Chapter 6 – Chester (Part 1)

The late afternoon sunlight cast dappled patterns inside the carriage. Evelyn looked distantly out the train window. At the end of the gently curving tracks, she could see the small station building. It had been four and a half hours since they boarded the train at Laurel Station.

“We’re almost there.”

Bryant, who had been reading a manuscript across from her, lifted his eyes. He pulled back the curtain covering the window and turned his head back. Since he was sitting with his back to the direction of travel, he had to twist his upper body slightly.

“It seems so.”

Bryant replied as he straightened his posture. The first-class compartment was separated into sections of four seats, completely isolating them from other passengers. In that cozy compartment, the two sat facing each other, with about three spans of distance between their knees.

“The weather here is nice too. Just like in Issen.”

Evelyn spoke while keeping her eyes on the scenery outside. She brought up the tedious topic of the weather to hide her tension. Soon, they would disembark at the train station, and the person Jared sent would take them to the mansion. From the moment she entered that mansion, she would be in a continuous state of anxiety and tension. For a whole week. For a week.

“Hell is about to unfold.”

Evelyn flinched and turned her head. The man sitting across from her was looking at her. 

What did he mean by that? 

The moment their eyes met, her shoulders felt cold. It was as if he knew everything.

“Because I won’t be able to touch you for a while.”

“……”

“For a whole week.”

Bryant let out an exaggerated sigh. Then he smiled at her. Evelyn managed to produce something resembling a smile.

“Should I sneak into your room at night?”

“I’m sorry, but that doesn’t sound like a very good idea.”

“I promise no one will catch us. I’ll move as quietly as a mouse.”

“Don’t you think you’re too big to move like a mouse?”

When she replied, he laughed out loud. Evelyn found his laughter pleasant to hear. The sound of his bright laughter. The way his eyes curved beautifully. Beautiful. Bryant, with such a face, suited that adjective well. Though the words coming out of his mouth were not at all like that.

“I am quite big, indeed.”

He said with a face still adorned with laughter. Evelyn pretended not to understand the double meaning, but the perceptive man already had a knowing expression. Moreover, his gaze suddenly deepened as he looked at her. Evelyn realized she had inadvertently touched upon something unexpected.

Sure enough, he got up and moved to sit beside her. He reached out and touched her face. Evelyn leaned slightly back and glanced at the compartment door. The windowless door was completely closed.

“Forgive me.”

He whispered as he grabbed her arm. Gently pulling her towards him, he embraced her. The chest under his frock coat smelled strongly of cologne.

“I’ve held back for three days.”

“……”

“And now to endure another week.”

“……”

“I might go insane.”

His murmuring lips touched her hair. Breathing in deeply as if to catch her scent, he stroked her neck. The palm of his hand on her bare skin was hot.

“So please forgive me.”

His large hand lifted her face towards him. Evelyn met the eyes of the man looking down at her. The eyes beneath the thick eyelashes were beautiful. Translucent gray eyes that held light. She gazed at the slow blink of those eyes as if entranced.

“Just once.”

He whispered lowly, tilting his head. As their lips met, Evelyn closed her eyes. The sound of the tracks and wheels grinding below her feet. The rhythmic clatter suddenly sounded very loud.

The kiss quickly deepened. Bryant delved in like a starving man. Entwining his tongue with hers, he caressed her body. He eagerly touched her face, neck, and shoulders, tilting his chin as much as possible. It was a fierce kiss, as if he would swallow her whole.

Evelyn lightly panted, holding onto his arm. Her sense of touch, smell, and hearing were open only to the man. All those senses were so sweet that it was hard to keep her wits about her. She found herself running her hand along his arm, up to his shoulder, and then further up to grasp the back of his neck. She did it unconsciously.

The touch of his hands on her body was clear. The man’s hands roaming her waist and back felt almost desperate. When he finally caressed her br*asts over her dress, Evelyn had no choice but to push his hand away. They were both in an overly heated state. Both him and herself.

“Haa.”

Evelyn met his gaze while weakly catching her breath. The man who had pulled away from her lips looked at her. Eyes staring directly at her. She saw something burning within them. The red-hot lust was almost akin to madness.

But Bryant managed to control it. After cupping her face with his large hand, he lightly rubbed her cheek with his fingertips and smiled. It was a forced smile to calm himself, but it worked. After letting out a short sigh, he moved back to the seat across from her. And shortly after, someone knocked on the door from outside.

“Yes.”

When Bryant responded, the door opened. It was a crew member in uniform.

“Sir, we will soon arrive at Chester Station. The stop will be for 10 minutes.”

“Understood.”

“Are there two pieces of luggage?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you for confirming. The station staff will bring them to the front of the station.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s my duty.”

The crew member, who smiled politely, closed the door and disappeared. The man, who had nonchalantly played the gentleman, glanced over at her with a slight smile.

Like magic, isn’t it? 

Seeing his face, Evelyn couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

Chester Station was quite an impressive building. The interior of the station, built with red bricks, was bustling with people. There was a mix of people of various ages, and their attire was as sophisticated as that in Issen. It was unexpected for Evelyn, who had anticipated a scene much more out of fashion.

“It’s a bigger city than I thought.”

Bryant seemed to share a similar impression.

The two of them exited the ticket barrier with a station attendant carrying their large trunks in both hands. Evelyn recognized the face of the man approaching them.

It was the Duke’s attendant.

“We meet again.”

“Welcome.”

As Bryant acknowledged him, Willis bowed his head. He then gave a slight nod to Evelyn before checking the luggage with the station attendant behind him with his eyes and said,

“I will take you to the car.”

With a stern face, he immediately turned around and led the way. There was no polite small talk like asking if they had a pleasant journey. 

Was this his natural demeanor, or had he received specific instructions? 

Evelyn, once again, found herself lost in unnecessary thoughts as she followed.

Just as they were leaving the station, the clock chimed. Evelyn turned her head to look at the tall clock tower. A flock of pigeons nearby fluttered into the air. It was exactly 5 PM.

Why did he invite me here? 

She still couldn’t guess the Duke’s intentions.

‘I came at the Empress’s request, that’s all.’

For the past few days, she had been pondering what Jared might want. However, trying to guess what someone else is thinking is a daunting task, and excessive thinking can easily turn into delusion. Evelyn’s thoughts were gradually becoming more and more ungraspable. 

Is he seeking revenge on me? Trying to put me in a difficult situation for a laugh? But why? What exactly did he lose because of me?

‘I have nothing to say.’

He lost nothing. Instead, he took away her precious things. He took her memories, time, and trust. So shouldn’t it be her who should be seeking revenge?

‘Do you have anything to say to me?’

He had said he didn’t even have anything he wanted to say to her.

Evelyn let out a quiet sigh. It was a question she couldn’t find an answer to on her own. She was just like a bird with its feet tied, circling around and around.

Willis guided them to the car parked in front of the station. It was a large, black car, just like the one they had ridden in Issen. People passing by glanced curiously in their direction.

“Please, get in.”

Bryant got into the car first. Then, from inside, he offered his hand to the lady. Once the two of them were seated side by side, the attendant closed the door. He then helped the station attendant load and secure the trunks at the back.

While waiting for him to return, the two sat in silence. The car was filled with the scent of the cologne Jared used, and it prevented Evelyn from saying anything. It felt as if three people were sitting together.

No, it was even more uncomfortable because it was just the two of them. Sitting silently and sharing this air.

“How long does it take to get to the manor?”

Finally, when Willis returned and sat in the driver’s seat, Bryant asked.

“We’ll arrive in less than 20 minutes.”

With that brief exchange, the car began to move forward. Evelyn kept her gaze on the scenery outside the window.

Like any city, the area around the train station was bustling. Horse-drawn carriages were moving here and there, and the double-decker buses were packed with passengers. She saw women walking alongside men, holding parasols. On one side of the street, vendors were selling fruits, snacks, and newspapers.

To Evelyn, Chester had always been a city of imagination. Once, it had been a nest holding sweet dreams of the future, and later, it became a painful wound just to think about. In her imagination, the place had always changed its appearance, but the real Chester resembled neither. It was just another city. A city where the daily lives of countless people converged.

The car accelerated with a low engine sound. The roads were well-maintained and free of congestion, allowing the car to proceed smoothly. The manor appeared before the bustling area had fully ended. Evelyn recognized it as the manor by the fence. The black wrought-iron fence had its pointed ends gilded with gold. Fences decorated in such a manner were only used for noble estates.

Without a word, Willis drove the car through the main gate of the manor. The guards, upon seeing the car, opened the gate. Like at the townhouse of Glenn’s Court, they were also in uniform, carrying rifles. This meant the Duke was inside.

“We have arrived.”

Willis spoke briefly. The car slowly entered through the wide-open gate. Evelyn, who was tensely watching the scenery outside, momentarily held her breath.

The garden of the manor was incredibly vast. The expansive space was filled with newly bloomed flowers. The flowers blooming lushly on the fresh, dark green bushes.

They were yellow roses.

Roses so dazzlingly yellow, as if they had drunk gold.

Evelyn couldn’t believe the sight before her eyes. Inside the car moving along the driveway, she froze like a stone. The garden was vast, divided into several sections. All of them were filled with only one type of flower.

Only yellow roses.

“They’re your favorite flowers.”

Bryant spoke. His tone was no different from usual. Even so, Evelyn couldn’t bring herself to look at his face, so she kept her gaze on the rose bushes outside the window and replied.

“Yes.”

She had to pretend it was nothing. She had to pretend it was another pleasant coincidence. Indeed, how coincidental. However, her voice came out slightly suppressed compared to her intention.

“…Indeed.”

Bryant did not respond further.