Chapter 115
Aiden hadn’t sent any letters since then. Every day, Raylenne checked for a letter, only to be disappointed. Each time, a mix of resentment and worry crossed her mind. She felt resentment that, no matter how busy he was, he hadn’t sent a single letter in two months. At the same time, she worried that something might have happened to him, preventing him from writing.
Today, Raylenne wanted to indulge in her melancholic mood, but unfortunately, it was her birthday, and she was busy from the morning. The maids were all around her, helping her prepare for the evening party. Janie took charge as a strict supervisor, directing the maids. Even as the maids combed her hair with enough force to hurt her scalp, Raylenne couldn’t stop thinking about Aiden.
‘Will Aiden show up someday if I keep waiting like this…?’ she wondered. Maybe something had happened, and it might be better to go find him. But there was no good reason to visit. If she went to the Bedeusian estate alone, the Duke would certainly find it odd.
“Oh my, my lady, don’t bite your lips. You’ll ruin the makeup,” a maid said, startled. Only then did Raylenne realize she had been biting her lips quite hard. “Alright, if I’m going to be this anxious, I should go see him first,” she resolved. The Duke might find it strange, but what did it matter? Waiting endlessly for a letter that might never come was unbearable. Raylenne decided that after tonight’s birthday party, she would head to the Bedeusian estate the next day.
With this decision, she felt more at ease and let the maids continue their work. As her preparations neared completion, carriages from other households began arriving at the estate. The carriages soon filled the entrance.
“There are so many guests,” she thought, watching the carriages absently. Then, there was a knock on the door.
“Raylenne, are you inside?” Caverion called out.
“Yes, brother,” she responded.
Caverion entered, looking particularly handsome with his neatly combed hair and formal attire. “It seems many people have come to celebrate your party,” he noted.
“Yes, I saw the carriages coming in.”
“They’re all very interested in you. So, make sure to pay attention to the guests.”
Not this again, Raylenne thought, unable to hide her discontent. Caverion continued calmly, “I’ve heard that Aiden hasn’t sent any letters recently.”
Raylenne frowned, suspecting there might be spies around her reporting to Caverion. “If there was good news, I’m sure he would have written to you,” Caverion continued. “Perhaps he simply has nothing to say.”
“Maybe something happened, and he couldn’t write,” Raylenne suggested.
“Aiden is an Awakener. Nothing dangerous enough to prevent him from writing could happen to him.”
“No, there must be another reason,” Raylenne insisted. “And… after the birthday party, I want to go see Aiden myself to find out.”
“You’re saying you want to visit the Bedeusian estate?”
Raylenne nodded firmly. Caverion rubbed his forehead, then slowly looked up. “That won’t do.”
“Brother, I need to know the reason so I can decide what to do about my feelings for Aiden.”
“The Bedeusian family doesn’t know what kind of relationship you have with Aiden. If you visit without a good reason, they will find it strange.”
“I can come up with a reason.”
They stared at each other for a moment before Caverion looked away. “Let’s discuss this again after the party,” he said.
It wasn’t a yes, but it wasn’t a flat-out no either. As Raylenne relaxed her tense expression, Caverion extended his hand. “It’s time to go down. The guests are waiting for the star of the party.”
Raylenne took Caverion’s arm as they entered the ballroom. The room was already crowded with people. There seemed to be even more guests than at the peace agreement party with the Bedeusian family. Raylenne couldn’t help but gape slightly as she looked around.
‘All these people came to celebrate my birthday…’ she thought. Of course, many were likely attending for political or social networking reasons, but outwardly, they were here to celebrate her birthday. That alone felt significant.
As Janie had mentioned, there were many young noblemen. Whenever Raylenne made eye contact with them, they shyly averted their gazes. Some, however, smiled or looked at her with confident expressions.
Caverion introduced Raylenne to the guests, who presented her with gifts and birthday wishes. After the long string of greetings, Caverion gave a brief congratulatory speech.
“Today, we have gathered to celebrate the birthday of my beloved sister, Raylenne,” Caverion said, his gaze warm as he looked at her. “We couldn’t celebrate her birthday in the past due to family circumstances and her health, but I’m very glad we can do so this year. I hope you will all join me in celebrating Raylenne’s birthday with joy.”
The crowd applauded. Caverion smiled lightly and approached Raylenne, who smiled back.
“Thank you, brother,” she said.
“It’s only something I should have done sooner.”
Soon, music filled the hall with a gentle melody. “Raylenne, I need to speak with the people from the royal palace for a moment. Don’t just stand around alone; mingle with the guests,” Caverion advised.
“Yes, please go ahead,” Raylenne replied.
Caverion patted her head and left. Despite his advice to socialize, Raylenne found herself standing alone, watching the dancers. The dancing, which hadn’t interested her much at the masquerade ball at the palace, now seemed enchanting under the chandeliers. The way the couples moved gracefully together seemed beautiful and impressive.
‘I’ve never danced with anyone before,’ Raylenne thought. ‘If Aiden had come to the party today, we could have danced together.’
If Aiden had come to the party today, they would have danced together.
Though it was pointless to feel regretful, Raylenne found herself vaguely thinking about it.
Aiden had promised a year, and it had only been about half a year since he left the Ergen duchy.
It was an unrealistic thought, but Raylenne imagined it anyway.
Aiden suddenly appearing today and dancing with her.
As Raylenne was lost in these thoughts, her eyes met with a noble man who had been lingering nearby.
Upon making eye contact, the man hesitated for a moment before approaching Raylenne with determination.
“M-Miss Raylenne!”
“Yes…?”
“Hello, I’m Benians from the Marquis Poclington family!”
“Oh… Hello.”
“Um…! If you don’t mind, would you dance with me?”
The man’s face was as red as a ripe apple.
Raylenne was a bit taken aback by the sudden proposal but replied politely.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been walking around, and my feet hurt, so I’d like to sit for now.”
“Ah… I see. I understand.”
The man, realizing this was a rejection, slumped his shoulders and disappeared.
However, several more men approached to ask for a dance afterward. Raylenne repeated the same excuse like a parrot, refusing each time.
‘Rejecting people is quite a task in itself.’
Raylenne slumped into a chair, lowering her head. She hoped that no one else would approach her now.
Contrary to her wishes, another shadow fell across her feet.
Raylenne inwardly sighed.
‘Who is it this time?’
If they had been nearby, they should have seen her consistently refusing to dance.
Just then, a man’s voice came from above her head.
“If you don’t mind.”
Huh?
The voice was familiar.
Raylenne wondered if she was hearing things due to excessive longing.
“Would you dance with me?”
A slightly stiff but low and polite voice. Raylenne quickly raised her head.
The man’s face, backlit by the dazzling light of the chandeliers, came into focus.
Raylenne’s eyes widened.
“…Aiden?”
Unlike Raylenne’s surprised expression, Aiden smiled calmly. His appearance seemed so distant that Raylenne’s eyes immediately welled up with tears.
It really was Aiden.
“Won’t you dance with me?”
As Aiden asked for a dance in such a dashing manner, Raylenne, as if enchanted, moved her arm and placed her hand on top of Aiden’s.
Aiden smiled like a mirage.
Raylenne, looking at the curve of Aiden’s lips, once again doubted if this situation was real.
Aiden led Raylenne to the center of the party hall.
As Aiden and Raylenne prepared to dance, people’s gazes converged on them. Aiden gently guided Raylenne in sync with the music.
Raylenne stared at Aiden’s face, barely aware of how she was dancing.
“…Why did you come to the party without saying anything?”
“I couldn’t tell you. I finally finished what I set out to do today.”
“What you set out to do?”
Aiden smiled charmingly, almost annoyingly so.
“Didn’t I say I would inherit the Duke’s title and come back?”
Raylenne’s mouth fell open weakly.
Aiden had said it would take a year. Yet he had finished everything in just half that time…?
“I learned a lot watching Caverion here. Things like exploiting people’s weaknesses and gaining power without anyone noticing.”
…Raylenne realized Aiden had learned some unsavory things from Caverion.
She could guess how Aiden had inherited the title of Duke Bedeusian.
He had used methods similar to Caverion’s. After all, Duke Bedeusian was just as shady as the previous Duke Ergen.
Still, what was impressive was that he had accomplished it much faster than Caverion.
“I’ve been busy trying to finish everything in time for your birthday. So please understand why I couldn’t send any letters.”
At his affectionate whisper, Raylenne felt a lump in her throat.
As the music ended, Raylenne and Aiden stood still in the center of the hall.
By then, everyone had cleared away from the protagonists.
All eyes were on Raylenne and Aiden standing in the middle of the hall. But the two, as if trapped in their own world, were oblivious to the surrounding gazes.
Aiden lightly kissed Raylenne’s hand and gazed at her.
“Lady Raylenne.”
Thump thump, Raylenne’s heart beat fiercely as if it would burst out of her chest.
“Will you marry me?”
Hot tears flowed from Raylenne’s eyes.
How fiercely and difficultly must Aiden have spent each day to come here and say these words?
Surely, there hadn’t been a single easy day for him.
She was truly grateful to Aiden for his efforts.
Raylenne laughed through her tears.
“Yes.”
Cheers and applause erupted from around them.
Aiden embraced Raylenne. She stayed in his arms for a while, shedding hot tears. Aiden patted her back gently.
“I love you, Lady Raylenne.”
“…”
“I wanted to tell you this in person.”
Raylenne hugged Aiden tighter.
It was an amazing and memorable birthday party, one she would never experience again in her lifetime.
In that moment of being overwhelmed with emotion, she thought of someone.
‘…Right, Caverion.’
Raylenne opened her eyes and looked for Caverion. When she found him, he seemed more composed than she expected, despite witnessing this scene.
As Raylenne smiled at him with tears in her eyes, Caverion responded with a weak smile.
Separating from Aiden, Raylenne gazed into his ash-gray eyes that were filled only with her.
Aiden was no longer the suffering male protagonist.
He was radiant and lovable just by existing, as if blessed by the entire world.
Raylenne, with an exceptionally bright smile from the rising happiness, said:
“I love you, Aiden!”
<The Male Lead Doesn’t Run Away>, End
