<Chapter 2> Quiet Ripple (Part 3)

Caught up in the atmosphere, she said something she shouldn’t have. What right did she have to stop his engagement? She was just a maid’s daughter.

At the same time, remembering when he told her to call him ‘Young Master’ made her heart ache. Thinking of him saying harsh words to her made her sad. Yet, she was madly in love with him, and that was the saddest part.

Elizabeth clasped her trembling hands to her chest. Even after a long pause, Kiern didn’t respond. He was probably at a loss for words too.

Feeling her face burn with embarrassment, Elizabeth stepped back and stammered.

“Never mind. Just forget what I said….”

She couldn’t even finish her sentence before trying to flee, but Kiern grabbed her wrist.

Elizabeth, pulled by his force, fell into his arms. Startled, she looked up to see Kiern gazing down at her.

His blue eyes were intently fixed on Elizabeth. She was captivated by his gaze, staring blankly at him.

It was the first time she had looked at him so closely. It felt as if she would be sucked into his eyes.

Kiern placed his hand on her waist. Unlike when James touched her, the contact with him made the blood in her body feel hot.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“…….”

“You look like you have more to say. Did you leave out something important?”

His soothing voice left Elizabeth breathless. She had a feeling she knew what he meant by something important.

He was asking now. Whether the reason she opposed his engagement was truly because of the Duchess’s will or if there was something more.

Her heart started pounding rapidly again. In truth, she vaguely knew. The Duchess’s will was just an excuse.

She didn’t want him to get engaged to Abigail. If he did, she could no longer be by his side, even as a friend.

She liked being able to be comfortable around Kiern because of their friendship. If they weren’t friends, she wouldn’t even be in a position to talk to him.

But being friends also meant they couldn’t progress beyond that, which was sad. Elizabeth, who loved Kiern, had become adept at suppressing her feelings.

Confessing would ruin their relationship. She thought it was better to hide her feelings and just stay by his side.

But when Kiern pushed her like this, she wanted to act on it. Sometimes she indulged in rosy fantasies, wondering if he might feel the same way.

As she trembled, Kiern lifted a hand and gently traced her lips. The roughness of his hand, accustomed to holding a sword, transmitted to her lips. It felt like it was scraping at her heart.

“If you have more to say, go ahead, Ellie.”

With his sweet, languid voice, Elizabeth finally blurted out what she had been keeping inside. It was her intense true feelings that she had hidden but couldn’t conceal.

“I like you.”

Once she said it, she couldn’t control her emotions.

“I like you, Kiern.”

So don’t get engaged to Lady Prairie.

She couldn’t bring herself to say that last part again and bit her lip. Then she closed her eyes to block her view. It was hard to look at Kiern directly.

She had held back so well until now, but the thought of his engagement being imminent made her heart leap, and she acted on impulse.

After a moment, Kiern responded to her clumsy confession with a lazy smile.

“I know.”

“You know?”

“Yes. I know.”

With that, his hand that had been tracing her lips naturally moved to hold the space between her cheek and ear.

As his large hand touched her face, Elizabeth flinched. His face seemed to be getting closer. Her heart pounded like a drum.

Elizabeth could guess what he was about to do but didn’t avoid it.

Soon, Kiern captured Elizabeth’s lips. She closed her eyes tightly and accepted him. She felt like she would die from trembling. She had never imagined that she would end up kissing Kiern.

There was a clear hierarchy between them, and even though they were friends, there was a line that existed. So she never dared to desire it. She thought she lived by constantly reminding herself that they didn’t match.

Yet, seeing how anxious she was about his engagement news, she might have already been desiring it.

Elizabeth thought she was glad she had the courage. Thanks to it, she learned about Kiern’s feelings, which she might never have known.

He must like me too. That’s why he’s kissing me.

The thought that their feelings were mutual made her heart race wildly. She had confessed, and he had answered with a kiss.

The frustration she felt over his engagement news melted away like snow. The world seemed to sparkle.

Elizabeth’s body kept trembling. She was thrilled not because he knew all her feelings but because he felt the same way.

Their first kiss was incredibly sweet. It felt like biting into a juicy peach, the soft and tender sensation spreading throughout her mouth.

Although the kiss was somewhat rough, she liked it even more. The process of him tracing her teeth and biting the tender flesh inside her mouth left her breathless.

He repeatedly captured and released her lips while holding her cheeks.

A sweet, soft tongue slipped through her tightly closed lips. As she parted her lips at the vivid sensation, his breath rushed in roughly.

It was as hot as a brand. The excited breath rose, but she liked it just the way it was.

They say connecting with the person you love is a miracle, and at that moment, she experienced that miracle.

She thought she was incredibly lucky. Just the fact that a wonderful man like Kiern liked her made her feel like she owned the world.

She no longer had to worry about him being with another woman, and the relief made her heart tremble.

‘Does he feel as thrilled as I do?’

Suddenly curious about his expression, Elizabeth slightly opened her eyes to look at him. And she was surprised.

It wasn’t because he had his eyes open. It was because his gaze was so dry and cold, unlike hers.

She briefly wondered if something was wrong. It was such a stark contrast to her trembling self.

After a while, he released her. Elizabeth stared at Kiern with confused eyes.

Contrary to her belief that it was a positive kiss, his expression was so cold. Feeling a sense of betrayal, Elizabeth was confused.

He casually wiped his lips, which were glistening because of her, with the back of his hand. The spot where his hand had touched seemed to have only a cold chill left.

“You’re just the same.”

His voice was colder and sharper than ever. It felt like even the harshest frost couldn’t chill her as much.

Elizabeth thought something was wrong but didn’t know what, so she stared blankly at him.

She couldn’t understand who he was comparing her to. She couldn’t believe he was looking at her with such disgust.

As she hesitated, he turned his head sharply and tried to leave the terrace. Elizabeth felt she couldn’t let him go like this and grabbed his hand.

“Kiern, wait…!”

“Let go.”

He pried her hand off and commanded authoritatively.

“Stop calling my name too.”

With those words, Kiern left the terrace. The cold indifference that followed the sweet kiss was enough to leave Elizabeth in despair. Her confession, not only rejected but also trampled upon, felt like it had left a hole in her heart.

She thought Kiern was different from others. At least when they first met, he seemed unlike any other noble. But now, she wasn’t sure. It felt as if he had toyed with her, just like any other man at the ball.

It was Kiern who had coaxed her into revealing her deeply hidden feelings. Yet, when she showed him her most precious emotions, he left with a cruel kiss. 

As she stood blankly staring at the spot where he disappeared, something hot trickled down her cheek.

Without even thinking to wipe it away, she stood there until the ball ended, unable to move. Her chest ached so much that breathing was difficult.

* * *

Before Kiern attended the ball, he encountered Stella coming out of the Duke’s room. Stella, tidying her slightly disheveled clothes, greeted him calmly.

‘Did you come to see the Duke?’

Kiern didn’t want to exchange words with Stella. Her behavior, pretending nothing was wrong after doing something filthy, made him feel nauseous. Or perhaps she was doing it deliberately for him to see. After all, she wasn’t given the position she truly desired by the Duke. 

As he tried to pass by, she spoke.

‘Oh, by the way, aren’t you going to the ball? Elizabeth left earlier.’

The mention of the ball made Kiern stop. Seeing his reaction, Stella smiled meaningfully and said,

‘She might not return to the castle tonight.’

‘What do you mean she might not return?’

‘Isn’t it always the case with night balls? You must know that too, Young Master.’

Kiern’s face twisted at Stella’s words. It was sickening how she thought everything in the world would go as she saw it.

Elizabeth was Stella’s daughter, but she was different from her. At least Kiern thought so, which is why he curtly replied,

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Well, Young Master, you might dislike such culture. But do you think other men will act gentlemanly towards Elizabeth?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Ellie needs to know how to use her looks better.’

Stella sighed regretfully, then regained her energy and added,

‘I have no choice but to help her.’

‘Help?’

What exactly was she helping with?

As Kiern looked at her coldly, Stella said,

‘There are many who show interest in Elizabeth. It must be because our Ellie is pretty like me.’

‘…….’

‘By now, she might have already fallen for someone. You know Ellie can be a bit naive, right? She might fall for someone who treats her well. The person who gave her the invitation seemed interested in her.’

Stella smiled slyly and glanced at Kiern.

‘Of course, I’m not sure if she’ll like him. Ellie seems naive but she knows how to drive men crazy with her boldness. …Perhaps you know that too, Young Master.’

Stella laughed as if she had told a funny story, then lost interest and bowed before disappearing. She seemed deliberately annoying, as if she wanted to provoke him. Kiern stood there, mulling over Stella’s words.

The ball and the night.

The ungentlemanly men and naive Elizabeth.

And Stella’s assistance.

‘Damn it.’