Chapter 12: The New Duke and the Hidden Mistress (Part 9)

“Why are you just standing here, listening to such things?”

“Sir Theo.”

“Have you been treated like this all along?”

Theo’s eyes burned with anger. He looked ready to storm into the kitchen and confront the maids. Alarmed, Elizabeth grabbed the hem of his jacket. First, they needed to leave the area.

The voices inside had quieted, perhaps sensing someone nearby. Elizabeth led Theo to a nearby pergola. Even with her timid tugging, Theo followed her obediently. Once they reached the tranquil pergola, Theo spoke.

“You need to set them straight. They’re saying such ridiculous things because you’re too soft on them.”

“It’s not as though what they’re saying is entirely untrue.”

When Elizabeth responded with a bitter smile, Theo opened his mouth to speak but hesitated. He ran a hand over his face several times before finally saying,

“If you wish, I can arrange another place for you to stay. As a friend, of course.”

“You don’t need to go that far for me.”

“How can I not care when I do? As a friend, this is the least I can do.”

To Theo, the word “friend” seemed to carry the same weight as “family.” While Elizabeth felt grateful for his willingness to provide her with a place to stay, she also felt burdened.

She was no longer naïve enough to trust in unconditional kindness. Such kindness always came with strings attached, strings too heavy for her to bear. Elizabeth took a step back and declined.

“I’m fine. Besides, I can’t leave here.”

She couldn’t leave. Her feet were already bound to this place, and Agaphel Castle was like a prison. A prison surrounded by high, impenetrable walls. If she tried to escape, her ankles would be cut off, and anyone who helped her escape would lose their head.

Elizabeth didn’t want Theo to suffer because of her. But Theo, unaware of this, spoke with a serious expression.

“Why can’t you leave? Don’t tell me the Duke has something on you?”

Perhaps because of what he had overheard earlier, Theo’s question was sharp. Elizabeth shook her head.

“It’s simply my choice to stay.”

Of course, it was a forced choice, one-sidedly imposed upon her. From the beginning, there had only ever been one option. There was no alternative to reject that choice, but she convinced herself it was her decision. It was the only way she could endure.

Theo began to suspect that the reason Elizabeth was being controlled by the Duke wasn’t entirely due to blackmail. Her gaze often lingered on Kiern. Finally, Theo voiced the question he had been holding back.

“Is it because of the Duke?”

“…”

“He has a fiancée.”

Those words hit her like a dagger. She already knew, and that made it hurt even more. Lowering her head, Elizabeth replied,

“I know.”

“…Then why?”

“If he doesn’t let me go, I can’t be free.”

“No one has the right to take away someone’s freedom. You have the right to decide where you live.”

“If only that were true.”

A self-deprecating laugh escaped her lips. 

If only I hadn’t confessed to Kiern, or if only I had met Theo earlier. Would my fate have been different?

The thought of “what if” made her chest ache. But such things would never happen. From the moment she met Kiern, Elizabeth had no heart left to give to anyone else.

That was how overwhelming it was. Kiern Agaphel was someone who could easily break her. Just by trampling on her heart, he could shatter her like glass.

“So please, don’t worry about me.”

“I can’t do that.”

Theo grabbed Elizabeth’s wrist as she turned away. What had started as a simple matchmaking meeting to connect with a high-ranking noblewoman had taken a dangerous turn. At first, he had only approached Elizabeth because he found her appealing.

But now, he felt as though he had stepped into something perilous. Normally, he would have withdrawn by now, but for some reason, retreating felt impossible.

He placed something in her hand. Even though he knew it was risky, he couldn’t let go. He decided to follow his feelings, no matter where they led. After all, the riskier the endeavor, the greater the reward. If he could win Elizabeth, a little loss would be worth it.

“This is…”

“It’s a communication stone linked to my office. Only I can receive messages sent through it. Please contact me if you ever need help.”

“You didn’t have to…”

“You should head back now.”

Theo extended his arm, offering to escort her. Seeing his stubbornly set jaw, Elizabeth sighed, placed the communication stone in her pocket, and rested her hand on his arm.

***

“Playing chess, I see.”

Theo spoke as he approached Kiern and Austin, who were in the middle of a chess game, and took a seat. For some reason, Abigail and Sir James were absent from the table. Elizabeth began steeping the tea leaves she had brought. However, by the time the tea had cooled, neither Abigail nor Sir James had returned.

“They’re awfully late.”

Austin remarked, glancing at his watch with a puzzled expression. Kiern, on the other hand, appeared unconcerned.

“Unless they’ve gotten lost, they’ll come back on their own.”

“You’re quite indifferent toward your fiancée. Judging by James’s absence as well, it seems the two of them crossed paths.”

“Did the two of them leave together?”

“No. Abigail said she wasn’t coming back, so James went to find her. You know how he is—he can’t sit still for long. I bet he’s using Abigail as an excuse to sneak off and flirt with the maids somewhere in the mansion.”

Austin answered Theo’s question casually, as if it were no big deal.

“I’ll go look for them.” 

Elizabeth volunteered, standing up. Theo immediately rose as well.

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, it’s fine. I can go alone.”

“I was getting bored anyway.”

As Theo joked and prepared to accompany her, Kiern placed his chess piece down firmly.

“Checkmate.”

“Ah! Of all times, why now?”

Austin groaned, clutching his forehead in frustration and staring regretfully at the stakes on the table. Having already lost several rounds, he seemed agitated, gulping down the whiskey beside him. Kiern, on the other hand, appeared uninterested in the stakes. He extinguished his cigar and stood up, handing the chess piece to Theo.

“You said you were bored, didn’t you? Perfect timing. While I’m gone, why don’t you entertain Austin? Use the stakes as you like.”

“What? But…”

“Exactly. I can’t play against him anymore. It’s no fun when the game’s this lopsided. Come on, Sir Theo, don’t back out. Come here and play a round with me.”

Without a hint of suspicion, Austin readily agreed to Kiern and Elizabeth leaving together. In fact, he seemed relieved to see Kiern go. When Elizabeth hesitated, Kiern brushed past her and said,

“Let’s go.”

Elizabeth followed him in silence. In the quiet garden, the sound of Kiern’s steady, deliberate footsteps and her own faint ones echoed. The floral scent seemed to overwhelm her senses. The sound of water flowing from the fountain rang clear and tranquil.

Surprisingly, Kiern said nothing. It was unclear whether he genuinely intended to search for Abigail, as he didn’t address Elizabeth at all. They walked in silence for quite some time. When they reached the middle of the maze-like garden, they heard the sound of an argument. The voice belonged to none other than Abigail.

“Get out of my way!”

Abigail’s shrill voice came from beyond the wall. Although it was unclear exactly where she was, the sound was quite close. At that moment, Elizabeth accidentally bumped into Kiern, who had stopped abruptly. He pressed her against the wall and covered her mouth.

***

Abigail was growing increasingly annoyed with Sir James, who stubbornly blocked her path. She had simply gone to retrieve the headache medicine she always took but had forgotten. Yet James had followed her, spouting nonsense the entire time. She had stepped into the maze-like garden to shake him off, but he had found her and blocked her way again.

“Let’s talk.”

“I told you, Sir James, there’s nothing more to say.”

“If you’re so happy sitting next to that man, I won’t stop you. But at least give me a chance too. After all, he’s still seeing that woman.”

“How utterly ridiculous. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that, so please, stop meddling in my life.”

As Abigail tried to brush past him, James grabbed her wrist and pushed her against the wall. The sound of grass rustling accompanied their sudden closeness.

“Get out of my way!”

“Do you think it’s easy for me to make this kind of proposal?”

“Are you trying to act self-righteous over a suggestion I never asked for?”

“I can do better than that bard, Abigail.”

“What are you talking about? Bard? What bard?”

“I heard it from Austin. He said you visit a bard every night. He even said you gave him a room in the castle.”

Abigail let out a hollow laugh. She had known for a long time that Austin and James were close friends. But she hadn’t expected Austin to share such private matters with James, and she was dumbfounded.

“Unbelievable. Then I suppose you also know why I let him stay in the castle. Listening to the songs of a bard has become a habit of mine; it helps me sleep.”

She couldn’t understand why she even needed to explain this to him. Even after her engagement, James had persistently followed her, and now she found his behavior downright irritating.