Kisa had to doubt her ears for a moment. After all, what came out of Hazel’s mouth was completely unexpected.
She reflexively examined the person before her.
‘Hazel Turdy…’
The woman Daniel would willingly sacrifice his life to protect forever. According to him, a soulmate with no romantic attraction whatsoever.
Although she had briefly spoken with this woman when she first learned of her existence, this was the first time they were meeting face-to-face in such a calm atmosphere.
At that time, due to Daniel’s presence, Kisa hadn’t had enough time to observe what kind of person this woman was.
Gray hair, somewhat pale complexion, and light brown eyes. Not strikingly beautiful, but her features were harmonious, and her small frame with delicate bones could trigger protective instincts. Plus, she had a calm yet mysterious aura.
Kisa felt she could somewhat understand what had captivated Daniel so deeply about her.
Although there had been no contact since their first meeting, Hazel had always cast a shadow over Kisa’s heart. She wondered what qualities were so exceptional about this woman that she had earned the affection of Daniel, which Kisa herself had desperately wanted for over a decade but never obtained.
It was strange. Just as her feelings for Daniel were fading and such curiosities were gradually diminishing, the day came when she would meet Hazel.
Daniel’s woman was currently watching Kisa with a somewhat dejected expression.
“I’m sorry. I must have startled you by bringing this up so abruptly.”
For someone who had just made such an outrageous statement, her manner was impeccably polite.
After moistening her dry throat with the tea brought by the maid, Kisa spoke.
“First, should I call you Miss Turdy?”
It seemed a bit awkward to call someone with a marriage history ‘Mrs.’ when her spouse had passed away.
“You can just call me by my name. Turdy is my ex-husband’s surname.”
“Fine, Hazel. To answer your question, I’m not so much surprised as I am displeased.”
“Ah…”
“From the beginning, the fact that you came to see me like this is unpleasant. We’re not close enough to visit each other without an appointment, are we?”
Hazel’s gaze dropped downward.
“I have nothing to say about that. I truly apologize. In my urgency, I committed a breach of etiquette.”
It wasn’t particularly sarcastic or insincere. She was genuinely sorry.
And Kisa found that fact deeply unpleasant.
“If you’re busy right now, I can leave and come back when you have time. When would be—”
“That’s enough. Just speak. It would be a waste of time to make you come twice.”
Had she never met Hazel at all, it might have been different, but having heard her suggestion to reconcile with Daniel, she would only feel uneasy sending Hazel away now.
In the first place, Kisa had allowed her into the reception room because she was curious why Hazel had come all this way to see her.
For what purpose?
She had kept her distance from the conflict between Kisa and Daniel as if it were someone else’s business until now.
Even if someone had come to express dissatisfaction with the engagement announcement, Kisa had expected Daniel to come, not Hazel.
“…”
She seemed to have trouble speaking, but eventually gathered her courage and began.
“I know that what I’m about to say will cause you considerable displeasure. I also know I’m in no position to say this. But please believe just one thing: I didn’t come here with any other intention or purpose. I ask that you take my words at face value.”
“…Alright. Let’s hear it.”
“Thank you. As I mentioned earlier, I would like you to…”
She paused briefly, exhaled once, then continued.
“Reconcile with Daniel.”
So what she had heard a few minutes ago was not an auditory hallucination after all.
Kisa silently studied Hazel’s face, as if gauging the hidden intent behind it.
Despite her straight posture and calm expression, she couldn’t hide her nervousness, but there was no sign that she wanted to take back what she had just said.
After a moment, Kisa broke the suffocatingly uncomfortable silence with a voice that revealed no emotion.
“Do you clearly understand what you just said?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Did someone put you up to this or force you to come see me and say those things?”
“Not at all. This is entirely my own will and judgment.”
I see. Your will and judgment, you say. Kisa contemplated Hazel’s words for a while.
How much time had passed? Her blue eyes filled with clear hostility.
Kisa spoke, enunciating each syllable distinctly.
“How dare you.”
How could she make such a demand?
Not just anyone, but her of all people.
She took a moment to catch her breath. It was to refine the wildfire of emotions raging inside her chest.
She didn’t want to unleash raw anger in front of this person who had thrown a bomb at her yet remained surprisingly calm herself.
“It’s natural for you to be angry.”
But while Kisa was carefully considering what to say, Hazel spoke first.
“But could you please set aside your anger for just a moment and consider my request?”
She clasped her hands together with a pitiful expression.
“Daniel has been struggling a lot since breaking up with you. Please give him one more chance.”
“…Chance?”
“Yes, I beg you. Please postpone your engagement to Duke Hillan for a while and have an open, honest conversation with Daniel. Even better if you could restore your relationship to what it once was.”
“In other words, you’re asking me to get engaged to Daniel again and then marry him?”
“That’s right.”
“Why should I do that?”
“Because you love Daniel. I’m sure you don’t want to see him go down the wrong path. But since the broken engagement, Daniel has been going astray. After hearing about your engagement to another man, it’s gotten worse—he drinks every day. His relationship with his father has deteriorated completely too. He’s always been a proud person—”
“Stop.”
Unable to listen anymore, Kisa raised her hand to interrupt Hazel.
“That’s enough. I don’t care how Daniel is doing these days.”
Hazel’s eyebrows drooped at those words.
“I fully understand why you can’t help but hate Daniel. But what’s most important is a person’s life. For the sake of saving Daniel, love rather than hatred—”
“You’re not understanding me. When I say I don’t care, it means I don’t love him anymore.”
She repeated it once more to make it absolutely clear.
“I do not love Daniel.”
Suddenly, Kisa realized this was the first time she had spoken these words aloud.
Since when? Since when had she been able to confidently say she didn’t love him without the slightest hesitation?
“Is… is that so?”
As if she couldn’t believe those words, Hazel blinked for a moment.
“Could it be that you still suspect Daniel and I are in a romantic relationship? That’s truly a misunderstanding! We’re just friends. I swear to heaven I’ve never done anything improper with him!”
Ah, on this point, her claim is identical to his.
In the past, Kisa might have shouted at her not to lie, that such a thing was impossible.
But now, for some reason, their consistent claim didn’t seem suspicious.
No, to be precise, she simply didn’t care anymore.
“Hazel.”
She called the name of the woman so precious to the man she once loved.
“Whether you’re Daniel’s friend or lover isn’t particularly important to me.”
“What?”
“Daniel Lowens, who was so stingy with his affection toward me, gave his whole heart to you, whether as love or friendship. That was disrespectful to me, his fiancée. And that day, I discovered that he had secretly been looking down on me as a fool all along.”
“…”
“That’s the end. That’s where my relationship with Daniel ended. In our conflict, what kind of relationship you truly had with Daniel is just a secondary factor. It’s not that important.”
She had finally reached a clear conclusion on an issue that had been troubling her for a long time.
Ah, now no sense of inferiority toward Hazel would torment Kisa anymore.
As long as she didn’t love Daniel, Hazel was just a stranger Kisa barely knew.
“You said Daniel is struggling a lot? Then comfort him as his soulmate. Daniel would probably prefer that anyway.”
While Kisa’s tone became more relaxed, Hazel’s expression darkened.
“Do you truly mean it when you say you no longer love Daniel?”
“Absolutely.”
“Even so, given your long history with him, couldn’t you save him out of compassion at least?”
Seeing Hazel pleading so desperately, Kisa began to feel more curiosity than anger.
“Why are you trying so hard to bring us back together?”
“Daniel needs you, and I want to help him.”
“So you want to marry me off to Daniel, dump all the duties of a wife on me, while you freely enjoy your friendship with him?”
“No, no! If you wish, I’ll distance myself from him. I could become just a casual friend like his other friends—then I wouldn’t be an eyesore to you, would I?”
“You’re still not saying you’ll never see Daniel again.”
Startled, Hazel waved both hands.
“That’s not it. If it’s your wish, of course I’ll obey. I can leave his side anytime.”
Kisa’s eyes narrowed.
“Is it really true that there’s no romantic feeling between you two?”
“Of course. We’re just friends.”
Looking at the seemingly innocent woman’s face, Kisa moved her lips.
“Liar.”
It was a cold, low voice.
“You love Daniel, don’t you?”
