Ch 4.3
The garden where I had conversed with Eden before was so full of all kinds of trees that it made me feel as if I were in the middle of a forest.
On the other hand, the garden before my eyes now was filled with fragrant and diverse flowers, making it exceptionally splendid and beautiful.
Peering into the garden, I saw several men and women walking in pairs.
I passed them by and walked to the deepest part of the garden.
By the time I had ventured quite far inside, the sounds of people’s voices were no longer audible, leaving only the full sound of birdsong.
Spotting a bench, I sat down heavily upon it.
I closed my eyes for a moment and tried to empty my mind of everything that had happened until just now.
However, it was not easy.
The future I had envisioned when I returned from my travels had become completely opaque.
Judging by Kane’s expression before I left the terrace earlier, it was clear that today would not be the end of it.
‘Why on earth is he doing this?’
What could have made that man change?
What in the world happened during those two years?
I thought I didn’t want to know the reason, nor did I need to, but my chest felt so stiflingly tight.
Because it didn’t seem like I could escape this situation through continued ignoring and avoidance, more sighs escaped me.
‘I need a plan.’
I needed a way to make Kane back off on his own.
But the problem was that no particular method came to mind.
It was while I was lost in thought about whether there was any good way.
I heard the sound of footsteps, as if someone were approaching near where I was.
‘Who is it?’
Don’t tell me, again?
At the thought that it might be someone who had followed me all the way here, just as Kane had entered the terrace earlier, a surge of irritation rushed over me.
I first stood up from the bench.
It was so that I could leave this spot at any time, no matter who came.
I kept my eyes fixed on the corner of the path to see who was coming this way.
And finally, at the end of the corner, an unexpected figure appeared.
It was Adela.
As soon as I saw Adela, I managed to compose my eyes, which had widened in surprise, and greeted her.
However, observing Adela’s expression, unlike me, she showed no sign of surprise at all.
She had likely come looking for me, knowing I was here.
But I had no desire to exchange words with Adela either.
“I will get out of your way.”
So, I intended to give her the space where I had been and leave the spot.
“Wait a moment. I would like to have a conversation with the Lady.”
Then, before I could even take a step, Adela held me back.
Why are there so many people who want to talk to me today?
I returned my foot, which was about to move, back to its place.
Then, looking at Adela with a face full of questions, I spoke.
“A conversation with me?”
“Yes, so could you spare me some of your time?”
Because I could not refuse her request for time without a reason, I nodded my head reluctantly.
“Thank you, Lady Hates.”
Adela replied with a bright smile.
However, that smile somehow looked so pathetic that my heart felt strange.
Yet, the person who said they wanted to talk first was strangely silent.
I didn’t know what she had to say to me, but it seemed she was organizing her thoughts, so I waited for her.
After a moment, Adela opened her mouth.
“It is truly nice.”
Unexpected words popped out of her mouth.
“Pardon?”
“As the Lady knows, my health is not good. So, coming to a banquet like this was the dream of my lifetime.”
“Ah, yes.”
“My father said he would let me go if I got just a little healthier, if I became a little healthier than now, so I wanted to become healthy by any means.”
“…….”
I didn’t know why I had to stand here listening to such words, but seeing the expression of the woman speaking to me, I couldn’t bring myself to interrupt her.
She was looking at me with a face that looked as if she might cry at any moment.
Therefore, I could not possibly stop her words.
“But health was never on my side. I couldn’t have the debutante ball that everyone else has, and even after becoming an adult, I couldn’t have a proper coming-of-age ceremony.”
Adela was not a being for whom Belita should feel pity.
Nevertheless, once the perception of her as a sick person set in, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of pity for her.
I tried to substitute that feeling by continuing to listen to her story.
“And I met him at the first banquet I attended. Until then, my world was only my father and Eden, but I met a different world for the first time.”
As she spoke, Adela wore an ecstatic yet moved expression, as if she were reminiscing about that moment.
I could not understand how she could make such a face while thinking of Kane, even after being unilaterally jilted.
I tried to endure it, but it seemed I couldn’t.
“What is it you want to say to me?”
No matter how pitiful she felt, my heart was not wide enough to listen to this kind of talk.
“I am so envious of the Lady’s health. The Lady must be able to do anything without any restrictions.”
“That is not necessarily the case.”
“But you even went on a trip… Ah, I’m sorry. I’ve shamelessly brought up the trip again…”
She had brought up the trip last time too; it seemed she was quite envious of my traveling.
“I, I also wish I could set out on a journey. If one goes on a trip, does all the sadness remaining in the heart get washed away?”
“That would depend on how much sadness it is.”
“Then did the Lady return after settling everything?”
I stared at her intently, suspicious of the intent behind the question.
Then, Adela let out a deep sigh and spoke.
“Actually… I saw the two of you together on the terrace earlier. Though the curtains were drawn and I only saw the figures entering and leaving.”
Whether seeing that alone was a shock, Adela’s voice was full of tears.
And her eyes, which were a deeper shade of purple than Eden’s, were slightly brimming with tears as she looked at me.
“Does the Lady still have feelings for Duke Maxius?”
It seemed Adela had misunderstood after seeing me with Kane on the terrace.
“You are aware that you are being very rude to me right now, aren’t you?”
“I know. But it is such an important matter to me… Please answer me. Lady, I beg of you.”
Even while looking at her speaking with a desperate expression, I was so dumbfounded that an incredulous laugh almost burst out.
Kane and Adela alike, why are they both so shameless?
To be honest, I hadn’t had particularly bad feelings about Adela until now, but it felt like they were going to form as of today.
However, just because of that, there was no need to say I had feelings I didn’t possess.
There was no reason for me to make things complicated for myself.
So, I gave her the answer she wanted.
“I have none.”
“Really, truly?”
“Yes, so if you want to turn the Duke’s heart back, do not do this to me and speak with the Duke himself. I find your behavior toward me very unpleasant and disagreeable.”
“I am so sorry. Sob. It’s because I’m a fool…”
Suddenly, Adela burst into tears.
No, what did I even say?
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. Hic, hic.”
Further conversation was impossible with her showing tears over a single sentence.
I approached her as she cried and held out a handkerchief.
“Wipe them quickly. You’re making it look as if I made you cry.”
Because her behavior was stifling and irritating, my words did not come out kindly.
“Thank you, Lady. Sob.”
I don’t know what made her so sorrowful, but Adela’s tears did not stop easily.
Still, I felt like something might happen if I left the sick woman alone like this, so I waited with patience for her to stop crying.
And much later, when Adela’s sobbing was no longer heard, I turned around and took a step.
It was to get away from here.
However, words that hurriedly flowed from her caught my feet.
“Lady Hates, could you please stay with me just a little longer? I beg of you.”
“Do we have anything more left to say?”
I spoke while turning my head slightly and looking at her with a blank face.
“It’s not that…”
“…….”
“I thought the Lady was a person with a kind and warm heart, so I wanted to talk a bit more…”
Kind and warm…
That man who was Idan, and is now Eden, had said something similar to me.
“I am not.”
And I gave Adela the same answer I had given Eden.
“No. Since you treat even someone like me with kindness, the Lady is an extremely kind and gentle person. That must be why everyone likes the Lady, right?”
Everyone likes me…
Because I never wished for anyone’s affection, hearing those words was not pleasing at all.
“As I said earlier, I lived looking only at my father and Eden, so I didn’t even have friends. Although we met with the first button fastened wrongly, if the Lady would forgive me, I would like to become friends with the Lady.”
“…….”
At Adela’s words about wanting to be friends, I looked at her with an expression of disbelief.
“Would it be difficult…?”
“Yes.”
I answered with a firm voice after barely regaining my composure.
“Ah…”
“As I said earlier, it is true that I have no
feelings for Duke Maxius. And whatever happens to the relationship between the two of you from now on is none of my business at all. But separately from that, I do not wish to be personally involved with either of you.”
“I’m sorry…”
“If you have any apologetic feelings left toward me, please refrain from this kind of conversation.”
“…….”
“Then, since the conversation seems to be over, I will go first.”
Adela did not hold me back this time.
I walked straight ahead along the garden path.
It was just as I was about to exit the garden.
‘Ah…’
Today, I am truly stepping on every single landmine.
I ended up running into Eden, who was just entering the garden.
After dealing with Kane and then Adela, I felt as if something inside me would explode if I had to deal with Eden too.
So, I tried to pass by him with just a nod of my head, but without knowing my feelings, Eden called me.
“Lady Hates.”
After taking a deep breath inwardly, I looked at him with patience and spoke.
“Do you have something to say to me?”
