Natsume Tsubae frowned. "He refused to accept the family's arranged marriage because he wanted to be with Ruri's mother. He chose to take his punishment and leave the family, and when he left, he didn't even tell me. He just went off on his own! If that isn't the truth, what is?"
Natsume Chikage didn't explain. He simply took out a letter and handed it to Natsume Tsubae. "I found this when we were moving. He actually wrote it for you, but... he felt so guilty that he could never bring himself to send it."
"A letter... he left for me?" Natsume Tsubae snatched it up, opened the envelope, and pulled out the paper to read. [Tsubakie, I know you've hated me ever since I left the main family.
The truth is, on the day I left the family, I never had a chance to take you with me. I was punished and imprisoned immediately.
By the time the main family released me... a whole week had already passed.
When I woke up in the hospital, I did try to contact you, but all your contact information had been changed.
I more or less guessed that the main family was behind it.
I tried going near the main family's estate to wait for you, but I found out you weren't there at all. I had no idea where they'd sent you.
I lived like that for years, until one day, I finally... saw you again.
But when I saw you, you were already married... Seeing that hurt so much I could barely breathe.
I imagined that perhaps the main family hadn't arranged this marriage, and you'd found someone you loved.
But I knew that was nothing more than wishful thinking.
I really did want to go up and ask whether