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chapter#5
Kieren was leaning against the trunk of the tree with his eyes closed. Whether he had fallen asleep or not, he showed no reaction even as she approached.
His black hair swayed gently in the breeze. A faint crease sat between his brows, as if he was in a foul mood.
He hadn’t even changed clothes—his jacket was carelessly tossed on the ground. Elizabeth picked it up, neatly folded it, and set it beside him.
His cravat was nowhere to be seen. A couple of undone buttons revealed part of his bare skin, and Elizabeth quickly averted her gaze.
For a moment, she considered turning back, but then gathered her resolve and sat naturally beside him, straightening her knees.
Missing someone meant being very lonely right now. She decided to stay by his side so he wouldn’t feel alone.
As if finally sensing her presence, Kieren slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.
“Why are you here?”
His voice was low and empty, as if drained of energy. Elizabeth answered lightly,
“Probably for the same reason as you.”
“I don’t have any reason.”
“Then I guess I don’t either.”
Elizabeth smiled faintly, making a ridiculous joke. Kieren’s expression shifted subtly.
“You really say things like that so easily.”
“I think I learned it from you.”
“Don’t blame me.”
He replied indifferently and turned his gaze away. Elizabeth rested her cheek on her arm and quietly studied his profile.
Her eyes traced the line from his forehead to his straight nose, his lips, and his jaw—
“Why do you keep staring?”
“Are you not going to see Miss Prairie today?”
She was referring to how often he had been meeting Abigail lately. At the mention of her, Kieren turned his gaze back and stared directly at Elizabeth.
Being answered with another question seemed to amuse him slightly. Tilting his head, he replied,
“We’re meeting this evening.”
“I see.”
Elizabeth lowered her head, her spirits sinking for no reason. Then Kieren reached out and touched her cheek.
Startled, she looked up at him as he said casually,
“What? Do you want to come along?”
“Why would I intrude on someone else’s date?”
“You looked like you didn’t want me to go.”
“That’s not true.”
Feeling as though her feelings had been exposed, Elizabeth brushed his hand away. Kieren didn’t seem to care and instead toyed with her red hair.
He had looked in a terrible mood earlier, but now he didn’t seem quite as bad.
Whenever he treated her comfortably like this, Elizabeth felt both happy and sad. She knew that, to him, she was nothing more than a friend.
And yet, whenever he looked at her with such gentle eyes, she couldn’t help but wonder where his heart truly lay.
Could it be… that he feels the same way as I do?
It was a foolish thought.
Elizabeth spoke up.
“I’ve been wondering—why do you keep playing with my hair?”
“Because it’s like a rose.”
“A rose?”
“Yeah. A rose.”
Kieren looked at her intently. There was something layered beneath the words he spoke so clearly.
Whenever he saw her red hair, he felt conflicted.
It reminded him of that woman, and it stirred anger—but at the same time, it brought to mind the roses his mother had loved, making him feel a sense of longing.
More precisely, his feelings toward Elizabeth herself were conflicted. His heart had long since lost its direction, so Kieren simply lived as he pleased.
If he wanted to hurt her, he would. If he wanted to treat her well, he would.
And right now—he wanted to hurt her.
Because he knew that her mother would probably be in bed with his damned father again today.
The memory of those two acting sentimental in front of his mother’s grave made Kieren’s lips tremble with anger.
No decent human being would do such a thing.
He had always known his father was trash—but the fact that the other person was Stella made everything feel even more disgusting.
No… the fact that he even thought of it as unfortunate was laughable, pathetic, revolting.
If only Elizabeth weren’t kind.
Being around her made him uncomfortable.
Perhaps his engagement was nothing more than an escape—an escape from these ominous feelings.
“My lady would have wanted you to marry someone you truly love.”
What did she even know to say something like that?
If she had heard what his mother said to him before she died, she never would have given such advice.
Elizabeth had no right to say those words to him.
“Ow… that hurts, Kieren.”
Elizabeth grabbed his hand, frowning. He had unconsciously gripped her hair too tightly.
But he didn’t let go. Instead, he muttered coldly, his eyes set on hurting her.
“Maybe that’s why I feel like grabbing your hair every time I see it. I want to cut it off so it doesn’t look like that damned rose.”
“So now you’re complaining about my hair too?”
“Yeah. I don’t like it.”
“……”
“I don’t like it. You.”
At his cold words, Elizabeth was left speechless.
Letting go of her hair, Kieren added,
“So stop hovering around me for no good reason.”
Go far away. Disappear.
“I don’t need your pathetic comfort.”
At his mocking tone, tears welled up in Elizabeth’s eyes. She turned her head, not wanting him to see, and said,
“Fine. I guess I worried for nothing. I should’ve just left you alone.”
Then she stood up and ran off without looking back.
Watching her red hair disappear into the distance, Kieren muttered a curse under his breath.
He had wanted to hurt her—and yet, seeing her tears only made him feel worse.
Running a hand through his hair, he felt like he no longer had control over himself.
If only he could truly break something—then maybe he wouldn’t feel this way.
A crystal chandelier shimmered in multicolored light under the illumination.
Beneath it, beautifully dressed men and women danced to the orchestra’s music.
Elizabeth sat quietly at a table by the window, watching.
She had come to the banquet in a fit of anger. She hated how cruel Kieren had been—and hated herself even more for clinging to someone like him.
So she had attended the banquet Stella had been so eager about.
But she regretted it the moment she arrived.
The idea of finding a partner here now felt ridiculous. Worse, she barely knew anyone, and didn’t even know where to look.
Not many people approached her. Living in Agapel Castle didn’t make her a duke’s daughter.
Occasionally, men approached out of curiosity—but her indifferent responses quickly drove them away.
Still, she couldn’t leave just yet—Stella would have something to say—so she decided to stay a bit longer.
Since she was already here, she figured she might as well enjoy the food. She popped a cherry into her mouth and chewed slowly—
when someone suddenly took a seat in front of her.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Elizabeth.”
James Parker greeted her, already half-drunk. It seemed true—he never missed a banquet.
Elizabeth pulled her chair back slightly, creating distance.
“Fancy seeing you here, Sir James.”
“What brings you to a banquet like this? Let me guess.”
He smirked.
“You look like you were dragged here.”
“That’s right. So please don’t mind me and go on your way.”
“Come on, we’re both members of the Ingrid Club. Since you’re here, how about a dance?”
With a greasy smile, he suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the center.
“Wait—!”
Caught off guard, Elizabeth was dragged along by his strong grip, unable to hide her shock.
She had always kept her distance from him, knowing how frivolous and shallow he was.
He had never shown much interest in her before, which made this sudden attention all the more suspicious.
No matter how reckless he was, he had never been this blatantly rude.
Finally losing patience, Elizabeth raised her voice.
“Let go.”
She twisted her hand, trying to free herself—but his grip wouldn’t loosen.
James tightened his hold and said,
“It doesn’t look like anyone else is asking you to dance. Why act so high and mighty?”
“What did you say?”
“Oh, what? Just because you live in Agapel Castle, do you think you’re some duke’s daughter?”
He snickered, openly mocking her.
Was he so drunk he couldn’t tell what should and shouldn’t be said?
Elizabeth’s expression hardened with anger.
“If you insult me any further, I won’t tolerate it.”
“And what will you do if you don’t? I’m curious.”
As he pulled her closer, her body tilted toward him. He wrapped an arm around her waist, his touch unmistakably improper.
That was the last straw.
Just as Elizabeth was about to stomp on his foot—
someone suddenly pulled her back, creating distance between her and James.
Her back pressed against the chest of the person behind her, making her flinch.
First, she caught a clean, woody scent—
then a sharp hint of cigar smoke.
Even without turning around, Elizabeth knew exactly who it was.
She bit her lower lip.
