Chapter 29
When people are too shocked, they forget how to speak. The thoughts racing through her mind came to a halt, and she only blinked.
This wasn’t the first time the Duke of Battenberg had shown up in a place he had no reason to be, catching Agnes off guard. The last time was the morning she woke up after passing out from being doused in dye by Timothy. She had opened her eyes to see him standing in her quarters, looking perfectly calm and peaceful—so much so that the dissonance had felt even stronger.
It was just like that day.
A familiar place. An utterly unexpected person.
Ethan stood in the dark hallway where the lights hadn’t yet been turned on, looking directly at Agnes.
Soft moonlight from the long windows lit up the side of his tidy face. The frown of mild displeasure was familiar, but everything else about him felt completely out of place.
Agnes opened her mouth but no words came out. Ethan slipped his pocket watch back into his coat and spoke.
“It’s almost eleven. Do you always wander around at this hour?”
“Pardon?”
“What were you doing until now?”
“Well, I…”
She had visited the Westwick residence and discussed matters with the butler… Agnes frowned mid-sentence, realizing something.
“Do I have to report everything I do?”
“You sure chattered plenty when I told you not to.”
“Well, that was about Timothy’s situation. I don’t have any obligation to report my personal activities to you, Your Grace.”
“…”
“Is that why you were waiting here? Just to ask me that? Well, I don’t owe you an explanation, so that’s your answer.”
Agnes, who had come to a halt as if pinned in place, forced herself to move forward as if nothing was wrong. She was just heading to her room, so there was no reason to be nervous—but the closer she got to Ethan, the heavier her steps became. She glanced at him uncomfortably, noticing how he didn’t move even as she approached.
Agnes swallowed hard. Ethan still didn’t speak, but unless she was imagining it, the silence held something that made her fingertips prickle.
She couldn’t stand it.
It wasn’t just suffocating—it was a pressure building at the back of her throat. Like a premonition.
Ethan stood in front of her door. The door would open if she reached for the knob, but to enter, she’d have to push past him. She couldn’t bring herself to do that. More than anything, she didn’t want to touch him right now. Agnes took a step back.
“I’d like to go in now.”
“And?”
“…I don’t know why you’re angry, but, Your Grace—”
“I asked what you were doing and where.”
It wasn’t difficult to answer. But the way Ethan asked, as though interrogating a criminal, made her want to say nothing at all.
“Why do you even want to know? Are you worried I might’ve been off doing something improper?”
“…”
“Well, don’t worry. I haven’t done anything that would bring shame to Your Grace. I don’t know what you’re so angry about, but my personal life isn’t your concern—”
“Were you with His Highness?”
“What?”
Agnes couldn’t believe her ears.
“Who?”
“I heard he asked you to be his partner.”
“You’ve heard already?”
“Yes.”
Should she be impressed at their closeness, or just accept that the prince was exactly as talkative as he looked? Agnes still didn’t know how to respond. Mostly because she couldn’t understand why Ethan was acting this way.
“Really… His Highness said he would leave you alone just yesterday, but already—”
“Teacher.”
“Yes, I’m listening. Is that what you were waiting here to ask?”
“Teacher, no romance.”
“…What?”
“I’m saying don’t get the wrong idea.”
Ah. Agnes finally understood what Ethan was trying to say.
“You’re here to warn me not to get any ideas about the crown prince, huh?”
Don’t get the wrong idea.
“Surprising as it may be, His Highness asked me to be his partner. He said he wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I accepted. That’s all there is to it. I keep telling everyone not to worry—I don’t intend to cause trouble for him or for you. So there’s no need for you to come all this way to give me a lecture.”
He was worried a silly girl like Agnes might cling to the crown prince, embarrass herself by mistaking his fickle kindness for affection, and drag even Ethan, her employer, into disgrace.
“If that’s all you waited here to say, then let me be clear—I didn’t expect anything, let alone misunderstand. So you really wasted your time.”
“Teacher, wait.”
“I!”
Her shout was short, sharp, and cutting. Agnes clenched her jaw.
“I’ve never overestimated myself, Your Grace.”
“You’re misunderstanding.”
“I’m not. If anyone’s confused, it’s you. You asked what I was doing today, right? I wish I’d been off holding hands and frolicking with His Highness, but unlike what you seem to think, I’m pretty busy!”
Ethan’s brow furrowed. Agnes held back the urge to burst out laughing in his face. What a noble sacrifice, how touching.
“I was invited to the Westwick residence. They served me tea and dinner. I suggested group lessons for Timothy’s social development. Ah, and about the group lessons with the Westwick siblings and Timothy—you approve, right?”
“That’s… yes. Understood.”
“Great. I was planning to ask your permission tomorrow anyway. One less thing to do. Now, do you have any more questions?”
“No.”
“Then could you please move?”
“Can’t you just shut that mouth of yours for a moment?”
“If Your Grace turns around and walks away, you won’t have to listen to my noise. You’re the one who came here, not me.”
“…Fine.”
Ethan reached out his hand. It wasn’t threatening—he moved slowly. Still, Agnes instinctively flinched. Then, embarrassed, she straightened her neck even more defiantly.
“Finally quiet,” Ethan said with a small smile when he saw her frozen in place.
His hand brushed past her shoulder. A strand of her hair that had been tangled in her earring slipped free.
Did he… smile? Did he really just smile? Agnes gaped at him. If they weren’t standing so close, she would’ve rubbed her eyes. It was just a slight twitch of his lips, but he had definitely smiled.
No, but seriously—what are you doing? Why are you touching my hair? Whether it’s caught or not, what business is it of yours?
Ethan studied her speechless face and said, “First of all, you misunderstood.”
“…What.”
“I admit, I told you not to get the wrong idea. That was careless of me.”
“…”
“I just meant—don’t get hurt getting caught up in someone’s bad joke.”
“What?”
“I meant you should choose who to trust more carefully.”
Even then, Agnes didn’t understand what Ethan was saying. It wasn’t like he was speaking a foreign language, but none of it made sense. Her head was spinning.
It sounded like he was concerned about her. Worried. Something like that. Not as her prince or her friend Tristan—but as him. That he had waited outside her door until this hour out of concern for her…
Was that it? No… couldn’t be, right?
No way. That would mean… No, definitely not.
But Ethan didn’t seem interested in explaining further. Instead, he leaned forward slightly. Agnes, unable to move, squeezed her eyes shut.
Click.
The doorknob turned, and the door opened. Agnes looked to the side. Ethan’s profile was serene, composed, and calm as always.
Then he looked at her, as if realizing she was watching him.
Even in that brief moment of eye contact, Agnes couldn’t breathe. Her heart pounded like it might explode. She felt like if she moved, he would notice.
“Don’t stay out late.”
“…”
“Try to be back by 9 at the latest.”
Then he slowly walked away, pausing once more to glance back and smile again at the frozen Agnes. She didn’t even have the energy to be surprised. It was like she had forgotten how to move her face. She could imagine exactly what expression she was making: mouth open, eyes wide with disbelief.
His retreating footsteps echoed evenly, almost mockingly. Only once he had completely disappeared did Agnes finally step inside.
She closed the door. Locked it.
Then collapsed against it, sliding to the floor.
Choose carefully? Don’t get hurt? Don’t stay out late? What even…
“What does that have to do with you…? What, are you my dad now or something…?”
Even her real father never said anything about her curfew. Who was he to talk?
What is he thinking? What’s wrong with that man?
Agnes clutched her head, still sitting on the floor. She wanted to scream.
