Chapter 7: The Fox Hunt
‘I was reckless.’
Despite knowing it was pointless to regret it now, Lyra kept replaying what had happened.
‘I should have let it slide.’
Thinking about it, she could have endured it sufficiently—it was strange. Why had that woman’s words hurt so much?
Her tightly clenched lips had swollen white. Feeling she wouldn’t be able to sleep at all, Lyra went to the kitchen. Perhaps some warm milk would help.
But her hand, reaching for the milk container, quickly stopped moving. She was helplessly overcome by thoughts that instantly dominated her mind.
Just then, Kaylon, entering the kitchen, asked Lyra who was standing in a daze:
“What are you doing here?”
Despite his casual tone, her shoulders flinched at the sudden voice at this hour.
Rushing to answer, Lyra forgot what she was holding and dropped it to the floor. A sharp crashing sound followed, wetting her feet and the hem of her dress.
“Ah…”
Why was she like this? It felt as if her foolish mistakes had continued from the ballroom.
She quickly bent her knees. It was to clean up the broken glass pieces, but at that moment, Kaylon grabbed her hand to stop her.
“Don’t.”
“But I need to clean it quickly…”
“It’s fine, just step away.”
The raw, fishy smell of milk seemed to stick to her nasal membranes. As Kaylon frowned, Lyra felt increasingly anxious. She found a cloth and wiped the floor after Kaylon had swept up the glass.
“You really don’t listen.”
He quietly laughed as he threw the glass pieces into the trash and took out a glass.
“Can’t sleep, it seems. How about a drink?”
“Alcohol, you mean?”
“What else, the milk you just broke?”
His smile deepened. Despite his playful tone, Lyra felt embarrassed.
“I’m not good with alcohol.”
“Then just keep me company. I have something to talk about anyway.”
“All right.”
After staring at him quietly and nodding, Kaylon went ahead. Lyra soon followed him to the reception room.
Whiskey was half-filled in two glasses. Kaylon placed one glass in front of Lyra and gestured with his chin.
“Drink.”
He offered her alcohol as if he’d forgotten what he’d just said. After hesitating briefly, Lyra carefully lifted the glass. She wouldn’t be able to sleep like this anyway. Though she couldn’t handle alcohol well, perhaps it would help her lose consciousness and sleep.
She felt his gaze. Lyra held the cold liquid in her mouth. The painful, strong aroma felt like it was instantly numbing her tongue.
She quickly swallowed it down her throat. As she frowned at the burning sensation, she heard a chuckle from across.
“You seem like a natural drinker.”
For a moment, heat rushed to her face at his low murmuring voice. In reality, it was an ill-fitting comment for someone who tasted bitterness before the sweet fruit aroma even in wine, yet strangely it sounded like praise.
As she tried to take another sip with courage, Kaylon dissuaded her and rose from his seat.
“That’s enough.”
After briefly leaving his seat, he returned with a wine bottle and a new glass. He immediately uncorked it, poured the dark red liquid, and pushed the glass toward Lyra.
“This should be enough for you.”
Silence followed for a while. Lyra stole glances at his peaceful face as she sipped the wine he had poured.
When would he speak? Despite saying he had something to talk about, the Duke seemed to be thoroughly enjoying this time. Sometimes even covering his mouth with his hand and laughing.
‘He seems to be in a good mood.’
His gradually relaxing eyes were pleasant to see. Enough to lift her spirits as well.
“You did well, Lyra.”
“Pardon?”
She almost dropped her glass at the sudden praise. Lyra met Kaylon’s gaze with round eyes.
“You were quite impressive today.”
“…”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Aren’t you… disappointed?”
“Why should I be?”
Kaylon held her gaze intently, as if genuinely believing so. Laughter still hung around his eyes, though he seemed unaware of it.
“It was childish behavior.”
“Should you maintain courtesy even toward comments that insult you?”
“How did you know…”
At the time, Davira Claudia hadn’t raised her voice enough for others to hear. She had whispered quietly and calmly, but with a clear tone, only for Lyra to hear.
Yet the Duke spoke as if he already knew. When Lyra gave him a questioning look, Kaylon changed the subject as if it were nothing significant.
“Well. If it were me, I’d ask about something else first.”
“…”
Apart from the incident with Davira Claudia at Duke O’Neill’s mansion, there wasn’t anything particularly problematic. Though she might not have been a perfect lady, it was a remarkable performance for Lyra Norris.
As her brow furrowed in thought, suddenly the memory she had forcibly pushed away revealed its faint outline, almost visible yet not quite.
Simultaneously, Lyra’s face turned red. The image of him kissing the back of her hand in front of many people made her heart race again. She had the illusion that the soft sensation she had felt then was reviving on the back of her hand once more.
“Why aren’t you asking? Are you planning to marry me for real?”
Her hesitation was evident as she fumbled with her lips. Kaylon gazed at her steadily, waiting for an answer.
“It’s not real. I thought it was meaningless.”
“I’m glad my lover isn’t a fool, but…”
Golden eyes hidden in darkness touched his red lips before quickly moving away. He lowered his gaze to the hand of the woman who understood the situation all too well.
“Do you think Davira Claudia will give up just like that?”
A long-aged red wine filled the empty wine glass.
“…I don’t know.”
Another glass was filled with rich-colored whiskey, its vivid hue bright.
Quietly watching Kaylon’s actions, Lyra felt her throat burning for some reason. It was a symptom that returned when she thought of Davira Claudia. She quickly emptied her glass.
“Let me make one thing clear.”
Lyra, who had been recalling Davira leaving the ballroom in tears, looked up. His warning-like voice cut off her thoughts.
“It would be better not to be deceived by that woman’s tears.”
Lyra quietly gazed at the golden eyes flickering in the light. She was amazed at how the Duke seemed to have read her thoughts.
“Foxes are animals full of tricks.”
As his low, cool voice dissipated, a soft smile soon hung at the corner of his lips.
“In that sense.”
Kaylon poured more wine into Lyra’s glass. He filled his own glass as well and raised it.
“Let’s toast to a successful debut.”
With each sip of the thick, strong liquid disappearing into his mouth, his masculine Adam’s apple bobbed in rhythm. Lyra, who had been watching quietly, belatedly took a sip of wine.
Perhaps because she had taken one glass after another, the effects of alcohol gradually rose. Judging by how frequently she rubbed her eyes, she should have gotten up by now, but she still wanted to stay by the Duke’s side a little longer.
As he said, today was her first debut stage. And even if not perfect, she had defeated Davira Claudia. So shouldn’t she celebrate today as he suggested?
Lyra barely swallowed the emotions that were about to turn gloomy. Then she quietly filled her glass and emptied it in one breath.
Whew—. Her throat was dry, yet her mouth felt like it was becoming drier. Now her hand moved before he could refill her glass.
Lyra sipped wine as she gave appropriate answers to Kaylon’s questions.
“…would be good.”
“…Yes.”
The liquid in her glass swayed from moment to moment. Her heavy eyes blinked intermittently.
“Lyra.”
The voice calling her seemed to come from far away. Or was it close? But why was he sighing?
“…ra.”
With her name called one last time, her consciousness abruptly cut off.
