Chapter 5.1 – Kind Mr. Wharton, Unkind Mr. Wharton

No one loves the thorns of a rose. Once pricked by its sharp thorns, it becomes impossible to love the rose anymore. Only the hideous thorns remain visible, not the beautiful flower.

The orphan who became the Young Master of the Wharton family learned how to grow without being cut away.

Adults liked children who smiled often. So, he smiled.

People liked kind gentlemen. So, he was kind.

Everyone had desires. So, he fulfilled those desires.

The sense of similarity that makes us feel connected, the praise that recognizes one’s excellence, the pride of possessing a man everyone envies—he gave them all away.

Being loved was easy. All it took was a bright smile and fulfilling the desires of others.

So, what was it that Miss Maron desired?

A friend who shared her heart, the owner of a theater who would reveal a new world, a kind gentleman who would satisfy her curiosity, Mr. Wharton, who would lead her to a respectable husband.

By relying on her innocence, deceiving her, maintaining the title of a friend with petty lies, and giving her what she desired, he could stay by her side.

But Edgar realized the thorn growing within him. It pierced sharply, unbearably, and yet he couldn’t spit it out. It stripped him of kindness and robbed him of courtesy.

What name could he give to this emotion?

He couldn’t name it. Cutting and trimming the thorn to bloom a smile was the method Edgar had learned.

Being loved was difficult if sincerity could not be hidden.

What lay in Natalie’s clear green eyes was not desire but mischief. Her lips collided with his, her kiss crossing the line was purely innocent.

Like a child receiving her first toy, Natalie tested Edgar, harmlessly and mercilessly.

It was laughable to be shaken by an awkward kiss. If kisses left scars, his body would already be covered in stains. Yet, his self-control crumbled at her clumsy playfulness. Ridiculously easily.

If he held her tightly, he knew the thorn within him would leave scratches on Natalie. Sharp thorns seemed ready to tear through his skin.

“Then who will you show them to?”

Even without hearing her answer, he knew. It would be Natalie’s gentleman, Leonard.

Eventually, Natalie would go to Leonard. Showing him everything from her innocent laughter to her bold kisses.

The moment he reaffirmed that fact, the moment Natalie turned her back, the moment Edgar clarified his own role, the taut string snapped, and the mask came off.

Edgar felt Natalie trembling in his arms. She shuddered as though startled by a sharp thorn that had scratched her. As if she would run away again to prevent him from crossing the line.

Resting his head on Natalie’s shoulder, Edgar let out a shallow sigh. The strength in his arms that had held her tightly loosened. Yet, he couldn’t let go.

He wanted to push her away, and he also wanted to hold her close.

He wanted to push her away, denying her the chance to let him cross the line, and he wanted to hold her tightly, crossing the line greedily.

Edgar couldn’t lift his head, like a ghost hiding its hideous face beneath a removed mask. His vision darkened as he sank into the silence.

A soft touch landed on his head. As always, it was careful. As if the thing her hand touched was precious, her touch was cautious.

Edgar knew that what was contained in that touch was not affection. He knew that a kind young lady would treat all things in the world that way.

Even so, he wanted to use a shallow trick to lean on her kindness and secure a place by her side.

In the gentle stillness, under Natalie’s touch, the sharp emotions subsided.

A tightly closed door was recklessly opened.

The laughter that rushed through the open door disturbed the stillness of the dressing room. Startled by the uninvited guests, Natalie flinched her shoulders.

Edgar lifted his head as Natalie’s trembling was transmitted directly through their close contact. Beyond the clothes scattered around, a man and a woman were entangled as one.

“…No one comes here. No one will come all the way to the dressing room. I swear.”

The woman giggled as she pulled the man along.

“Still, the door, at least close the door….”

The man, with a sheepish expression, reached for the door, but the woman kissed him, causing his hands to fumble. The woman, placing her hand on the waistband of the man’s pants, began skillfully undoing his buckle.

Edgar furrowed his brow slightly.

What on earth were they doing in someone else’s theater?

Just as he was wondering whether he should recommend a nearby inn, he realized he wasn’t the only one witnessing this disgraceful scene.

Natalie stood frozen, her eyes wide open. Her lips parted as if she had moved beyond surprise into shock.

Edgar quickly raised his hand to cover Natalie’s eyes. However, he couldn’t block the rough breathing and smacking noises that filled the air.

When the man finally lifted the woman’s dress, the situation became dire.

With one hand covering Natalie’s eyes, Edgar used his other arm to wrap around her shoulder.

He moved past the scattered clothes and headed toward the door. He approached the overly affectionate couple. The man was the first to notice Edgar approaching.

“Um, uh…!”

He exclaimed with a face as startled as if he’d seen a ghost. Edgar smiled sweetly at the two flustered individuals.

“Carry on.”

Edgar calmly grabbed the doorknob.

“May I open the door?”

“W-wait a moment!”

The man hastily answered while fastening his undone pants, but Edgar didn’t wait. Natalie, seemingly frustrated by having her eyes covered, grabbed Edgar’s hand. If they stayed any longer, she might pull his hand down and see the scene before her.

As Edgar flung the door open, the man and woman gasped in shock and pressed themselves against the wall of the dressing room.

Edgar led Natalie out of the dressing room. The cool air of the hallway swept over them. Natalie blinked her eyes, her eyelashes tickling Edgar’s palm with each motion.

“You’re supposed to close your eyes when you kiss, aren’t you?”

Natalie pulled Edgar’s hand away from her eyes and looked at him.

“But those people didn’t.”

It seemed she had seen everything in that short moment. Her question, sharp as a model student’s, left Edgar at a loss. He couldn’t very well answer, ‘Because it’s hard to undo pants with your eyes closed.’

“There are always people who don’t follow manners.”

Satisfied with his answer, Natalie nodded. Then, as if another question had arisen, she looked up at Edgar.

“Then why were they….”

Before she could finish, Edgar realized it was another tricky question. Before she could ask, ‘Do you have to take off clothes when you kiss?’ Edgar grabbed her hand.

“I’ll tell you later.”

Edgar led Natalie down the hallway. Fortunately, she didn’t ask further and simply followed him.

The closer they got to the hall, the clearer the music became. Edgar’s usual wide strides gradually slowed as they walked.

The light from the chandelier resembled the stage lighting of a theater. It was time to leave behind the precarious tightrope walk between sincerity and lies and return to his role as the fake lover.

Before he knew it, they had arrived at the central hall.

As Maurice had said, the constables had arrived. The man who had seen the ghost was chattering about the situation to the constables. Maurice, standing nearby, wore an awkward expression.

People were watching the scene like spectators at a performance. Some showed no interest. Among them was Leonard, standing to the left of the staircase with a bored expression.

Edgar loosened his grip and turned to face Natalie. Standing before her, he untied the ribbon of her loosely fastened cloak.

“Do you see the left side of the staircase?”

Edgar followed Natalie’s gaze as it shifted to the left side of the staircase. Though a part of him felt suffocated by the knowledge that her gaze would ultimately land on Leonard, Edgar maintained his usual smile.

“Go and speak to Leonard. I’m sure he’s waiting for you to approach him.”

Edgar recalled Leonard, who had avoided him whenever he approached. The steadfast gentleman’s heart was wavering. He simply hesitated, not bold enough to steal a lady who already had a partner.

Things were unfolding just as Natalie wished. Not pleasantly, but necessarily so.

Edgar adjusted Natalie’s cloak, tying the ribbon tightly. He tied it twice to ensure it wouldn’t come undone while she danced.

“What about you, Mr. Wharton?”

Natalie wore the same expression she had when searching for Edgar in the tea room. It was the face of a child left alone by the water’s edge.

“I’ll take care of things to make sure we don’t get arrested.”

“And then will you return?”

“……”

Edgar lifted Natalie’s hand and kissed the back of it.

“Once I’ve resolved everything, I’ll come back to you.”

Edgar let go of Natalie.

But Natalie didn’t let go of him. She gripped his fingertips tightly as he tried to pull away.

“That’s a lie. You’re not coming back to me, are you?”

Her gentle eyes lacked any sharpness, but her tone was firm. Natalie tightened her hold on Edgar’s hand.

“If you go to Miss Windsor… that’s infidelity.”

The words Edgar had once spoken returned to him in Natalie’s clear voice. Edgar, momentarily speechless, blinked before finally letting out a laugh. It overflowed, like the emotions he could no longer contain.