Chapter 9
But the swollen skin could not be restored.
Fortunately, the ointment and painkillers that Madam Karin had brought while shedding tears managed to ease the pain at least a little.
Of course, the wound she had suffered at fourteen had faded considerably with time. But anyone who had once served Diane closely would likely become suspicious the moment they saw it.
That was why Madam Karin only called the maid after Elena had completely finished changing her clothes.
Responding to the summons, Maria carefully styled the glossy platinum hair into an elegant twist. Elena simply watched the grooming, which she still couldn’t quite get used to.
“Miss, would you stand up now?”
Maria, who had brought the hat and shoes from the dressing room, asked politely.
Twins really are fascinating, Elena thought. Not only their faces and figures were identical—even their shoe sizes were the same.
Of course, inside they were completely different people.
After putting on the shoes that fit as if they had been made exactly for her, Elena let out a long sigh.
In the mirror before her stood a woman who was completely prepared to go out.
Even the dress and hat looked as if a skilled artisan had crafted them with the utmost care. In the reflection, Elena looked every bit like a noble lady.
The cream-colored dress, which made her pale skin stand out even more, spread richly from just below the fitted waistline.
The hat, in contrast, was so small it resembled little more than a decorative hairpiece.
The golden jewel attached to the front of the hat matched her eyes perfectly, as if it had been chosen to imitate their color.
Every time Elena moved her head, the amber ribbons shimmered in various shades of light.
“You look truly beautiful, miss.”
Madam Karin spoke softly as she gently patted Elena’s shoulder. Her face carried sincere regret for all the things Elena had never been able to have.
Elena felt awkward hearing those words.
Beautiful? Me?
She couldn’t look away from the unfamiliar person in the mirror for quite some time.
The unexpected compliment even made her slightly embarrassed.
A moment later, a knock sounded from beyond the door.
“Miss, I believe it’s time to depart. The carriage from the Heinrich house has arrived.”
It seemed the carriage the ducal residence had promised had arrived exactly on time.
Awkwardly smoothing the folds of her full dress, Elena headed toward the entrance.
Today, she intended to ask Ilias to settle the matter between himself and the Lauren family.
She had already spoken with Amon, and she planned to express her intentions as simply and clearly as possible.
Just as Elena steadied herself and approached the carriage—
Someone stepped out of it as if he had been waiting.
The polished tip of a shoe appeared first. The moment she wondered about it, a man with striking features revealed himself.
“D-Duke!”
“Oh my!”
Sharp gasps escaped from Karin and Maria, who had been following behind.
But the most surprised person of all was Elena.
Hadn’t he said he would send a carriage so she could ride to the Grand Theater?
She had never imagined Ilias himself would be inside it.
“H-how did you come here personally…?”
“Come to think of it, this is my first time visiting the Lauren residence.”
After briefly observing Elena’s stunned expression, Ilias slowly looked around the exterior of the mansion.
Everyone who had gathered quickly lowered their heads in greeting, but he paid them little attention.
“It is an honor to see you, Duke Heinrich. I heard the news and hurried out immediately.”
Only Amon, approaching calmly, bowed politely before him.
He had never expected the Duke to arrive in person and had only just received the news moments ago.
“Has it been two years since we last met like this, Count Lauren?”
“Yes. It is an honor to see that you have recovered so well. Please, come inside.”
“Thank you, but we’ll save tea with the Count for another time. I came here today for a different reason.”
“Ah… yes. I understand.”
Though Amon responded a beat late, he bowed without making it obvious.
Ilias glanced briefly at him before turning away.
“Let’s depart now.”
He extended his arm toward Elena.
The gesture clearly meant he intended to escort her.
Although she was startled by his sudden actions, she couldn’t hesitate for long.
For the first time in her life, Elena placed her hand on a man’s arm. Her slender fingers trembled faintly.
And Ilias, who was extremely sensitive to others’ subtle reactions, noticed her tension immediately.
“Have a pleasant journey. We will see you next time, Your Grace.”
Leaving behind the many people bowing to them, the two boarded the carriage.
Soon, the rattling sound of the carriage wheels echoed through the silent interior.
How long had it taken to reach the Grand Theater again?
Enduring the uncomfortable silence, Elena recalled the conversation she had had with Madam Karin.
—“It should take about thirty to forty minutes by carriage. The theater is in the middle of the city, so sometimes traffic causes delays.”
It wasn’t a long journey.
But the person sitting beside her was the Duke Heinrich.
To Elena, it almost felt as if time had stopped moving altogether.
Meanwhile, Ilias quietly observed her stiff profile.
There was something he wanted to confirm.
The strange sense of unfamiliarity he had always felt from her.
“What were you planning to do after breaking off the engagement with me?”
“…What?”
The question, spoken in the quiet carriage, was completely unexpected.
Elena barely managed to turn her head to look at him.
Ilias sat with one leg crossed, his arm resting against the carriage window.
“I’m asking because I’m curious about what you think.”
“…I didn’t have any particular plans.”
“Then what about now?”
“I’m not sure exactly what you’re asking…”
“Tell me what you intend to do with me from now on.”
What did she intend to do?
She wanted to cleanly end her relationship with him and leave Kadef.
Then she wanted to forget everything that had happened here and live a completely new life.
Swallowing those honest feelings before they could leave her throat, Elena looked away.
His vivid green eyes were difficult to face for long.
Why is he asking something like this? What does he want?
Meanwhile, Ilias watched the golden-yellow eyes that had turned away from him.
She clearly looked like someone with many thoughts on her mind.
Ilias had spent his entire life surrounded by people with exceptional taste and appreciation for beauty.
Even to his eyes, the woman sitting beside him possessed a striking beauty that captured attention instantly.
Yet what puzzled him was this:
Why was he only noticing it now?
It had been more than five years since he first met Diane, a member of the Lauren family.
Of course, it had only been a brief greeting at a formal event.
He had become engaged to the Lauren family two years ago.
They had decided to end it four months ago.
When did it start?
When did I begin to find it difficult to look away from her?
Was it when she came to visit me while I was ill?
Or when I kept speaking to her because she was unusually quiet?
Before that, she had seemed like a colorless person.
But the more times they met, the more it felt as if different colors were gradually being painted over her.
And if she had truly lost her memories—
Had the memory of the man Eden mentioned disappeared along with them?
The questions remained unanswered, even within his own thoughts.
Ilias couldn’t take his eyes off her as sunlight streamed through the carriage window.
The sunlight broke apart like tiny grains of sand upon her delicate strands of hair.
During the two years he had spent in Abha, there had been one time when he walked along a quiet beach.
It was a famous resort known for its golden sand that sank deeply beneath each step.
Suddenly, he felt the urge to brush her hair—hair that resembled golden sand.
Surely it would be softer than the tiny grains that slipped through his fingers on that beach.
Realizing the strange thought that had crossed his mind, Ilias stifled a quiet laugh.
The woman beside him had already moved as far away as possible, sitting close to the opposite window as if wary of him.
After all, a man she had agreed to break up with months ago had suddenly begun seeking her out again.
From any perspective, it would seem strange.
Fine. For now, let’s focus on the opera.
Ilias fixed his gaze outside the window.
The carriage had just entered the approach road to the Grand Theater in the center of the city.
