Chapter 14: Decided to Disappear (Part 4)

Abigail fiddled with Kiern’s handkerchief, snickering. Seeing it reminded her of the humiliation she felt long ago.

She knew Kiern cherished his possessions obsessively, even before their engagement. Even when their engagement was becoming a certainty, he coldly refused her suggestion to exchange handkerchiefs as a commemoration.

Feeling humiliated, she had forced her handkerchief on him, only to have it rain. Using the rain as an excuse, Abigail managed to receive his handkerchief.

And coincidentally, she had met a drenched Elizabeth then. Abigail vividly remembered the humiliation she felt that day. The man who wouldn’t give her even a handkerchief without hesitation gave his jacket to Elizabeth.

Seeing Elizabeth refuse out of embarrassment, yet Kiern insistently giving it, Abigail had no choice but to force a fake smile. They were too close for mere friends, yet somehow distant for lovers. So she dismissed it as Elizabeth’s cunning.

But now it seemed the cunning one was not Elizabeth, but Kiern.

“I should have realized then.”

Abigail clenched her fist, regretting belatedly. 

What if Kiern went completely mad? What if he took away even what he promised me?

The position of Duchess and the heir’s place. Abigail couldn’t give up on anything. Perhaps, as the maid suggested, it might be better to use his faults as an excuse to break off the engagement and return to Prairie Castle.

However, Abigail was not a woman who could be satisfied with that. She did not know of any position in the Kingdom of Yelhen as exalted as the seat beside Kiern. The position of the aging Crown Prince’s second wife was far too insignificant.

Rather, the position of the legitimate wife of a Duke, passionate enough to keep a mistress, was much more appealing. Nevertheless, Abigail found it difficult to regain her composure. Being continuously rejected by her counterpart stirred a sense of humiliation as a woman.

Thus, Abigail began seeking out James more frequently. What started as a matter of pride unexpectedly became a source of comfort for Abigail. As James had said, he was far more useful than a bard. At least, when she was in his arms, the shame that had tormented her ceased, and she could finally sleep well.

Perhaps it was due to his persistent nature and his relentless habits in bed. Every day, he clung to her like a panting dog, as if he had seen the most alluring thing in the world.

“All done.”

The maid handed Abigail a mirror after finishing her adornments. Abigail smiled at the beautiful reflection staring back at her.  It was ironic that she had dressed up like this, not to meet her fiancé, but to visit her lover.

“Let’s go.”

***

Meanwhile, James found his path blocked before he could reach the agreed meeting place. A group of officers had stopped his carriage. Just as the commotion outside began to escalate, the carriage window was abruptly opened.

“Are you James Parker?”

“Yes, I am. What’s this about?”

“You need to come with us.”

James frowned at the officer’s abrupt demand. There was no law in the Kingdom of Yelhen that allowed nobles to be threatened in such a manner.

“I’d like to know what this is about before I’m dragged away.”

“We’ve been ordered by higher authorities to detain you, James Parker, on suspicion of illegal trade with the Melkan Tribe.”

“What?”

“If you come quietly, we’ll ensure your dignity is preserved. But if you resist, we’ll use force.”

The officer pulled a rope taut in his hands, making a threatening gesture. Not wanting to be dragged away like a dog in front of others, James reluctantly nodded.

Shortly after, an officer took the driver’s seat and redirected the carriage toward the police station.

***

“James Parker has been detained by the police.”

At Eddie’s brief report, Kiern smirked. Now that he had played his hidden card, James would find it difficult to leave the police station anytime soon. It was an opportune time, with the Melkan Tribe causing disturbances. Bail alone wouldn’t suffice, leaving James with only two choices.

To be executed for treason and face public outrage, or to volunteer to fight against the Melkan Tribe for the country. He would likely choose conscription over execution. And that was exactly what Kiern wanted.

This entire act was staged to completely remove James Parker from Elizabeth’s sight.

Incidentally, it also removed Abigail’s cherished lover, but Kiern didn’t care. After hearing everything James had done to Elizabeth through Anna Trisha, Kiern hadn’t hesitated to open Pandora’s box.

He couldn’t let a card that excelled at drawing public attention remain unused. Since he had already planned to use it at the right time, everything proceeded seamlessly.

By crushing James, who kept climbing up, Kiern managed to kill two birds with one stone. He brought satisfaction for Elizabeth and humiliation to James. It might have left Abigail feeling empty, but that wasn’t his concern.

Now that Kiern understood his own feelings, everything seemed absurd. This wasn’t his usual way of doing things. He had nearly ruined everything because he had been blinded by Stella and the Duke.

No, he had already ruined it, but there was no helping it now. Cleaning up was his responsibility, too.

After organizing his thoughts for a few days, Kiern felt like it was all a game. If he had made a bad move, he just needed to recover. He was a player with a track record of never losing a game. So, he reassured himself that if he put his mind to it, he could quickly win back Elizabeth’s heart.

The fear lurking beneath the surface of his confidence was something he deliberately ignored.

It was his last shred of resolve for revenge. At the very least, he wouldn’t give his entire heart to the daughter of his enemy.

Instead, he would acknowledge his feelings and guarantee her a comfortable life as his mistress.

He would make sure she never realized that her cage was crafted by the gatekeeper of hell. He would coat the iron bars with sweet honey. 

Leaning back on the sofa, Kiern murmured lazily.

“Keep me updated.”

“As you requested, as soon as we sent the documents to the Valère family, things moved quickly. The Valères, being rivals of the Parkers and holding enough grudges, won’t suspect that this has anything to do with you, Your Grace.”

“That’s how it should be. That’s why I sent them.”

Kiern stood up, as if he had heard enough. Naturally, he went to find Elizabeth. He hadn’t seen her for a few days while handling this matter.

“How is Ellie doing?”

“Fortunately, she seems much better. She even went for a walk yesterday.”

“That’s good.”

At Kiern’s gesture, Eddie discreetly led him to where Elizabeth was.

***

Elizabeth stopped mid-walk when she spotted Kiern. She had been relieved by his absence over the past few days, but now, seeing him again, her entire body tensed.

Kiern approached Elizabeth with familiarity and kissed her. The spot his hot lips touched felt prickly, as if thorns had been left behind. However, the tender emotions that once threatened to consume her like fire were no longer there.

Elizabeth forced a smile. She merely pretended to be the beloved mistress, putting on a façade to greet Kiern.

“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”

Kiern pretended not to notice her false smile. At least she was trying to smile in front of him, wasn’t she? The fact that she no longer needed to be ordered to smile pleased him. His twisted heart had blinded him to everything else.

Wrapping his arm around her waist, Kiern whispered into her ear. His damp breath tickled her ear, and his lips inevitably captured her earlobe.

“James has been taken by the police.”

“Is that so?”

Despite his sticky touch, Elizabeth responded calmly. Even if this had been in the middle of the city, she would have reacted the same way. Someone who had given up on life had no sense of shame left. She simply let time pass, ready to throw away her life when the moment came.

Kiern, noticing Elizabeth’s docile demeanor, became even more persistent in his actions. His hand moved naturally, unzipping her dress as if it were the most natural thing.

“He won’t get out easily. He’s been implicated in treason. He’ll either be executed or conscripted.”

Kiern relayed the grim news without hesitation while his hand roamed over Elizabeth’s bare skin. By now, her breathing had grown familiar and heavy. They were completely alone, with no one else nearby.

Elizabeth didn’t care whether James Parker had committed treason, was executed, or conscripted. She felt neither satisfaction nor pity. She simply wished for this moment to end quickly.

Even as she intertwined her body with Kiern, her thoughts wandered elsewhere. The more her body burned, the colder her mind became.

‘I wonder if he received the package.’

Yesterday, she had sent a parcel to Theo. She hadn’t included a sender’s name, knowing he would recognize her through the contents.

Theo was one of the people Elizabeth felt she needed to settle matters with before ending her life. Though their ending wasn’t ideal, she was grateful to him for briefly giving her a lifeline.

‘When would be the best time to die?’

Even as Elizabeth panted, such thoughts crossed her mind. If she were to die, she wanted it to be certain. Without much pain, and with no chance of survival. Therefore, it was important to first reassure Kiern. At present, his wariness toward her was too strong.

Kiern seemed to cling to Elizabeth excessively, as if someone had attacked his reverse scale. Once upon a time, she had longed to possess only that gaze of his. Now, she was willing to face death if only that gaze would disappear from her sight.

It was truly an ironic emotion. As much as she despised him, the sweetness he offered was intoxicating. This, too, was likely the sin of Elizabeth Lua, who had fallen to the status of a mistress.

“Ah…”

Elizabeth let out a sigh as her body gave way.

Kiern held her tightly, savoring the afterglow.

Their bodies were pressed together as if they were one, but their souls were shattered into pieces, completely separated.