Part 9
Far from drying up at Kyle’s unexpected appearance, Riel’s tears overflowed like a broken faucet. The moment she saw him, she cried even harder. Startled, Ian shot Kyle a look that asked what on earth he had done.
“Riel, did I do something wrong? Was it because I came without waiting for a reply?”
Flustered, Kyle wiped at his brow and offered her a handkerchief to soothe her. Riel took the handkerchief and dabbed her eyes, biting her lip. Stopping the tears was no easy thing. Kyle gently took the handkerchief back and wiped the tear tracks from her soft cheeks himself.
“Don’t cry, Riel.”
Smiling faintly, Kyle folded up the damp handkerchief. Riel said she would wash it clean and return it, but Kyle refused. Watching the two of them, Ian clicked his tongue and cut in.
“What’s this? The stone-cold one who never cries is bawling today.”
“Stone-cold, my foot. More importantly, what on earth happened to your face?”
“A knight lives rough. You end up looking like this.”
“You’ve grown a lot more manly since I last saw you, Young Master.”
“Manly or not, my mother nearly clutched her neck and fainted.”
At Jane’s compliment, Ian snickered, then pressed a finger right to the center of Riel’s forehead, telling her if she cried more she’d look ugly. It was the same thing he’d always done when teasing her since they were little. Riel scowled and told him to stop.
“Ugh, hideous.”
Even his teasing didn’t truly upset her; she had missed even this. Riel gave a wry smile and looked up at Ian.
“What a state to be in when you finally see your brother again. You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”
“What’s with you? Why are you like this?”
“Good if you’re not hurt.”
“I’m starting to question whether you’re really the Riel Tigris I know.”
Ian shook his head, baffled by her concern. Kyle nudged his elbow. With her arms crossed, Riel muttered gruffly, asking if he didn’t even like being worried over.
“It doesn’t suit you, that’s all. Kyle, are you going to wait in my room while I wash up, or…?”
“Sure, I’ll wait.”
“Jane, bring Kyle tea and refreshments.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Scruffy Ian left first, and Jane went to prepare the tea. Riel told her she would take Kyle to Ian’s room—the one at the far end of the second-floor corridor, opposite her own.
“Ah, yes. Understood, my lady.”
Walking there beside Kyle, Riel suddenly felt strange. She, who had memories from a year in the future, was now meeting the Kyle of a year ago.
“What is it?”
Sensing her gaze, Kyle glanced at her and asked if there was something on his face, laughing softly—so brightly it was dazzling. Riel wondered if he’d always smiled so gently, then smiled sheepishly herself and said it was nothing.
“You kept staring, so I thought you had something to say to me.”
“No. You just seem… very different after a year.”
“Do I? I did get a bit tanned. My parents were shocked.”
Now that he said it, he did look sun-darkened. Riel let out a breath of relief, reassured that the Kyle she knew was still there underneath. Then and now, he would always be on her side.
“No wonder they were shocked.”
“Is it that bad? Hm. Ah, Riel.”
“Mm?”
“Why were you crying earlier?”
With her hand on Ian’s doorknob, Riel hesitated at his question. What should she say? She forced a small laugh and opened the door.
“Just… because I was glad. It’s been a year—I was just happy to see you.”
She went to the window and threw open the curtains; sunlight poured into the room. A faint breeze made the sheer inner curtains ripple. Kyle stepped up and held the billowing fabric for her.
“Me too.”
“Huh?”
“I’m glad to see you too, Riel.”
He swallowed the rest. If he said he had missed her, would she think it strange? Riel’s gaze slid along his hand at the curtain and came to rest on his face. A lock of hair, loosened by the breeze, fell across his brow and glinted as he smiled. The smooth curve of his lips was so bright that Riel parted her own for a moment before shutting them again. Heat rose inexplicably along the nape of her neck.
“R-right.”
Riel turned her back, hiding her face behind the curtain. The breeze on her cheek was still chilly, but the warmth spreading along her slender neck made it feel almost pleasant. She threw the window wider than necessary and fanned herself with a hand.
“Riel, are you hot?”
“Oh? A little?”
“It’s still cold out.”
Concern creased Kyle’s eyes as he told her to sit while he finished drawing the curtains. Riel said she was fine and pushed one side away; Kyle took the other.
“It does feel empty after being an unused room for so long.”
“Ian hardly ever comes here.”
“How did you end up arriving with Ian, anyway?”
“I sent a letter saying I’d arrive around today.”
“Ah.”
Riel nodded and sat on the sofa. It might have been unused, but the servants kept it clean; there was no dust. Kyle carefully sat down beside her.
“My lady.”
Jane entered with tea and sweets, smiling as she saw them sitting side by side on the same sofa. Crimson hibiscus tea rippled in white cups. Riel took a cautious sip of the warm brew, then stole a glance at Kyle, who sat a polite distance away.
“What is it?”
“No, nothing. Ah—Kyle, you’ll be going to the Duke’s ball, right?”
“Most likely.”
Embarrassed to be caught staring, she changed the subject—even though she already knew the Marquess of Amos would be attending. Sensing the faintly awkward air between them, Jane narrowed her eyes and discreetly withdrew.
“I’m worried I won’t dance well at the ball.”
Trying to break the awkwardness, Riel spoke first. Kyle tilted his head and smiled faintly, fingertips resting on the cup’s rim.
“What is there to worry about? You’ll do fine.”
“I’ve never been the dancing type.”
“The Riel Tigris I know never gets scared before she even starts.”
She hadn’t gone out much in society since her debut, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t dance. She had simply stepped back on purpose—and Kyle seemed to have noticed. Riel remembered dancing with him at the Nobilis ducal ball.
“I was only pretending to be scared. You’re quick on the uptake.”
“Of course. How many years have I known you?”
He slid the plate of biscuits closer to her and said that, if she didn’t mind, would she dance with him at the Nobilis ball? Riel, reaching for a biscuit, widened her eyes. He had asked first back then, too—but hearing it again stirred different feelings.
“Then I’d be happy t—”
“Well, aren’t you two cozy.”
A sharp, metallic voice cut between them. Riel turned her head. Ian came in, shaking water from his hair; with his beard neatly trimmed, he finally looked like the man she knew.
“Kyle, you’re too kind for your own good. What’s so pretty about her that you’d go as far as to dance with her?”
“Ian. You’re dripping.”
“Well, I guess it’s better than her standing alone staring at the wall because no one asked her.”
Ian sauntered over and plopped onto the sofa. Riel couldn’t help a snort; some things never changed—he worried on the inside and shot barbed words on the outside. Somehow, even that had become endearing.
“Who knows. She might get so many invitations her feet give out.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
“Ian,” Kyle warned with a look to knock it off, but Ian kept running his mouth—saying even if Kyle danced with her, he worried for Kyle’s poor feet, and that it wasn’t too late to reconsider dancing with Riel at all.
“Don’t worry. I won’t be stepping on anyone. I’m not the one who can’t dance.”
Riel smiled lazily and sipped her tea. Ian blinked wide-eyed. The Riel he knew would usually blow her top and shout when he poked at her. He tilted his head and glanced at Kyle, but Kyle was too absorbed in looking at Riel’s face to notice.
“Sir Ian—now ennobled and all—if you were to honor your younger sister by dancing with me at the Nobilis ball, I’d be grateful, but I’m afraid for my toes, so I’ll have to pass.”
Riel drove the nail in and rose to leave. Ian sat with his mouth hanging open until Kyle sighed, reached over, grabbed his jaw, and gently closed it for him.
“I told you to tease her less.”
“D-did you hear what she just said to me?”
“Loud and clear.”
“That’s the first time she’s ever talked to me like that, isn’t it? She said she went south to recuperate—what kind of fresh air did she breathe to come back with a whole new personality?”
“Beats me.”
Staring into the cup, Kyle pressed his lips together. Something had changed. He muttered it under his breath and tossed back the rest of his tea.
“My lady!”
“Ah, Jane.”
“You didn’t forget we’re going to the Caladea shop this afternoon, did you? I already sent word to prepare the design you chose last time.”
“Thank you. I was just on my way to get ready.”
Riel met Jane waiting outside her door. Jane helped her dress, brushed her hair, and tied it neatly half-up, fixing it with a pin strung with pearls.
“I’m so glad you’re feeling much better.”
“I have to be if I’m going to attend the ball.”
“To think my lady is taking an interest in a ball—I’m getting all emotional.”
“Haha.”
Sitting with the imitation necklace from Caladea in hand, Riel took a deep breath and asked Jane to clasp it. The touch of cool metal raised brief goosebumps that quickly faded.
“My lady, the carriage is ready.”
Riel slipped into a light sky-blue dress that fitted her upper body just enough, then, worried she might be cold, draped the navy cloak Jane handed her over her shoulders and stepped out. She and Jane boarded the waiting carriage and headed into the city. The rhythm of hoofbeats against the road sounded lively as they rode.
“Do you think they can finish a dress in time for the ball? I’m a bit worried.”
“It should be possible. They looked capable. If they couldn’t, they would have sent us a letter first.”
Riel turned a page, then set the book down when the carriage came to a halt. Jane stepped out first and offered her hand. Riel took a deep breath, taking in, for the first time since returning, the streets of the capital.
“Shall we, my lady?”
“Yes.”
Riel took her first step—the first step in a revenge that would turn every one of Dayna’s schemes back on her.
“Oh my.”
“What is it, my lady?”
“There’s quite a beautiful lady walking over there.”
A soft, girlish voice sounded behind Riel. The young gentlemen around its owner craned their necks, eager to see who this “beautiful lady” might be.
“Beautiful, perhaps—but as beautiful as you, Lady?”
“Oh, you mustn’t say such things. What if someone hears?”
“Everyone here would agree with me: Lady Dayna is the most beautiful.”
When the young men all nodded as one, the woman among them swept back her long hair and smiled radiantly. She placed a finger to her lips as she watched Riel and Jane walking ahead.
“I do wonder who she might be.”
To be continued.
