The bitter tone to his voice shook Amber' eardrums quietly.
What had he just said?
'Eh?' She had issue comprehending words that she had not imagined would emerge from his lips. She blinked as she ruminated. Suddenly it dawned on her, and her eyes widened so much her eyes were likely to fall out. (Zuben: Author's words!)
No way! Matthias would not have told Ernest. It must be a lie. It must be a joke. He hadn't even replied her after the letter.
Amber paled at the realization; she was at a loss for words. Although his expression was one of despair, she could still see his love for her.
'You want to leave me and go and hide at the villa your parents left you?'
'That is…'
She had been intending to do so, but that was only after Ernest had been cured of the love potion's effects.
'Are you going to keep betting on the chance that my mind will change?' He asked harshly.
Once the love potion's effect was erased, and he lost his deep love for her; Amber believed she would become an annoyance. That was why she wanted to leave his side on time to respect Ernest's heart.
'Do you want to leave my side so much?' He asked staring at Amber. His deep affection had not changed. But he did not know about the love potion. Matthias had likely only told him part of the letter without revealing anything about the love potion. (Zuben: Maybe not keeping her in the dark might help bro)
Why? Why did Matthias do this?
So she hadn't held back in the letter; but, she had threatened him if he did not get what she wanted. (Zuben: He knows you ain't got the balls)
So why had he done this? Ernest was still under the effects of the potion; telling him about Amber moving to the villa would only hurt him. Even if she had signed the marriage contract, it was a terrible betrayal to make him sad while he was still under the influence.
Why would he hurt Ernest like this? If it was about making Amber Queen, Matthias could have thought of other methods.
Anger and bewilderment rose. Above it all was remorse.
'Is this feeling still a nuisance to you?'
She wanted to shake her head and deny it; no, it wasn't annoying. She wanted to tell him that she was so happy that she could cry. She wanted to tell him that she wanted to stay by his side forever.
…But she could not do it.
The love in his heart was as a result of his love potion.
She could not be by his side without misgivings. She could not forget her great sin and deprive him of true happiness.
In a corner of her heart, she gave a sorrowful cry, but another corner laughed at her stupidity: what a pathetic lie. In the face of her ridicule, another realization appeared: Maybe she was afraid; afraid that the love potion might be cut off unexpectedly.
Afraid that at that moment, his golden eyes so full of love for her will be full of contempt and embarrassment. As soon as Ernest had realized she had wanted to escape, she the fear had come just as much as her desire for his happiness.
'I'm sorry,' she said.