Elizabeth looked at the empty seat and let out a deep breath. Kierne was always like that.
Like a bad boy, he violently shakes his heart, and in the end, he draws a line like a gentleman and goes out.
Elizabeth thought it was worse than just bad. Maybe Kierne Agafel isn't really a nice guy.
But even knowing that, she couldn't break her heart, and she suddenly thought that she herself was not a very good woman, that she wanted to fall deeper and deeper into the sweet abyss.
* * *
The next day, tea time was held in the glass garden of Agafell Castle.
Around Kiern at tea time were Ingrid's club director, secretary Abigail, her brother, general secretary Austin, and members James Parker and Elizabeth.
The Parker family had been producing military supplies for generations. After the end of the war, he became an enormously wealthy earl, and his influence in aristocratic society grew considerably.
However, the heir, James, was a madman among madmen.
Elizabeth did not like her presence at the meeting, as her actions were light and feminine. It was because he was worried that Kiern might be tainted by him.
Kiern was a man like a blank slate. When paper was first developed, Elizabeth thought there was no other invention like it.
The click of the pen's tip on the white paper made Elizabeth's heart pound. So when I saw the blank paper, Kiern came to mind. He always had the ability to make her throb.
But the paper got dirty just as easily. Because if you spill the ink, you can't whiten it again.
Working at Club Ingrid was no different from any other social gathering. Over tea together, they exchange various topics and information on politics, literature, society, and art.
Sometimes I go hunting and other times I ride a horse. It was actually a gathering to show friendship to the surrounding aristocrats.
It was the duchess's will that Elizabeth, the daughter of an insignificant baron, join the gathering.
Hearing Stella's envy for the meeting, he gladly put it on, which has continued to this day.
Elizabeth could immediately see what a great privilege that was, just by looking at the composition of the members.
The Duchess was still alive when she first joined the meeting. Perhaps it was because her due date was approaching, Elizabeth had been thinking about the Duchess lately.
Although she was sick, she was not a heart sick person. It was a woman full of hope, tranquility and gratitude with a pale face.
Cool blonde hair used to dazzle like the bright sun. Perhaps Kierne's tenderness with Abigail was due to her blond hair, Elizabeth thought.
At that moment, Abigail Prairie called out to Elizabeth, who was lost in thought.
"Lady Lua, what are you thinking so much about?"
"Oh nothing."
"Though it's Young-ae's turn, I was wondering if there was something worrisome about standing still."
Abigail smiled slightly as she looked at the cards on the table. It was because they did not follow the order during the card game.
"So deep."
As Elizabeth familiarly dropped a card and dropped the hour hand, Abigail spoke in an elegant voice.
"I must have misunderstood."
So, coincidentally, I put the card away. Elizabeth looked at her.
Abigail exudes an elegant vibe anytime, anywhere. Each gesture was filled with an elegance that could not always be followed.
An aristocrat by birth, he used to shrink Elizabeth whenever he saw her. The aura of a powerful person that makes you clearly feel your insignificant position.
Elizabeth quietly lowered her head and concentrated, but Abigail's mouth opened slightly as if speaking of everyday life.
"Oh, by the way, we're engaged."
At his bombshell, Elizabeth raised her bowed head. When our eyes met, Abigail smiled and said.
"If you are Lady Lua, you will already know."
“… … .”
"An engagement? Who are you with?"
Abigail answered when James, who seemed bored all the time, pricked up his ears and asked.
"Wouldn't it hurt if I told you?"
Then, as she looked at Kiern, she smiled slightly. Recognizing the meaning of the look, James widened his eyes further and asked.
"Is that true, Kiern?"
"Good."
Kiern evaded answering vaguely with a smile on her face. His gaze moved slowly from Abigail to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth took her hand nervously. She wanted to let him go, but her mouth was open.
"I guess so."
A smile spread across Abigail's face as joy and sadness intertwined, and Elizabeth's face darkened. James said with a laugh, a vague taunt between jeers and cheers.
"Hey, that would be nice. Did you know that Austin?
Austin nodded disinterestedly and James muttered as he stretched.
"Anyway, it's amazing. I never thought Kiern and Abigail would lead."
Then he looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth tried to control her expression. The corners of her mouth turned up awkwardly, so she tightened her grip, fearing that she might even go into a convulsion.
Then Abigail pointed to James's words.
“I don't think it's particularly surprising. I think it's a natural procedure."
"I suppose so. Lady Prairie always prepared to become a duchess.
The voice was slightly sarcastic, but Abigail gave him a light look and showed no sign of agitation. It seems that it took away James' emotion, and he only took a sip of the drink in front of him.
Then the card game resumed and the engagement story flowed smoothly, but Elizabeth couldn't focus on the game at all.
It was because Kiern, who never gave an answer unless he was clearly determined, expressed a statement, albeit an ambiguous answer.
He really seemed to be thinking of getting engaged to Abigail.
When a game was over, Austin asked the attendant to bring the prepared wine.
"Last year the grapes were very sweet, so the wine is quite good."
As the attendant brought the wine, Abigail tipped the wineglass towards Kiern and asked.
"Sir Kierne, do you like wine?"
"Of course. I especially like Prairie Ganoderma wine."
Kiern spoke in a very chivalrous tone and smacked him with his glass.
The way he treated Abigail seemed to reflect the image he had when he first met Elizabeth. A look that I no longer show.
It changed after the death of her mother, the duchess, and Elizabeth wasn't quite sure why.
One thing was for sure, he didn't treat me as comfortably as he used to.
His eyes, actions, and way of speaking conveyed a sharpness that I had never felt before.
He thought that perhaps his mother's death had made the world he sees angular.
According to her, Kiern just needed someone to be mean to, which is why deciding to stay by her side had gone so far.
But is this correct?
The thought of Abigail and Kiern getting married was terribly painful for Elizabeth.
Having to laugh and pretend to be cool around them, having to watch them be friendly made me feel like I was sinking into an unbearable abyss.
When I thought about it, my ears would ring as if I was submerged in water and my breath would choke. And through that muffled sense, Abigail's laughter was clearly audible.
“As expected, I brought a box with me. Eat with the duke later.
"thank you."
“Of course, it is not just a gift. Instead, you have to go to the theater with me next weekend. It is the day when there is an opera performance that I want to see”.
"Let's prepare the ticket."
It was hard to calm the storm in my heart when I saw two people who even vowed to come out naturally.
Finally, unable to bear it, Elizabeth abruptly rose from her seat. Austin, who had just popped the cork and toasted, cocked his head.
"We are about to make a toast. Where are you going, Lady Lua?"
"Oh, I'm sleepy. I'll go for a little walk. Have fun first.
After speaking in a hurry, he rushed out of the glass garden as if he were running away and ran towards the center field with an artificial fountain.
Behind him, he thought he heard Abigail's laughter and the clear sound of clinking wine glasses.
Fresh water continued to flow from the fountain that came as if it were running. The water that flowed from the cherub's teapot shone like opal in the sunlight.
Stepping closer to the water, Elizabeth cooled the heat of her chest with the cold energy. However, the already soft and broken interior could not be washed under running water.
When the duke came to the castle over the weekend, he would probably talk in detail about the betrothal ceremony.
And when they are engaged, Abigail will stay here at Agafell Castle as the future duchess.
Maybe I should leave Agapel Castle before then. It's rude for them for an unmarried noble lady their age to stay here all the time.
Kiern must have told me that with that in mind.
'… …Then, what do you call it?
'Good. Do you really want to be a young master?
It seemed like a joking answer, but the look in his eyes was serious. That made her heart ache even more.
At times, I allowed nicknames without permission, they took my whole heart, and now you see, me.
Elizabeth couldn't lift her hand from the water in the fountain until it turned ice cold. My legs ached from standing there blankly for too long.
When she reluctantly returned to the glass garden, feeling she shouldn't be away for long, Abigail was drunk, probably having had more to drink than usual, and sleeping with her head on Kiern's shoulder.
Austin and James were laughing, talking about how they got pretty drunk too.
Among the drunks, only Kiern seemed okay. he said, taking a sip of wine.
"It's too late."
