Spotting Kierne, James smiled as if he had never been rude to her.
“What, you were there too? When did you come?"
"At the moment."
Kiern looked at Elizabeth and answered.
Elizabeth couldn't bear to look at Kiern's face, so she lowered her head and grabbed just the hem of her disheveled dress.
Shame washed over me, as if I had discovered something I shouldn't have. At least it was all the more because I didn't want them to see me being dragged around helplessly like this.
Kiern asked without taking her eyes off Elizabeth.
"What were you doing?"
But James's mouth opened faster than Elizabeth's.
“Ah, Miss Elizabeth seems bored with herself. He asked me to dance with him.
Ellie hates dancing.
"Yes? I didn't know. Didn't you tell me before, Miss Elizabeth?
James shrugged and smiled. Elizabeth suppressed the urge to spit in his face.
“Then I'll go. Play fun."
After that, James returned to the group. Seeing that they were chatting among themselves and looking at each other, it seemed that they were betting on her.
I felt like I had dirt all over my body because of the discomfort. He didn't want to be in the banquet hall anymore.
As she hurried out onto the terrace, Kierne entered after her.
"Why did you come."
"Because you don't look good."
"Sometimes they told me not to be around you."
At his sharp words, Kiern smiled. Then he leaned against the railing and looked at Elizabeth.
She didn't make eye contact, but she wondered why he was here.
It's a banquet you don't have to attend, so why did you come here? Elizabeth, who thought for a moment if it was my fault, immediately denied it.
Kierne had no reason to do that. Rather, her heart is in touch with him, so it must be that she keeps hoping for that.
“I helped because he was in trouble. Did I just upset you?
"Thank you. I live thanks to you."
"With something like that."
Kierne smiled brightly, saying it was the answer Kierne wanted, and looked at the seat next to me. It meant being by his side, so Elizabeth stood by his side.
It is true that he helped me, so it was thanks to that gratitude that my heart melted a little.
He turned and looked out into the garden outside. Elizabeth looked at him in the moonlight.
Kiern, bathed in moonlight from the night sky, looked more dazzling than the elegant chandelier in the hallway.
Elizabeth asked the question she had always been curious about.
"Why are you here?"
It was too low a banquet for Kiern to attend. James enjoys banquets and will attend anywhere but not him.
At Elizabeth's question, he turned his gaze to her.
"Why do you think you came?"
Then he reached out and grabbed her hair and tucked it behind her ear.
His expression was too calm to read.
Stella said so. You said you came here to make a lover.
His hand didn't stop there, but trailed over her earlobe and touched her chin.
Even though it was touched without permission, I felt a sensation of warmth instead of discomfort.
"So, have you met the girl you like?"
“They just dragged me away. I was thinking of coming back after a while."
In the end, afraid that his gaze would burn her, she turned her head first, and he laughed.
She couldn't understand his actions.
It seems to be pulling, but it's because it doesn't say anything important.
Because you keep behaving in a confusing way.
Elizabeth waited repeatedly and was disappointed. Kiern, who was kind but endlessly ruthless, and ruthless yet loving as if he could melt people, was unpredictable.
"Then why did you come here? I bet you didn't come to my rescue."
"That's right."
"That?"
"It seems that you were forcibly dragged away, so it is true that you came to help."
“… … .”
"Looks like you came at the right time."
Kiern smiled slightly, touched her cheek, and bit her hand.
The place I touched tickled me like a butterfly sitting on it. The gentle wind that was blowing soon tickled his heart.
His mind was curious.
What do you think of me
So why did I put a scabbard in my hand?
Why did you ask that question while Abigail was sleeping?
All kinds of questions flooded my head and my stomach was buzzing.
Feeling that it would be impossible to ask him now, Elizabeth impulsively pulled out the words she had been holding back.
"kiern."
"Yeah?"
"Don't compromise."
“… … .”
"Don't get engaged to Lady Prairie."
When Elizabeth said that, she immediately closed her eyes in fear. It was because she couldn't bear to see Kiern's expression.
After spitting it out, I regretted it.
I was intoxicated with the atmosphere and stopped saying something I shouldn't have said.
With what qualifications did she stop her engagement? I'm just the daughter of a maid.
At the same time, I remembered that he had told me to call him Bocchan and my stomach ached.
I feel sad when I think of him spitting harsh words at me. Still, I liked this person and I went crazy, so that was the saddest thing.
Elizabeth took her trembling hands and brought them to her chest.
Even after a long time, there was no response from Kiern. Perhaps he too was stunned and speechless.
Feeling heat on her face, Elizabeth stepped back and said gibberish.
“No. I didn't hear what you just said… … .”
Elizabeth, unable to finish her words, tried to escape as if she were running away, but Kiern grabbed her wrist.
Elizabeth was dragged helplessly by the force of the pull and was flung into his arms. I looked up in surprise to see Kiern looking at her.
Blue eyes stared at Elizabeth. She just stared at him, captivated by his gaze.
It was the first time she had seen him so close. It was as if he was being sucked into his eyes.
Kierne put her hand on her waist. When I touched James, it was just unpleasant, but when he hugged me, the blood in my body seemed to heat up.
"Is that all you have to say?"
“… … .”
“It sounds like you have a lot to say. I guess I forgot to say something really important.
The soothing voice drowned Elizabeth out. I thought I knew what the important words he was talking about were.
I was asking now. Is the reason for stopping my engagement really because of the duchess's will, or is there something else?
My heart started beating fast again. In fact, she was vaguely aware of it. That the duchess's will was just an excuse.
She didn't want him to get engaged to Abigail.
If that happens, you won't be able to be with him anymore, not even as a friend.
It was nice to be able to get along with Kiern without guilt thanks to their position as friends. If it wasn't for his friend, he wouldn't even be able to talk to him.
However, as we are friends, it was sad that we couldn't progress beyond that. As much as Elizabeth loved Kiern, she was used to killing her own heart.
Because it's a relationship that will break if you confess. Instead of being broken, I thought it would be better to hide my heart and stay by my side.
But just like that, when Kiern pushed me, I wanted to throw him away.
While imagining a pink color, maybe you feel the same as me.
Trembling, Kiern reached up a hand and lightly brushed her lips.
It was the hand that held the sword, so the roughness was transmitted through his lips. It felt like it was scratching at her heart.
"If there's anything else you want to say, say it, Ellie."
A sweet, languid voice followed, and Elizabeth spat out the words she had stored in her heart.
It was his true passionate heart that was hidden all along but was not hidden.
"I like you."
After uttering it once, emotions did not become the topic.
"I like you, Kiern."
So don't get engaged to Lady Prairie.
I couldn't bear to say it again, so I pursed my lips. Then he closed his eyes, blocking her view. It was hard to get a good look at Kiern.
I had endured it all this time, but when I thought that their engagement was just around the corner, my heart skipped a beat.
After a while, at his awkward admission, Kierne smiled and said,
"I know."
"I know?"
"Yes. Know."
After that, her hand, which had been brushing her lips, held it between her cheek and ear as naturally as flowing water.
Elizabeth winced and trembled as a large hand touched her face. His face seemed to be getting closer. My heart beat and beat.
Elizabeth immediately guessed what he was about to do, but she didn't stop it.
After a while, Kiern pressed against Elizabeth's lips.
