Male Lead, Please Dump Me Three Times - Chapter 29

“… S-sleep?”

Ray nodded in response to my words.

“I’ve been staying up for a few nights. Can’t you sleep with me in the study like last time?”

Looks like he hasn’t been able to sleep again…

His slightly hesitant tone worried me.

If he asks like that… how do I refuse…?

But I found myself unexpectedly troubled.

It’s a bit strange for non-couples to lie down together to sleep, isn’t it?

“Do you not like it?”

Ray asked, avoiding eye contact. He looked like a wounded puppy.

If he could sleep well, of course, I would let him, but…

I don’t think my presence would be of much help anyway…

“But Ray, would I… be helpful? I might just be a hindrance to you.”

“It’s okay. I slept well last time too.”

As someone who had experienced insomnia before, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse him.

“Well… when would be good for you?”

“Is tomorrow okay?”

“Oh, sorry. I have work at home tomorrow. How about the weekend?”

“The weekend…”

Ray seemed to ponder for a moment.

“Oh…! No. I guess you’ll be taking a break on the weekend.”

“No, it’s okay. I’d prefer the weekend. I could sleep all day then.”

“Well… shall we meet on the weekend?”

“Yes.”

Ray’s eyes widened. His red glass-like eyes were shining brightly.

“Daisy.”

“Yes?”

“I think my hair is messy.”

I raised my head and examined his hair.

Hmm… it seems fine?

It’s not particularly unruly.

“Well… it looks fine to me?”

“Tidy it up.”

Ray gently insisted, ignoring my words. He just bent his waist to match my eye level.

While I couldn’t figure out what was messy, I gently stroked his hair to tidy it up.

“Ray, all done.”

Ray grabbed my hand which was lingering in the air after that.

It was the hand that caressed Ian and Ray’s heads.

‘Peck.’

He kissed my hand firmly on the back of it.

Unlike his light kisses before, it was a kiss filled with determination.

“I’ll wait then. See you on the weekend.”

A faint smile appeared on Ray’s lips. Then, seeming regretful, he slowly withdrew his lips.

Ray’s eyes narrowed slightly.

After kissing the back of my hand, he naturally held onto my hand and didn’t let go easily.

We held hands again and walked together naturally.

Ray’s large hand gripped my small hand, enclosing it.

“Well…. Looks like we’ve had a good look around, huh? You’ve also finally decided on a gift, Ray.”

“……”

His protruding Adam’s apple moved slightly.

“Shall we go home now?”

The night of the party was still in full swing, but it was already well past midnight.

Actually, maybe because I relaxed…

I was a little tired of dragging my languid, sagging body around.

“I want to look around a bit more.”

“A bit more?”

It feels like we’ve already been looking around for over an hour…

“Yes. It’s my first time coming to a place like this.”

There was a sense of regret on Ray’s face.

Well…

He must have been alone since his parents passed away…

He probably never came to a place like this with someone else.

I suddenly felt a bit pitiful.

“Well, since it’s getting late, just a little more, okay?”

He nodded in response to my words.

“Yes. I’ll take you back soon, not too late. Your parents might be worried.”

I smiled in response to his words.

We walked around for a while again, taking in the scenery of the market.

In the end, we reluctantly turned back as it was closing time.

* * *

Late into the night, I couldn’t easily fall asleep.

Memories and various remnants from today’s events were swirling in my mind.

The moon shining in the night sky signaled the late hour.

“What did they talk about on the terrace?”

I recalled Ray hesitating at the open terrace door.

His hesitation convinced me.

Ray was aware of Delian.

A place for partners to share intimate conversations and love.

Delian and Ray were there together.

Under the moonlit night sky…

Ray and Delian sat side by side, leaning on each other’s shoulders…

They were indeed a well-matched pair.

Ray stayed on the terrace for a while.

After my brief confrontation with Killian, Ray didn’t show up until much later when we finally met outside.

Honestly, Killian was right.

I was worried.

Thinking back to that situation, a corner of my heart tingled again.

Why?

The person who comforted the hurt Delian and stayed by her side was Ray…

That was a very good thing.

It would be good for Delian too. Meeting anyone other than Killian would be better.

Especially if that person was Ray…

“Just a moment.”

I clasped my empty wrist.

Only then did I realize what I had been missing.

“My handkerchief…!”

I hastily got up from the bed, realizing that the handkerchief Ray had tied around my wrist had disappeared. Just like that.

I carefully pondered the memories after the party.

Certainly…

Until I arrived at the mansion and changed, I had no memory of untying it.

It was the dress and handkerchief I wore at my first social gathering, which was like no other in the world.

The attire and accessories one wore at their first social party held quite a deep significance. So it was customary to keep them preserved.

Even my mom still keeps the dress she wore at the first social party, which is why I, too, wanted to preserve them for quite a while.

“I can’t go back and look for it again…”

But there was another reason behind my regret.

“…Ray gave it to me…”

It was a gift from Ray, the first and last one I would receive. But I couldn’t remember where I had misplaced it.

I buried my head in the soft pillow and closed my eyes.

The moonlight streamed in like a river into the deep night.

I kept waiting for sleep which strangely eluded me that night.

* * *

Killian held a deep navy handkerchief in his hand.

It was the handkerchief he had untied from Daisy.

— It seems you don’t know much about me… Oh no, we’re not close friends, so of course you wouldn’t know…

— And about the outdoor terrace, that kind of place… I knew all about it too. What’s so special about hiding behind a pillar… Really.

“She has a strangely cute side…”

Killian recalled Daisy’s emerald eyes.

Her eyes were clear like the sea, yet they had a chilling gaze.

“Even that fierce cat-like expression…”

A lazy smile formed on Killian’s lips.

She was different from other women.

Killian thought back again.

When he looked at her, he often saw Daisy with a frightened look on her face, but always with her guard raised up, and alert.

As fragile as fluttering leaves, yet recklessly proud, that daring Daisy.

Despite her delicate appearance, there was a stubborn side to Daisy.

Her demeanor easily piqued his curiosity.

Killian felt a strange emotion he hadn’t experienced with other women.

Soon, he brought the handkerchief that had slipped from Daisy’s wrist to his nose.

A sweet fruity scent wafted from it.

* * *

The next morning.

“What are you talking about now? You’re going back to the South again?”

Mom’s voice sounded more agitated than usual.

“Yes.”

“Why did you suddenly make that decision? Is something wrong?”

Mom’s face was full of concern.

It seemed like she was worried that I experienced something bad or that I have a change in my mental state.

“I want to study a bit more… There are many things I want to see.”

“If it’s about studying, what you’ve done so far should be enough.”

Mom’s voice was firm.

Well…

It was a feeble excuse for wanting to go back to the South again.

“But…”

“Are you planning to stay alone in a distant place without us? This mother doesn’t want to send you away twice.”

Perhaps completely leaving this place might be unreasonable.

An awkward silence followed the conversation.

That’s when it happened.

“Do you have a definite plan?”

The voice that broke the silence belonged to Dad. He spoke calmly and directly.

“Yes. I do.”

I replied confidently.

“I’m sorry… for lying.”

I felt a moment of guilt for lying to Dad, who trusted me completely.

“How long do you plan to be away?”

“Well, about 3 years…? That’s what I’m thinking.”

Dad’s gaze shifted downwards. He crossed his arms and seemed lost in thought for a moment.

Mom observed Dad with side glances.

“Alright. Consult with your mom.”

“Really…?”

Dad nodded silently. He seemed more positive about my plans than expected.

Even though Mom still looked worried…

In truth, even I felt heavy-hearted at the thought of being away from my parents for a while.

But the tangled small matters grew into bigger complications over time, like the butterfly effect.

— In this secretive place… wouldn’t it seem strange if the two of us came out together?

Among them, what I disliked the most was…

My unintentional encounters with Killian. His cryptic words, tone, and attitude were too harsh.

I even disliked his violet eyes which were unpleasant to look at.

‘I should dislike him just enough. Hating something to the point of getting chills all over is too much…’

When I encountered him on the second floor of the ballroom, I truly shivered all over my body.

‘Alright… Just three years away. It should work out somehow.’

I nodded briefly with determination.

Yes.

Just three years away.

I don’t want to get involved in any more complicated matters.