At Elizabeth's question, Kierne straightened up and stared at her.
The blue eyes sank silently as if assessing something. Elizabeth asked again.
"It is not like this?"
Abigail Prairie was the second daughter of the Marquis de Prairie.
It was a family that had been in the shipbuilding industry for generations, and it was a family that had achieved rapid growth as inter-kingdom trade had recently become active.
So the betrothal story of the two boys went back and forth between the Duke of Argafell and the Marquess of Prairie. The combination of the two families was due to great benefits for future businesses.
"Why do you think not?"
Elisabeth pursed her lips at Kierne's lithe voice.
Perhaps you think they are forcing you because you don't like to see him discuss marriage with another woman?
In fact, I couldn't say that my feelings were completely pure. but.
Had the Duchess been alive, she would not have allowed such an arranged marriage.
Kiern, you must meet and marry the person you love.
Had she forgotten what the duchess always said?
The duke couple, who were arranged marriages, did not get along. It was a barren marriage for a romantic like the Duchess.
The duke was indifferent and selfish. Now, out of belated regret, he says he won't take a new wife, but there's no way the dead wife will come back.
Perhaps the reason the duchess's illness worsened was because of her loneliness. She was a lonely person who left without feeling the love of her husband.
So she was hoping to meet someone she loved as much as her son, Kiern. Not the interests of the family, but the way his heart moves. That's why I wanted to love and be loved overflowing.
Even at the moment of her death, Elizabeth had no doubt that the Duchess would only wish her son happiness.
So, it was a question that I asked because I wanted Kiern to get the marriage that she wanted, even if it wasn't on my mind.
"If necessary, I will."
Kiern answered quietly with a dry voice. Although he knew exactly what she was trying to say, he was calm. In the end, Elizabeth couldn't take it and grabbed his wrist.
"Do you love the lady of the prairie?"
"Does it matter?"
"It doesn't matter. At least, because the lady wants your son to marry the man she loves.
"Then try to love me."
A man who will work hard to love.
Elizabeth felt that Kiern was deeply broken.
Love didn't have to be forced that way. It's because love is what I do naturally without even knowing it.
Elizabeth was sure Kierne didn't like Abigail. If he had liked it, he would have replied that he liked it.
Besides, there was only a blankness in his eyes as he looked at Abigail. Just like the duke did to the duchess before she lived, just heartless formal actions.
They were not the eyes of a loved one. At least Elizabeth, who knew love and was already in love, could feel it.
“If the lady finds out, she will be sad. My son is getting married against his will."
"Who said I didn't want to?"
"Because it's not the look of someone who wants it."
Don't think you know me, Elizabeth. And where did you find out about the engagement?
I guess that's why I looked at her curiously earlier. In fact, Elizabeth knew immediately, but she didn't rush to ask.
I was afraid of his answer, so I put it off, and was about to ask in a hurry until the Duke of Procrastination arrived.
“… …I heard from my mother The duke proposed an engagement with Lady Prairie.
"It's interesting. How could Stella get the news so quickly?
Kierne's mouth twisted. It's a habit that comes out when you don't like something.
Elizabeth wondered at what point he was upset, but obediently answered the question.
“Because my mother is close to the butler. In addition, after the lady passed away, she often served the duke and listened to him and told him.
"I mean, why is your mom standing around Gilbert and going to my dad's room?"
“That is because the duke often visits his mother… … .”
Elisabeth, who stopped talking as if she was making excuses and understood his question a step later, scrunched up her face.
"Kiern, what the hell are you trying to say?"
"It is literally."
Kiern shrugged and sighed. But Elizabeth's body trembled as she knew what she had misunderstood and what her intention was.
Stella was the duchess's faithful confidant. How could she give such a dishonorable misunderstanding to someone who was the lady's favorite lady and friend?
Also, according to my mother, I heard that the duchess had left her a message asking her to take care of the duke before he died.
Because of that will, the mother still remained in the duke's castle and guarded the duke's side, even though the lady she served was absent. There was no reason for such a misunderstanding.
"Don't insult mom."
Elizabeth protested softly and curled her bottom lip. Seeing that expression, Kiern laughed.
"Yes. Wasn't that some low level nonsense for innocent Ellie to listen to?"
"Delicate."
“Well, everyone knows that Stella is loyal. Even after your mother's death, you still work hard here, don't you? night and day."
"Enough, Kiern Agafel."
"Yes. I was about to talk about something else, Elizabeth.
Kiern nodded slightly and gently withdrew Elizabeth's hand. Only then did Elizabeth realize that he had been holding her wrist, and her face turned red with embarrassment.
Kiern, who watched the scene for a while, continued.
"Don't call me that on the outside anymore. I want you to be especially careful around Abigail. As you know, she and I could get engaged soon.
"Are you going to get engaged?"
“Because there is no reason not to. So please cooperate as well."
“… … .”
“Because Abigail seemed very concerned about your presence. I guess I'm leaving you alone because you're the daughter of a friend of my mother's.
Elizabeth's heart pounded at Kiern's words of support for Abigail.
He knew Abigail didn't like him. Even if I thought about it, my fiancé's friend of the opposite sex wouldn't look good.
But Kierne was an old friend of Elizabeth's. Although their social statuses differed considerably, they were close friends until the duchess's death.
But now, don't call me by my name or nickname in front of others.
Her words seemed to nail them to the point that they were no longer friends. Elizabeth asked, holding her shaking hands.
“… …Then, what do you call it?
Kiern, who had been silently watching the scene, spat out merciless words.
"Good. Do you really want to be the Bocchan?
“… … .”
“After all, before you and I are friends, we are the daughter of the maid and the mistress of the owner's house. Wouldn't that be the most natural?
Elizabeth found it difficult to control her expression at Kierne's bony words. It was because he knew that he put his sincerity under the guise of a joke.
You better tell me to get out of here.
“Your mother is here and you are going out alone? So what about your mother's proud loyalty?
Kiern smiled and gently stroked Elizabeth's red hair. The hand that passed over his earlobe was kind enough.
That confused Elizabeth. My heart ached because I couldn't understand his heart.
If it weren't for the maid's daughter, he wouldn't have dared to look at her. However, at times like these, the position of being the maid's daughter seemed to be holding Elizabeth back.
When Elizabeth went still without resistance, Kiern released her hand with a big smile.
When I pulled my hand away, the place I touched felt colder than before. Like an idiot, as if he had tasted the heat and couldn't take the cold anymore.
Elizabeth wanted to cry and murmured softly.
"Why do they treat you so badly?"
"Because I want to treat you badly."
But the answer that came back was not reasonable. Don't cross the line.
She lowered her head when she thought she was going to cry, and Kiern touched her chin and looked into her eyes.
The wet eyes looked glassy at him. Unlike her, his eyes were cold.
The eyes like to measure something. It was as if they were looking at the prey they had caught and contemplating whether to eat it now or promise it later. In the end, catching and eating is the same thing, the eyes of a predator.
Still, Elizabeth wanted to continue being eaten. As if he had already been branded as his on the back of the neck, like a prey with beast's teeth.
Elizabeth knew her own heart better. That she couldn't beat him, and that she loved him very much.
She bit her bottom lip and patted his hand, responding nervously.
"It's really bad."
"Where in the world is there such a low quality as a knight?"
“I'm going to cancel saying that he was like a gentleman. It's the first time I've seen such a bad boy."
“You wear it how you want, and take it how you want. You are truly selfish, Elizabeth.
Doesn't Lady Prairie hate this? It's to the point where I can't even say your name."
When Elizabeth pointed her hand to her chin, Kierne replied with a cool smile.
"Fine. I'm in a position to receive more soon, but this is skinship."
"You… … ."
"Ellie is more conservative than I thought."
Elizabeth stared at her, flushed, and Kiern kissed the back of her hand lightly. It was an aristocratic gesture, in keeping with the manner he used to treat Abigail.
"Or do you want me to do this?"
There was a feeling of joy in his eyes. When Elizabeth shook hands contemptuously, Kierne said as she left the room.
"Then Ellie, the young master will leave."
