

The moment her eyes met mine, she quickly looked away.

“You certainly came unannounced. What do you want?”

Her voice carried a sharp edge—but that, too, was Clarice in her own way.

Instead of being put off, I smiled and took a step closer.

“I came to take you with me, Clarice.”

At those words, her shoulders trembled slightly.

Then, slowly, she lifted her head and glared at me.

“…What are you saying? Are you serious?”

“I am. Clarice, I’ve come to take you as my wife.”

For a brief moment, Clarice’s eyes widened in surprise.

But just as quickly, she turned away, as if trying to hide it.

“…You really are a fool. I have been disinherited from House Everett. Taking me will bring you no benefit whatsoever.”

At that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“A fool, huh? Maybe I am. But I don’t care. The duke made it clear that he intends to cast you aside—but that doesn’t matter to me. I want you as my wife. A prince stripped of his title, and a noblewoman disowned by her house. Don’t you think we make a fitting pair?”

Clarice slowly stood from her seat, turning her gaze toward the window.

Her posture remained proud, unwavering—but there was something lonely in the way she stood.

“You idiot… Do you even realize how much nonsense you must have spouted to my father just to come here?”

“Yeah, I’ll admit—I might’ve gone a little overboard. But if that’s what it took to bring you back, then I have no regrets.”

Clarice let out a quiet sigh.

Then, turning around, she met my gaze head-on.

“Cerios, you really are hopeless. Do you ever stop to think about your position? Coming here for me… that’s the kind of thing only a fool would do.”

Her voice was sharp, but there was something wavering beneath it.

“You already have Faina and Liese by your side. You could have just been happy with them.”

“…Maybe. But I don’t mind being a fool. Clarice, you’ve helped me more times than I can count. And because of that… I want you by my side. Leaving you alone—that would be the real foolishness.”

For a brief moment, I saw the faintest red tint on her cheeks.

But Clarice didn’t look away.

She kept her eyes firmly on mine.

“…I will only weigh you down. Are you sure I won’t be a burden?”

“A burden? If anything, I should be thanking you. Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to truly understand Liese or Faina. And if not for you… I never would have come this far.”

Clarice’s eyes wavered slightly.

Then, after a pause, she spoke in a soft voice.

“…You really are an idiot. How do you stay so unwavering?”

“Because I care about you. That’s all there is to it.”

At my words, she briefly lowered her gaze.

Then, slowly, a small smile crossed her lips.

“…Fine. But don’t expect me to just obediently follow you.”

“That’s fine. No matter how much you resist, I’ll come for you—again and again.”

At my words, Clarice looked slightly troubled. Then, in a quiet voice, she muttered—

“…You really are an idiot.”

But this time, there was a warmth in her tone.

I smiled and stepped closer.

“That’s fine. If you want to keep calling me an idiot, then go ahead. I’ll let you say it as many times as you want. If it means I get to see you smile—then I’ll gladly be the biggest fool in the world.”

Her cheeks flushed red again.

But instead of looking away, Clarice closed her eyes softly and let out a small sigh before nodding.

“…Then do as you please. Knowing you, stopping you would be pointless anyway, wouldn’t it?”

“There’s no stopping me now.”

“You’re so selfish.”

“I always have been.”

She took a step forward—closing the distance between us.

“…Thank you.”

And then, she rested her forehead against my chest.

At that moment, a quiet warmth filled the space between us.

Even though Clarice kept up her usual guarded demeanor, her small smile told me everything.

“Clarice… I love you.”

“…I love you too, Cerios.”

I pulled Clarice into my arms.

She was so delicate—so small—that it almost felt like she might break.

For so long, she had been the one guiding me.

But now, as I held her close, her slender frame and the soft scent that surrounded her made me realize something.

At the end of the day, she was just a girl.

A girl I wanted to protect.

“From now on, I’ll be the one protecting you, Clarice.”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’m the one protecting you!”

Even now, she wore that same fearless, confident smile—so effortlessly strong, so undeniably her.

And without hesitation, I closed the distance between us—pressing my lips to hers.