Chapter 14: Decided to Disappear (Part 3)

When Elizabeth was suffering from a fever, Kiern checked Anna Trisha’s letter, which had been left carelessly in the reception room, through Eddie.

It was indeed the kind of content that could have enraged Abigail enough to push Elizabeth into a corner. Kiern immediately headed to the Trisha Mansion, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Since it was the Duke’s visit, the mansion’s doors opened easily, even without an appointment. Anna Trisha greeted him with a stiff posture, as if she had been expecting his arrival.

“You’re later than I thought.”

“You’ve been up to something entertaining. If you were going to be angry, you should have directed it at me. I would have gladly offered not just my right cheek but my left as well.”

Kiern spoke with politeness, though his words carried a sharp edge, causing Anna to let out a dry laugh.

“Did Lady Prairie send you? If you’ve come here to insist on maintaining the engagement, persuading me will be difficult.”

Anna spoke as if Abigail were some kind of villain, frowning as she issued her warning. In Anna’s sense of ‘justice,’ Kiern was also a criminal. From her perspective, it was Kiern who had clipped Elizabeth’s wings by falsely accusing her.

Even if it had been Elizabeth’s choice, it was undoubtedly Kiern who had coerced her into it. So Anna’s perspective wasn’t entirely wrong. Kiern spoke in a low voice.

“Let’s stop this here.”

“If you mean to continue with that absurdity, then leave! I am deeply disappointed in both you and Elizabeth.”

Anna turned her head sharply, effectively dismissing him, but Kiern didn’t budge. A strange light flickered in his blue eyes. Kiern could no longer convince himself that Elizabeth meant nothing to him. But at the same time, she wasn’t everything to him either.

He had vaguely come to realize his feelings, but that was all. Like a turtle retreating into its shell out of fear of its predator, he still refused to fully confront his emotions.

From the very beginning, their relationship had been a mistake. Even if he harbored feelings for Elizabeth, Kiern could neither forgive her nor allow himself to forgive her. At the same time, he couldn’t love her freely, nor could he allow himself to love her freely.

The only way to resolve this contradictory relationship was to maintain the status quo. Thus, he continued to corner Elizabeth, as if ensuring she couldn’t escape was the only solution. He pushed her relentlessly, obsessively—even as if his entire being was focused solely on her.

To be honest, from Kiern’s perspective, having turned into a monster, it was better not to fully understand his own feelings. If he had, he might have stopped his destructive actions someday.

Kiern smiled self-deprecatingly. As if it were impossible, he clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling a phantom sensation of her slipping through his fingers.

Even after holding her and rolling around together, he was still plagued by thirst and longing. Now, the more he held her, the more the sense of fulfillment disappeared, leaving only emptiness and yearning.

How ridiculous. He was strangling himself with the tragedy he had created. Yet, he couldn’t fully accept Elizabeth. That would mean betraying his mother.

If neither of them could back down, there was only one answer. Unlike someone who had just realized their feelings, Kiern’s mind became startlingly cold.

It was too late. No matter what he did now, Elizabeth would never look at him the same way again. And he, too, could no longer see Elizabeth with the same purity as before.

So what could he do to make her see Agaphel Castle as a prison where she could at least breathe? Kiern believed the answer lay with Anna Trisha.

As long as the clueless Anna remained by her side, Elizabeth wouldn’t leave him.

If he could hold that lifeline tightly, she would smile by his side.

Even if that smile was false, Kiern didn’t care. With his thoughts organized, he spoke with an angelic smile.

“I will take Elizabeth as my official second wife. I don’t want her to live hidden in the shadows anymore.”

***

Abigail was stunned by the ridiculous series of events that had unfolded over the past few days.

It seemed she had pressed the wrong button. Who would have thought that Kiern Agaphel would set aside all his duties and spend day and night tangled up with his mistress?

When such a farce unfolded openly, it was up to his secretary and her to manage the aftermath. Fortunately, Eddie cleverly canceled the Ingrid meeting, avoiding the exposure of their disgrace.

However, that didn’t mean Abigail’s anger subsided. She massaged her throbbing forehead as the awkward atmosphere of that day resurfaced in her mind. Of course, Abigail also had her own guilty conscience. She had stormed out in anger at Elizabeth, only to run into Theo Kabil.

He looked at Abigail with a face mixed with surprise and bewilderment. Judging by his expression, he didn’t seem to understand the whole story. His gaze was as if he were looking at a villainess tormenting an innocent woman. Thus, she couldn’t help but speak.

‘This isn’t the meeting place, Sir Theo.’

‘Oh, I just have something to pass on to Miss Elizabeth.’

‘It would be best if you didn’t go in right now. As you can see, things are a bit chaotic after disciplining the maid.’

‘…….’

‘Know your place. If you try to help every time someone seems to need it, Sir Theo, you’ll only end up getting hurt.’

Though it was more of a one-sided violence than discipline, Abigail spoke calmly and left. She had long known that Theo had feelings for Elizabeth. During their initial meeting, he had seemed calculating, weighing his options, but now he acted as if he had even stopped those calculations.

Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t mutual. And to make matters worse, his rival was the mad Duke. Theo Kabil would never get what he wanted, and for his own sake, it would be better if he stopped before he knew too much.

But Theo seemed to think differently. He hadn’t turned back; instead, he stood close to the door, watching Elizabeth. Abigail had made the mistake of leaving, sneering at his foolish display of affection. If she had known Kiern would go there, she would have done whatever it took to remove Theo Kabil from the scene.

“Miss, if I may be so bold… Ah, never mind.”

Abigail’s loyal maid hesitated, then lowered her head, holding back her words. It was likely concern about the engagement. Perhaps she was about to offer advice regarding her relationship with James Parker.

Whatever it was, the maid seemed to notice that the current situation was not what Abigail had wanted. Abigail groaned, clutching her aching head.

Kiern Agaphel was insane. And he was madly obsessed with none other than her friend, Elizabeth Lua. He had completely lost himself over her, yet he still insisted on maintaining the engagement. 

Why?

After that day, Abigail began to fear Kiern, who had taken no action.

‘Let’s assign a different maid to serve you instead of Elizabeth.’

Kiern had spoken dryly, appearing as composed as ever despite showing up after three days and nights of debauchery, looking as if nothing had happened. Just the thought of him locking his mistress in a room and spending all that time with her made Abigail’s skin crawl. Yet his calm demeanor only made her feel more pathetic.

It was nothing short of a warning. Not to touch Elizabeth Lua anymore. If she did, not only their contract but also the Prairie family wouldn’t be safe.

Abigail had no choice but to stop, even if she was angry. The Agaphel family was the most prominent in the Kingdom of Yelhen. If he wanted, he could easily plunge even the esteemed Prairie family into trouble.

Knowing Kiern as well as she did, Abigail’s judgment also became quicker. She decided to completely cut off her interest in Elizabeth.

If hiding it had become difficult, she thought it better to turn public opinion in her favor. She planned to act before Anna Trisha could make a move.

‘My birthday banquet would be perfect.’

By then, not only her people but also promising figures in the political world would gather. There, she would reveal to everyone that she already knew about Elizabeth’s existence and had magnanimously decided to embrace her.

Then Anna Trisha’s voice would lose its power, and she would become the benevolent Duchess who even embraced a mistress.

“If you have something to say, go ahead.”

Abigail spoke to the maid, who was restless like a puppy needing to relieve itself. The maid hesitated and asked.

“Are you just going to watch?”

As she stared as if asking what she meant, the maid raised her voice, unaware of the crack forming in Abigail’s expression.

“I think you should return to Prairie Castle, My Lady. There’s no reason for a precious lady to be treated like this. It’s too upsetting.”

It was a statement befitting a loyal maid. But to Abigail, it was a foolish and presumptuous remark. To the servants of Agaphel Castle, she was just a forsaken fiancée.

Their reaction was understandable, not knowing how maddeningly sweet the position of Duchess was, enough to endure such humiliation. After all, they had never had it or even dreamed of it.

Abigail smiled gracefully at the irritating maid. Her eyes were icy, contrasting with her warm smile.

“What treatment are you talking about?”

“Well…”

“Listen well. I will soon become the Duchess. But Elizabeth Lua will still be a mistress. So who is really being treated worse?”

“That’s…”

“I am the one allowing Elizabeth. So stop talking about my treatment. It’s unpleasant to hear.”

“I-I’m sorry, My Lady.”

At the displeased tone, the maid lowered her head and continued her work silently. Abigail smiled as if nothing was wrong, but inside, she was unsettled. She had just realized how agitated she was, enough to be stirred by the maid’s consolation.

The fact that she could only watch Elizabeth infuriated Abigail. But now she had to stop. To finally get what she wanted.