“I have to break off the engagement with Richard Kensington.”
“Father!”
“If he went missing on the battlefield, then he’s probably dead.”
“But…”
“Just know this. Find a better match for yourself.”
After breaking off her engagement with the Kensingtons following his disappearance, Viscountess Denoir walked the path of ruin. People who had invested solely in the name Kensington turned their backs one after another, and despite the Viscount’s boasting, his youngest daughter, Louise Denoir’s reputation was tarnished, and she couldn’t find a decent match.
In the midst of this, Richard Kensington, who was thought to be dead, returned.
She was branded as an undesirable woman. Those who had previously ridiculed her as a frivolous woman now laughed at her. Acting as if nothing had happened was all she could do in the face of relentless gossip that followed her wherever she went.
Even when they had met by chance in town not long ago, she had to suppress her bitter feelings while looking at his expressionless face as if he were an inanimate object.
So being alone with him like this was something she had never dreamed of. After urging her daughter to find a gentleman who could help, Viscountess Denoir reluctantly rented a carriage to match the out-of-date dress she wore. They almost had to walk back due to lack of money, if it hadn’t been for the Kensington’s carriage.
“…I apologize for making you come out because of me.”
“No, it was just an excuse I needed.”
It was an honest and somewhat rude response, but she was pleased that he wasn’t as cold as he had been last time. But that was the end of it. After a brief conversation, silence fell between them.
Louise, who had been holding the fan unnecessarily, slightly lowered her head as if she had made up her mind.
“Um… Richard.”
Instead of a response, purple pupils stared at her. Suddenly, a face flashed through her mind.
“It’s a really strange story, Miss. Could you please do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
“Please, prevent Richard from taking Kiara’s glass. I’m begging you.”
“Why…”
“I can’t tell you why. But if you don’t, Richard will…”
Desperate green eyes looked at her. Her trembling voice was pitiful. What was her name, Charlotte? She had to tell him. If the man in front of her had truly received help, the credit belonged to her, not herself.
“…Thank you for bringing me here.”
But what came out of her lips was just that one word. Petty jealousy. Guilt rushed over her immediately.
“And I’m sorry.”
An out-of-place apology. Once again, there was silence. After looking at her for a moment, he turned his gaze out the carriage window with an unreadable expression.
“No need to apologize.”
The carriage had arrived at Viscountess Denoir’s residence before she knew it. Richard, who got off first, skillfully escorted her.
“Please, go in.”
This might be the last chance to speak to him like this. The opportunity to mix words like this. Out of anxiety, words escaped her lips involuntarily, “If you’d like, I could at least offer you a carriage…”
“It’s too late for that.”
Richard’s rejection was so blunt it felt spiteful, and he turned away with a nod. Suddenly, the guilt of earlier negligence surged up, reaching even her throat.
“Wait!”
Louise, who had resolved to stay silent, managed to open her mouth.
“I…I have something to say. Actually, this whole thing wasn’t my idea, it was…”
“I understand.”
“…”
Without even turning back to face her, he replied firmly, “You’re just like a fool who knows her own limits.”
***
A foolish woman.
“You’re Richard, the brother of Earl Kensington, right? I’m Charlotte Hegel, Cynthia Hegel’s daughter.”
That was the first impression. A reckless outsider crossing the wasteland with nothing but her bare hands. The surprising thing was that she spoke her mind straight and true on such a subject.
“I appreciate your concern in many ways, but that doesn’t give you the right to make decisions on my behalf. So, how I manage things is my own problem.”
Her presence grated on his nerves. That’s why he was so cool-headed.
“Do I…bother you that much?”
But gradually.
“Why… Do you dislike me, or do you even dislike me at all? Your words and actions are cold, but when push comes to shove, you always lend a helping hand.”
Gradually.
“Richard…”
Gradually.
“Richard.”
Porcelain-white skin. A slender neck. Hair as black as a raven’s wing. Jade-colored eyes. A gentle gaze and stubbornly sealed lips. And… the scent of wet violet flowers.
Somewhere along the line, that timid woman had always managed to get under his skin. Like an animal catching the scent of a female in heat and getting excited.
It was uncomfortable and unfamiliar. It felt like someone was rummaging through his mind and messing things up haphazardly. Yet amidst the unpleasant stench that surrounded him, he identified the woman fully, like a watchdog recognizing its master in an instant.
So, when he noticed Kiara Spencer’s shallow deception, the minor detail wasn’t the issue. He focused on the eyes that were watching him from afar, rather than the minor details in front of him.
“Have a congratulatory drink before you leave. Of course, you’ll do this much, won’t you?”
Charlotte Hegel stared at him with a desperate gaze from a distance. Desperation, rejection, sadness, and anger. He laughed at the tangled mess of emotions without bothering to decipher them. The gaze that looked at him so desperately on such a cowardly subject was so pitiful.
If you don’t step up, it will be taken away from you.
That was his warning. It was also his last chance to feign ignorance. Even the way he looked around, pretending to be close but keeping his distance, was a tactic.
He approached her on the waterfront, so now it was her turn. She had been given a week’s grace. If she still hadn’t realized by now, he would engrave it into her bones.
If she didn’t step up, he planned to make her feel the effects of her insignificance. He wanted to see her crying, hands tied, in disarray, a woman calling out his name amidst despair and pleasure.
Whether it was breaking her ankles or choking her with a leash, there were many ways to do it. Ever since he became aware of his foul desire, these thoughts had come to him countless times.
“Richard.”
The woman had only made subtle gestures, but she hadn’t stepped up herself. He merely laughed when he saw the uninvited guest without a clear identity.
It was time to mete out punishment.
***
“Have you seriously gone crazy?”
“What on earth happened?”
When Miss Timor returned alone and the other maids heard about what happened at the reception, they all blushed with excitement.
“Isn’t it so romantic? It felt like something out of a romance novel.”
“It was quite interesting to see the haughty Spencer lady unable to handle it and leave.”
“Everyone thought Lady Kiara would claim Mr. Richard, but whether she likes him or not…”
“I wish I hadn’t left! I missed a scene you can’t even see for money.”
“Oh, it wasn’t like that, Mary. What happened afterward was really brutal.”
When Richard Kensington left with Louise Denoir, the atmosphere froze. No one openly gossiped, but everyone was suddenly alert to the unusual incident.
“Just before the Duke of Spencer arrived! If he hadn’t, things would have been really awkward.”
“Really?”
The conversation showed no signs of ending. After quietly clearing up in the bustling kitchen, Charlotte got up and opened the back door. The surroundings were quiet in the late night. The sound of the wind brushing against the leaves, the scent of sand from the wasteland, and the stars pouring down as if to cover her head.
As she took another step, she suddenly felt something cold touch her cheek. When she raised her head, snowflakes were falling. Charlotte wasn’t surprised. According to her mother Cynthia, such things sometimes happened at Gredel Hill. Strange occurrences like snow in summer or flowers blooming in winter.
Living in this strange and beautiful place made all the injustices of the past feel like they had happened a long time ago.
“It’s the end of the world. A mere laundry maid dares to covet the young master of the household!”
“No, madam. It’s a misunderstanding. Let me explain. Please give me a chance—”
“What misunderstanding? The evidence is clear. People need to know their place, Miss Hegel. If you had behaved properly, Janice wouldn’t have sent such a letter.”
“Madam, please…”
“You have no manners or education, so of course you don’t know what dignity is.”
“…”
“This is a proof of identity. A letter of recommendation. This is my last favor to you. Get out. Immediately.”
It was the memory of being held back from stepping up at the reception.
It wasn’t a nightmare. It was a common, mundane story experienced by most women of the working class. The reason she wasn’t shocked by Janice’s warning was because of this.
“The worlds we live in are different…”
Ultimately, she was right. Who would listen to the words of a laundry maid? The only reason her manipulation worked somewhat was because Miss Denoir was a noblewoman.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to escort this young lady, and won’t be able to join the toast.”
The thought made her heart clench. Richard, who had still so deftly supported his fiancée with skilled hands, passed by her without a glance, not even once. Like a worthless object. Like one of the common pieces of furniture.
“Sir Richard…”
She knew, but it still felt like her fingertips were growing cold. Shock ran through her bones, making her knees weak. Unable to stand any longer, Charlotte sank to her knees, burying her face in her hands. All that remained was a pitiful sense of jealousy and self-loathing.
“…How foolish.”
“I agree.”
“…?!”
An answer came to her meaningless murmur. Before she could even raise her head in surprise, her wrist was caught. She was pulled up by strong force, muscles tense from head to toe as if struck by lightning.
“R-Richard!”
In an instant, their noses touched. It felt like her breath was being stolen. Before she could grasp the situation, amidst the darkness, a menacing glint caught her eye, ominous and dangerous.
🍉🍉🍉
