<Chapter 7> Memories of Blue (Part 3)

“Nice to meet you, Lady. I’m Theo Kabil.”

Her matchmaking partner was the second son of an Earl family from a merchant background. After the war ended, many things changed with a gust of wind in society. Commerce, once considered a lowly profession, transformed into a promising occupation, and the value of money skyrocketed.

As a result, buying and selling noble titles became common. Theo was a newly risen noble who obtained his title in such a manner. She heard he was of mixed blood from the Kingdom of Brittany.

Of course, Elizabeth didn’t care much about such things. She thought the Kabil family had a much brighter future than the Lua family, which was only noble in name. She had no prejudice against mixed blood.

The problem was that she wasn’t in a situation to accept someone into her heart. Kiern, who filled her heart and wouldn’t leave, was there.

Elizabeth just quietly listened, not knowing what to say.

Perhaps because he liked Elizabeth, he kept trying to engage her in conversation. Clearly, he could tell she was dragged there, yet he persistently talked to her.

Thanks to that, Elizabeth could naturally participate in the conversation. She judged that they had spent enough time to avoid awkwardness and was about to leave when it happened.

“Shall we go for dinner now?”

“No, I…….”

“I’ve already reserved a restaurant.”

Theo offered to escort Elizabeth and led her. He had even made a reservation, so she couldn’t refuse and moved to the location.

She thought she could just have dinner and leave, not knowing it would lead to such a strange situation.

As they sat at the table waiting for the food to arrive.

“Oh, Lady Lua?”

With a bright greeting, Abigail approached their table, escorted by Kiern.

It seemed they came for dinner after watching an opera. Elizabeth’s gaze fell on Abigail’s hand holding Kiern’s arm, then she quickly looked away.

Why was I foolishly staring at something that didn’t matter?

Elizabeth tried hard not to make eye contact with Kiern and stared intently at Theo across from her. Abigail, seeing Elizabeth, greeted her warmly.

“You must be here for a meal. This place is quite delicious, isn’t it?”

“Yes. So they say.”

“But who is this gentleman…….”

Abigail hinted at wanting an introduction to Theo. Elizabeth quickly opened her mouth, thinking to satisfy her curiosity and send her off.

“This is Sir Theo Kabil of the Kabil family.”

“Oh, I see. Nice to meet you, I’m Abigail Prairie. This is my fiancé, Sir Kiern.”

Even though they weren’t engaged yet, she naturally introduced Kiern as her fiancé. When Kiern didn’t deny it and silently nodded, Theo responded politely.

“It’s an honor to meet such distinguished people here. It seems Miss Elizabeth is a blessing to me and my family, as she led me to meet such esteemed individuals.”

Theo seemed unaware of the subtle atmosphere between the three. He accepted even this unexpected situation positively, wanting to win Elizabeth’s favor, but unfortunately, his sincerity didn’t reach her.

The moment Elizabeth met Kiern, she felt so uncomfortable that she couldn’t focus on Theo. She inwardly wished they would leave soon, but Abigail made an unexpected proposal.

“Since we’ve met, shall we join tables?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Is that okay with you, Sir Kiern?”

With Theo’s agreement, Kiern nodded silently. Having missed the timing to answer, Elizabeth’s lips twitched.

As they ended up joining tables, Elizabeth moved next to Theo, and Kiern sat in the seat she had been in.

Kiern stared intently at Elizabeth. His gaze seemed to ask why she lied, making Elizabeth feel anxious.

Why on earth did she lie?

While Elizabeth was watching Kiern’s reaction, Abigail, realizing they were in the middle of a matchmaking, joked.

“So, you were on a matchmaking. You two look good together already.”

“Do we?”

Theo laughed heartily, clearly pleased. He had already shown his affection for Elizabeth, so he was enthusiastic.

Abigail seemed determined to pair Elizabeth and Theo, trying to connect them no matter what they talked about.

It was so exhausting that Elizabeth felt her head starting to ache. Kiern just nodded without saying much.

She occasionally felt him looking at her, but Elizabeth desperately pretended not to notice. It was when she was enduring the discomfort.

“Ah!”

A server accidentally spilled wine on Elizabeth’s clothes while clearing the dishes.

“I’m sorry, ma’am!”

The server quickly handed her a wet towel. Fortunately, she was wearing a red dress, so it wasn’t noticeable, but the scent of grapes and alcohol seemed to linger.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Elizabeth thought it was a relief and stood up. Her thoughts were complicated, and she needed running water. She thought wetting her hands with the sink water in the bathroom might improve her mood.

As Kiern said, Elizabeth had an impulse to go into the water when she had many thoughts. It was probably since then. The memory of swimming with Kiern in the sweltering summer lingered.

What started as just dipping her feet ended up soaking her whole body, a memory so intense. So happy. So enjoyable.

Elizabeth felt the urge to immerse herself in water when her heart was troubled and difficult. But since she couldn’t do that immediately, she hoped dipping her hands would let the emotions flow away.

After wetting her hands for a while, she came out of the bathroom.

Kiern was leaning against the wall. He was already wearing his jacket, as if he had already left the table. Kiern opened and closed the lid of a lighter in his hand as he spoke.

“I was going to wait ten more minutes and come in if you didn’t come out.”

“Why are you here?”

Elizabeth replied nonchalantly, glancing around. She couldn’t see Theo, as if he had left.

“Sir Theo left.”

“He left?”

Elizabeth asked in surprise, and Kiern smirked. As if he found it annoying that she looked for someone else first.

“His secretary came running, saying something happened at the company. He asked me to tell you he’s sorry he couldn’t take you home.”

“What about Lady Prairie?”

“I sent Abigail off in a carriage. You were taking so long.”

Even while talking, he kept opening and closing the lighter’s lid. The cheerful sound of metal friction mixed like background noise. It seemed more time had passed than she thought.

Then Kiern’s gaze moved to Elizabeth’s fingertips. Her cold, reddened fingertips had small wrinkles, clearly visible like streams cutting through water.

Elizabeth didn’t want him to see her distress, so she hid her hands behind her back.

“Let’s go.”

She naturally brushed past Kiern and headed for the carriage. Kiern closed the lighter’s lid and grabbed Elizabeth’s wrist, pulling her to a secluded hallway wall.

Elizabeth was startled and looked at Kiern. His expression was so cold.

He pressed Elizabeth’s hand against the wall. Not wanting him to see her swollen hand, she clenched her fist tightly.

“Ha.”

Kiern let out a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a sigh, as if he found it displeasing. 

Elizabeth’s heart began to race as they were quite close.

She was angry that her heart still raced for a man who claimed to know her feelings and trampled on them, and yet she couldn’t bear how pitiful and unfortunate he seemed.

It was painful to realize that she had unwittingly become his enemy, that just seeing her face caused him suffering.

“Let go.”

Elizabeth twisted her hand to create distance. But that seemed to provoke Kiern.

“No.”

He forcibly opened Elizabeth’s hand and interlocked their fingers tightly. Her fingers, unable to withstand the pressure, spread open, revealing the wrinkles on them.

His gaze followed the lines of the wrinkles. Bringing Elizabeth’s hand up to his eyes, he spoke.

“Is this your answer to my request not to run away? Meeting other men while lying?”

There was an inexplicable anger mixed in his eyes. He looked angrier than she could have imagined from someone who had been quietly smiling throughout the meal.

Her hand, held tightly by him, felt like it might crumble. Her cold hand, chilled by water, became lukewarm with his warm touch.

“I’m not running away.”

Elizabeth spoke calmly. It was something she had resolved to say all along, yet her voice kept trembling at the end. Foolishly.

“You’re not running away?”

“I’m trying to leave. Because I found out everything.”

“Found out everything?”

“Yes. About the relationship between my mother and the Duke, everything.”

“So you’re saying you’ll marry another man and leave? Is that how you’re asking for forgiveness?”

Kiern tightened his grip and leaned closer. So close that their breaths touched, he warned coldly.

“I told you, didn’t I? Until I allow it, you can’t take a single step away from my side.”

With eyes blazing, he looked at Elizabeth as if he would devour her.

Elizabeth was frightened by those eyes. Her body trembled like a prey animal, afraid of being devoured.

“Don’t do this.”

“If you know everything, then you should know I’m not a gentleman who would just let you and your mother go like that.”

“…….”