Chapter 003
“Please don’t feel awkward; it’s not that significant of a lineage.”
Then he must not be from Raslet.
If Rowen is in the South, then the foremost power in the North is Raslet.
Although there were rumors that the influence of the Raslet family had diminished since the passing of the previous Duke, there was still no family as formidable as Raslet in the North.
If that man was not the new Duke of Raslet, then having a brief conversation with him should not be a problem. Just as I was thinking this, a question came back to me.
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask where you are from, milady?”
“I was born and raised in the capital.”
Though the Rowen estate was in the South, it wasn’t incorrect since my family had been residing in the capital’s mansion since before I was born.
Moreover, I didn’t want to reveal to a stranger that I was from Rowen.
It seemed that the man hadn’t noticed my family.
Unlike the rest of my family, who had the characteristic silver hair and golden eyes of the Rowen lineage, I had blonde hair and green eyes, so he likely couldn’t make the connection right away.
I wanted to enjoy the distance from my family that this stranger’s unfamiliarity provided, if only for a moment.
Although I hadn’t met many people, those I had encountered often changed their demeanor once they learned of my family.
Some kept their distance, fearing they might incur the wrath of Demian’s fiery temperament.
Others diverted their attention to Iswen or Demian instead of me.
At home, I was treated as less than a mere acquaintance, while outside, they pretended we were a very close sibling pair.
The two of them welcomed those who approached me as a stepping stone.
They were so kind that others would completely forget about my existence.
‘The reason others are kind to you is simple: it’s because you are a Rowen.’
On the day it was revealed that even my last friend, the daughter of a certain count, had actually been after Iswen, Iswen came to find me, looking at me with pity and said.
‘You are nothing without your family name. So if someone is kind to you, be suspicious from the start.’
But I didn’t want to be bound by those words even when facing someone who didn’t know me.
In reality, the man’s gaze was solely focused on me.
It felt like he was staring too intently.
“Um, is there something wrong with what I said…”
As I cautiously asked, noticing his dark gaze, the man shook his head.
“No, it’s not that.”
He slightly turned his head as if feeling awkward. His low and gentle voice gradually filled the air.
“My mother is from the capital, and it reminded me of the things she used to say while missing her hometown.”
“….”
“She often said that everything in the capital is so beautiful compared to the North, and seeing it today, I think some of it might be true.”
It sounded a bit bittersweet.
Perhaps it was because he was talking about nostalgia.
Nostalgia has a way of tugging at the heart.
Before the atmosphere became too heavy, I spoke up.
“Still, it seems like you can relate to your mother to some extent, so you must have found something you like about the capital.”
“If I say the capital itself doesn’t suit me, would you be displeased?”
His playful tone was evident in his question instead of a simple yes or no. It seemed he was also wary of the mood becoming too somber.
“No, I might not suit the North either.”
I couldn’t give a definite answer since I had never been to the North.
“Still, it seems your mother cherished her hometown a lot.”
“She was the happiest when she was in the past.”
After saying that, the man hesitated as if he realized something. It seemed he understood that his response didn’t sound very pleasant.
Wanting to lighten the mood, he took a few steps closer and bowed his head.
“I’m Den.”
It was probably a pseudonym.
In social circles, it was customary not to reveal one’s real name unless formally introduced. It meant he wouldn’t bring up this meeting as an issue later.
“Please call me Ella.”
Immediately after, I wondered if I had chosen a name too similar to my real one.
Considering my appearance and the name, he might deduce that I was lella Rowen.
However, Den seemed oblivious to anything amiss. He squinted slightly and called my name once.
“Ella.” The soft pronunciation fell from his tongue. My heart raced, perhaps because it was so close to my real name.
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask who you came with?”
“Oh, I came with my father.”
I hadn’t gotten engaged or married yet. I added this in a slightly smaller voice, and Den smiled lightly.
“I see.”
In the dim atmosphere, the way his eyes softened felt like a bird’s beak piercing my heart. The sound of my heartbeat echoed in my ears.
Such smiles are often meaningless, used as lubricant in conversation, yet it felt particularly significant.
Before it became too obvious, I asked him.
“And what about your companions, Den?”
“I came alone. Embarrassingly, I have no one to accompany me.”
“If it weren’t for my family, I would have found it difficult to find a partner as well.”
I had no friends, and the only person who could appear with me without causing a stir was Aiden, a member of the royal family.
It was customary for royals to enter alone unless they were accompanying foreign dignitaries or were engaged to be married.
My father would soon plan for me to enter with Aiden.
Thinking about the future, where I would be sold according to that intention, made me feel melancholic.
Did that show on my face? Den tilted his head slightly toward me.
“Are you worried about something?”
“No. It’s just… I’m a little stuffy.”
It would be more accurate to say I was scared, but I couldn’t express it straightforwardly.
He was kind, and we were having an enjoyable conversation, but the future was uncertain.
There was no guarantee that what I said to Den today wouldn’t reach Demian or Iswen tomorrow.
Den didn’t seem like a bad person, but he was still a stranger.
If he found out I was a Rowen, he might discard the light intimacy we had built and say something to Demian or Iswen, wanting to get closer to them.
As I bit my lower lip and looked down, lost in my chronic anxiety, I heard an unexpected suggestion.
“If you’re feeling stuffy, would you like to take a walk with me?”
“Excuse me?”
Surprised, I turned to him, and Den squinted his eyes again.
“I won’t insist if you don’t want to.”
His attitude showed he was listening carefully to me and trying to solve the problem.
The first emotion I felt was unfamiliarity.
I had never received such consideration when I was with my two brothers and father.
When I was with my family, what they wanted was more important than the situation I was in.
Once the surprise of experiencing something new faded away, my lips naturally curled into a smile.
It was surprisingly delightful and touching to have someone respect me.
Feeling much lighter than before, I said to him, “To go outside, we have to pass through the hall, which will attract people’s attention.”
“There is a way to get to the garden without passing through the hall.”
Den glanced down over the railing. It wasn’t difficult to interpret the meaning behind his gaze. He was suggesting we go out to the garden over the railing.
“But this is the second floor, isn’t it?”
“You don’t need to worry about that part.”
Before I could say anything, he jumped down from the railing.
“Den!”
I was startled and looked down, and in that moment, our eyes met.
Den’s eyes were blue.
They looked much darker than Aiden’s, but they were definitely blue.
Those deep blue eyes were shining much brighter than before. His handsome face was sprinkled with moonlight and mischief.
I found myself staring blankly at him when Den spoke.
“If you tell the servant to light the lantern before you come down, no one will notice that you’re gone.”
Only then did I snap back to reality.
As my rationality returned, I felt like a child enchanted by something beautiful. Was it obvious I had never had friends or dated anyone?
My embarrassment was palpable.
I spoke sharply to the man who was smiling up at me.
“Just wait right there.”
Then, as I turned my back to call a servant, I heard a soft laugh from behind.
That laughter made my ears flush involuntarily.
It felt as if the spring breeze of the following year had already arrived.
* * *
“How do I get down?”
I looked down at Den, gripping his jacket draped over my shoulder with one hand.
The railing was at a height that he could jump down from without difficulty, but I was much shorter than him and wearing a dress.
Den narrowed his eyes slightly, as if assessing something.
“First, please sit on the edge of the railing.”
I carefully perched myself on the outside of the railing, just as he instructed.
It wasn’t that high, but my spine tingled. It was the first time in my life I had sat on a railing.
Still, I wasn’t scared because I felt like Den below would catch me if I fell.
“What comes next?”
“Now, will you give me your hand?”
His words were somewhat formal, as if he were trying to be polite.
Though exaggerated, it didn’t seem ridiculous; rather, it hinted at mischief and ease.
As I reached my hand down as he said, he took it. I felt his warm body heat and firm grip.
My eyes widened at the unfamiliar sensation, and Den smiled, then pulled my arm firmly.
