<Chapter 1> Engagement News (Part 3)

After the card game resumed, the engagement topic naturally flowed away, but Elizabeth couldn’t focus on the game at all.

It was because Kiern, who never answered unless something was certain, had given an ambiguous but affirmative answer. He really seemed to be thinking of getting engaged to Abigail.

When one game ended, Austin instructed the servant to bring the prepared wine.

“The grapes were very sweet last year, so the wine is quite good.”

When the servant brought the wine, Abigail tilted the wine glass towards Kiern and asked,

“Sir Kiern, do you like wine?”

“Of course. I especially like the wine from the Prairie estate.”

Kiern spoke in a very gentlemanly manner and clinked his glass with hers. In his gestures towards Abigail, Elizabeth thought she caught a glimpse of how he was when they first met.

The appearance he no longer showed her. He had changed after the death of his mother, the Duchess, and Elizabeth didn’t know the reason for that change.

One thing was certain: he no longer treated her as comfortably as he used to. His gaze, actions, and tone conveyed a sharpness she had never felt before.

Perhaps his mother’s death had made the world he saw rougher.

In her own way, Elizabeth thought Kiern just needed someone to vent his temper on, so she decided to stay by his side, which led to the present.

But was this the right thing?

Elizabeth found it terribly painful just imagining Kiern and Abigail getting married.

Having to smile and pretend to be okay by his side, having to just watch them be affectionate, felt like sinking into an unbearable mire.

Thinking about it made her ears buzz as if submerged in water, and her breath caught. And amidst that dull sensation, Abigail’s laughter rang clearly.

“As expected, I brought a box knowing that. Enjoy it later with the Duke.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course, I’m not just giving it to you. In return, you have to go to the theater with me next weekend. It’s the day of the opera I’ve been wanting to see.”

“I’ll prepare the tickets.”

Watching the two naturally make a date promise made it hard to calm the storm in her heart.

Eventually, Elizabeth couldn’t bear it any longer and abruptly stood up. Seeing this, Austin, who was about to pop the cork for a toast, tilted his head.

“Where are you going, Lady Lua, when we’re about to make a toast?”

“Oh, I’m feeling sleepy. I’ll take a walk for a bit. Please enjoy yourselves.”

She hurriedly finished her words and fled the glass garden, running towards the central garden with the artificial fountain.

It seemed she could hear Abigail’s laughter and the clear sound of wine glasses clinking behind her.

The fountain she arrived at was continuously pouring out cool water. The water flowing from the cherub’s pitcher sparkled like opal in the sunlight.

Elizabeth reached out to the water to cool the heat in her chest. But the already softened and burst inside couldn’t be washed away by the flowing water.

If the Duke came to the castle over the weekend, they would probably discuss the details of the engagement. And once engaged, Abigail would stay at Agaphel Castle as the prospective Duchess.

Perhaps Elizabeth would have to leave Agaphel Castle before that. It would be impolite for a noble lady of her age and unmarried to continue staying here.

Kiern must have had that in mind when he said those words to her.

‘……Then what should I call you?’

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

His answer, given in a joking manner, was serious, which made her heart ache even more.

He had once allowed her to use a nickname at will, taking away her heart completely, and now he was saying this.

Elizabeth couldn’t take her hand out of the fountain water until it was as cold as ice. Standing there blankly for a long time made her legs ache.

Realizing she shouldn’t be absent for too long, she reluctantly returned to the glass garden, where Abigail, perhaps having drunk more than usual, was asleep with her head resting on Kiern’s shoulder.

Austin and James, perhaps also quite drunk, were repeating the same stories and laughing. Among the drunkards, Kiern alone seemed sober. He took a sip of wine and said,

“You’re late.”

As if he had been waiting for Elizabeth, Kiern’s gaze was fixed on the door she entered.

“I walked too far.”

Elizabeth replied in a voice that barely found its calm and quietly sat down. Pretending nothing was wrong, she picked up a fork to eat the melon prosciutto served as a snack, but Kiern held her hand.

Her fingertips, swollen and wrinkled from being left in the flowing water for a long time, were still cold. He stroked the wrinkles on her fingers and asked,

“What were you doing that made your hands so red?”

“I was too sleepy, so I put my hands in the fountain.”

“You were probably deep in thought.”

Startled by his meaningful words, she looked up and met his gaze. His blue eyes seemed to pierce through Elizabeth as if knowing everything.

Did he know what I was thinking? 

If he knew, he would have already pushed Abigail off his shoulder. As she just stared at him without saying anything, he chuckled softly.

“You always put your hands in the fountain when you’re deep in thought.”

Hearing the person who made her think so much say that, Elizabeth smiled bitterly.

“It’s not like that.”

“What could be troubling you so much? I’m curious.”

He intertwined his fingers with hers and asked. Startled, Elizabeth looked around, relieved to find that Austin and James had disappeared somewhere.

Elizabeth’s pupils visibly shook, betraying her will. Her hand was caught, but her heart trembled.

She didn’t know why he suddenly held her hand and wouldn’t let go. Especially with the person he was about to get engaged to right next to him.

“Are you drunk?”

“Not at all.”

Kiern laughed low as if he had heard something amusing. Because of his sudden action, Elizabeth’s gaze naturally turned to Abigail. She worried that Abigail might wake up.

After a moment, Elizabeth’s gaze slowly moved from Abigail’s face to his. As he said, he didn’t look like someone who was drunk at all.

His large hand gently stroked Elizabeth’s white and delicate hand. The rough calluses from gripping a sword made her swollen fingertips tingle. As Elizabeth twisted her hand to pull it away, Kiern asked,

“Ellie, should I not get engaged?”

“……What?”

She stopped trying to pull her hand away and looked up at him blankly. He was smiling leisurely, his eyes crinkling with a familiar smile.

Did he know that smile always disarmed me?

Elizabeth hesitated, unable to tell him not to or to go ahead. The wind blew through the open window, gently swaying their hair.

She was watching his black hair flutter in the breeze, lost in thought.

As if waking from sleep, Abigail groaned with her eyes closed. Startled, Elizabeth pulled her hand away and stood up abruptly.

Her heart began to pound. It was hard to make eye contact, as if she had been caught doing something wrong. Abigail, who didn’t see this, gently apologized, rubbing her throbbing head.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I drank too much and was rude.”

“It’s fine.”

Kiern lightly accepted her apology, and Austin, who had returned to the room, helped Abigail, who was rubbing her head.

“I guess we should go. Why did she drink so much today? See you next time.”

“Sure.”

Kiern smiled brightly and said goodbye, and Austin, Abigail, and James left one by one.

Soon, only Kiern and Elizabeth were left in the glass garden. Elizabeth hesitated, unable to leave or comfortably stay there.

The conversation had suddenly stopped, so she couldn’t guess what he would say next. She wished he would say something, but he remained silent.

After a while, Kiern stood up from the sofa and approached Elizabeth, who was standing awkwardly.

Her heart began to race wildly. Her fingertips tingled. Elizabeth tried to erase her thoughts by fiddling with the wrinkles on her fingertips.

What did he want from me by asking such a question?

Did he sense my feelings? If he did, what should I do?

Elizabeth was anxious. Afraid he would reject her feelings. Afraid he would go to Abigail.

He stopped just a step away. As Elizabeth glanced up from his shoes to his face, Kiern said,

“You should go too.”

Then he leisurely left the garden. Leaving Elizabeth with nothing but confusion. Just like that, as if it were nothing.

As the tension eased, she plopped down into her seat. Seeing her face flushed red in the glass reflection, she buried her face in her knees out of embarrassment.