Chapter 60: Chapter 60

KAIST:

After the firework show ended, everybody knew that the party had reached its highlight, and so they began to leave the garden in throngs.

I was still looking at the sky, transfixed. This had been a long night…

I pulled my hood closer to my face. I used it as a disguise when I entered the villa, but my interactions on this fateful night had made me forget I that I should hide my face well.

Thankfully, I did not attract a lot of attention. The people were too busy wondering why the count and countess had periodically disappeared from their own party to pay attention to me in the shadows.

Before anyone could throw me any suspicious glance, I slipped by the side gate of the villa where Pelle and my coachman would be waiting for me.

I was still thinking of how Pelle would lecture me on how I never kept my promise to just stay for a few minutes when I saw another person slip by the shadows before me. Based on the fluff of her ball gown, it was a woman.

“Hey… Hey, Lady Jeteris,” I called when I realized who that person was. I reached for her arm when she did not look back at me despite my incessant call.

I thought she would be surprised when I tugged her gently by the arm, but she wasn’t. Her face was as cold and impassive as ice.

“Prince Kaist,” she said, bowing down a bit.

“Where did you disappear into,” I asked. Honestly, I didn’t know she’d still be here after she made her escape from me earlier.

“Sorry... I had to do an errand,” she said. “I’m going home now. I’ll send a messenger in a few days for your answer about my proposal.”

“About that,” I mumbled, “You don’t need to send a messenger. I’ve made up my mind.”

“You did?”

I nodded. “Dahlly is a childhood friend, and yes, she is someone dearer than a friend for me... However, this feeling I have for her isn’t mutual. So the answer to your question is no… If she happens to fall out of love for him naturally, that’s fine.”

The lady slipped her arms under her bosom. “Are you sure about that? Would you be able to give up such a strong emotion that easily?”

“Who says I am giving up on Dahlly?... I am only giving up on your proposal of wrecking her marriage, but hear this, if you or Count Abell, or any other person would ever come to harm Dahlly, I won’t stand idly by. I’ll protect her from anyone and anything, no matter what, especially if it’s coming for someone I know… Like you.”

I made my threat as menacing as I could, but the lady before me did not even bat an eyelash.

“No matter if she would never choose you?”

“Yes… Even if she never chooses me.” There was a faint twinge of hurt in my heart as I said this, but I pushed that depressing thought away.

“By the way, Lady Jeteris,” I continued, “I’m pretty sure that you are basing your impressions on Dahlly from afar, but I have no doubt that once you really get to know her, you’d find that she’s a hard person to hate… So if you are planning to make her life a living hell, I’m warning you to stop it. I’m afraid you will hurt yourself more by feeling guilty at the end.”

To my surprise, the lady before me laughed out loudly in a pleasant way.

“Your highness,” she said when she had already recovered, “you don’t need to remind me. I have seen how she behaves up close myself… Contrary to what you believe, I am doing this for her sake, rather than for Count Abell’s.”

The lady turned around and began walking towards the side gates again. When she had almost reached it, she looked back at me.

“Prince, make sure you are by the countess’ side after this is all over. She’ll surely need someone like you by her side.”

I could only watch in awe as she boarded a carriage bearing the insignia of Crohmwell District…

I shook my head fiercely in utter disappointment. That darn Count Abel even had the nerve to let his mistress be driven around in his official carriage! He really is worse than dirt!

Despite not joining hands with Lady Jeteris, I will admit that she had sparked my curiosity, and it was worth seeing and getting to know what I knew.

To what extent is her relationship with Count Abell? What other secrets does he harbor that may hurt his relationship with Dahlly?

Whether it was for Dahlly’s benefit or not, I should better find out before she gets hurt any further.

That rascal Tristan Abell – just wait! He’ll soon get the punishment he deserves!

******************************

DAHLIA:

Two days after the banquet was over, I decided to do an expedition of my own to get to know more about Lady Livia Jeteris.

The day before, I was informed by Lina that the lady had made use of the carriage I offered by the side gates. She asked the carriage driver to give her a lift to Loracan District, the region next to Crohmwall.

Loracan is known to be the poor man’s district. It was a region far away from Count Jeteris’ own villa in the capital.

I remember the exchange I had witnessed between the count and his daughter. She had mentioned that someone needed medicine, so I was worried a bit for her. If only I had not forgotten to ask what sort of medicine the people she had in mind needed, I could have given these to her before she left.

I have been out at Loracan District several times in the past for outreach missions. It was just an hour’s drive away by carriage, so I was sure that everything will be fine if I visit it. I didn’t even inform Tristan about it since he has been busy after the banquet.

Somewhat after the banquet, I felt that Tristan and I had gotten farther away from each other. I could not explain it, but there was a numb feeling in my chest whenever I try to sense Tristan’s heartbeat against mine…

Maybe it was also brought upon by my own discovery about him and Lady Livia. We also have not spoken more intimately about what happened during the banquet – why he had to hide in the study with Count Jeteris’ daughter and what he meant when he said those things to me at the party.

In turn, he did not ask me where I went or what I did during the time of my absence.

Perhaps I am only imagining it, but slowly, I could feel the idea that Tristan was a perfect partner slowly crumbling down the more that I get to know him...

Despite this growing uneasiness in my chest, I busied myself and fixed the things I needed to bring with me to Loracan District that day. After loading the supplies in a carriage, we set towards our destination.

It did not take too long for us to find the place and for me to find Lady Livia.

“What are you doing here,” she asked, horrified when she saw me descend from the carriage.

I could not believe the state she was in. When I talked to her later that day, I began to understand the mysteries that surrounded her and Count Jeteris a bit more…