Kiern leaned against a wooden post, eyes closed. Maybe she fell asleep, but when she got closer, there was no response.
Dark hair swayed in the wind. There were fine wrinkles between the eyebrows, probably due to poor planting.
The jacket was thrown on the floor without changing clothes. Elizabeth picked up her jacket, folded it, and set it aside.
Cravat was nowhere to be seen. Elizabeth looked away, revealing her flesh beneath a pair of undone buttons.
After thinking about going back for a while, he made up his mind and naturally sat down next to her and straightened his knees.
Missing someone means that you are very lonely right now. I was thinking of staying by Kiern's side so he wouldn't feel alone.
It was then that Kiern opened her eyes and looked at Elizabeth.
"Why are you here?"
Kiern muttered helplessly with her empty eyes. Elizabeth responded nonchalantly.
"It must be for the same reasons as you."
"I have no reason."
"Then I must have come for no reason."
Elizabeth laughed at the absurd pun. Then Kierne's expression turned subtle.
"You don't mind saying things like that."
"I think I learned from you."
"Do not blame me".
Kiern responded carelessly and then looked away. Elizabeth rested her face on his arm and looked at Kiern's profile.
It was when he was drawing from his forehead to the straight bridge of his nose, lips and chin with his eyes.
"Why do you keep looking at me?"
"Aren't you going to see Lady Prairie today?"
It was about him, who had been meeting with her for the past few days. At the mention of Abigail, she met his eyes and stared at Elizabeth.
When I asked him why he was looking at me, he responded with a question, which I thought was absurd. He bowed his head and answered.
"I decided to see you at night anyway."
"I see."
Elizabeth was depressed for no reason and lowered her head. Then Kierne put a hand to her cheek. Looking at me in surprise, he said calmly.
"why? do you want to go with me?"
"Why am I on someone else's date?"
"I asked why you put on a face you didn't want to let go of."
"It just can't be".
Elisabeth raised her hand, as if she had heard her heart. Kiern played with Elizabeth's red hair.
Before it seemed that he was in a very bad mood, but now he seems not to be again.
Elizabeth was happy and sad as Kiern treated her comfortably. He knew that he was just a friend to him.
However, when he kept sending me his kind eyes like this, I used to wonder where his heart was going. Maybe he feels the same as me, such a vain thought.
Isabella opened her mouth.
"I've been wondering since last time, why do you keep playing with my hair?"
"Like a rose."
"pink?"
"yes. pink."
Kierne stared at Elizabeth. There was a lot hidden in the words that were spoken.
He was ambivalent when he saw her red hair.
Even though I was angry that my hair looked like that woman, I remembered the rose my mother loved and missed her.
To be precise, his feelings towards a woman named Elizabeth were ambivalent. Long lost, Kiern was living her life as she pleased.
If you want to hurt, hurt, if you want to be good, do good.
And now he wanted to hurt Elizabeth. Because I know that her mother will be lying in bed with her fucking father today.
Kiern's mouth twitched with anger as she remembered the two of them filming a shinpa in front of her mother's grave.
A human would never be able to do that.
He knew his father was trash, but the fact that he was Stella made him feel bad.
No, just thinking about it was ridiculous, pathetic and disgusting. I would prefer Elizabeth not to be friendly.
Kierne felt uncomfortable around Elizabeth. The compromise was perhaps close to escapism. An escape to cut this sinister heart.
'Because the lady wanted her son to marry the person she loves.'
What are you saying you know?
It was advice I would never have given if I had listened to what the Duchess told me before she died. Elizabeth had no right to tell me that.
"Ouch. It hurts, Kirn.
Elizabeth frowned as she held Kiern's hand. It was because he grabbed her hair tightly without realizing it.
But Kiern didn't let go and muttered coldly. With eyes determined to do harm.
“So when I see your hair, I think I want to grab it. I want to cut it so it doesn't look like a fucking rose.
"Are you protesting because you don't like my hair anymore?"
"Yes. I don't like it.
“… … .”
"I don't like. You."
At his cold words, Elizabeth put on an expression that was rendered speechless. Kierne said, letting her hair down.
"So, don't stay with me for reasons that don't work."
disappear away.
"Because I don't need comfort like you do."
Elisabeth's eyes filled with tears at Kiern's sarcasm. She said, hiding her head, not wanting to see her tears.
"Yeah. I was worried about nothing. I should have left you alone.
Then he got up and ran off without looking back. Kiern cursed under her breath as she watched her red hair disappear.
I gave it to her because I wanted to hurt her, but when I saw her tears, I was even more disgusted. Kiern ruffled her hair, not feeling like she was inside.
It would be nice if I could really break it. Then I wouldn't feel so dirty.
* * *
The crystal chandelier glowed in five colors depending on the lighting. Below, beautifully dressed handsome men and women danced to the music of the orchestra.
Elizabeth sat at the table by the window and just watched them.
It was a banquet that they attended with anger. She hated Kiern for always being bad, and she hated herself for being choked by such a man.
So, I attended a banquet that Stella had been extremely active in before, but I regretted it as soon as I arrived.
Not only did the thought of finding a partner in a place like this make me laugh, but I don't know where to look because I don't know many people.
Not many people talked to her. Just because she was in Agafel's castle didn't mean she became the duke's princess.
From time to time, there would be a man who would come and talk to her out of curiosity, but he soon lost interest and returned due to Elizabeth's nonchalant reaction.
However, if I were to come back like this, Stella would say something, so I was thinking of staying a bit longer.
She wanted to eat it while she was there or eat it, so I put a cherry in my mouth and muttered, but someone sat down in front of her.
"Hello, Miss Elizabeth."
James Parker was already half drunk and covered up. They say that when there is a banquet there is no way to miss it, but it seems to be true.
Elizabeth answered, pushing her chair back to widen the distance.
See you here, Sir James.
"What's going on at the banquet? Shall I guess?"
He smiled and spoke.
"It's an atmosphere that drew me in just looking at it."
"Yes. So don't worry about me and go.
“Ah, can the Ingrid club members themselves do that? Now that you're here, why don't you dance?"
He smiled softly and grabbed Elizabeth's hand and pulled her to the center.
"Wait… … !"
Elizabeth, carried away by a great force, could not hide her embarrassment.
Meanwhile, she had heard that he was very frivolous and cheerful, so she had always kept her distance.
He hadn't shown any interest in her either, so it was strange that he was suddenly so interested in me.
No matter how frivolous he was, he had never treated her so carelessly like now. Elizabeth, impatient, raised her voice and scolded James.
"Leave this one."
I tried to twist my grasped hand to free it, but it wouldn't come out. James said, clasping his shaking hands together tightly.
"I don't think anyone is asking you to dance anyway, so why are you asking such a high price?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Ah, just because you live in Agafel's castle, do you think you could be the daughter of a duke?"
James laughed and insulted Elizabeth.
Is it because you're drunk and can't tell the difference between what you can say and what you can't say? said Elizabeth with a disgusted face.
"I won't stand for it if you insult me any more."
“What if I can't take it? I'm curious."
Elizabeth's body leaned closer to him as James tugged on her arm. He grabbed her waist tightly and shamelessly groped her.
Elizabeth, who couldn't take it anymore, was about to step on his foot.
Someone tugged at her to increase her distance from James. Elizabeth flinched as her back naturally touched the chest of the person behind her.
At first, a refreshing woody scent drifted to the tip of his nose, followed by a strong smell of cigarettes.
Elisabeth, who knew the true identity of that person even without turning around, pursed her lips and asked.
