MCFWC Chapter 12

Chapter 12 

After that impulsive confession, I looked up at Hares — who now stood frozen, unsure what to do or say.

So this is the kind of face you make, huh?
When you’re so shocked, so lost, that you can’t even breathe.

‘It feels like I’m seeing a side of Hares I never knew existed.’

I didn’t know what to say either. My mind was a mess, spinning and tangled.

‘Because I like you. I don’t want to just be your friend anymore.’

That’s what I wanted to say — what I’d meant all along. But Hares looked far more shaken than I’d imagined.

So shaken that I couldn’t even find the courage to say another word.

After realizing what I’d done, I took a shaky breath.

‘I’ve lost it. Completely.’

But there was no taking it back.

Now, the only thing left was for Hares to decide — whether to accept my feelings or not.

He stood there silently, his eyes blinking several times as if searching for words he couldn’t find. His face was full of confusion — almost like betrayal.

I couldn’t stand it anymore. My feet felt heavy, but I forced them to move.

“I… I’ll go first. I’m sorry.”

Apologizing for no clear reason, I blurted out random words and stepped back, trying to hide myself from him.

My head was blank — I couldn’t think at all.

“Ah…”

And Hares… didn’t say anything. He just stood there, staring at where I’d been.

I walked away quickly, desperate to escape the shame burning through me. I raised my hand to stop a passing carriage.

By the time I got home, I couldn’t even remember how I’d made it there.

‘What have I done?’

I clutched my hair, wanting to cry.

He knew exactly what I meant — that I liked him as a man, not as a friend.

That was the truth, and I had said it knowing that.

But still — I regretted it.

Even though I’d always known this friendship might end someday, I never wanted it to end like this.

I’d thought about it so many times — what would be the smartest way to handle things? What would hurt the least?

But feelings never come when you want them to.

I hadn’t planned to end things so suddenly, so recklessly.

Yet I’d already shown my hand.

Now, all that remained was his answer.

Thinking of the look on his face — that stunned, lost expression — I couldn’t bring myself to hope.

Maybe he wouldn’t want to cut me off completely. He was too kind for that.

Maybe he’d suggest we stay “friends,” even if he didn’t return my feelings.

Or maybe, even if he didn’t see me that way, he’d still try to accept it — just to keep me close.

But what did I want?

‘I can’t even think positively about any of it. That’s the real problem.’

I groaned and slammed my head into the pillow again and again.

The more time passed, the more embarrassed I felt — by the confession, by the situation, by myself.

“Ha…”

What do I do now? It’s already done.

It had taken me so long to even realize how I felt about Hares, let alone admit it.

Honestly, without him, who do I even have?

Heine, or his mother — they were all people connected to me through Hares.

Sure, I had other friends. But no one I could be completely honest with.

They were “comfortable,” “friendly” — but not close. Not like him.

‘So that’s it. My entire social life just imploded.’

I buried my face in the bed. ‘I’m going to die of shame. I’ll be the first person in history to literally die from embarrassment.’

While I was wallowing in self-pity, someone knocked on the door.

‘No way. Don’t tell me… Hares?’

“Who is it?” I called, quickly straightening my hair and clothes.

A maid’s voice answered from outside.
— “Miss, a letter arrived! It’s from a gentleman named Killian — no family name was given!”

“Oh.”

Of course. Not Hares.

Why would it be?

“Come in,” I sighed.

Betty, my maid, entered and handed me the letter. It was from Killian.

Inside, in his usual sly tone, he’d written:

“Since I helped you before, don’t you think I deserve something in return? Lady Eve will attend tomorrow’s ball — come as my partner this time. It’ll make the young Duke Irisel feel a little competition. Let’s help each other out, shall we?”

I muttered under my breath so quietly Betty couldn’t hear me.
“I already confessed. And even if I go with you, he won’t feel a shred of jealousy.”

Still, I picked up my pen and wrote a reply.

Even though I wanted to curl up and disappear, I hadn’t given up yet — not completely.

I knew the chances were low. Realistically, almost zero.

But even a one percent chance was better than none.

Sure, if this were any other man, showing up with another guy right after confessing would be idiotic.

But Hares knew me.

He knew I wasn’t the kind of person who’d play games like that.

If anything, he might not even attend the ball. He’d probably lock himself in his room for days.

“What’s this, Betty?” I asked, noticing a box.

“Oh, the gentleman sent this along with the letter — said it was a gift.”

“Really?”

I opened it. Inside was a dress — the one Killian had recommended yesterday — and a short note.

“I promised to have your dress made, but the best ones take time.For now, wear this. Honestly, your usual style is far too plain for someone standing next to me.”

‘Wow. Arrogant much.’

I unfolded the dress, frowning.

Betty clapped her hands excitedly.
“Oh, my lady! It’s beautiful! He must really like you — this is an expensive gift!”

She wasn’t wrong. The dress was clearly high-quality.

Killian probably saw anything less than luxury as rags.

‘Still, should I really wear it?’

But ignoring a possessive schemer like him might be dangerous.

And he had been trying to figure out if I knew his true identity lately.

‘If I make him angry, I might lose my head before I even get an answer from Hares…’

So, reluctantly, I wrote a polite acceptance and sent it back.

The next evening, escorted by Killian, I arrived at the ballroom.

And there — across the crowd — stood Hares.

Our eyes met.

For a moment, it was as if the whole world fell silent.

But the one who looked away first… wasn’t me.

It was him.

He turned his gaze deliberately, pretending he hadn’t seen me.

‘He’s avoiding me.’

The sting in my chest came before I could stop it. I knew I had no right to feel hurt — but I had still hoped, foolishly, for something.

Something more than this silence.

But the way he avoided me — that couldn’t mean something good.

I passed by him without saying a word, pretending not to notice, just as he wanted.

We kept our distance, strangers separated by awkward air.

And I didn’t blame him.

I understood.

He was shocked — unprepared.

We knew each other too well for me not to understand what that meant.

If he was avoiding me, it was because he hadn’t made up his mind yet.

And I had no right to rush him — not when I was here with another man.

I wanted to tell him that Killian meant nothing.

He wouldn’t misunderstand… but maybe it would still hurt his pride.

Then I noticed Hares talking to Eve.

She was smiling up at him, and he — he was answering softly, leaning down, listening carefully, just like he always did with me.

My face went hot.

I turned away quickly — but Killian noticed.

He looked down at me, amused.
“What’s wrong— oh.”

He followed my gaze, saw Hares and Eve together, and chuckled.

“Ah. So he ran away, did he? That coward.”