~Chapter 6~
While Elin was trembling slightly, the Duke’s gaze secretly turned somewhere else.
On the terrace directly across, shining eyes were quietly watching them.
Dominic already knew someone was secretly watching the two of them, but Elin had no idea.
“Let them see clearly what happened on this terrace today… and spread it however they like.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips as he leaned closer toward Elin’s face.
The eyes in the darkness widened in shock at the sight.
“Then I’ll trust you to keep your promise… and wait.”
Dominic whispered, then gently pressed his lips to the back of her hand.
Like the statues on the terrace, Elin froze completely.
She stared at him in disbelief as he kissed her hand.
His eyes, looking slightly up at her, felt like they would pull her in.
Her fear slowly disappeared, replaced by confusion.
Why is the Duke acting like this toward me…?
The sweet night breeze wrapped around them once again.
“Where were you? I’ve been looking for you for so long!”
Her stepmother found Elin and quietly scolded her while pulling her somewhere.
Even as she was dragged away, Elin looked absent-minded.
“Baron Mackenzie has been waiting for you. Try acting rude again today.”
Hearing the warning, Elin finally came back to her senses.
Ahead, the old baron with a big belly was waiting for her.
Her father stood beside him, smiling warmly as they waited.
“Let go. I’ll go.”
Elin shook off her stepmother’s hand firmly and walked forward with her shoulders straight.
No matter what happened next, she had to make things clear now.
Otherwise, they would keep tormenting her.
If they throw me out, I’ll just live with Eddy. I can work as a tutor… we won’t starve.
Thinking of the worst case made her feel calmer.
“You’re beautiful again today, my lady.”
The baron smiled at her with his usual unpleasant gaze.
“Good, you’re here. He was asking about you. Greet him.”
Baron Nelson looked at his daughter with a kind smile.
Pretending to be kind while trying to sell his own daughter…
Elin felt sick just looking at his face.
“I have no intention of marrying Baron Mackenzie. Not now, not ever.”
Instead of greeting him, she spoke directly.
“Elin…!”
Her father looked shocked.
The baron was surprised at first, then his face turned unpleasant.
“Ha… haha. She’s had a fever since yesterday. We shouldn’t have forced her to attend.”
Rosana stepped in, trying to calm the situation.
“Elin, apologize to the Baron right now!”
But Elin did not give in.
“There will be no marriage. But if my family caused you any misunderstanding, I apologize instead.”
It was clear—she never wanted to hear about this again.
“Hah… this is something.”
The baron’s face turned red and blue in embarrassment.
Her father and Rosana turned pale.
“I’m not feeling well. Please excuse me.”
Leaving those words behind, Elin walked toward the exit.
The three of them could only stare at her back in shock.
“Elin!”
Charlotte, who had been watching from afar, rushed outside—
But Elin was already gone.
After leaving the party, Elin walked without direction and headed to the hospital.
“Eddy…”
Her younger brother, lying by the window, slowly turned his head.
His face was even paler than the white walls and sheets.
Seeing his sick face made her chest feel heavy.
“Did you cry, sis?”
“No… I didn’t.”
“Why are your clothes like that? Looks like you went to a party.”
“Yes. I went, but it wasn’t fun, so I left. How are you feeling?”
As she fixed his blanket, Eddy sighed.
“I want to go outside… I like the rain.”
Elin followed his gaze.
Rain had started falling against the window.
“Oh… it’s really raining.”
It reminded her of their childhood.
They used to play in the rain and come home covered in mud.
Their mother would scold them—
Then dry their hair with a warm towel and give them hot chocolate.
Both of them fell into the same memory.
A quiet sadness filled the room.
Trying to lighten the mood, Eddy spoke again.
“You’ve been in the capital for a long time. When are you going back to Castia?”
Elin hesitated.
She couldn’t tell him the truth.
“I still have something to do here. I’ll go back once it’s done.”
“It’s because of me… your suffering… and Royce leaving you.”
Elin shook her head.
“That’s not true. Great-aunt treats me well. And I like Castia. And Royce didn’t leave me—I rejected him.”
It wasn’t a lie, but Eddy still sighed.
“I know you pay for my hospital with the money you earn there…”
It was true.
“If you hadn’t gone to Castia… you could’ve married Royce.”
Eddy blamed himself.
Elin couldn’t completely deny it.
But she didn’t want to hate Royce.
Sometimes, she even thought it was lucky she didn’t marry him.
“Let’s stop talking about sad things.”
She smiled brightly.
“In autumn, great-aunt wants to invite you. But you have to get better first, okay?”
Eddy nodded silently.
“Then I can meet Tania too?”
“Of course. You’re the same age—you’ll get along well.”
Elin smiled brightly—
But inside, she felt uneasy.
She was talking about the future…
But didn’t even know her own.
If they forced her to marry—
If she ran away—
What would happen to Eddy?
“Just focus on getting better.”
After a while, she prepared to leave.
But her feet wouldn’t move.
Thinking of going home made her head hurt.
“If you disgrace this family, your brother will be thrown out of the hospital!”
Rosana’s words echoed in her mind.
I have some savings… I can take care of Eddy for a while.
Maybe going to Castia with him wasn’t a bad idea.
If I try harder, it might work…
Thinking like that made her feel a little better—
But then her face darkened.
“Come see me tomorrow. Alone. We’ll decide how you’ll take responsibility.”
Dominic’s words came back to her.
Family problems could be handled somehow—
But not this.
What does he want from me…?
If he had something to say, he could’ve said it earlier.
Why call her again?
“Why should I take responsibility…?”
She almost hit her own head in frustration.
Why did I do something so crazy that day…?
He had been like a prince from a story to her.
Something distant. Something beautiful.
And now—
Even that small happiness was gone.
“What should I do…?”
Tomorrow felt like judgment day.
By the next morning, the Duke’s mansion had completely returned to normal.
Jeffrey, the butler, acted calm—but was curious.
“A guest will come to see me this afternoon. Bring them to my office.”
The Duke’s tone had felt… different.
Who could it be?
Just then, a servant approached quickly.
“A woman has come to see the Duke.”
“A woman?”
Jeffrey frowned slightly.
If it were Sylvia, the Duke would have mentioned it.
Then who…?
He walked across the ivory marble floor and opened the door.
“Hello.”
A clear voice greeted him.
It was a young woman, about Sylvia’s age—
But completely different in atmosphere.
She wore a simple dress with small floral patterns.
She looked modest… like a wildflower in a field.
“I came to see the Duke. Could you tell him Elin Nelson is here?”
She spoke first, as the butler simply stared at her.
