<Chapter 2> Quiet Ripple (Part 2)

The crystal chandelier sparkled in various colors with the lighting. Beneath it, beautifully dressed young men and women danced to the orchestra’s music. Elizabeth sat at a table by the window, quietly watching the scene.

She attended the ball in a fit of anger. She was mad at Kiern for being so mean and hated herself for pining after such a man. So she attended the ball that Stella had been urging her to, but regretted it as soon as she arrived.

The idea of finding a match in such a place seemed laughable, and she didn’t know where to look since she didn’t know many people. Not many people approached her to talk. Just because she was at Agaphel Castle didn’t mean she became a Duke’s daughter.

Occasionally, some men approached out of curiosity, but they soon lost interest and left due to Elizabeth’s indifferent reactions. Still, she planned to stay a bit longer, fearing Stella would say something if she returned now. Thinking she’d eat her fill while she was there, she popped a cherry into her mouth and chewed when someone sat across from her.

“Hey, Elizabeth.”

James Parker, already half-drunk, acknowledged her. They said he never missed a ball, and it seemed true. Elizabeth pulled her chair back to increase the distance and replied, 

“Fancy seeing you here, Sir James.”

“What brings you to the ball? Let me guess.”

He grinned and continued, 

“You look like you were dragged here.”

“Correct. So please don’t mind me and go.”

“Hey, we’re both in the Ingrid Club. We can’t just ignore each other. Since you’re here, why not dance?”

With a greasy smile, he grabbed Elizabeth’s hand and pulled her to the center. 

“Wait a minute…!”

Elizabeth was caught off guard and couldn’t hide her embarrassment as she was dragged by his strong grip. She had always heard he was frivolous and kept her distance. He had never shown any interest in her, so it was strange for him to suddenly take an interest.

No matter how frivolous he was, he had never treated her so rudely before, which made it even more unusual. Unable to bear it any longer, Elizabeth raised her voice and rebuked James.

“Let go of me.”

She tried to twist her hand out of his grip, but it wouldn’t come loose. James tightened his grip on her struggling hand and said,

“It seems like no one else is asking you to dance, so why are you playing hard to get?”

“What did you say?”

“Ah, do you think living at Agaphel Castle makes you a Duke’s daughter or something?”

James chuckled and insulted Elizabeth. 

Was he so drunk that he couldn’t tell the difference between what he should and shouldn’t say? 

Elizabeth spoke with a face full of displeasure.

“If you insult me any further, I won’t stand for it.”

“And if you don’t stand for it, what will you do? I’m curious.”

James pulled her arm, causing Elizabeth’s body to lean close to him. He held her waist tightly and groped her openly. Elizabeth, unable to bear it any longer, was about to step on his foot when someone pulled her back, creating distance between her and James. As her back naturally touched the person’s chest, Elizabeth flinched.

At first, a refreshing woody scent lingered in her nose, followed by the sharp smell of cigars. Without turning around, Elizabeth knew the identity of the scent and bit her lip.

Seeing Kiern, James, as if he had never acted rudely towards her, smiled slyly and said,

“Oh, you were here too? When did you arrive?”

“Just now.”

Kiern replied, glancing at Elizabeth. Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to meet Kiern’s gaze, so she lowered her head and clutched the hem of her dress.

A sense of shame washed over her as if something that should have been hidden was exposed. She especially didn’t want to be seen being dragged around helplessly like this.

Kiern, still not taking his eyes off Elizabeth, asked,

“What were you doing?”

But James’s mouth opened even faster than Elizabeth’s.

“Oh, Miss Elizabeth looked bored alone, so I suggested we dance together.”

“Ellie doesn’t like dancing.”

“Really? I didn’t know. You should have said so earlier, Miss Elizabeth.”

James shrugged nonchalantly. Elizabeth resisted the urge to spit in his face.

“Well, I’ll be off then. Have fun.”

With those words, James returned to his group. Seeing them whispering and glancing her way, it seemed they had made a bet on her.

She felt as if she had been covered in filth, overwhelmed with disgust. She no longer wanted to be in the ballroom. As she hurriedly retreated to the terrace, Kiern followed her in.

“Why did you come?”

“Your expression didn’t look good.”

“You told me not to hover around you before.”

At her sharp words, Kiern chuckled. He then leaned against the railing and looked at Elizabeth.

She deliberately avoided his gaze, but she was secretly curious about why he had come. It was an event he didn’t need to attend, so why was he here? She briefly wondered if he had come because of her, but quickly dismissed the thought.

There was no reason for Kiern to do so. Instead, it was probably because her heart was reaching out to him, leading her to have such expectations.

“I helped because you seemed troubled. Was I interfering?”

“Thank you. You saved me.”

“No need to thank me.”

Kiern smiled as if he had received the answer he wanted and gestured to the spot next to him. Meaning for her to come closer, Elizabeth stood beside him. The fact that he had helped her melted her previously hardened heart a little.

He turned to look at the garden outside. Elizabeth glanced at him bathed in moonlight.

He seemed more dazzling than the ornate chandelier in the hall, receiving the moonlight from the night sky. Elizabeth asked the question that had been on her mind.

“Why did you come here?”

This event was a bit beneath Kiern’s level. While James might attend any event for fun, Kiern wasn’t like that. At Elizabeth’s question, he shifted his gaze to her.

“Why do you think I came?”

He then reached out and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. His gaze was too calm to read his expression.

“Stella said you came here to find a lover.”

His hand didn’t stop there but traced down along her earlobe and lightly tapped her chin. Even though his touch was unsolicited, it brought warmth rather than discomfort.

“So, did you find a lover you like?”

“I was just dragged here. I was planning to leave after a short while.”

Feeling as if his gaze would burn her, she turned her head first, and he burst into laughter. She couldn’t guess his actions at all.

He seemed to pull her in, yet he didn’t say anything important.

He kept acting in a way that confused her.

Elizabeth found herself repeatedly hoping and then being disappointed. Kiern was unpredictable, being kind and then suddenly becoming indifferent, and then being so kind it seemed he would melt her.

“Then why did you come here? Surely not to save me?”

“I did.”

“What?”

“I came because it seemed like you were being dragged here against your will.”

“…….”

“Looks like I came at the right time.”

Kiern, smiling with his eyes, lightly tapped her cheek and then withdrew his hand. The spot where he had touched felt as if a butterfly had landed, tickling her. The gentle breeze soon tickled her heart as well.

She was curious about his feelings.

How do you feel about me?

Why did you interlace our fingers then?

Why did you ask such a question when Abigail was asleep?

Her mind was filled with questions, making her feel restless. Feeling like she couldn’t ask them if not now, Elizabeth impulsively voiced what she had been holding back.

“Kiern.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t get engaged.”

“…….”

“Don’t get engaged to Lady Prairie.”

After saying it, Elizabeth was immediately scared and squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn’t bear to see Kiern’s expression.

She regretted it once she said it.