chapter 12
“!!”
At Kiern’s sudden mention of the day the Duchess died, Elizabeth’s fingertips trembled violently.
She truly knew nothing about that day. She hadn’t even been at Agaphel Castle then.
While she told herself there must be some misunderstanding, an uneasy thought crept in—what if there wasn’t?
Kiern released her trembling hands and leaned back against the sofa. Looking down at her, he spoke.
“Do you think you can handle it?”
“……”
“You probably can’t.”
“……”
“If you’re scared, just keep living like you know nothing. You’re good at that kind of thing, aren’t you?”
“I…”
“Don’t even think about leaving the castle. I won’t let you go until I say so.”
Kiern delivered the words coldly and rose from his seat. Elizabeth couldn’t understand why he refused to let her leave.
A moment later, he gently brushed her shoulder. Unlike his threatening tone from moments before, his touch was soft—like the friend he used to be. And in that false gentleness, he whispered to her.
“Eli, make sure you apply medicine so it doesn’t get worse.”
With those words, Kiern left the study.
Elizabeth felt as though a high-pitched ringing filled her ears—like a sharp beep drowning out all sound. Everything around her became muffled, as if she had been submerged underwater.
Even after Kiern left, she remained seated for a long time.
And when she finally came to her senses, she was already running madly toward Stella’s room.
The day the Duchess collapsed was in the middle of a sweltering summer.
It was a clear, peaceful summer day—one where the quiet night was filled with the soothing chirps of insects, and the refreshing morning rang with birdsong.
That afternoon, completely unaware that misfortune would soon strike, Elizabeth and Kiern had gone to a valley to cool off.
The heat was so intense that even fanning oneself felt like hard work. Unlike Elizabeth, Kiern had already rolled up his trouser hems and was half-submerged in the stream.
While Elizabeth hesitated, dipping her hand in and pulling it back out, unsure whether to step in, Kiern approached her.
“Eli, you’re really not coming in?”
“It’s a little embarrassing.”
To be honest, she had already imagined jumping in more than ten times. The moment the cold water touched her hand, it felt like it would wash away the oppressive heat instantly.
But she hesitated because her summer clothes were thin.
If she put even a foot in, she might want to go in further—and then she’d end up completely soaked. So instead, she had chosen not to enter the water at all.
Kiern extended his hand.
“We brought spare clothes anyway. Just try dipping your feet in.”
Elizabeth stared at his outstretched hand. Sunlight filtering through the trees scattered across his fingers like broken glass.
It looked almost like it was sparkling, and before she realized it, she reached out as if enchanted.
At that very moment, coldness rushed up from her toes.
The hem of her dress touched the water and darkened as it soaked through. At the same time, the stifling heat vanished in an instant.
Startled, Elizabeth flinched—and Kiern placed a hand on her shoulder.
“It’s cold!”
“So? Glad you came in, right?”
He tilted his head slightly to meet her eyes. His smiling face was so striking it was like a figure in a painting.
Elizabeth nodded blankly, and he slowly guided her deeper.
Her intention to only dip her feet collapsed in less than a few minutes.
Telling herself it couldn’t be helped since she was already wet, Elizabeth walked further in with him. His trousers, like hers, darkened as they soaked.
There was no one nearby. This place belonged to House Agaphel, so no one could enter without the family’s permission.
That made them bolder.
When the water reached her waist, her dress puffed up like a balloon. The light summer fabric shimmered like fish scales.
Feeling as though she had become a mermaid, she fearlessly let go of his hand and splashed around.
Kiern, who had been watching quietly, spoke.
“You said you weren’t coming in.”
“Now that I’m in, I changed my mind.”
“I figured as much.”
He chuckled and began swimming alongside her.
Unlike her careful movements, Kiern moved without restraint, diving his entire body into the water. Elizabeth watched him, almost stunned.
Swimming in clothes like this was surprisingly fun. Maybe it felt even better because he was there.
Because she trusted that if she ever fell into danger, he would save her.
As they splashed around, Elizabeth slipped on a wet rock and fell backward.
“Elizabeth!”
Startled, she flailed in the water—then someone grabbed her waist and pulled her up.
She broke the surface safely and clung to Kiern’s shoulder.
In her struggle, they had drifted into deeper water. Her feet couldn’t touch the bottom, and fear crept in—but his presence calmed her.
Leaning against his shoulder, she coughed. Trying not to get wet had ironically made her even more soaked.
It was so ridiculous that she laughed. Kiern laughed too.
“Seriously, what are you laughing at? You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
At his scolding, she pouted but couldn’t stop laughing. Soon, she burst out laughing again, her voice echoing clearly across the valley.
After a while, Elizabeth finally realized how close they were.
His arm firmly around her waist gave her both stability and a strange pressure.
She often felt an inexplicable intensity from him, and now it made it hard to keep her expression composed.
Her laughter faded, replaced by a subtle tension.
Kiern’s gaze as he looked up at her had also become slightly awkward.
His blue eyes were as clear as the sky reflected in the stream—but there was also a heat to them, like the summer air itself.
“Put me down now,” she whispered, gently pushing his chest.
Then she froze.
Through his wet shirt, his bare skin was far too visible.
The realization that she had been touching him so casually moments ago hit her late.
“Quickly.”
Embarrassed, she pushed him again with the back of her hand. Kiern let out a soft laugh.
Water dripped from his wet hair down his cheeks.
For some reason, he looked dangerously captivating, and Elizabeth struggled in place.
“Alright, alright—just stay still.”
Like soothing a child, Kiern calmed her and began swimming toward shallower water. His shoulders seemed slightly stiff.
They were just about to leave the valley when rain suddenly poured from the sky.
In an instant, the stream swelled. With no time to change clothes, the two rushed toward the carriage.
Soaked and dripping, Elizabeth and Kiern climbed into the carriage, exchanging awkward coughs in the tense silence.
Wrapped in a blanket, Elizabeth absentmindedly played with her wet hair.
Her thoughts drifted back to what had just happened. Floating in the water while relying on him hadn’t felt bad at all.
Compared to the cold water, his body had been extremely warm—especially in the heat of summer.
She glanced at Kiern.
He sat quietly, staring at the floor, completely soaked. Even his ears were red for some reason.
Half-wrapped in a blanket, his damp shirt clung loosely, revealing glimpses of his bare skin.
She wanted to poke her own eyes for how often they kept drifting toward him.
So she turned her gaze outside instead.
At that moment, the coachman spoke.
“Young master, we’ll have to stop at the villa for a while. The rain came down too suddenly, the roads are in bad shape, and the wheels aren’t responding properly.”
“Do it.”
With that permission, the carriage headed toward a nearby villa. It seemed they would be stuck there until the rain stopped.
As soon as they arrived, Elizabeth and Kiern each headed to separate bathrooms.
After warming themselves in hot water, they came out to find that the rain had stopped—and a rainbow had appeared.
She let out a dry laugh at the fickle summer weather and looked out the window.
The rainbow-filled sky was so beautiful that she unconsciously thought she should show Kiern.
But just as she thought that, she saw Kiern outside getting into the carriage, looking pale.
Then the carriage sped off—leaving Elizabeth behind at the villa.
Startled, she hurried to the lobby, but the carriage was already gone.
Left alone, Elizabeth stood frozen.
The estate manager spoke.
The Duchess had suddenly collapsed.
