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Chapter 6
The sky just before autumn was beautiful, and Kaelen walking ahead of me was silent. I followed him from about three steps behind, taking wide strides.
Even when we danced together, I had been close to Kaelen, but then I had been too focused on unfamiliar steps and avoiding stepping on his feet even once to remember anything clearly.
Kaelen walked slowly through the narrow garden as if there was something worth seeing. The awkwardness of being alone with him hit me belatedly.
My gaze shifted between the ground and his back before finally settling there.
“His height is probably in the late 180s… and his back is ridiculously wide.”
I followed the span of his shoulders with my eyes—so wide it felt like I’d have to roll my eyes around just to trace them.
Even if I imagined rolling forward and backward, it was still the male lead’s back. As I tried to estimate his height with my eyes, he suddenly stopped.
“A flower I haven’t seen before,” he said.
I turned my head to where Kaelen was looking.
“That’s a Shaerokko tail flower. It’s named because it resembles the tail of the Shaero bird. It’s a wildflower that grows in the western part of the Empire and is quite common.”
Words from the gardener surfaced in my mind and slipped out automatically. Kaelen nodded as he listened.
Wait… did he just speak informally?
In the banquet hall, Kaelen had spoken with flawless manners when he asked me to dance.
Did he use informal speech then too? I felt like he used polite speech… but I couldn’t remember clearly.
Well, whatever. It didn’t matter.
I glanced at his profile and spoke.
“I didn’t tell anyone.”
Kaelen abruptly turned around. The moment I saw his face, I sucked in a breath.
The face he showed at the banquet… and the face he showed in the mansion… I now understood they were all masks.
Kaelen Lividen was a man who became cold and ruthless when it served his goals. And the one who changed him in the original story was the female lead.
But right now, before he had even met her, the man standing in front of me was dangerous.
“…That night.”
I quickly looked around in case anyone was listening. Only one escort knight stood at a distance.
No one else was nearby, but I still lowered my voice.
“That night at the library—I didn’t tell anyone I saw you there. I won’t tell anyone in the future either.”
But Kaelen’s expression didn’t soften.
Maybe I spoke too quietly?
I stepped closer.
“Please believe me. I really won’t tell anyone. Ever.”
Kaelen suddenly stepped toward me. The pressure made me tilt my head back.
I swallowed hard and tried to continue.
“What reason do I have to believe you?”
Before I could speak, his low, chilling voice cut in.
Ah. So he didn’t trust me.
That made sense. He was originally someone who didn’t trust others easily. But I was also unfairly treated here.
I hadn’t gone there because I wanted to see him. If I hadn’t run into Kaelen that night, I would’ve already left the capital pretending to be sick.
I wasn’t involved in their story at all. I just wanted to survive.
My thoughts spiraled.
“Hey, did you think I expected you to appear there?! I was surprised too!”
“Do you think I drank four glasses of expensive champagne because I wanted to? I just needed the bathroom! But the imperial palace bathrooms are like they’re playing hide-and-seek!”
“I finally found one, got lost coming back, and ended up there by pure coincidence!”
“Why is this my fault?! You’re the one who—!”
Kaelen raised an eyebrow sharply.
“Then what, should I swear blood loyalty?”
“…That’s not what I meant.”
I backed away quickly.
He didn’t like jokes.
Later, my right thumb was wrapped in bandages, still stinging slightly.
Kaelen had refused to put away his dagger until the end.
“So what… should I seal it with a fingerprint?” I had suggested.
Mira had brought paper and a pen. I wrote hastily that I would never speak of that night.
I wasn’t sure if it was my handwriting, but Kaelen’s eyebrow definitely twitched.
He lightly cut my thumb with his dagger.
I should’ve done it properly the first time.
Only a small bead of blood formed.
Kaelen left after reading the paper for a long time.
I had lived intensely even in my previous life.
As a journalist intern, I had worked so much I could barely tell what I hadn’t experienced.
But now…
I shook my head remembering Kaelen’s cold green eyes and the dagger.
I had realized once again—I needed to disappear from the male lead’s life as soon as possible.
So I acted immediately.
I left a short note for Lady Rudd and Father Rudd, packed only valuables, and secretly left the mansion at dawn.
I headed to the capital train station.
“I want the fastest train heading north.”
“Second class is 300 Felio. First class is 500.”
I paid 300 Felio, pulling my hat down low.
The train was heading to the northern Totlo region.
30 minutes later, I boarded at Gate 6.
It was my first escape in both lives combined.
The sun began to rise.
I sat on a wooden bench at the gate, watching the world turn red with morning light.
Perfect weather for running away.
The train arrived 20 minutes late.
A black locomotive rolled in, releasing thick steam.
I joined the queue and boarded.
“This is my first train in this world…”
Not bad.
The seat was rough, but fine. I needed to save money since I didn’t know how long I’d be traveling.
My plan was simple: stay in Totlo for summer, then visit my older brother studying abroad.
Beyond that… I hadn’t decided.
I leaned back.
For now, I just needed to stay far away from the male lead.
