Chapter 57: Chapter 57

KAIST:

“Lies? Their relationship was built on lies? What do you mean?” I said with uneasiness.

I scanned Lady Livia Jeteris’ face and her demeanor. I looked at how she carried herself and how she smelled, and so far, she turned out to be a blank. I could not read what was on her mind, but her words – they hinted something far more important.

“You… You know something. You know something about that count! What is it? What are those lies that he hides from Dahlly?”

I swear that if she was just a boy, I would have already snatched him by the collar and made him talk.

“Count Abell? Did it ever occur to you, dear prince, that maybe Lady Dahlia has been the one in the dark all along? Maybe she’s the one that’s really hiding something… rotten.”

The lady before me stood up. She smoothened her clothes for a bit before she spoke again. “It’s almost time. Let’s go back to the party first or else they would be suspicious of us. I’ll ask you again before it ends, so you should prepare your answer by then.”

She offered me her hand. “Do you still need some assistance with walking, or can you walk beside me on your own?”

I fixed my hood and took her hand as not to embarrass her. “Very well. You still owe me a thorough explanation of what you meant, especially on that last part...”

My head was throbbing a bit. What did she mean that Dahlia was hiding something? What secret could she possibly have? Was this lady talking about Dahlia’s powers?

We walked back to the party at the clearing in the middle of the garden. Several tables had been set up there under the moonlight. There was gay music playing all around us. It was a refreshing sight, especially during the sweltering heat of the summer season.

As soon as we had entered the clearing, the music stopped. Everyone’s eyes were drawn at the edge of the party where the veranda was, and I saw Dahlly walk out arm in arm with Tristan Abell.

At first glance, Dahlly’s face looked normal, but I could still see a bit of puffiness around her eyes. It looked as if she had already rested well enough though. I could sense her great determination in trying to control her emotions even though she had been a mess earlier…

“I’m sorry to have kept you all waiting, everyone. My wife and I are really glad that you could come tonight. As we celebrate our coming together, I hope you could also celebrate with us as we proclaim our love for each other,” the count proclaimed.

Exquisite wine in elegant glasses was circulated to the guests. I didn’t have the stomach to celebrate Dahlly’s life choice, so I refused the glass. I looked at Lady Livia by my side and saw that she had also done the same.

I watched how the count of Crohmwall District raised a toast wishing for their happiness. He asked the people around them to be part of that happiness too before he drank the wine in his hand, but I was not interested in that.

What I was interested at was seeing Dahlly’s blank face as she watched the whole thing take place.

Dahlly’s eyes were dull. She was never the type of person who could mask her true feelings well for an extended period of time. The reason she always tire herself in front of a crowd was because she is an honest person who disliked the emptiness of luxury and mere pretenses.

Right now, I was seeing that unfold in my very eyes. Dahlly resented that wolf so much that she could not possibly cheer for him and wish for their happiness together…

Sensing this, that scoundrel named Tristan moved to Dahlia, his face looking a bit downcast.

In a heartbeat, he took the wine in Dahlia’s hand, drank from its rim, and did the most absurd thing that could ever happen in a party… He kissed Dahlia with his foul and intoxicated mouth.

The people were taken aback. Certainly, no noble would ever act like that in front of everyone… Unless he is threatened, that is.

Although faint, I heard the words he whispered to Dahlia as if he had whispered it through my own ears.

“No one can take you away from me, Dahlia… You are mine as I am yours. We are always for each other…”

Now I realized, this whole show was not meant for Dahlia. It was a warning that was meant for me…

He was mocking me, telling me outwardly that Dahlia could never be mine!

‘How pathetic,’ Cruz whispered in our shared consciousness. Despite feeling the same thing, another idea dawned in me…

If they were fated mates, why was he so afraid of the idea that he might lose Dahlia?… Was it because he knew that something could positively separate them?

Then, what is it? What could be the reason they could never stay until the end?

I was still thinking about these things when suddenly, fireworks began to appear in the sky.

The use of fireworks tonight must have been kept a secret since there was quite a surprise when the first firework filled the air. Some even shrieked.

For a moment, I stood there, my eyes transfixed at the colorful patterns made by the gold, red, blue and silver firecrackers.

I turned to look at Lady Livia, intending to ask her about what she had meant regarding Dahlia’s ‘rotten secret.’ However, as I looked around, she was not there anymore beside me.

Where the hell did she go?

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DAHLIA:

I looked back at the place where Tristan was looking right after he kissed me in front of the guests.

There, standing at the end of the crowd, was Lady Livia Jeteris and the Crown Prince and my best friend, Kaist Lyon.

I looked back at Tristan and felt disappointed. Was that display of affection for them or for me?

Tristan cupped my face, forcing me to look back at him.

“Dahlia, I have one more surprise for you.”

As soon as he said those words, a multitude of lights shot up in the sky. I looked up to see golden lights boom from a firecracker nearby.

“This is…”

“It’s for you, Dahlly. This is my gift. Thank you for sharing your life with me… Please don’t suspect me of anything else… I really do love you. I don’t want to lose you.”

Tristan said he did not want to lose me. He always said those words… But, why does he feel that way? Is there a reason for us to lose each other?

Was he saying it out of the guilt of maintaining a secret relationship with another woman?...

I searched the crowd for that person – the reason I think we might really lose each other.

I looked back at Kaist’s side, but Lady Livia wasn’t there anymore. Where could she be?

As the glow of the fireworks illuminated the garden, I saw her. She was walking away, but it was not of her own doing.

I saw her being forcibly taken away in the arm by Count Jeteris, and from the looks of it, he was fuming in anger.