Chapter 5 – Issen (Part 9)

What does an ordinary person do when they encounter someone they most want to avoid?

If possible, they would run away. Like an animal that sees a trap.

If escape is not feasible, they would disguise themselves. As if nothing is wrong.

They would disguise themselves with all their might, saying that it means nothing to them, so it has no impact on them, that they have already become numb and strong, so they are not hurt.

That was why Evelyn was walking alongside Jared Glenn. She was in the midst of disguising herself as if nothing was wrong. Placing her left hand on his right arm, walking slowly in step with him, she was conscious of her posture. Keeping her back straight. Her shoulders confident. To disguise herself as strongly as possible.

However, when they left the audience chamber, passed through the corridor, and descended to the first floor, the man who had been silent finally spoke for the first time,

“Kingston.”

Evelyn couldn’t help but feel her heart drop with a thud.

“You went far.”

He murmured quietly as he walked straight ahead. So that no one else could hear. Only the woman beside him could.

“I didn’t think you’d cross the sea.”

“…”

“What were you so afraid of that you ran so far?”

“…”

“Evelyn Dale.”

At that moment, Evelyn stopped and let go of his arm. Or rather, she tried to. If the man hadn’t first grasped her hand and pressed it down.

“It’s best to keep walking.”

Jared turned his head to meet her eyes. Holding the woman’s hand on his right arm with his left hand. A large hand in a white glove.

“This palace has eyes even in the pillars.”

Evelyn looked up at him with a questioning expression while keeping her mouth closed. The man, who looked down at her without any agitation, began to walk again as if nothing had happened. So she had no choice but to follow.

The first-floor hall of the main palace was incredibly ornate. White marble and golden columns, statues, and murals filled every space. Above all, the light pouring through the enormous glass windows. It was astonishing how the unlit chandeliers could sparkle so brightly.

If things had gone as planned, Evelyn would have examined it closely. If she hadn’t encountered this troublesome and astonishing situation that she couldn’t have dared to dream of. Just a few minutes ago, the man she entrusted her hand to was not this man. Evelyn was at a loss for words at the unbelievable situation.

Jared led her outside the main palace building, to the garden on the east side. Tall hedges blocked the view. The hedges, taller than the man’s height, were neatly trimmed. White flowers bloomed among the lush, dark green leaves. A sweet floral scent filled the air.

“A maze garden.”

The man said. Evelyn walked without responding. Escorting her in step, Jared led her inside the hedge.

“It’s the oldest part of this palace’s garden.”

“…”

“It’s said to have been preserved in its original form from 400 years ago.”

“…”

“Since the time when Trissen was a kingdom, the maze has been maintained in the same form.”

And only after they reached a point deep enough to be completely isolated from external views did he stop walking.

“If the Empress asks, tell her I guided you well.”

Ha. Evelyn let out a thin sigh and released his arm. She looked at the man who still stood facing forward, not even glancing her way. 

Was he always this meticulous?

Something warm surged from her stomach. Was it anger? Or perhaps fear?

“Was this all… your plan?”

Evelyn tried not to tremble. She reassured herself that there was no reason to be afraid. What could this man do to her? Just because he was wealthy and powerful, what could he possibly do to her? He couldn’t harm her. There was nothing he could take away from her.

Except perhaps a bit of honor.

Evelyn looked at the man’s profile, who was staring into the void. And she couldn’t help but think of Bryant. It was truly something she couldn’t help.

It was then that Jared let out a cold laugh.

“Why?”

He asked back, turning his head. Evelyn did not avoid his gaze. The color of his eyes was darker due to standing in the shade of the hedge. Cool green eyes.

“Why do you think I would do such a thing?”

Evelyn did not answer. She simply stood a few steps away from the man, facing him in the blinding light. She was the one who asked the question first, and he had yet to answer. Evelyn continued to look at him with her mouth closed.

Meeting her gaze, Jared spoke.

“I came at the Empress’s request. She asked if I would support a talented novelist.”

Evelyn couldn’t believe his words.

“So I came.”

“…”

“And here we are.”

“…”

“That’s all there is to it.”

No. That couldn’t be all there was to it.

“How did you know I was the author?”

The man looked at the woman blankly. Though his expression didn’t change, his eyes seemed slightly distorted. The moment she caught that subtle change, the man let out another laugh of disbelief.

“How could I not know?”

A low voice.

“How could I not recognize the writing you penned?”

A very low voice. Evelyn could no longer look at him.

She lowered her gaze and turned her head as if avoiding him. The fact that he had read The Blooming Mansion shook her strongly. 

Had he read it all? He probably had. 

Which meant he would have seen all the sentences contained within it. All her monologues, resolutions, and cries embedded layer by layer in the work.

Evelyn hadn’t wanted those to be discovered. That was why she published The Blooming Mansion under a pseudonym and didn’t reveal her face. Because she didn’t want to be read. Even if the whole world knew, she didn’t want this man, at least, to find out.

Ah, why did I even release that writing into the world? 

Evelyn chewed on useless regret in her mouth.

Jared, who had been standing silently, began to move again. Leaving the woman who had turned her head standing there, he walked away. The hedge, taller than him, still completely concealed the two of them. So it seemed he had dispensed with the escort etiquette. Evelyn, watching his back as he walked ahead, bit her lip and moved in the same direction.

The two walked about three steps apart. Through the shrubs trimmed as straight as walls. Along the path covered with white, coarse sand. The flowers blooming all around emitted a dizzying fragrance. It was a space that felt extremely unreal.

After the path, loosely intertwined, changed direction a few more times, Evelyn could no longer hold back and spoke.

“Get on with it.”

“…”

“You said you had something to say to me.”

But the man walked on silently. No response came. Only the sound of slow footsteps on the sand. So Evelyn hurried her steps to catch up with him. Gathering up the hem of her trailing dress. The long diamond earrings lightly brushed her cheek.

“Jared.”

In her impatience, she called out and then hesitated. At the same time, he stopped in his tracks. His posture was upright, and his attire was impeccable. She slowly approached his back.

“If you have something to say… say it.”

“…”

“Hurry up and let’s go back.”

“I don’t.”

He turned to look at her. The maze had ended, and the exit was in sight. Along with the vibrating scent of flowers, a warm smell wafted over. The smell of the sea warmed by the sun.

“I have nothing to say.”

He replied absentmindedly and then paused before asking, 

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

His eyes narrowed slightly, almost imperceptibly. A cool sneer or perhaps a very faint anger. Facing those frosty eyes, Evelyn didn’t say a word.

There was a time when she wasted days thinking about what to say if she ever met him again.

At first, she couldn’t choose. There were too many words piled up in her heart. Words she hadn’t been able to say, words she couldn’t say, and words she couldn’t say then but thought she might be able to say now. There were so many that she couldn’t possibly sort them out.

But slowly, as time passed, those words lost their meaning. Now, even if she tried to find them, there was nothing left. What could she say about something that had already passed? What meaning could there possibly be in adding words to a relationship that had already ended?

So Evelyn couldn’t say anything. The man looking down at her, waiting for an answer, let out a short breath. As if he had expected this.

“Let’s walk for a bit.”

And he walked out of the maze with heavy steps. He moved from the dark shade back into the bright sunlight. Evelyn watched his back for a moment before following him when he turned around to urge her on.

“Take a stroll before going back.”

Jared said.

“This palace has quite a remarkable garden.”

As he slowly walked, he turned his head east. Evelyn, walking a step behind, looked in the same direction. The blue sea and sky, the distant horizon unfolded like a painting. The surface of the water, reflecting the sunlight, sparkled silver.

The tranquil sea in front of Issen. It was a beautiful sight.