<Chapter 1> Engagement News (Part 2)

“Are you really going to get engaged?”

“There’s no reason not to. So I’d appreciate your cooperation.”

“…….”

“Abigail was quite concerned about your presence as it is. It seems she’s tolerating it only because you’re the daughter of my mother’s friend.”

Elizabeth’s heart ached at Kiern’s words defending Abigail.

She knew Abigail didn’t like her. Even she thought an opposite-gender friend of one’s fiancé wouldn’t be seen favorably.

But Kiern had been Elizabeth’s long-time friend. Despite the significant difference in status, they were inseparable friends until the Duchess died.

But now, he was telling her not to call his name or nickname in front of others.

It felt as if he was firmly stating that they were no longer friends. Elizabeth clasped her trembling hands and asked,

“……Then what should I call you?”

Kiern, who had been watching her silently, spoke coldly.

“Well, perhaps ‘Young Master’ would be best?”

“…….”

“After all, before being friends, we’re the maid’s daughter and the master’s son. Isn’t that the most natural?”

Elizabeth found it difficult to manage her expression at Kiern’s pointed words. She knew he was putting his true feelings into a joke.

“You might as well tell me to leave.”

“Would you leave with your mother still here? What about your mother’s esteemed loyalty?”

Kiern chuckled and gently stroked Elizabeth’s red hair. His touch, brushing past her ear, was tender.

It confused Elizabeth. She couldn’t understand his heart, and it pained her.

He was a master she wouldn’t have dared to look at if she weren’t the maid’s daughter. But at times like this, being the maid’s daughter felt like a constraint.

When Elizabeth remained still without resistance, Kiern chuckled and withdrew his hand.

When he took his hand away, the spot he touched felt colder than before. Like a fool, unable to endure the previous cold after tasting warmth, Elizabeth felt like crying and muttered quietly.

“Why are you being so mean?”

“Because I want to be mean.”

But the answer was only harsh. The line he drew, telling her not to cross, seemed distant.

When she lowered her head to hold back tears, Kiern touched her chin to meet her gaze. Her moist eyes looked up at him. Unlike hers, his gaze was cold.

A gaze that seemed to measure something. Like a predator calmly looking down at its prey, contemplating whether to devour it now or later. The predator’s gaze, which ultimately meant the same thing.

Yet Elizabeth felt an impulse to be devoured. As if his mark was already on her neck, like a prey with the predator’s bite marked on it.

Elizabeth knew her own heart best. That she couldn’t win against him, and that she loved him dearly.

She bit her lower lip, lightly pushed his hand away, and answered irritably.

“You’re really despicable.”

“Where in the world is there a gentlemanly scoundrel?”

“I take back saying you were gentlemanly. This is the first time I’ve seen such a bad young master.”

“You attach and take back as you please. You’re quite willful, Elizabeth.”

“Wouldn’t Lady Prairie dislike this? Since she won’t even let me call you by name.”

When Elizabeth pointed to his hand that had touched her chin, Kiern smiled brightly and retorted.

“Well, she’s about to receive more than this, so this level of skinship is nothing.”

“You…….”

“Ellie, you’re more conservative than I thought.”

As Elizabeth stared blankly with a flushed face, Kiern lightly kissed the back of her hand. It was a noble gesture, in line with etiquette, that he always did for Abigail.

“Or is this what you wanted?”

There was mischief in his eyes. As Elizabeth’s hand trembled with humiliation, Kiern left the drawing room, saying,

“Then, Ellie, the young master will take his leave.”

Elizabeth let out a deep sigh while looking at the empty space. Kiern was always like this.

He would roughly stir her heart like a bad man and then draw a line like a gentleman and leave.

Elizabeth thought that was worse than just being bad. Perhaps Kiern Agaphel wasn’t actually a good man.

But knowing that, she couldn’t sever her feelings and found herself wanting to fall deeper into the sweet abyss, realizing that she wasn’t such a good woman either.

* * *

The next day, a tea time was held in the glass garden of Agaphel Castle. At the tea time, centered around Kiern, the head of the Ingrid Club, were Abigail, the secretary, her brother Austin, the treasurer, and members James Parker and Elizabeth.

The Parker family had been making military supplies for generations. After the war, they became immensely wealthy and gained considerable influence in noble society as an Earl’s family.

However, their heir, James, was a rogue among rogues. His actions were frivolous, and he was a womanizer, which made Elizabeth uncomfortable with his presence in the gathering. She feared Kiern might be influenced by him.

Kiern was like a blank sheet of paper. When paper was first invented, Elizabeth thought there was no greater invention.

The rustling of a pen tip on white paper made Elizabeth’s heart race. Thus, when she saw blank paper, she thought of Kiern. He always had a way of making her heart flutter.

But paper was just as easily soiled. Once ink was spilled, it couldn’t be made white again.

What the Ingrid Club did was no different from any other social gathering. They drank tea together and exchanged various issues and information encompassing politics, literature, society, and art.

Sometimes they went hunting, and sometimes they rode horses. In reality, it was a gathering to show off their friendships to the surrounding nobles.

Elizabeth, a daughter of an insignificant Baron, joined this gathering purely due to the Duchess’s will. Hearing Stella envy the gathering, the Duchess had readily included Elizabeth, and it continued to this day.

Elizabeth immediately realized how great a privilege it was by looking at the composition of the members.

When she first joined the gathering, the Duchess was still alive. As the anniversary approached, Elizabeth found herself thinking of the Duchess more often these days.

She wasn’t a person whose mind was sick even if her body was. Her pale face always overflowed with hope, peace, and gratitude.

Her fresh blonde hair was dazzling like the blazing sun. Elizabeth thought perhaps Kiern was fond of Abigail because of her blonde hair too.

At that moment, Abigail Prairie called Elizabeth, who was lost in thought.

“Lady Lua, what are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Oh, nothing.”

“I thought you might have some worries since you were sitting still even though it’s your turn.”

Abigail smiled faintly, gesturing to the cards on the table. It was because Elizabeth hadn’t kept her turn in the card game.

“Worried? No.”

Elizabeth, feigning innocence as she placed a card down, replied, and Abigail spoke in an elegant voice.

“I must have misunderstood.”

Then she casually placed a card. Elizabeth glanced at her. Abigail always exuded a noble atmosphere, no matter when or where. Every gesture was full of grace that Elizabeth couldn’t follow.

Born a noble, she always made Elizabeth feel intimidated. The aura of a powerful person made Elizabeth acutely aware of her insignificant position.

As Elizabeth silently bowed her head and focused, Abigail spoke lightly as if talking about everyday matters.

“Oh, by the way, we’re getting engaged.”

At her bombshell announcement, Elizabeth raised her bowed head abruptly. As their eyes met, Abigail smiled with her eyes and said,

“If it’s you, Lady Lua, you must already know.”

“…….”

“Engaged? To whom?”

James, who had been looking bored, perked up and asked, to which Abigail replied.

“Wouldn’t it be tiresome to say?”

Then she gave a faint smile while looking at Kiern. Realizing the meaning of her glance, James opened his eyes wide and asked again.

“Is that true, Kiern?”

“Well.”

Kiern evaded the question with a smile. His gaze slowly moved from Abigail to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth clasped her hands with a tense face. She hoped it would pass, but his mouth opened without hesitation.

“It seems so.”

As joy and sorrow crossed, a smile spread on Abigail’s face while a shadow fell on Elizabeth’s. James chuckled and spoke in a teasing tone, somewhere between a jeer and a cheer.

“Wow, that’s great. Did you know, Austin?”

Austin nodded indifferently, and James stretched and muttered.

“Anyway, it’s surprising. I never thought Kiern and Abigail would end up together.”

Then he glanced at Elizabeth. Elizabeth tried to manage her expression. She clenched her lips tightly, fearing her awkwardly raised corners of her mouth might twitch. At that moment, Abigail pointed out James’s words.

“I don’t think it’s particularly surprising. I think it’s a natural progression.”

“Of course. Lady Prairie has always been preparing to become a Duchess.”

Though his tone was somewhat sarcastic, Abigail merely glanced at him lightly without showing any sign of agitation. Perhaps losing interest, James only sipped the drink in front of him.