“Me?” was the only response I could utter as I held back my tears, trying to process what I just heard and witnessed. 
“Who else?” she smiled as a tear escaped her eye. She explained as the tears continued, “Robert, as I got to know you better, you’ve been the man I prayed and waited for. You taught me how to trust. You’ve given me genuine love and care. It’s something that is only given by my bakery family. And from the moment we touched hands, I just knew it.” 
I sniffled as tears ran down my face. “But Laura, I’m not like Benjamin. I cannot give you what he can,” I said. 
“I never asked for material things, Robert. They never made me happy,” she replied. 
I closed my head and lowered my head. I didn’t know how to answer her. She’s never said such things to me before. I still struggled to process or react to her admission. I didn’t anticipate for her to say that. She never gave any implications that she felt the same as I did. 
I then felt her forehead on mine. She whispered, “Robert, I understand if you can’t accept my heart.” She continued, her voice shaking, “But always remember my love and that it will never change.” 
With those simple words, my heart melted. My stomach turned and my eyes opened wide. All the while that we’ve spent together, she’s never admitted anything about her feelings for me. She was distant, always detached from anything. And for her to say such words to me, I didn’t know how to react. 
She was about to stand but I quickly grabbed her hands. Never would I let go of these hands. Never would I let any other man hold her hands. 
I raised my head and came face to face with her. I put her hand to where my heart was. With my other hand, I cupped her face. Softly, I caressed her cheek with my thumb. She closed her eyes as she buried her face even more to my hand. 
“Laura, your words… you don’t know how much they meant to me,” I started. “To be the man you love is an honor. However, I can’t promise that I will give you a life filled with treasures and glamour. All I could give you… is me.” I tightened my hold on her hand as I pressed it harder onto my chest. “This heart, this body, my whole being, is all I can offer you. My devotion, my affections, my care. Me and me alone, that’s all I can give. And I apologize if I couldn’t give you more, even if I wanted to.” 
She smiled, another tear escaped her glistening eye. “That’s all I could ever want, Robert.” She grabbed onto my clothes as she sobbed happy tears. 
I pulled her into my arms. My hold on her tightened as she clung harder onto me. Finally, I could see that I’m complete. The love that I so longed for has finally happened. The woman I had hoped for was in my arms. And the gap that Lady left in my heart was filled up once again. I turned to Lady’s grave and I couldn’t help but smile, thanking her in my mind. 
Perhaps this is what they said when something has to leave in order for another to enter.
As we stayed in our embrace, she continued crying. I slightly pulled away and asked, holding her face, “Why do tears continue to run down that beautiful face?” 
She took a bit of time before she replied, “I was afraid, Robert.” She struggled to speak through her tears, “When you left me with Benjamin, I never thought I’d feel so much fear.” 
My brows furrowed. “What were you afraid of?” 
She sniffled as she wiped her nose. “I was afraid… that after you walked away, you would never give us a chance.” 
I gutted as she said that. Trying to stop my own tears, I kissed her forehead. I then looked into her eyes and said with a smile, “My sweet, that will never happen.” I held her hands again and continued, “I will fight for you, Laura. I will fight for whatever we have. And you must always remember that, okay?” 
She nodded without hesitation. 
I hugged her once more and I felt her smile within my arms. As the sun continued to set before us, Lady’s presence was felt in the wind. It’s like she’s watching over us, satisfied with how things turned out. I imagined her, looking down on us and happy that Laura and I were finally together. 
♔♔♔ 
When I returned to the castle, Bethilda’s fancy carriage waited at the foot of the stairs by the main door. Curious, I quickly returned James’ champion in the stables and rushed to the main hall. When I got there, Mother, James and Bethilda stood at the center of the room. Servants carried her belongings as they talked to one another. 
“Do you have to leave so soon, Bethilda?” James asked. 
“Hmp! It’s quite clear to me that your children don’t want me here,” Bethilda spatted. “From the very day I arrived, I received nothing but hostility from them, especially from your son.” 
“Dearest sister, you must be mistaken,” Mother quickly intervened. “Our children were taught with extraordinary manners. They’re just not used to having you around. You rarely pay us a visit,” she continued as she tried reasoning with her sister. 
“Extraordinary manners?” she scoffed. “Is disrespecting their aunt an example of having manners? They behave like animals!” Bethilda screamed at Mother’s face. “Animals, you hear?!” She then turned to the both of them and proceeded with her rant, “What kind of parents are you? Their poor treatment towards a relative is a result of poor parenting!”