Chapter 6
Arken turned to leave, then paused and looked at Karin. His eyebrows were sharply raised, as if he found the situation irritating.
It was obvious he wanted to leave immediately but was staying only out of courtesy.
Afraid he might walk away if she dragged things on, words poured out of Karin in a rush.
“I didn’t get angry because things were noisy. And I didn’t lash out just to humiliate the mustache guy.”
“Are you referring to Viscount Plang?”
Arken asked, looking dumbfounded.
‘Huh? What did I just say? Ah.’
That was something she should’ve only thought, not said out loud!
Karin wanted to hit her own head.
“Ah, right, my mistake. You’re correct—Viscount Plang. That’s not the important part. What I’m trying to say is—”
Once she stumbled, her mind went completely blank. Her mouth felt like it didn’t belong to her anymore.
Just moments ago it had been working fine, but now it felt as if she had swallowed sand, every word getting stuck.
Calm down, calm down. If she messed this up again, she wouldn’t be able to recover.
Karin slowly took a breath and gathered her thoughts.
“I stepped in because I couldn’t stand watching someone innocent being harassed. I don’t really like abuse of power, but as they say, ‘you see what you are.’ If you want to put someone like that in their place, force might be the only way. And also…”
“That’s enough. You may calm down.”
Whew. Thank goodness.
She had been about to completely lose control of her words.
Luckily, he didn’t misinterpret her this time and seemed to understand her properly.
Still, she felt a little embarrassed for getting so worked up.
‘Did I show too much?’
She had always been the type whose emotions showed easily. But even so, the situation justified her reaction.
She had almost left the ball having completely misunderstood everything.
Not only had she been insulted by the duke, but if Arken had misunderstood her too, she would’ve been too furious to even go home.
“So, in short, you’re saying you were trying to help me?”
Well, yes.
Help. Hearing it from him made her strangely embarrassed, and she avoided his eyes.
But then she remembered it was rude not to maintain eye contact during conversation, so she looked back up—
Only to meet his cold blue eyes, like a blade just before breaking glass.
“It still doesn’t make sense. What exactly do you want from me?”
Crash.
Why was it turning into that?!
“That’s not it! I’m not asking for anything. I just wanted to clear up your misunderstanding!”
“Then it makes even less sense. There’s no reason for you to help me if you don’t want anything.”
Annoying guy. And what did he mean, there was no reason?
She almost said, because I like you, but swallowed it back down.
She could not repeat the disaster of their first meeting.
Arken continued without giving her space to respond.
“Regardless, please refrain from interfering in my affairs in the future. I handle my own matters.”
His voice was so cold it felt like icicles were falling.
Not only that, but the meaning was so clear that Karin was left speechless.
‘So he’s basically telling me to mind my own business?’
How cruel.
“That’s all from me. I’ll be leaving now.”
That was all he said before departing as quickly as someone late for an appointment.
His elegant earrings swayed as he walked away, disappearing into the distance.
Karin stared blankly at his back before snapping out of it.
And the thought that came to her was—
‘I quit. I’m done.’
There were limits to how difficult someone could be!
She sighed deeply, holding her head.
One thing was clear now: Arken completely distrusted her.
No, worse—he probably had a giant neon sign in his head saying DO NOT ENGAGE WITH KARIN, blinking with warning lights and stars.
‘The original Karin must’ve done a lot. But still…’
Her reputation was indeed terrible. Even if Arken hadn’t been directly harmed by her, he would’ve heard enough rumors.
Still, to reject help so harshly…
Just recalling his cold gaze made her chest feel tight.
At this rate, she would never get close to Arken.
She wouldn’t uncover his secret, and she wouldn’t be able to save him either.
It seemed she needed a complete change of plan.
‘Making him mine? Life partner? Forget it. Friendship first.’
Before anything romantic or serious, they needed to at least talk comfortably.
Right now, he treated her like someone who had stolen money from him.
‘How do people even become friends?’
Friendship was easier than romance, but both were still difficult.
There wasn’t an immediate answer.
‘I’ll think about it slowly.’
There was still plenty of time before the “Asite Flower Festival,” when he was supposed to make his final appearance in the original story.
And even after that, there was no guarantee he would die immediately.
Karin boarded her carriage, lost in thought.
The author had said he would die. But how could a healthy man in his twenties suddenly die?
An accident? But Arken was a top-tier mage who graduated at the top of the academy.
Something felt off.
What if his death was connected to that “secret” mentioned in his monologue?
If so, did that mean he knew he would die?
A premeditated, unavoidable death…
A thought flashed through her mind—
But she quickly dismissed it.
‘Would they really give that kind of major setting to a side character?’
It didn’t make sense.
Besides, if she was right, saving him would become much more complicated.
She didn’t want to imagine an uncertain future negatively.
‘Ugh, thinking about this won’t help.’
She should just sleep.
There was no point overthinking things.
Later
“Miss, I brought your tea.”
“Mm, thanks.”
A rich apricot fragrance filled the air.
Karin sipped the tea carefully.
“This is it. Perfect.”
Sweet and slightly bitter flavors spread through her mouth.
If she had known tea tasted this good, she would’ve visited tea cafés more often instead of normal ones.
Being served tea while sitting comfortably wasn’t bad either.
“Are you not going out today?”
Her maid Marie asked with concern.
“Why? Did my father tell you to ask?”
“Yes.”
Marie smiled awkwardly.
Duke Tricia, Karin’s father and ruler of the Second Principality, had grown worried after she stayed home for days and asked about her.
He still seemed unconvinced.
“Shall I call a physician?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Was something wrong at the ball last time?”
At that, Karin hesitated.
There had been something, of course.
The cold blue eyes resurfaced in her mind.
After that night, she had stayed home, thinking.
Arken’s hostility meant she had to proceed carefully.
She needed to rebuild her reputation while slowly approaching him.
But there were no upcoming events.
She needed another way to meet him without making mistakes.
“Please tell me the truth. I’m worried about you too.”
Marie looked genuinely concerned.
Unlike Arken, who rejected everything, Marie accepted kindness naturally.
Karin sighed.
“Nothing happened. I was just thinking of going for a walk anyway.”
Marie brightened immediately.
After changing clothes, Karin stepped outside.
It was perfect weather.
She followed a small path beside the mansion and soon found herself in a forest.
The air was refreshing, filled with birdsong.
Then she saw a woman approaching.
Karin glanced at her casually—
and froze.
The woman was breathtaking.
Long black hair like obsidian, pale skin like snow, and violet eyes like amethysts.
She looked unreal—like a fairy.
Every feature was flawless, almost beyond human.
‘Why does she look familiar?’
She felt an odd sense of recognition.
Before she could think further, the woman smiled and spoke casually.
“Hello.”
“…”
“I’m Iris.”
The woman smiled brightly.
