Chapter 6: The Eve
* * *
“You need to sit up, Lyra.”
“B-but… I’m scared.”
“Don’t be afraid. I won’t let you fall.”
Kaylon’s sighs grew more frequent. Lyra, clinging to the horse’s neck, showed no signs of improvement. He wondered if anyone could possibly be this hopeless at physical activities.
The struggle had been going on for an hour already.
“Trust me. Turn your head and look here too.”
“W-where…”
“To the left. That’s it.”
“…”
“See? You’re holding the reins properly, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Kaylon exhaled again as he watched her spring-green eyes trembling like aspen leaves.
“My body… won’t listen.”
Lyra offered her excuse as she watched Kaylon slightly furrow his brow, looking ready to burst into tears. The height was dizzying, and every time the horse shook its head, she felt certain she would fall, sending chills down her spine.
Her body had already stiffened completely, and her mind had gone so blank she couldn’t even attempt anything.
“Haah, no choice then.”
Finally, Kaylon abandoned his plan to teach horseback riding. It was remarkable how this woman could make him give up things so easily.
He gently patted her head with his dry hand before swinging up behind her. The horse’s movement made Lyra shriek in surprise once again.
“It’s alright, Lyra.”
Where had the usually quiet woman gone? Kaylon pulled her upright, letting her lean against his chest. She looked quite pitiful, clutching his arms tightly to avoid falling.
“Breathe, and open your eyes. You need to look forward.”
Her heart’s frantic beating transmitted clearly through their touching chests. Kaylon watched Lyra slowly open her eyes while catching her breath, then gently kicked the horse’s flank.
The horse, tired of waiting, began gliding forward. They passed white-painted fences and closely packed pastures, emerging onto a vast green prairie.
Kaylon continued riding past scattered trees. The fresh breeze cleared his stuffy mind. He hoped Lyra would enjoy this feeling too, but the woman trapped in his arms seemed in no state to appreciate it.
‘Still, maybe she’s improved a bit.’
She seemed more relaxed than when she’d been wailing alone on horseback. Though she still clung tightly to him.
Suppressing his desire to gallop freely, Kaylon gradually decreased speed to let Lyra adjust to the horse.
Her head slowly lifted. Her black hair, matching his own, fluttered in the wind.
‘Did she put perfume in her hair too?’
A sweet scent reminiscent of her seemed to drift from her flowing hair. He had the illusion that every scent in the world emanated only from Lyra.
Suddenly his lower abdomen felt heavy and his mouth went dry. Not a good sign.
‘Damn it.’
Veins stood out on his hand gripping the reins. He hadn’t anticipated this at all. To react just from this slight contact with a woman.
Kaylon quickly pulled the reins. Separating from her seemed the best course for now.
“Let’s rest here for a while.”
He hurriedly dismounted and tied the reins to a tree trunk. Even setting aside his situation, the gentle slope was perfect for resting.
Kaylon turned and walked down the hill. Then suddenly realizing he hadn’t helped her down, he looked back.
“Haah…”
He immediately saw Lyra awkwardly clinging to the horse’s back, fidgeting helplessly. He roughly rubbed his face before climbing back up the hill and extending his hand.
“I’m sorry… I tried to get down myself…”
“Never mind. Take my hand.”
Lyra’s neck shrank at his suddenly cold tone.
“Planning to stay up there forever?”
His words came out harsh despite knowing she must already be heart-stricken. Regardless of what his rational mind knew, Kaylon just wanted to leave this place quickly.
He forcibly removed her hands from the horse and guided them around his neck.
Their faces drew close, her scent growing stronger. He unconsciously swallowed as he grabbed her waist and lifted her down in one motion as she leaned forward.
Perhaps from relief at finally touching ground, Lyra’s knees buckled.
Kaylon looked down at her collapsed form and spoke gruffly.
“I need a moment…”
But the sentence remained unfinished. There was no way to explain his situation.
He turned and walked away from her.
* * *
Her racing heart felt unsettling. Though minutes had passed since dismounting, the trembling wouldn’t subside. Lyra pressed her shaking hand firmly against her chest.
‘How embarrassing.’
No, more precisely, it was shyness.
She could still hear his sighs in her ears. But more than that, she felt the lingering phantom of his smoky warmth against her back.
Those large hands that unfailingly reached out whenever she lost her balance. The solid arms that had wrapped around her waist to steady her.
Though the actions had been detached and emotionless, heat kept rushing to her face.
‘What should I do?’
The landscape was beautiful, painted in autumn colors. White flowers swaying in the fresh breeze created a scene of tranquil peace.
Hiding her flushed face, Lyra cast an unfocused gaze at the world. In the distance, wisps of smoke rose from the red roof of the pasture, preparing for early evening.
“What do I do…”
Her gaze naturally fell on the man’s figure. She fixed her eyes on Kaylon’s back as he walked away.
He stopped in his tracks. Bent down toward wildflowers at his feet. His casual hand seemed to pluck a flower, then suddenly turned his gaze toward her. Despite the distance, their eyes met.
Lyra quickly lowered her head. She felt certain he would see her blushing face.
She jumped up and approached the grazing horse. Her hand trembled slightly as she stroked its soft brown coat.
“Huuuh.”
‘Calm down.’
Lyra drew in a long breath and released it so deeply her diaphragm tightened sharply.
Once, twice, three times.
She continued breathing, as if trying to expel these unbidden feelings. Though she worried about the journey back, getting her heart under control took priority.
‘This isn’t a real date.’
She couldn’t let misplaced feelings ruin their contract. So this must be fear of her first time riding, not excitement.
‘It’s just an alibi. Don’t misunderstand.’
Lyra repeated these words to herself until the moment Kaylon returned.
“We seem to be running short on time…”
Kaylon checked his wristwatch while looking at the setting sun. Though it didn’t feel like they’d stayed long, they were approaching the curfew Mrs. Beightle had set before their outing.
“Shall we head back before getting scolded? Even I can’t handle the lady’s nagging.”
His playful tone signaled the end of their time.
“Yes, let’s go back.”
Lyra quietly observed Kaylon’s empty hand before offering a gentle smile.
The flower she’d thought might have been for her was nowhere to be found.
She vividly remembered him dropping the white wildflower at his feet before climbing the hill. How casual and detached he’d looked, as if he’d never held a flower at all.
Wouldn’t it be different normally? Lovers on a date would pick flowers for their lady, present them to see a shy smile.
But since this too was just part of establishing an alibi, she should simply show appropriate gratitude with a smile.
For just a moment, she might have thought otherwise. But why her heart had fallen with that dropped flower, she couldn’t say.
Lyra took Kaylon’s offered hand and mounted the horse. Perhaps because of her earlier ordeal, she managed to maintain some composure on the return journey.
The time seemed very short from dismounting again to boarding the plain black carriage.
After entering the carriage, Lyra couldn’t speak a word. She just held her breath, enduring the awkwardly settled air.
How strange. Why was he looking at her that way?
His deep amber eyes were lowered. The atmosphere felt quite different from before.
She’d turned her head away from his sharp gaze only to encounter this sight.
As if he’d been watching her like this all along, no smile crossed his face even when their eyes met. Like someone lost in deep thought.
Lyra merely offered a smile before turning to look out the window. Without doing at least that much, she couldn’t have endured this silence.
Even when the carriage finally reached the mansion, until Mrs. Beightle came out fussing to meet them, not a single word left the Duke’s mouth.
