IWBQ 30

Chapter 30

. Words Not Meant
2023.08.30.

Karan sprang up abruptly.

He went straight to the bathroom and began washing himself.

To cool down from the lingering heat, he turned on cold water despite the still-chilly weather.

The icy water streamed over his body. Karan washed himself thoroughly, from head to toe, with meticulous care.

Ever since meeting Elis, his showers had grown longer.

“You’re up early.”

As he shook his hair dry and stepped out, Hartwin greeted him with a half-asleep face.

The sun hadn’t risen yet.

“Why not sleep a bit more?”

Hartwin must have been quite worn out yesterday.

After all, Karan had left him to deal with the aftermath of the gift Chase had sent him.

Punishing them wasn’t particularly difficult—it was just an extension of his usual duties—but erasing every trace of it would have been exhausting.

‘Was it really so hard to punish them without leaving any traces?’

Whatever the case, knowing the hardships of his subordinate, Karan intended to grant Hartwin a day off.

“I was going to sleep more, but you’ve been bustling about since early morning.”

Karan and Hartwin’s rooms were connected by a very thin door.

So that Karan could respond immediately if anything happened.

Although Karan usually masked his presence meticulously, in his own room he moved freely, and the sounds naturally woke Hartwin from his deep sleep.

“Be careful.”

“That’s not what I mean. Aren’t you tired? Tonight, you still have to wear that suffocating uniform to the banquet.”

Hartwin, forcing his drowsy eyelids open, placed the kettle on the stove.

Lately, he had been indulging in imitating the Pedroca nobles.

A cup of tea in the morning was part of this act.

Karan wasn’t particularly pleased with Hartwin’s mockery, but he didn’t refuse the offered cup.

“What time is it now?”

Karan asked after taking a sip of the tea Hartwin prepared.

“Six o’clock.”

“Only that late?”

Karan stared out the window, then, when the warmth of the tea had cooled slightly, he drank it in a single gulp.

“I need to check the time.”

“Yes, six-oh-five.”

Strange. Why does time seem to move so slowly?

Karan placed the empty cup on the table and stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“Nowhere. I’m going to exercise.”

Karan tossed off his shirt and did a handstand right there.

Slowly, he bent his arms.

Next to Karan, who was doing push-ups while upside down, Hartwin enjoyed the early morning calm.

One, two, three, four…

“Your Highness, that’s too fast!”

Hartwin warned, seeing Karan performing push-ups at a speed impossible in a normal posture.

Sweat poured from Karan’s face and body, rendering his recent shower pointless.

“Haa… was that too fast?”

Thud. Karan’s feet hit the floor. He shook off the sweat from his hands.

“So… what time is it now?”

“Six-thirty. Is something happening today? Why do you keep asking the time? Who are you meeting?”

“Elis.”

“…Ah.”

Hartwin understood everything from that single name.

He cleared the cup and retreated to his room.

“Where are you going?”

“To sleep. If I stay here, I feel like I’ll become a victim of time.”

Hartwin’s decision was wise.

Earlier that morning, the best warriors in Pedroca had been left battered after sparring with Karan.

“Phew… so what time is it now?”

After forcing the tenth warrior to kneel, Karan asked.

Panting heavily, one of the resting warriors replied.

“Ten o’clock.”

Karan smiled faintly. This was just the right time to leave.

“Good work, everyone.”

Karan hurried back to his room, washed carefully again, and groomed himself with the help of his attendants.

He arrived at Elis’ residence at noon.

How many times he had changed his hairstyle, he didn’t know. Eventually, he returned to the first style he had tried.

Karan adjusted his hair once more.

He wanted to leave the best possible impression on Elis until the very last moment.

“Shall I ring the bell, Your Highness?”

“No need. Move the carriage under the shade of that tree. Too conspicuous.”

Karan had come to see Elis not to disturb her schedule, but because he wanted to meet her even a little sooner.

He bore the agony of waiting alone.

‘Am I the only one feeling this way?’

It was bittersweet, but he wasn’t anxious. Elis had promised. She wasn’t someone who took promises lightly.

A wait with certainty wasn’t suffering—it was excitement.

Time passed slowly, yet steadily, and his excitement grew along with it.

By around 1 PM, Karan’s excitement peaked, then turned into impatience.

Negative thoughts began to surface.

Had she forgotten the appointment?

Or was the idea of going to the festival yesterday just a joke?

Had he taken her words too seriously?

“Your Highness, shall we have lunch?”

It was the fourth time the attendant asked. Karan had already skipped breakfast.

The attendant had been instructed by Hartwin before departure to look after him properly.

He couldn’t let Karan skip lunch.

“I’ve eaten.”

The cold tone sent shivers down the attendant’s spine. Only a near-newcomer could sense that Karan’s mood had shifted completely within hours.

Such advice had been given by senior attendants:

“When His Highness speaks in an unusually cold manner, think of it as the moment you should stop all actions, speech, and thoughts.”

“But how can I tell it’s unusually cold? He’s always so taciturn.”

“Your body will tell you.”

Just as the attendant understood, Karan’s large hand suddenly appeared, and he moved.

The attendant’s breath caught. Karan’s sudden motion was like a predator striking its prey.

Of course, the prey was himself.

The attendant squeezed his eyes shut.

‘They said not to think, but thinking seems to make you die.’

Unaware of Karan’s protective nature, the attendant’s face turned pale.

“Step aside.”

Karan’s voice had changed.

Impatience and urgency dripped from it, prompting the attendant to step aside.

Karan’s aura had shifted. Ten seconds ago, it had been as if ice were falling; now it radiated warmth, almost heat.

Why such a sudden change?

Following Karan’s gaze, the attendant realized there was someone else he was meant to serve.

A woman in a blue dress—Elis.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

Even without words, it was evident.

Elis’ emerald eyes were full of apology.

“It’s nothing.”

Karan avoided her gaze as he replied, his cheeks slightly flushed.

‘She must have been angry. Not making eye contact… I’d feel the same.’

Despite her diligent preparations, it was already four o’clock. Considering the sleepy state of the coachman, she had likely waited at least an hour.

“You waited long, didn’t you? Even if tired, it’s unusual for you to oversleep… I didn’t hear you wake up and slept right through.”

Elis made no excuses or falsehoods.

“You didn’t hear me wake you?”

Only then did Karan share a sliver of his gaze with her.

It was oddly reassuring, and Elis smiled faintly.

“Yes… how silly of me, right?”

She truly felt that way.

From falling asleep without arranging for someone to wake her, to missing Regina’s wake-up call…

“Not at all. More importantly…”

Karan reached for her face, seeing her flushed cheeks.

His hand touched her forehead.

“…You’re warm.”

A crease formed on Karan’s previously composed brow.

“Your Highness…”

This was the first time Karan openly frowned, and Elis was taken aback.

“I’ll make up for being late today. So please, relax…”

“Elis.”

Karan cut her words off.

She kept saying he must be angry, but he wasn’t.

His impatience and anxiety had weighed on him, but that was different from anger.

And the moment she appeared, all those feelings vanished.

Seeing her rush toward him, he felt he could endure countless repetitions of this long wait.

Someone once said, the moment you wait for someone you love is itself a joy.

Perhaps Elis didn’t know this.

Clearly, their hearts were worlds apart.

Karan avoided her gaze because her exposed neck and collarbone were too provocative.

The blue dress suited her perfectly.

His face instantly heated, and he didn’t want to reveal it like a foolish country boy.

He needed time for his heart to settle, but hearing that Elis wasn’t her usual self made him turn away.

“You have a fever.”

Her rosy cheeks were not from makeup, but from heat.

“It’s a fever? That can’t be… I’m fine.”

“That’s not for Elis to decide. Shall we return home, Elis?”

Karan spoke words he didn’t mean.