Chapter 28
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Sponsored by Bongbongie’s mom. Thank you (2/3)
***
The door closed slowly. Completely separated from the room where Nicholas had spoken of pity for her. Aubrey, who had been staring at the white door, turned her head.
“Is it okay to look at your benefactor with those eyes?”
Khaled smiled leisurely.
He brought her here on purpose.
The moment she learned that fact, she felt all the blood in her body rush to her head. Her head was so full of anger that it felt like it was going to explode.
“Are you my benefactor?”
Aubrey was fed up with that damn benefactor. It was more humiliating than anything else. The fact that the person who saved her from her terrible past was this disgusting man in front of her.
“Why are you doing this to me?”
“Don’t be mistaken.”
Aubrey even felt the urge to scratch that relaxed face. That's how much she hated him. Her gratitude for his help was completely gone.
Because he was so, so awful.
“I-that I’m going to survive here, that means that to you…”
She was so angry she couldn't even speak properly. Aubrey continued speaking with her shoulders shaking.
“Am I that annoying? To the extent that you can’t see with both eyes open?”
In response to the barely continued question, Khaled lightly licked his dry lips with his tongue. His eyes were full of interest, as if they had seen something fascinating. Aubrey hated those eyes. Those deep blue eyes that looked at her like some sort of toy.
“That’s why I told you to disappear. If you had disappeared then, you wouldn’t have seen this.”
“I told you. I don't think so. So, I said I would give you what you want.”
“You have to have something to ask for something.”
Aubrey was speechless. She wanted to shoot at him with everything she had, but as he said, she had nothing.
Khaled glanced at her, who was just clenching her teeth, and said with a grin.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
“…… .”
“You brought this all on yourself.”
Everything happened because of you. He's always said that. You lied and this happened, and because you tried to stay in a place you shouldn't be, you ended up like this.
“…Why on earth are you doing this?”
Aubrey really wanted to ask now. Why was he doing this to her? Why on earth did he hate her so much?
“You could just turn a blind eye to it. That person…”
Aubrey, who had unconsciously pointed to the room, eventually lowered her hand in a moment of shame.
“Like that man said, you can just leave me alone because you feel sorry for me.”
“I don’t pity you.” Khaled narrowed his eyes, took out his cigar. “I never once felt sorry for you.”
“Then why did you help me?”
She was shocked. If he thought that way, he should’ve just passed by. That day too, he should’ve just ignored her and gone away.
“You said you never felt sorry for me, so why did you help me?”
It was only for a moment, but there was a slight change in Khaled's expression. Without taking his eyes off her, he lit a cigar in his mouth. Then slowly blew out white smoke. The time it took for him to answer was unbearably long.
“You begged for your life.”
At that moment, memories of the first time she met him at a party, of being happy to see him for a moment, and of begging him to save her life, flashed by her.
“That’s why.”
“… … .”
“Just so.”
When she realized the moment that decided life and death for her was just an incredibly calm moment for him, the small wall in her heart that was barely holding on collapsed.
Your life is worthless to me. It's so ugly.
The man seemed to be saying that.
“Miss Aubrey?”
Nicholas, who was coming out the door, was startled and looked at the two people in turn.
“I didn’t interrupt your conversation, did I?”
"Then..."
“Then may I speak to Miss Aubrey?”
As Nicholas asked, Khaled glanced sideways at Aubrey, who was frozen. Then he smiled and readily stepped back.
"However much you like."
Nicholas entered the gap he had left. Aubrey glared at Khaled, who was moving away over Nicholas' shoulder.
“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you for a while.”
Only after hearing Nicholas' voice did her gaze shift. But she couldn't smile like before. Because she learned that his favor was only motivated by pity.
“I came here to get some air. I’m frustrated.”
"Yeah? So should we go outside and walk down the corridor? The Palace corridor continues all the way to the main palace, and the middle of it will be open today.”
The corridor. When she thought of that dark and gloomy space, she felt uncomfortable.
"No. I don’t want to do that.”
“Miss Aubrey?”
“I’m sorry. I feel a little dizzy and want to be alone. See you later.”
Aubrey nodded and turned away. She went down the stairs without even looking at the perplexed Nicholas. And as soon as she stepped into the hall, she roughly took off her mask.
The masquerade ball was a truly horrible and dirty party.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
A few days have passed since the masquerade ball ended. Meanwhile, a charity bazaar hosted by the Atherton’s family was held, but Aubrey did not go. Even though an invitation was sent to her, she pretended to be sick and stayed in the mansion.
“I’m going to the library.”
“Again?”
Trin, who had brought some snacks, drooped the corners of her mouth. For some reason, the young lady who came back from the ball had a dark expression on her face the whole time.
There were many things Trin wanted to ask, such as whether there had been any progress with Nicholas, whether there was a dance, or whether he had proposed, but it was a face that she couldn't dare to ask.
In the end, Trin tried her best to listen to what the employees were saying, but all she got was that Count Lavonne was friendly to Emily for the first time in a while. Even though they didn't dance together, he couldn't take his eyes off Emily.
Aubrey left the room, and Trin, with a face full of things to say, followed her into the library.
“Miss Aubrey!”
As she passed the lobby hall, she heard Nicholas' voice. Aubrey turned her head without changing her expression.
He immediately stood in front of Aubrey. His eyes turned to Trin, who was standing behind him, and Trin took a step back.
“I heard you’re quite ill. Are you okay?"
"Yes. I am okay."
“How ill you are, you did not reply.”
Nicholas sent one letter after the ball, and another letter after Aubrey failed to attend the charity bazaar.
The first letter said it was an honor to dance with him and that he would never forget that moment. The second letter asked if he had done anything wrong at the dance.
When there was no reply he’d decided to come to visit Aubrey and resolve anything unpleasant she might have observed.
“If it’s okay, can we have some tea for a moment?”
“I’ll get the lady ready right away.”
Before Aubrey could say anything, Trin quickly answered and walked away.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Aubrey and Nicholas sat across from each other at the quickly prepared tea table in the garden. Aubrey sipped her tea in silence, with a rose bush next to her that seemed to have reached its peak and was emitting a variety of colors.
Nicholas fidgeted and looked at her.
"I…Miss Aubrey.”
At the low call, Aubrey stared at him with grave eyes.
“No matter how much I think about it, there’s something that bothers me. So, I came here unexpectedly.”
At those words, Aubrey put down her teacup. She calmly placed her hands on her thighs and straightened her back.
"Please speak."
“It was back then. When I ran into you in front of the men’s lounge.”
Although it was a little late, Nicholas' guess was correct.
Actually, she hated Nicholas for the past few days. In hindsight, it was her fault for mistaking his simple favor for a crush, but she still felt betrayed.
“I was wondering if you heard the conversation inside at that time.”
"Yes. I’m sorry it happened that way.”
When Aubrey answered, Nicholas let out a heavy sigh and stroked his face.
“It was something that Miss Aubrey might have misunderstood. That's right. No matter where or how you heard it, it sounded bad. But Miss Aubrey, I want you to listen to me.”
Nicholas began his story…
Most of what gentlemen talked about when they got together was about someone's love life. Moreover, the gentlemen present were all men who enjoyed teasing others and were lighthearted, so he said what he did for fear of causing unnecessary trouble to you.
“But even if this were the case, it’s true that I was wrong.”
“… … .”
“I’ve been thinking about changing my stance over the past few days. If I were Miss Aubrey, I would tell myself never to see the face of a bastard like me again.”
Even though today was an unusually cool and windy day, Nicholas was sweating.
“I’m sorry, Miss Aubrey. You trusted and relied on me more than anyone else, but I hurt your feelings.”
“… … .”
“Can I please ask for forgiveness just once?”
After speaking, Nicholas carefully raised his eyes.
Aubrey had so much to say to those innocent eyes.
Even if he explained it in such a long way, the conclusion was the same. He only said that for his reputation, not hers.
And the moment he was conscious of those people and said he felt sorry for her, did he know what she heard from that man?
But what use were all those words? The words that were circling inside her body gradually faded as Nicholas looked at her sorrowfully.
Everyone makes mistakes. Even if Nicholas had hurt her, it was only a small mistake. Besides, if you think about it, she was in a pitiful situation.
After organizing her thoughts, Aubrey let out a soft breath. And then she pulled the corner of her mouth and smiled.
“Actually, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed.”
“… … .”
“But I didn’t know that you would come and apologize in person.”
Okay. This man was that kind of man. A man who came to the mansion to apologize to her despite being the son of a noble family.
At least he was a better person than that horrible man.
Aubrey thought that and smiled a little brighter.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
The streets of Clanwell on a weekday morning were deserted, with not a single person in sight. Long rows of suspicious-looking houses with no signs on either side. On a street lined with gentlemen's clubs, only the strong midsummer sunlight dominated the street.
The carriage stopped in front of a dark purple house.
"Boss, we’re here."
"I know."
Khaled opened his closed eyes. Cool eyes and straight pursed lips stared at Lehman for a moment. It’s said people become emaciated if they don't sleep, but this man gave off a strange aura that was difficult to match.
"My head hurts."
“It’s natural since you haven’t slept in days. Anyway, the doctor is scheduled to visit in the afternoon. Please get checked out.”
“Just leave the sleeping pills and go away.”
When he got off, the carriage left without hesitation. Khaled, who was about to go straight inside out of habit, suddenly stopped.
His insensitive eyes slowly rose and reached the outer wall of the building he was about to enter.
Dark purple. A woman wearing a dress of a similar color. A face that had turned white. A long, thin neck that looked like it might break if you grabbed it. As he was thinking about that, someone poked him in the side.
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