Chapter 8
“The gentleman said he had something to deliver to the lady.”
“Oh my, to me?”
Chloe’s large eyes darted toward Hayden. With a bright smile, she accepted the gift box.
It wasn’t unusual—gentlemen often sent presents to ladies they admired, and for a public figure like Chloe, it had happened more than once.
“Go on, open it, Miss Chloe.”
Naturally, a gift like that drew everyone’s curiosity. As the eyes of the crowd turned toward her, Chloe lifted her chin proudly, basking in the attention.
With a flourish, she untied the ribbon as if she were performing onstage.
“Now, who could’ve sent this?”
Playing up the drama, she slowly lifted the lid.
The ribbon that had been neatly tied unraveled and fell to the floor like a long string—
“Kyaaaah!”
Chloe screamed and threw the box from her hands.
Its contents spilled right onto my dress.
Scattered rose petals—torn apart—and the head of a dead rat.
The ballroom instantly dissolved into chaos.
Guests shrieked and stumbled away, trying to avoid the grisly thing that had rolled near my feet.
On the glossy marble floor of the imperial palace, the shredded roses and the rat’s head lay there like some grotesque decoration.
My eyes locked with the lifeless ones of the rat. The faint sensation of its head brushing my arm returned vividly, making me shudder.
“Madam, are you all right?”
“To think it would land on the lady of the house…”
Concerned voices rose behind me.
Chloe, who had opened the box moments ago with a cheerful smile, was now pale as death and trembling uncontrollably.
Then, as if her strength had been drained all at once, she collapsed.
“Chloe!”
Hayden, who had been standing beside her, caught her before she hit the floor.
I swallowed the scream rising in my throat.
The murmurs of the crowd grew louder—everyone’s eyes were on us.
“She needs to be somewhere quiet to calm down.”
Hayden exhaled sharply, scanning the room full of gawkers.
I nodded without thinking.
“Th-the private room…”
Before I could even finish, Hayden’s face twisted with worry and he hurried out of the ballroom, carrying Chloe in his arms.
Left behind, I just stood there, watching his retreating back.
The palace attendants rushed in belatedly to clean up the mess. I tried to avert my gaze, but my eyes kept straying back to the carcass.
The rat’s hollow, empty eyes seemed to stare right at me.
I could barely breathe. Frozen in place, I had no idea what to do.
“Winter. Pull yourself together.”
A firm voice snapped me back to reality.
Eugene turned me around with a steady hand so I wouldn’t have to see the awful scene anymore.
Now, all I could see was his face filling my vision.
“Eugene…”
His name slipped out of my trembling lips, and he frowned, clearly irritated.
“Madam, what should we do with this?”
One of the servants asked, still holding the box with the rat’s head inside.
I stared blankly at him, not understanding why he was asking me.
“Sigh… I’ll take care of it. Hand it over.”
Eugene took the box from the servant and passed it to a man standing nearby—a neatly dressed gentleman with light brown hair slicked back.
“Don’t worry, Madam. I’ll report this to the Metropolitan Police at once.”
Ah. Only then did I realize what the box was for—to serve as evidence.
“And I’d like to speak to the servant who delivered that gift earlier.”
Eugene’s brow remained furrowed as he spoke. The servant nodded and hurried off.
“Winter, you…”
Eugene turned back to me, having handled everything in my place. I already felt guilty for causing enough trouble.
“I… I’m going to see my husband.”
His expression grew even darker, his frown deepening impossibly.
“…Fine. Go.”
He looked at me for a long moment, then jerked his chin toward the direction Hayden had gone.
My legs were trembling, but I forced myself to walk. Only after leaving the ballroom did I finally exhale a shaky breath.
“How could someone… Winter… this is awful…”
Even before I reached the private room, I could already hear Chloe sobbing through the closed door—loud, raw, like a frightened child.
Her cries made my chest tighten with worry.
When I entered, I saw the two of them sitting side by side on the sofa.
The moment I stepped inside, Chloe’s crying grew even louder. Hayden, looking weary, had his arm around her shoulders, gently patting her.
His shirt was stained with tears and makeup from how long she must’ve been crying.
“Chloe, are you feeling any better?”
She didn’t answer—just kept crying, clutching tightly at Hayden’s sleeve.
“Winter… I’m sorry, but… I think I should take Chloe home. I can’t send her off alone like this.”
Hayden let out a quiet sigh as he spoke.
I realized immediately that he wasn’t asking for my permission.
He took off his jacket and draped it over Chloe’s trembling shoulders.
“You can go home on your own, right?”
He helped Chloe to her feet, speaking to me over her head. She didn’t even glance my way, still crying uncontrollably.
“Winter.”
He said my name again—waiting, demanding an answer. I nodded faintly.
“I’ll see you at home later.”
Without another word, he carried Chloe out of the room.
The air left behind turned strangely cold.
I wrapped my arms around my shivering shoulders and slowly walked to the sofa where they’d been sitting.
Their warmth still lingered there. I brushed my fingers over the spot, tracing the faint heat. My mind was still a blur.
When I finally looked up, the mirror beside the sofa reflected a pale-faced woman staring back at me.
Bluish lips, colorless cheeks, disheveled hair—she looked as if she might collapse at any moment.
It took me a long time to realize that the woman was me.
“…Ha.”
A weak laugh escaped my lips. I clenched my cold hands together, trying to steady myself.
The more I tried not to think about it, the more vividly I felt that light, eerie brush against my arm—and those dull, lifeless eyes.
“Ugh…”
A wave of nausea hit me. I covered my mouth and tried to focus on the lace pattern at the hem of my dress instead.
The ache spreading through my chest made my eyes sting.
Tears welled up and spilled over, dripping down my skirt.
I was scared too.
Hayden’s image flickered in my mind—his back as he carried Chloe in his arms, comforting her.
I knew he was more worried about her tears than my shaken state. The thought stung.
No… don’t think like that.
I forced myself to be understanding.
Chloe was the victim. She must’ve been terrified.
She was a fragile girl—easily overwhelmed.
It was only natural for Hayden to stay by her side until she calmed down.
I’m just being selfish, that’s all.
My fists tightened until my nails dug into my palms. The sharp pain helped me hold myself together.
It’s fine. I’m fine.
It felt like my emotions were washing away with each tear. I counted the droplets as they fell, trying to regain composure.
And just when I thought I could finally breathe—
Bang!
The door burst open with a loud crash.
Someone stood framed in the doorway, the light behind them blinding. For a moment, I thought it was a hallucination through my tears.
Only when a final tear rolled down did the figure come into focus—Eugene, striding toward me.
“Eugene.”
The scene felt oddly familiar.
When we were children, it had been the same—whenever I cried alone, he would always…
“Why are you by yourself?”
He took off his jacket and laid it gently over my shoulders.
Warmth seeped through the trembling in my body.
“Where the hell is your husband while you’re like this?”
“He… went to take Chloe home.”
At my answer, Eugene’s face twisted in fury. He muttered a curse, then lifted my chin.
With a touch so gentle it didn’t match his harsh words, he wiped the tears from my cheeks.
“He left his wife—who looks ready to collapse—alone?”
“Damn it. Bastard.”
Eugene spat more curses under his breath and pulled me to my feet by the wrist.
“Ah…”
Pain shot through my heel as the edge of my new shoes rubbed against the blistered skin.
I stumbled a few steps, following his lead, until his violet eyes swept over me again—full of concern and anger.
“Damn it.”
He cursed again, his face tightening, before kneeling down in front of me.
Despite the roughness of his words, his touch was almost unbearably gentle as he took hold of my ankle.
(To be continued…)
