chapter 28
“Nothing has changed here.”
Upon arriving at the villa, Elizabeth felt a wave of nostalgia. Although the caretaker had changed, the overall atmosphere remained the same.
While unpacking and resting, she suddenly wondered if the valley was still the same. On impulse, she changed into a light dress and headed out.
It was the place where she used to splash water with Kieren.
The stream was still as cool as ever, enough to dispel the summer heat. Everything around it was unchanged, just like the villa.
The sound of flowing water washed her mind clean. Elizabeth stepped closer and reached out toward the stream.
The moment the cold water touched her hand, a sense of longing washed over her. Even as the weather gradually grew warmer, the valley water remained refreshingly cool.
“Maybe I should dip my feet in.”
While lost in old memories, an unusual thought suddenly slipped into her mind. She took off her shoes and stockings, then lifted the hem of her dress to her knees.
Step by step, she entered the stream. The cool water slipped between her toes, tickling her skin. A smile naturally formed on her lips.
“I wish Kieren would come soon.”
What if they swam together here like before?
Now, she felt like she could swim by his side without hesitation. Without tension, without hesitation—just freely, together.
She wished for Kieren’s happiness. She hoped his reopened wounds would heal, and that he would become kind and gentle again, like before.
Elizabeth walked carefully along the stream and picked up a pebble she liked. It reminded her of how she used to bring pretty stones to him.
Kieren, smiling brightly as he received a rough stone, still remained a precious memory in her heart.
By the time the sun began to set, Elizabeth returned to the villa and was pleased to see a carriage waiting outside.
Just as she arrived, Kieren stepped down from the carriage and glanced at her damp dress.
“Why are you wet again?”
“Oh, I just went to the stream for a bit. The water looked too refreshing.”
Embarrassed, Elizabeth grabbed the hem of her dress. She had only intended to step in briefly, but ended up soaking it anyway.
At least only the skirt was wet, so she thought it didn’t look too bad—but Kieren didn’t seem to agree.
His gaze lingered on the darkened fabric. She had once worn long skirts to hide marks from the night before, yet now she was freely exposing herself outside.
“You look like you had fun.”
His voice was dry, even though his smile was gentle. But the excited Elizabeth didn’t notice.
She held out the pebble she had picked up earlier. The white stone shimmered faintly like a pearl, shaped somewhat like a bean.
“This is a gift.”
“……”
“I thought of you when I saw the stream.”
Seeing her bright smile as she offered the stone, Kieren’s expression stiffened. He simply stared at her and the stone without responding.
Finding it strange, she tilted her head. Only then did Kieren take the stone and say,
“Thank you.”
“Next time, let’s go together. We can swim like before.”
“Yeah. Let’s.”
With that dry response, Kieren entered the villa.
While Elizabeth showered and changed, Kieren stood by the fireplace, turning the stone over in his hand.
The villa, located in the forest, became quite cold at night. Only the crackling sound of the fire filled the space.
Kieren clenched the pebble quietly, lost in thought.
“This is unfair! How can you treat Elizabeth like that?”
“Five days. Bring me the waiver of inheritance within five days. I won’t wait any longer than that.”
He had just returned after driving out Stella, who had been demanding Elizabeth be returned. He had already instructed his secretary Eddie to find a way to invalidate the will.
Kieren had no intention of giving Stella even the title of duchess, let alone any inheritance.
A shameless woman. The fact she dared covet his mother’s place disgusted him.
“I resent the fact that you are Stella’s daughter.”
Without hesitation, Kieren tossed the pebble into the fireplace.
Elizabeth, acting as though they were childhood friends again, only irritated him.
A woman giving him pebbles as gifts with such an innocent face.
The same woman who had cried beneath him the night before.
A faint sense of guilt flickered within him—as if he had dragged an innocent Elizabeth into ruin—but he quickly dismissed it. She had come to him first.
He justified himself and stared at the stone. Soon, the white pebble blackened in the fire and disappeared without a trace.
For some reason, it reminded him of Elizabeth. Frowning, he abruptly stood up.
And at that moment, Elizabeth walked in.
“Kieren?”
With flushed cheeks and no idea of what awaited her, she tilted her head.
The moment Kieren saw her, he could no longer suppress what he had been holding back. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
So she wouldn’t speak. So she wouldn’t think. So she wouldn’t shake him or make him regret.
He pressed into her, not allowing her a single word. The more he indulged in her, the more he sank into pleasure as if he had never hesitated at all.
Stella couldn’t stay still, pacing the room. It had already been three days since Elizabeth disappeared.
No matter how much she searched, Elizabeth—carefully hidden by Kieren—could not be found anywhere. There were no records of train or sea travel. If she had used a carriage, she couldn’t have gone far.
When butler Gilbert entered, Stella rushed toward him.
“Gilbert! Did you find her?”
“It seems the young master has made up his mind.”
“Ah…”
Stella collapsed onto the floor. It had already been four days without seeing her daughter. Fear crept in—what if she was being treated badly?
The moment she saw Kieren’s calm blue eyes, she had instinctively realized it.
He had gone mad. Otherwise, there was no way the once gentle young master would do something so absurd.
And yet, the fact he was still planning an engagement in four days meant he had truly lost it.
“We have to find my daughter!”
“I don’t know what you did to offend him…”
“……”
“Whatever it is, go apologize. If you fall out of favor with someone who may soon become the duke, you’re the only one who loses, Stella.”
Gilbert muttered gloomily. He had already concluded the current duke’s survival chances were slim.
Everyone knew the relationship between the duke and the young master was bad. Gilbert, being close to the duke’s faction, was already considered politically stranded.
Stella clenched her teeth. She wanted the duke dead—but Kieren had taken Elizabeth hostage.
Now, both survival and death of the duke were inconvenient. The forged will was at stake.
Kieren is serious. If I don’t give up the will, I’ll never see Elizabeth again.
“Where is that foolish girl… what is she even doing?”
For once, Stella felt both anger and worry for her daughter.
“We must find her no matter what.”
Just then, noise erupted outside and the door burst open.
“Master Gilbert! The duke has regained consciousness!”
“What?”
Gilbert brightened at the unexpected news. Stella, on the other hand, turned pale.
“T-that’s impossible…”
The doctor had said recovery was unlikely.
Stella collapsed, realizing everything had gone completely wrong.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth grew both happier and more anxious.
Kieren had become unfailingly gentle. As if he had never been cold, he melted her without resistance.
Her body and heart were completely overtaken. These days, she had grown used to his soft touch each night.
Despite her earlier hesitation, she had been drawn to him at an alarming pace.
But after a day, then two, unease began to creep in. She glanced at the knights stationed around the villa.
The security was far too strict to simply be protection from wild animals.
And at some point, a knight began accompanying her whenever she left the villa. She was no longer allowed even a step outside the forest.
It started to feel like she was being confined by Kieren.
Though she knew it shouldn’t be true, she couldn’t help the unease.
They were physically close now, yet emotionally distant. There was no time for proper conversation anymore.
“It’s okay.”
Elizabeth tried to reassure herself. Her anxiety was likely worsened by not hearing news of Stella.
She had postponed asking Kieren for three days. Now, she could no longer wait.
Today, I’ll ask him.
She resolved to herself and waited for Kieren.
But after that day, Kieren did not return to the villa.
