Carly eventually calmed down, but found herself awkwardly trapped in Kyle’s embrace, unsure of what to do next.

Noticing that Carly’s trembling had subsided, Kyle pretended not to notice and continued stroking the back of her head.

“Kyle…”

“Are you done crying?”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Carly tried to pull away, but Kyle held her firmly in his arms, refusing to let go. It was only then that Carly realized something was different about Kyle’s demeanor.

‘No way.’

Carly suddenly remembered that it was just the two of them in this house.

And she realized that her recent actions had been far from the dignified behavior she had been taught as a noble.

Carly gently pushed Kyle away.

“I’m okay now.”

Only then did Kyle release her, offering an embarrassed smile.

“Oh, I didn’t even realize.”

The Kyle who had seemed so reliable just moments ago quickly reverted to his playful self, scratching the back of his head.

Trying to break the awkward tension, Kyle placed the items he had gathered about Anne on the table.

“This girl hid herself pretty well. She really knows how to make people worry.”

Kyle spoke in a scolding tone but hesitated as he added,

“But sometimes I think… maybe there was a reason Anne left. Maybe we shouldn’t go looking for her.”

“We have to.”

Carly replied firmly.

In truth, she was consumed by anxiety. In the past, Anne had met a tragic end. Carly had tried to change that fate after her return, but it wasn’t easy.

That’s why she constantly feared that the events from before might lead to some other disaster this time around.

If Anne faced a terrible fate again, Carly and the Duke would surely suffer the same.

In her previous life, Carly had tried to use Anne to uncover information about Ferrell, but in truth, she had always been happy and content in Anne’s company.

Anne’s bright energy had been a great comfort to Carly.

So, after her return, she sought out Anne. Although Anne wouldn’t remember, she was the only friend Carly had ever truly opened her heart to.

Carly wanted her to live happily with someone she loved. Helping her do so was the only atonement Carly could offer for having once tried to use her.

Seeing Carly’s deeply anxious expression, Kyle asked, puzzled,

“Why are you so fixated on Anne?”

“…Anne needs to be by the Duke’s side, Kyle. That’s unchanging.”

Kyle pressed his hand to his furrowed brow, deep in thought.

It was as if he couldn’t tolerate the idea of Anne’s life without Evan Davis.

Looking back, the way Evan and Carly treated Anne had always been strange. There were times when it seemed like they were living their lives centered around her.

Moreover, both of them acted as if they knew Anne from the moment they first met her.

Until now, Kyle had brushed it off as nothing important, but once it caught his attention, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Kyle’s expression hardened as he asked,

“Lady Carly, you knew Anne from the beginning, didn’t you?”

“…”

Carly looked at Kyle with startled eyes.

Her inability to respond confirmed Kyle’s suspicions.

What on earth were this woman and the Duke up to? What was their purpose in approaching Anne?

Both of them were so devoted to Anne that Kyle hadn’t noticed the strangeness of their relationship until now.

Kyle buried his face in his hands, speaking as if in pain,

“My Lady, you’ve wanted Anne to end up with the Duke from the very start, haven’t you?”

“…”

It was an undeniable truth.

Kyle bowed his head even lower. He had been happy that noble people took an interest in Anne. It made him proud that they recognized the value of his friend.

But now Kyle was utterly disgusted with his past self. What on earth had made him trust this woman and the Duke?

Suddenly, a terrifying thought crossed his mind. What if Anne was simply the Duke’s type, and all of this had been meticulously planned from the beginning?

If all of this was nothing more than a cruel game for those in high places, then what had become of Anne?

“I can’t help but suspect that you approached Anne with ulterior motives! Ha, I hope I’m wrong. So answer me. What was your real reason for approaching Anne?”

Carly hung her head low. She wanted to refute his accusation, but she couldn’t figure out what to say.

‘He wouldn’t believe it even if I told him.’

Kyle grabbed Carly’s shoulders, hoping she would deny it.

“Tell me that I’m mistaken. You like Anne too, don’t you? I don’t know why she ran away, but all you have to do is tell me you didn’t approach her with some hidden agenda.”

“…”

“It’s simple, isn’t it? Just answer me.”

“…”

In the end, Carly remained silent, and Kyle turned his back on her. The frustration and anger he felt towards her silence were so overwhelming that he stormed out of the house.

“…Ha.”

A deep sigh escaped into the night air.

He felt utterly pathetic for being so easily swayed by a noblewoman’s kind gestures.

But what troubled Kyle most was his helplessness in this situation and the guilt he felt toward Anne.

‘Anne, where are you?’

Kyle didn’t return home until late that night.

He assumed that by now, Carly would have met with Ferrell Klein and sent Blue to search for Anne.

As he walked through the dark streets, Kyle organized his thoughts.

His first conclusion was that the Duke and Carly weren’t responsible for Anne’s disappearance. If they were, they wouldn’t be so desperately searching for her now.

However, it was clear that both of them had known Anne before and had an unusually deep affection and devotion for her.

So, Kyle decided to stay quiet for now. When he eventually reunited with Anne, he would share his thoughts with her.

He regretted making those suspicious remarks to Carly, but it was too late now. Kyle resolved that when he saw Carly again, he would act as if nothing had happened.

The house was shrouded in darkness.

As he checked the locked door and was about to insert the key into the lock, the door opened with a click.

Carly stepped out of the house.

Her eyes were swollen from crying, clearly having waited for him.

“My lady.”

“Kyle, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that… But it wasn’t with bad intentions. So… So please…!”

Carly, tears streaming down her face once more, grabbed onto Kyle’s shirt.

“…”

“If I tell you why, you might think I’m crazy. But my feelings toward Anne are never malicious. Please believe me. If she doesn’t want to return to Terossa, then I won’t force her. I was wrong, okay?”

Unable to continue, Carly buried her face in Kyle’s chest, just like before.

Unlike earlier, when he had lent her his arms to cry as much as she wanted, Kyle now remained still, which only made Carly cry harder. She took a step back, gathering her coat around her as she spoke.

“…I wasn’t staying in an empty house with no one to turn to. I just wanted to speak my mind before leaving. I’ll go now.”

“Surely, you have somewhere to go, don’t you?”

Carly shook her head.

“No.”

The truth was, she had nowhere to go. She had come up here in a hurry by herself and hadn’t secured a place to stay. Moreover, with so many travelers around, it was likely that every inn would be full.

She considered going to Duke Davis’s estate, but it was on the outskirts of the capital and not easily accessible at this hour.

Since Anne’s disappearance, the Duke’s estate has stopped receiving guests. Although Carly could enter without any issue, she didn’t want to create unnecessary gossip in Anne’s absence. The last thing she wanted was for Anne to be hurt by such rumors.

So, the only place Carly could stay at the moment was Kyle’s house. However, Kyle was clearly very angry.

And with good reason. To Kyle, Carly seemed like someone who insisted that Anne should stay with that self-centered, cowardly, and overgrown Evan, even if she didn’t want to.

Carly quietly observed Kyle’s expression. He looked at her with suspicion in his eyes.

“Where are you going to stay?”

“…I plan to find lodging.”

“Where?”

“Well, I… I can’t remember.”

“If you don’t know the name, then tell me the location.”

“…”

Kyle let out a deep sigh. She might not realize it, but Carly had a habit of avoiding eye contact when she was in a tight spot.

“You didn’t even check for a place to stay before coming, did you?”

“…I came as soon as I got the letter saying I could find Anne.”

Kyle let out a bitter laugh.

Even in a situation like this, the mention of Anne’s name left him feeling dumbfounded.

“I told you, didn’t I? If I told you the reason I approached Anne on purpose, you might think I’m crazy. So, what’s better for you? Cutting ties with me and being kicked out, or me thinking you’re crazy?”

“That kind of thing…”

Kyle grabbed Carly’s waist with both hands, effortlessly lifting her and carrying her into the house.

The door clicked shut behind them, and Kyle slowly approached her as she backed away.

“Think about it. Would you rather be hated by someone like me who just gets by on a hospital salary, or would you rather be thrown out onto the streets late at night?”

TL NOTE: Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories