~Chapter 14~
A few years ago, that day was meant for a playful party disguised as a masquerade ball with her childhood friends.
It was late afternoon, and the sky was fading into a red-orange hue.
‘This feels so different… How could I have spent all this time in stiff dresses when I could wear something this comfortable?’
Elin fiddled with the awkward overalls and the flat cap, giggling to herself.
‘If anyone sees me like this, they’ll be completely fooled.’
Dressed like boys her age, she wanted to imitate the things they usually did.
She kicked stones along the path and poked the grass with a long stick.
Patada-dak!
Suddenly, a large crow rose into the sky from the far edge of the forest, and she flinched.
‘What the—! You scared me!’
Even though she often walked this path, walking alone just before dusk felt eerie.
Her leisurely pace gradually quickened.
Bang! Ta-ang!
Suddenly, gunshots rang out, shaking the entire forest.
“Aaah!”
She crouched, covering her ears, and saw someone running through the underbrush.
‘That person…!’
One of the two fleeing figures was someone she knew well.
She couldn’t understand why they were frantically running, armed, as if in a daze.
‘What’s going on? Did they go hunting?’
Her heart pounded from the earlier gunshots, and faint, pained moans reached her ears.
‘…Is someone else there?’
Though her mind screamed to get out of the forest, her feet moved toward the moaning.
Parting the dense tall grass, she found a massive black horse standing ahead.
Her eyes widened in horror.
Some distance from the horse, a man had collapsed.
Blood soaked his shoulder—it seemed the gunshots had been aimed at him.
‘Oh no!’
Her mind went blank. She had never witnessed such a scene in her life.
Her legs trembled, unable even to step back.
‘…Is he dead?’
Swallowing nervously, she slowly approached him.
“Hey… are you… okay?”
She mustered courage and turned him over.
The man was someone she had never seen in her village.
His thick eyebrows were furrowed, his face pale, yet remarkably young and handsome.
Judging by his clothes, he was clearly not like the ordinary youths in this village.
A hunting rifle lay beside him, suggesting he had been attacked while out hunting.
‘What on earth happened?!’
With nowhere to call for help, she shook him gently.
“C’mon… wake up!”
His long, golden-brown eyelashes lifted with difficulty, revealing brilliant golden eyes.
“Y-you…”
He lost consciousness again before finishing his words. Blood poured from his shoulder.
While shaking him, his blood stained the hem of her clothes crimson.
Looking at the dark red blood pooling on the ground made her dizzy.
“Elin.”
At that moment, as if the world had stopped, a strange voice snapped her back.
The eerie forest had transformed into a bustling street.
It felt as if the world had suddenly shifted to another dimension.
“Elin! What are you thinking? You could’ve been hit by a carriage!”
“…Royce?”
The person standing before her, tipping his hat slightly, was Royce.
Elin had been so lost in memories of the past that she hadn’t noticed someone blocking her path.
He was not exactly a welcome sight, especially on a crowded street.
“Is something wrong? You don’t look well.”
“Hello, Royce. I’m fine. I’m in a hurry right now, so I’ll see you later.”
Elin gave a light nod and passed by, but Royce followed persistently.
“Where are you going? If it’s that urgent, I can escort you.”
“No, it’s just ahead.”
Elin refused politely and continued walking.
“Elin… why are you avoiding me? It’s not a big deal to escort you.”
His persistent attention irritated her.
Every time they met, it was the same—he never let her go immediately.
“I’m fine, Royce. I can go alone. It makes me uncomfortable when you don’t let me go right away every time we meet.”
Elin spoke honestly about her feelings.
“Elin… how can you say that… we…”
“Royce! I know. We’re friends.”
She raised her voice, cutting off any strange words before they could form.
“Please, just leave me alone. You’ve gone too far. You’re married now.”
Elin calmed herself and lowered her voice.
“I’m sorry.”
But Royce looked at her with a pitiful expression, as if deeply wounded.
Even though he had chosen Janice, his eyes seemed as if she had abandoned him, which annoyed Elin.
There he went again with that sulky gaze.
“Elin… I know you’re upset I married Janice.”
Elin pinched her forehead in exasperation.
“How on earth did the Duke seduce you?”
Hearing him suddenly mention the Duke left her dumbfounded.
Seduce? What was he talking about?
“Royce! You forgot, you were the one who chose Janice! Didn’t you already apologize and wish me happiness? Why is the Duke coming up now? It’s none of your business whether I meet a duke or a coachman!”
Elin spoke firmly and passed him coldly.
Royce grabbed her arm and spoke in a low, spiteful voice.
“Does the Duke know about us? That you could’ve married me?”
Elin turned to Royce, her eyes now wide with shock.
Meanwhile, Dominic, returning from meeting the architect Benjamin Rosso at the club, came across an unexpected scene.
“Wait. Slow down.”
As the carriage slowed, he watched the scene outside the window with curious eyes.
Elin Nelson was standing in the middle of the street, facing a young man with serious expressions.
The two of them gave off a strange vibe, like a pair of estranged lovers, or perhaps a man clinging desperately to a woman.
If anyone with a loose tongue happened to witness this, it would be perfect fodder for malicious rumors about the future duchess.
‘Seems like my expectations were too high.’
He disapproved of Elin, who seemed to be tossing herself openly to the hyenas.
If she was already engaged, he expected at least some sense of self-control.
With a cold expression, he moved to close the carriage curtain—but then he saw the man grabbing her arm.
Elin Nelson’s face went pale.
Judging by his eyes, she wasn’t white with joy.
“Stop.”
The carriage came to a sudden halt.
“What’s wrong, Royce? Let go of me!”
Elin was flustered.
Who would have thought that Royce, once a close friend, would harbor such irrational obsession?
You’re Janice’s husband. So please, get away from me now!
…Just as these words were on the tip of her tongue, someone grabbed her arm.
Royce noticed him before Elin did.
Seeing Royce’s stunned expression, Elin turned.
“Elin.”
The one calling her so gently was Dominic Linderto.
“D-Duke?”
He smiled perfectly at Elin, but the look in his eyes toward Royce was chilling enough to send shivers down the spine.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d let go of her hand.”
At the commanding tone, Royce finally released Elin.
It was just as well—any delay, and Dominic’s fist might have reached him.
As soon as Royce’s hand fell, Dominic gently drew Elin toward him.
“What business do you have with my fiancée? Hmm…”
Dominic furrowed his brows as if trying to recall something. Royce spoke first.
“I’m Royce Crayton, Your Grace.”
“Ah. Yes, Sir Crayton.”
Dominic maintained an icy demeanor, showing no intention of shaking Royce’s hand.
Royce, realizing his rudeness, stepped back.
“My apologies.”
“The apology should be to the lady, not me.”
Royce forced the words out to Elin.
“I’m sorry, Elin. I was just worried about you.”
The remark seemed to irritate Dominic, who narrowed his eyes.
“Even among family, there are boundaries. Being overly familiar with your sister-in-law gives gossipmongers too much to work with.”
“But Elin and I have known each other since we were kids…”
Dominic ignored Royce’s excuses and turned to Elin instead.
“You look unwell. Let’s get you in the carriage. I’ll take you home.”
Elin complied quietly, taking his arm.
The two walked to the carriage waiting nearby.
Left alone, Royce’s face turned red, as if he had been insulted.
“Well then. I suppose you’ll be going ahead.”
Dominic spoke casually to Royce after seating Elin, then climbed into the carriage himself.
As the carriage moved, Royce stared at its retreating back with a stiff expression for a long while.
“Damn it.”
A small curse slipped from his lips.
