Chapter 17

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 115

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Rihart's words left me momentarily flustered.

I quickly scanned our surroundings, wondering if anyone might have overheard.

Once I confirmed we were alone, I let out a sigh of relief—only for Rihart to give me a look of utter disbelief.

"Feels like I'm the dirty little secret here."

"......Shut up. What if someone hears you?"

"Do you really care about that?"

Of course I cared if someone got the wrong idea!

"Why are you even here?"

"Does it bother you that I came?"

"Obviously."

Normally, he'd have shot back with some sly remark about how hurt he was, but not this time.

He just stared at me, his face devoid of expression.

"Are you serious?"

"About what?"

"The engagement."

The sly smile had vanished from Rihart's face, replaced by a desperate grasp, like a hand clutching a brittle twig.

Why?

"Did someone threaten you? Over the Seyblin Baroness?"

He pierced straight to the truth, as if he knew the whole story.

Half right, half wrong.

"It's my decision."

"Why?"

"What does it matter to you why I made it?"

I drew a line between us. I didn't want to get tangled up with Rihart anymore.

This twisted connection ended here. So now...

"We've kissed, haven't we?"

......What?

Why bring that up now?

I was thrown for a loop, but I kept my cool and held the line.

"......So what? Don't act like it's your first kiss."

Just a kiss—what was the big deal?

But something was off about Rihart.

"Is there someone else you've kissed besides me?"

"You think at my age I've never kissed anyone before? You've kissed people too—why make a fuss?"

"......"

"......Wait, was it really your first?"

"It was."

What? This was ridiculous...

I was utterly baffled. Why hadn't he used that face of his before?

No, no... that wasn't the point.

Can't go assigning meaning to a mere kiss.

"I get how you feel. First kisses always feel special."

"You get it?"

"The first one always seems special."

My words of comfort didn't seem to land with him.

Rihart's delicate brows shot up.

"Is that what you say to someone you've kissed and tossed aside?"

"Tossed aside? I didn't—"

"Looser than I thought, Rozhi."

His teasing words didn't match his face—he wasn't smiling at all.

He looked like he was one spark away from burning through his last thread of restraint.

What the hell was he expecting me to do?

"Stop dancing around it and just say it straight. What do you want from me?"

At first, I'd thought he was locking me away to make me suffer like he had.

But the way he handled me—like something precious—the ecstasy on his face...

No one would buy that it was just revenge after seeing that.

So then?

"Do you actually like me or something?"

The quiet blue blaze in his eyes flickered like windblown flames, his emotions laid bare.

Half of me was shocked; the other half just couldn't comprehend it.

"Do you really like me? Or are you just hung up on me?"

"I..."

His voice cracked, emotions overwhelming him.

The low, gloomy tone sent a shiver down my spine.

"I don't want to get any more tangled up with you, Rihart."

"......"

"We were just bad news for each other."

I hoped he'd accept that we were nothing more than a bad connection—and stop baring his heart to me.

"But the Marquis Evantes isn't some great match for you either."

Obviously. He's bad news too.

"So why him, of all people?"

Like it mattered which bad connection I picked—why not choose him?

"What, should I pick you instead?"

"Yes."

"......"

"I don't know what that man's offering you, but whatever it is, I can give it to you too."

His lake-blue eyes chilled me—like if I dipped a toe in, tendrils would snake out and bind me tight.

"Sorry, Rihart..."

"You only say my name when you're sorry."

He let out a strangely bitter smile.

"I'll never choose you."

Never ever.

I'd already written him off as a passing bad connection.

"Forget me."

"......"

"You can forget."

Whatever his feelings were, time would fade them away.

Sparks seem huge when they flare into flames, but once they die out, they're pathetic.

And you'll realize they were nothing all along.

"I can't let go."

He yanked my arm, growling fiercely.

My body lurched toward him from the sudden pull.

His blue glare gleamed menacingly.

"Can't let go? Planning to stoop to threats again, like last time?"

"What do you think?"

His trembling hand rose to brush my cheek, then under my eye, beside my nose, and finally my lips—with fingers thick with desire.

But the way he hesitated, unable to contain his own heat, was almost comical.

What did he think he could accomplish like this?

"Rozhi."

Rihart called my name.

"Don't get engaged."

"......"

"I'm barely holding on as it is. If you go through with it, I might really lose my mind."

No snarky comeback about how it was none of his business.

I just gazed at the man consumed by jealousy and resentment.

"Goodbye."

And with that, I said farewell.

After Rihart left, an uncontrollable chill swept over me.

I curled up, shivering, and burrowed into the bed. That was the start of it.

I groaned through the night and opened my eyes to find an unexpected figure by my side.

"Cough."

At the sound, Arjen turned from the window.

He looked down at me for a moment before speaking in his usual impassive tone.

"The party's canceled."

My eyes widened.

"I'm fine... Marquis. It's not even a bad cold..."

Arjen cut me off before I could finish.

"Enough, Rozhi."

His voice was low and clipped.

It bordered on a command, but oddly, it wasn't sharp.

"Can't even use medicine right to break a fever? Useless lot."

Arjen clicked his tongue and glared at the servant.

"Call another physician. I won't have my fiancée on display like this. The best one from the Northern Region."

I was dumbfounded.

The best physician for a cold? It wasn't even serious.

"I'll be fine after a day or two in bed. Don't bother."

"Stay put, Rozhi."

His arrogant tone—pure Arjen—irked me a little.

"Arjen."

Calling his name brought a flicker of unease to his stoic face.

I flashed a sweet smile.

"Get out."

"......What?"

"Being around you might make my cold worse. Ahh... my head hurts."

I clutched my head dramatically and rolled over. I'd expected him to snap at my insolence, but he just frowned down at me.

A moment later, he turned and left without a fight.

"Rest, Rozhi."

He added those words at the door before departing.

Click. The door shut.

What's gotten into him?

I stared blankly at the closed door for a while before muttering to myself.

......That arrogant man.

Still, it didn't feel bad, oddly enough.

I kept staring at the door in a daze, then drifted back into deep sleep.

I woke much later.

Rattle.

The window shook faintly. Too clear for a dream sound.

I whipped my gaze toward it on instinct.

A gloved hand rested on the sill, leather stretched taut from the tensed knuckles.

What the—?

Still groggy, I stared in shock.

It felt like déjà vu...

"Hey, Rose."

A cocky voice called out.

The man's face under the lantern light was all scrunched up. Dark brown hair, a rough scowl—he was glaring at me.

"......Dillon?"

"You getting married for real?"

What the hell was this all of a sudden?

"That's not true."

Dillon's face relaxed instantly at my answer.

Relief and joy mixed in a face that was brutally honest.

"It's an engagement, not marriage."

And just like that, his scowl returned.