"So what are you going to do?" Valentine asked quietly.
"I’m going to say goodbye to you, Miss Villefort. I sincerely hope your life is so calm, so happy, and so full that you won’t even have space to remember me."
"Oh..." The sound escaped Valentine’s lips like a wounded animal.
"Goodbye, Valentine. Goodbye," Morrel said, turning to leave.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Valentine thrust her hand through the gap in the fence, grabbing his coat. She understood from her own racing heart that his calmness was just a mask. "Where are you going?"
"I’m leaving so I don’t cause your family any more trouble. And to set an example for any other honest man in my position."
"Tell me what you’re planning to do, Maximilian. Please."
The young man gave her a sad smile.
"Tell me!" Valentine begged. "I need to know!"
"Has your decision changed?"
"It can’t change! You know that!" Valentine cried out. "Then goodbye."
Valentine shook the gate with unexpected strength as Morrel tried to walk away. She pushed both hands through the opening and grabbed his, squeezing tight. "I need to know what you’re going to do! Where are you going?"
"Don’t worry," Maximilian said, stopping a short distance away. "I’m not going to do something stupid like challenge Franz to a duel or try to hurt him. What did he do wrong? He met me this morning for the first time and probably doesn’t even remember my face. He didn’t know I existed when your families arranged this marriage. I have nothing against Franz. I promise you, he won’t be punished for any of this."
"Then who will be punished? Me?"
"You? God, no! Valentine, you’re sacred to me. The woman I love is holy."
"Then... yourself? You’re going to hurt yourself?"
"I’m the only guilty one here, aren’t I?"
"Maximilian!" Valentine screamed. "Maximilian, come back! Please!"
He walked back to her, that same gentle smile on his face. If it wasn’t for how pale he looked, you’d think everything was fine.
"Listen to me, my love," he said, his voice melodious despite its gravity. "People like us, who have nothing to be ashamed of, who’ve lived honestly, we can read each other’s hearts clearly. I’m not some dramatic, brooding character from a gothic novel. I’m just a regular guy. But without even trying, my entire life has become wrapped up in yours. You’re leaving me, and you’re right to do so. I mean that. But when I lose you, I lose everything."
Valentine’s tears flowed freely now.
"The moment you leave me, I’m alone in the world," Morrel continued. "My sister is happily married. Her husband is just my brother-in-law, someone connected to me only by social obligation, not by blood or true need. Nobody actually needs me anymore. So here’s what I’m going to do: I’ll wait until the very last moment, until you’re actually married, because I won’t give up on even the slightest chance that something might change. Maybe Franz will die before the wedding. Maybe a lightning bolt will strike the altar when you approach it. When you’re condemned to die, anything seems possible, miracles seem reasonable."
"I’ll wait until the last moment. When my fate is absolutely certain, when there’s no hope left at all, I’ll write a letter to my brother-in-law and another to the police chief explaining my intentions. Then I’ll find some quiet place, a forest, a cliff, a riverbank, and I’ll end my life. I promise you this as certainly as I’m the son of the most honest man who ever lived in France."
Valentine’s body shook with convulsive sobs. She let go of the gate, her arms falling limply to her sides as tears poured down her cheeks. Maximilian stood before her, heartbroken but resolute.
"Please," she whispered. "Please tell me you’ll live."
"No. I give you my word, I won’t. But don’t worry, it won’t affect you. You’ll have done your duty. Your conscience will be clear."
Valentine fell to her knees, her heart ready to burst. "Maximilian," she sobbed, "my friend, my brother, my true husband in heaven, I’m begging you, live through this suffering like I will. Maybe one day we can be together." The source of this content ɪs novel※fire.net
"Goodbye, Valentine," Morrel repeated, turning away.
"God!" Valentine raised both hands to the sky, her face transformed by desperate determination. "I’ve tried everything to be a good daughter. I’ve begged, pleaded, cried. He’s ignored all of it. Fine then!" She wiped away her tears, her expression hardening with resolve. "I won’t die of guilt, but I won’t die of shame either. Live, Maximilian. I’ll be yours. Just tell me when. I’ll do whatever you say."
Morrel, who had taken a few steps away, spun around. His face was pale but glowing with sudden joy. He reached both hands through the fence toward her.
"Valentine," he said breathlessly, "don’t say that if you don’t mean it. Don’t tell me to live just out of pity. I’d rather die."
"No, you don’t understand," Valentine said, her voice stronger now. "Who else in this world cares about me except you? Who’s comforted me when I was sad? Who do I turn to when everything falls apart? You. Always you. Yes, you’re right, I’ll follow you. I’ll leave my father’s house. I’ll give up everything." Her voice cracked again. "Even my dear grandfather, who I’d almost forgotten about in all this..."
"No," Maximilian said quickly. "You won’t leave him behind. Your grandfather has been kind to me, right? Before we leave, we’ll tell him everything. His blessing will justify what we’re doing in God’s eyes. After we’re married, he’ll come live with us. Instead of one grandchild, he’ll have two. You’ve told me how you communicate with him, how he responds to you. I’ll learn that sign language, Valentine. I promise, instead of despair, happiness is waiting for us."
"God, Maximilian, you almost make me believe it. But what you’re describing is madness! My father will disown me. He’ll never forgive me. Never." She paused, thinking. "But listen, if I can delay this marriage somehow, by any means possible, will you wait?"
"Yes, I promise. Just as faithfully as you promise me you won’t go through with the wedding. If they drag you in front of an officiant or a judge, you’ll refuse. Promise me."
"I promise by everything sacred to me, by my mother’s memory."
"Then we’ll wait," Morrel said, relief flooding through him.
"Yes, we’ll wait," Valentine agreed, hope rekindling in her heart. "So many things could still save us."
"I trust you completely, Valentine. Everything you do will be right. But if they ignore your pleas, if your father and grandmother insist that Franz come tomorrow to sign the contract-"
"Then I’ll keep my promise to you."
"Instead of signing-"
"I’ll come to you. And we’ll run away together. But from now until then, let’s not risk getting caught. We can’t see each other. It’s a miracle we haven’t been discovered already. If anyone found out about these meetings, we’d have no options left."
"You’re right. But how will I know when it’s happening?"
"The notary, Mr. Deschamps."
"And I’ll write to you. You can count on me. I’m as afraid of this marriage as you are."
"Thank you, my love. That’s all I needed to hear. Once I know the time, I’ll come here to this spot. You can easily climb over this fence with my help. I’ll have a carriage waiting at the gate. You’ll come with me to my sister’s house. There you can live however you want, privately or socially, your choice. We’ll use our freedom to resist this oppression. We won’t just lie down and die like sheep."
"Yes," Valentine said, her voice steadier now. "You’re right, Maximilian. Are you satisfied with your fiancée now?" She tried to smile through her sadness.
"Valentine, words can’t express how I feel right now."
She leaned close to the fence, her lips nearly touching his through the iron bars, that cold, unforgiving barrier between them.
"Goodbye until we meet again," Valentine whispered, pulling away reluctantly. "I’ll hear from you?"
"Thank you. I love you. Goodbye!"
The sound of a kiss echoed in the darkness. Valentine disappeared down the garden path, her footsteps fading. Morrel listened until he couldn’t hear even the rustle of her dress against the branches. Then he looked up at the sky with an expression of pure gratitude, thankful to be loved so completely. A moment later, he too disappeared into the night.