MLBR 23

chapter 23

The plan was working. While Whistler gave me a strange look and leaned in slightly, the waiter disappeared. I could finally relax a little.

“Ah! I guess I got nervous, my tongue froze for a moment, and it was hard to speak clearly,” I said, finishing my explanation.

Whistler smiled gently as I moved back.

“I was worried you might be hurt. It’s a relief that you’re not in pain. During the sudden confrontation last time, you seemed flustered. I want to apologize for that.”

Whistler touched his head, his expression asking for understanding. His blonde hair brushed over his fingers, shining like sunlight. His striking red eyes, bright and sharp, contrasted beautifully with his fair hair, making them even more prominent.

Whistler’s appearance had always been a weapon. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t at all swayed, but I was now partnered with Herace. And Herace’s dark crimson eyes suited my taste far more.

“If Whistler is #EB0000, then Herace is #CD0000,” I thought.

Whistler lowered his head, as if recalling something with a wistful look.

“You’ve been like that since you were little,” he said.

Herace’s childhood story—how welcome it was.

“You were smart from a young age,” I remarked.

As soon as I finished speaking, Whistler suddenly lifted his head.

“That’s not it. I was reckless from the start. I would charm people with my snake-like words and make them my allies.”

“Snake-like words? Even as a child, you were exceptional,” I said, unable to hide a bit of envy. Whistler stared at me intently. Silence fell, but I didn’t mind.

It was like when I dated Whistler. I wasn’t giving a compliment; I was just telling the truth, so there was no issue.

“You’re mistaken,” Whistler said. He slid his chair closer to me, took my hand tenderly, and whispered with sincerity:

“You’re being deceived by a villain.”

I wanted to argue, but I had to hold back. To deliver the highlight, I had to wait for the waiter.

“Herace played the biggest role in making you think I was cheating. I thought growing up, we’d understand each other despite our differences, but to speak ill of my brother to you with my own mouth—I can’t believe it’s come to this.”

I nodded vaguely to buy time.

“He was someone even I and my parents couldn’t handle, so I went abroad. After I left, he stayed quiet, so I thought he had changed… Hah, I suppose I’ve explained enough by now.”

Whistler straightened his slumped shoulders, his eyes firm.

“He knew from the start that we were siblings and that you and I have known each other since childhood. That’s why I made a foolish choice. That’s why I was mistaken. I wanted to trust him.”

The pitiful, uneasy Whistler from moments ago was gone. In his usual public persona, grace radiated naturally.

“After returning from studying abroad, unlike before, he played the role of a good brother and a good family member well. In retrospect, he hid his true nature to approach you. He came back to ruin our relationship from the start. You didn’t notice that. I didn’t notice it either. I lack foresight in many ways.”

…Upon careful inspection, there was still nothing particularly remarkable about Whistler’s hands.

It wasn’t that the touch or appearance of his hands had changed in a way that irritated me. And even now, my chest was fluttering—what I felt during previous physical contact was no coincidence.

Bang, bang—the answer came to me. Previously, I had only seen Whistler as a male protagonist. Now, I disliked him. Unlike him, I felt a genuine human affection for Herace. So contact with Whistler wasn’t unpleasant.

“I’ll make sure that you’re never misled by him again or neglected because he’s too busy. Mine, Philena Wright.”

Whistler smiled softly, then reached out with his other hand, shaking it like a child asking me to hold it.

For that moment, I felt as if I could vaguely read his thoughts.

Whistler was certain I would take his hand. He believed that after pouring his heart out, I would abandon Herace.

‘Is this what Herace feels before showing me a surprise? This excitement?’

I clenched my cheeks, determined to crush Whistler’s expectation. It was random, but I understood the thrill a pen-pal friend once told me about—revenge-fueled satisfaction.

To hide my feelings, I pressed my lips inward.

“You can speak slowly. I’ll always be waiting by your side.”

Whistler continued to cast his glossy, gentle gaze at me. Just then, the waiter I had been waiting for entered with the food.

“The venison you ordered—”

Now.

“Let’s have our time, Whistler.”

“Our time? What do you mean—”

Whistler froze, frowning. He quickly signaled the waiter to step back, but I acted faster.

“I said, let’s have our time, Duke Gas!”

Raising my voice sharply, Whistler’s gaze immediately snapped back to me.

I rose abruptly from my seat, performing the acting inspired by a tragic heroine. I covered my face with my hands as if crying, and thud! The chair wobbled and fell over.

Good sound effect. Extras were in place. I just needed to perform perfectly.

My trembling voice couldn’t be fully convincing, but stammering was easy enough.

“I… I know, Duke Gas, that you’ve suffered because of rumors about me. That’s why you avoided me and didn’t meet or talk with me for a long time. I don’t blame you for misunderstanding me.”

I understood Whistler and held no grudge. He was kind, hardly the villain type.

I glanced around; fortunately, the waiter was watching our conversation from a safe distance.

“I don’t hold a grudge, but… seeing you with another woman… I am confused. When you didn’t trust me, Duke Grey trusted me.”

“Phil—”

“I’m sorry, but let’s have our time.”

It was over.

I gently lowered my hand, glanced at Whistler, and had to bite my teeth at the twitching of his lips. Whistler looked stunned, almost dazed, his ears bright red.

“Philena, didn’t I say earlier that you’re being deceived by Herace? He’s a villain.”

“That’s not the case. Just as Duke Gas misunderstood me, perhaps I, we, are misunderstanding him—”

Determined to end the conversation firmly, I consciously steadied my breath.

“I think we need to consider that possibility.”

I picked up my handbag, ready to leave. Whenever Whistler tried to speak, I shook my head.

Continuously rebuffed, Whistler furrowed his brows, looking angry.

“I’ll have to save you. You’re blinded by attention and can’t judge the situation properly.”

“My eyesight is above average, and I can judge situations properly. I just asked to have our time, remember?”

“You’ve been seduced by his snake-like words. Soon, you’ll be used and discarded.”

Perfect. Only the finish remained.

“I’ll be leaving now.”

I greeted softly and stepped forward. Passing the waiter, my thoughts immediately turned to Herace. I had to tell him everything.

When Herace hears about today, he’ll be proud of me.