~{RUBY'S POV}~
*
"C-can we get to know each other?"
I said nothing after several seconds and he became even more uneasy as he bit his lower lip and gave me a hopeful look.
"We can…but…"
The moment I added but, his relief was short-lived.
"....I do not wish to marry now. I am not yet ready and would like to use this time to understand myself." I revealed and it felt like his hope shattered just like mine did on noticing that our butler was having something with Deborah's lady in-waiting.
"I understand but can you give me a chance to show you how I feel?" He hopefully asked with a touch of fear in his tone, like he was fearing another rejection.
'Oh, poor Jerome.'
He had been rejected several times and rejecting him will top the number and make him more miserable.
"I can give you a chance for us to be friends," I finally agreed even when everything within me was heavily against it.
His reaction was immediate, he smiled like a little child who was offered sweets.
