Chapter 3
Belita stared blankly at the rain pouring down in front of her. Still, since she had paid quite a lot of money, the carriage was waiting for her. She did not want to get wet, but she had no choice.
As she took a step forward, a shadow fell over her head. When Belita turned around, an unfamiliar man was holding an umbrella over her.
“Where are you headed?”
A neat face, expensive-looking clothes, and somehow a familiar impression. Belita examined him carefully, but nothing came to mind. She turned her head slightly. It seemed she had brushed past him briefly at some ball once.
In any case, meeting someone dressed so properly in a place like this felt strange. In a way, he, like Belita, did not belong in such a place.
Dressed like that in a place like this. Is he bold, or just foolish?
As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she gave a hollow laugh, realizing she herself was not much different. The man observed her face with interest.
Belita gestured toward the carriage ahead.
“Up to that carriage.”
He looked at the carriage for a moment, then spoke in a gentle voice.
“I’ll escort you.”
Belita did not bother to refuse. In the past, she would have declined such kindness. She did not want to hear Tarchen complain about it. He disliked seeing men approach or even stand close to her, and he used that as an excuse to torment her all night.
But now, she did not want to get soaked by the rain, and she did not want to think too much about it. Moreover, it did not seem that any of Tarchen’s people were nearby.
As Belita walked, the umbrella naturally followed her. The man walked beside her. He was much taller than she was. A pointless curiosity arose.
“What brings you here?”
It was rude to ask without even exchanging names. But what could she do? This was a place where people with shady desires came in secret, and Belita had no wish to be polite here.
The man’s gaze turned to her. Instead of answering, he raised the corner of his lips. That expression oddly provoked her.
“Because I don’t belong here.”
“Then don’t you also not belong here?”
“I’m trying every method I can to divorce my husband. I use shabby cafés like this because I don’t want to be found out.”
Revealing what had just happened was impulsive. But Belita felt too stifled inside to help it. It was easier to speak to a stranger than to someone she knew.
At that, the man laughed. Unlike before, it looked like genuine amusement. His impression seemed different. Without fully suppressing his laughter, he asked,
“Is it really all right to tell me that?”
“We only met by chance today, and we’ll never meet again.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Isn’t that how it usually is in places like this? It seems you also came here for some reason.”
This was a back alley. People came here to deal with things they could not do in the light. Even if it was illegal, they did it without hesitation. Belita thought the man beside her was not much different from herself, since he had come here dressed so neatly.
So there was no chance they would meet again. Judging by the fact that she had no clear memory of him, he clearly did not hold any important position.
Turning her head, Belita said,
“And even if we do meet again, please pretend you don’t know me. You wouldn’t want others to know you came here either, right? That would be easier for both of us.”
Even if they met later, she could simply pretend not to know him. Even if he spread rumors, no one would believe that Belita had come to En Zer Café.
She had always acted in a way that gave people that impression. Everyone would say it was a false rumor and think the man strange instead.
The man smiled and spoke,
“But for some reason, I feel like remembering you.”
When Belita looked at him stiffly, he raised the corner of his lips.
“I’m joking. If we meet again, I’ll pretend not to know you.”
They had arrived in front of the carriage. Before Belita could open the door, the man opened it for her.
“In fact, I also came here to untangle a troublesome matter.”
Belita nodded.
“Anyway, thank you. I hope things work out for you.”
At her words, the man smiled and stepped back. When she closed the door, the carriage started moving. Belita watched the raindrops strike the window.
I should have brought an umbrella.
The raindrops hitting the carriage window were quite heavy.
Still, the brief encounter was not so bad. Judging from his clothes, he was clearly a noble, but she could not think of anyone suitable.
He’s good-looking enough that there should be rumors about him.
But she soon stopped thinking about it. In any case, it had nothing to do with her. Right now, she only needed to think about how to separate from Tarchen. The method she had thought most promising had failed in vain.
With a sigh, Belita leaned back against the cushion.
The carriage that had been racing along slowed down in front of a huge mansion. Inside the iron gate, a familiar carriage could be seen. It was entirely black, with silver bird footprints stamped on it.
It was the carriage Tarchen’s organization had used since long ago. He rode it even when going to the Noble Council. She had heard that some nobles disliked it, but strangely, although Tarchen wanted to become a legitimate member of the Council, he stubbornly lived as he pleased in that regard.
When the carriage came to a complete stop, Belita gave the coachman a rather large sum of money. The coachman’s eyes widened in surprise. Belita did not mind and got out. From behind, the coachman called out,
“Do you not have an umbrella?”
When he even tried to hand over his own umbrella, Belita waved her hand.
“It’s fine.”
Belita walked toward the mansion in the rain. In the past, a servant would have run out to greet her. She would not even have thought of getting soaked like this. Her father had taught her that such behavior was vulgar and unbefitting of a noble.
But now, there was no one beside Belita. Her father had died three years ago, and her mother had passed away right after Belita was born, so she did not even remember her. And above all, this was Tarchen’s mansion. The servants listened to Tarchen more than to Belita.
As she walked under the drizzle, she soon reached the door. Before Belita could open it, the door burst open.
A familiar man was standing there. He was much taller than Belita, the height difference such that if another head were added to her, it would fit perfectly. Belita raised her head. Their eyes met. Dark ash-gray eyes shone strangely.
“I told you to keep your lunch free.”
“That’s why I came back.”
“Even in the rain. Where did you go?”
His voice was unusually low. When Belita did not answer, Tarchen stepped forward at once. He scanned her face and then fixed his gaze on her collarbone. When he tried to touch her, Belita slapped his hand away.
Tarchen gave a short laugh and signaled to a servant beside him. As if already waiting, the servant immediately draped a blanket over Belita.
“Go change your clothes and come out at once.”
“We’re leaving already?”
“You read what I sent this morning.”
“Would it hurt to tell me in advance?”
Belita said, restraining herself. Seeing her like that, Tarchen smiled and lowered his head to her collarbone.
“Right. Seeing you question me like that makes me wish I’d told you even later.”
“What?”
“That side of you excites me.”
“……”
As Belita clenched her fists, trembling, Tarchen approached her with a grin. Now his breath was close enough to brush her lips. Even if Belita tried to step back, it was useless. The cold wall touched the back of her head.
Tarchen’s lips drew closer. His gaze overwhelmed her as he stared straight into her eyes.
“Why don’t you scream and call me a lunatic, like back then?”
The corner of his mouth rose naturally. Belita barely restrained her trembling lips. She had never cursed aloud. That was something vulgar people did—people like Tarchen. She did not want to become the same kind of person on purpose.
But Tarchen knew her thoughts well. That was why he kept provoking her, as if trying to make her into someone like himself.
Belita pushed against Tarchen’s chest with all her strength, but he did not budge. Instead, he leaned closer, as if pressing against her. She was completely trapped by him.
The strong scent of his perfume spread around her.
When Belita frowned, Tarchen bit her lip. Soon his arm draped over her shoulder. He pulled her even closer to him, until his arm fully pressed against her back.
Tarchen always acted this way when he kissed her. Each time, his warmth completely enveloped Belita.
As her breath grew heavier, Belita bit her tongue with all her strength. A low laugh was heard. Still, Tarchen did not pull away at once. In the end, when she stepped on his foot, he moved back slightly. The sound of their lips parting rang blatantly in her ears.
“That’s all?”
His voice sank low.
When Belita did not answer, Tarchen spoke slowly again.
“Is that all you can do to escape me?”
“What are you talking about?”
Belita deliberately avoided his eyes. His voice came from above her.
“Stop sending women to me.”
“……”
Tarchen lightly lifted Belita’s chin. Their eyes met against her will. The ash-gray eyes gleamed sharply.
“I don’t want to share a bed with any woman but you.”
