Chapter 60
Aisha didn’t think much about Ian’s letter. In fact, she was somewhat relieved that it hadn’t come until now.
But today—exactly one week later—Ian sent someone early in the morning to deliver a letter. Aisha rose from the couch and walked toward the table where it had been placed. As she opened it, she braced herself for what she assumed would be another obligatory task.
‘…I should write back. Like Mari said, I’ll have to go to the banquet with him, so I need to get my dress fitted in advance.’
Unlike Ian’s usual short and curt letters that only stated the time and place, this one was long. Aisha blinked a few times, struggling with the nearly illegible handwriting, and slowly began to read through it.
It was about the upcoming banquet and included a request to meet tomorrow at a certain time.
“Kabala Riding Club. Ten in the morning…”
The meeting place Ian suggested was one of the smaller but more upscale riding clubs in the capital—popular among nobles and especially favored by couples looking for a unique date.
“If you’re up for it, let’s go horseback riding…”
There was something different about this letter. Usually, Ian’s messages were focused on the bedroom, but this time it felt more personal. A faint shift stirred inside Aisha, and her mood gradually lifted. She stood up and walked over to the mirror, still holding the letter, and studied her reflection.
“A mess…”
She gently touched her skin and adjusted her hair. The shadow on her face seemed to recede, if only a little. Just then, the sound of a bell rang and Mari entered the room.
“Mari, I’m sorry for sending you away earlier. I think I’ll need some grooming—I’m going out tomorrow.”
“Oh my, a date?”
Mari immediately realized the change in Aisha was due to the letter in her hand. At Mari’s teasing remark, Aisha blushed silently.
“I’ll get things ready! Just wait!”
Thinking her mistress had reconciled with her fiancé, Mari dashed away like a squirrel climbing a tree. Aisha turned back to the mirror, watching Mari disappear with more excitement than herself.
In the mirror, a woman was smiling softly. But the curve of her lips looked awkward, and her brown eyes were filled with a delicate tension, as if she might break at any moment.
The date was perfect. Kabala Riding Club catered to couples and offered exclusive services. One of their most popular services was the rental of a private training ground tucked away in a secluded corner—a service so in demand it was hard to book even a month in advance.
Yet somehow, Ian had secured it for Aisha. It wasn’t huge, but it was spacious enough for two horses to run freely. Aisha could ride without worrying about being watched.
“Ian, I don’t think this one wants me on its back.”
“Straighten your back. If you hunch like that, it’s more dangerous.”
Aisha had learned the basics of riding before, but she was practically a beginner. Ian picked a gentle mare for her and helped her ride. Once she was comfortable, he suddenly placed her on the horse he had chosen for himself.
“You’re doing well now. Then…”
“I-Ian? Kyaa!”
Ian’s riding skills were far beyond Aisha’s. His racehorse was as sleek as it was fast—far too fast. Sitting sideways behind him, Aisha froze and clung tightly, trembling. Ian found her expected reaction amusing and didn’t stop until she told him to.
By the time she dismounted, Aisha was pale and glaring at Ian. But he just carried on speaking nonchalantly.
“Next time, we’ll go somewhere more open where we can really enjoy the speed. Or we could bring horses from the Lloyd estate and ride outdoors. This place is nice but a bit too cramped.”
Aisha pouted but said nothing, her face showing a rare liveliness. Ian studied her carefully.
‘So she’s fine after all.’
The pink flush on her cheeks reassured him, washing away the anxiety that had gnawed at him all week. Lately, Aisha had been acting strangely, and it had made Ian unusually tense. A week ago, she’d stormed out of the bedroom, and her doll-like indifference had irritated him to no end.
‘…I worried for nothing.’
He concluded that her strange behavior had been a one-time thing and nodded to himself. Still, despite dismissing it as unnecessary worry, Ian glanced at her carefully and mentioned their next destination.
“After lunch, we’ll go to Boves Street.”
“Boves Street? Why?”
“To get your dress fitted for the Founding Festival banquet. I arranged it along with my outfit.”
Surprised, Aisha stared at him. Ian, feeling awkward under her gaze, turned away under the excuse of helping her down from the horse.
Everything that followed was just as perfect. They had lunch at a charming restaurant and then visited Boves Street. Unlike the last time when they went to get their engagement rings, Ian carefully discussed design choices and gave specific feedback to the tailor. Aisha quietly watched him, a faint but sincere smile on her lips.
“Thank you, Ian. I didn’t expect you to get my dress fitted too… It feels like a surprise gift.”
“It’s nothing. Don’t make a big deal of it.”
By the time they stepped outside, the sun was beginning to set. In the carriage, Aisha looked a little tired but couldn’t stop smiling and chatting with Ian. He listened quietly, finally relaxing.
“About the riding club… will you take me again next time?”
“Of course.”
The tender mood felt comforting. As the evening breeze drifted through the slightly open carriage window, Ian gazed into Aisha’s pale blue eyes.
“Oh my, it’s been a while, Ian.”
“Oh, Ian. Just getting back?”
But the calm atmosphere between them shattered as soon as they arrived at the Marquis Lloyd estate. Upon stepping out of the carriage and entering the house, they ran into three women.
“You should’ve come a bit earlier. You would’ve seen us off.”
Helen, who appeared ready to leave, was dressed in a full ensemble—hat, gloves, parasol and all. Sophia and Diane stood beside her in indoor wear, seemingly there to see her off.
Aisha’s face stiffened at the sight of Helen. Ian, noticing this, glared at Sophia, who was standing next to Helen. Among those present, she was the only one who would have invited Helen to the house. But before Ian could say anything, Diane stepped forward.
“I invited her. She’s a friend of Sophia’s, and I wanted to meet her.”
Diane had remained in the Lloyd household as a respected elder after signing the document relinquishing her land rights. Ian cast her a cold glance, then grabbed Aisha’s hand.
“Um…”
Aisha, finally snapping out of it, began to bow to Diane, Sophia, and—though unwillingly—Helen. But Ian simply nodded slightly, then walked away, pulling Aisha along.
Startled, Aisha looked back. At that moment, Helen locked eyes with her.
‘Know your place…’
Under her red hair, Helen’s scarlet lips curled into a mocking smile. Aisha’s eyes widened as she read her unspoken words.
But Ian’s grip tightened as he pulled her away, and she couldn’t see Helen’s face anymore.
Dinner that evening was a disaster. Despite the warm mood they’d shared all day, Aisha said nothing. Ian, who had been watching her closely after Helen’s visit, grew visibly irritated when her expression failed to change.
After the food was cleared away, tea was served. Aisha stared at the tablecloth in silence until the tea grew cold. Then, out of nowhere, she murmured to Ian.
“…I don’t want Miss Helen coming here.”
“…”
“I don’t like how she calls your name so familiarly either.”
Her voice was thick with displeasure. Ian raised his brows at her sudden outburst. He was annoyed by Helen’s visit too—but didn’t see it as a big deal. However, Aisha’s sulky silence during dinner had pushed his irritation to its limit.
“I didn’t invite her. Sophia and my grandmother did. And I never gave her permission to call me that. She just does it on her own… I’ll tell her to stop.”
His tone grew cold too. Tapping his finger on the table, he replied. Aisha looked up. Her pale blue eyes, usually soft, now seemed dark.
“I don’t like that you’re doing business with her.”
“…”
“I didn’t say anything before, but it bothered me when she came to our engagement ceremony too.”
When Aisha brought up their business relationship, Ian’s expression hardened. The vengeance he’d buried during their day together began to creep back up from deep inside him. He stopped tapping and folded his arms.
“My business isn’t something you need to involve yourself in. And as for the engagement, she came as someone’s partner. Should I have banned that? Wouldn’t it have been more ridiculous to stop her?”
“But Helen, she—”
“Enough.”
Aisha was about to mention the rumors surrounding Helen and Ian. But he cut her off sharply, as if it wasn’t worth hearing.
“I already told you once before. Don’t be so petty, Aisha.”
“…”
“I’m not even acting like I used to with her, and yet you’re scowling through dinner and now picking a fight over this.”
Ian’s cutting words made Aisha’s eyes burn. Holding back tears, she finally let out the frustration she had long bottled up.
“What’s wrong with my face?”
“…”
“Do I always have to smile in front of you? Do I have to obey everything you say and act like a delicate flower?”
