CH 52

"Have a seat."

Elliot led Ilya to the guest couch. After the two were seated, attendants came forward and served tea.

The baron's daughter lifted the teacup and brought it to her lips then glanced at Elliot.

Even the appearance of drinking tea is elegant.

Ilya lowered her head to cover her blushing face.

"Didn't Duke Honeywell or Rose think it was strange that you were coming to Proud Mansion?"

"That's fine. I've already taken care of that. I often went to the square. In order not to be seen, I had to get off the carriage at the plaza and walk all the way to the Proud Mansion."

Ilya watched Elliot's reaction. The man who had been silently drinking tea laughed a little.

Even that small smile made Ilya's heart beat faster.

Elliot and Ilya's eyes met as they both looked up.

"The distance of the mansion from the plaza must have been quite long. It looks like your face is red from hard work."

The barely subdued heat rose to her cheeks once again.

Ilya noticed that Elliot was deliberately making fun of her.

But I don't dislike it.

It's a great feat that I, and not anyone else, am so close to him that the one and only Elliot Proud jokes with me.

"Did you go with Wells yesterday?"

"Yes, the Duke of Honeywell got off work at that time, so I was able to go home with him."

"Right---oh yes, I have a favor to ask of Lady Titonsser. Do you remember what I told you about yesterday?"

Elliot stood up and took out a nicely wrapped box from the desk drawer.

Then he put it on the table and pushed it in the direction of Ilya.

"This...?"

"A gift to Rose in the name of Lady Titonsser."

Ilya admired the box with her eyes; the gift was finely wrapped and so perfect in appearance that it was a waste to even hold it with her hands.

Even if it's not sincere, I'm a little jealous of Rose, who receives a gift from Elliot.

Ilya decided to get rid of her emotions by asking for the contents, as if it would be that easy to overcome her jealousy.

"What kind of present is it?"

"A mirror."

"A mirror? May I open it?"

"That's not allowed."

As Ilya prepared to open the box, her shoulders trembled at Elliot's commanding voice.

His resolute voice was cold, as if addressing a stranger.

Ilya stared at Elliot without hiding her hurt feelings.

Duke Proud smiled calmly, as if he were not the one who had spoken harshly to her.

"Isn't Rose the owner of the gift? I hope you don't open it until Rose checks it first."

Unlike before, Elliot's voice had become soft and soothing to the ear.

It caused Ilya to feel irresistible pressure, so enticed, she nodded.

"Right. I---I will."

Ilya brought the teacup to her lips. Her hands trembled slightly.

It's embarrassing how I mistakenly thought that I was in a special relationship with Elliot, even for a moment.

The truth is, we don't even have a relationship like that yet.

Ilya held the delicate teacup in her hand when she let out a short exclamation as she thought of something.

"Ah...!"

"Hmm?"

Elliot tilted his head. After hesitating for a moment, Ilya pondered to herself.

... Shall I speak? Should I tell---wouldn't Duke Elliot get angry if I said this?

She had two options, each side fighting against the other, before her best course of action won.  

Ilya cautiously opened her mouth.

"Actually...I don't think anyone else has seen it, let alone Duke Honeywell, but Stanley Gardner was at the manor yesterday."

"Stanley Gardner?"

"Yes, he is... The man I had a crush on for a while."

Ilya didn't elaborate further on Stanley.

Still, Elliot shook his head as if he knew at once who she was talking about.

"The man who used Lady Titonsser."

"Ah, yes. When I wasn't there, he came to the mansion and confessed to Rose, but he came back to see if it wasn't enough to be kicked out."

"Has he confessed to Rose again?"

"No. Maybe it was late, so he hid behind a tree far away from the manor and watched."

Ilya stopped speaking. She stared at Elliot, who was waiting for more information.

Ilya was curious. 

Does Elliot really have feelings for Rose?

She felt that she should trust him. As he said, the engagement with her was just to get back the stolen goods.

After taking a deep breath, Ilya continued.

"So... Rose will be going out tomorrow, so I took the opportunity and told Stanley to confess again."

Actually, it's a lie. We only know that Rose's personal maid, Anne, is going to the post office today to send mail.

Rose might go out with her, but at breakfast she said she would rest at the mansion.

Even if Stanley, who believed her words, searched the capital for a hundred days to meet Rose, he would not find a single strand of Rose's hair.

Ilya prayed while examining Elliot's reaction. She hoped Elliot wouldn't respond. May he inadvertently believe her false story.

But Ilya's hopes were shattered like glass.

Elliot:s cold gaze, which Ilya had never seen before, froze her in her spot.

He didn't say a word. He just looked at her. Ilya couldn't move because his gaze made her feel like a frog in front of a snake.

"Ah---Duke... Sir..."

"Lady Titonsser, I can see that you have ill feelings for Rose. I have no idea what to say about it, but there's no reason for you to have any ill will towards her. But since yesterday, you've crossed the line enough to get on my nerves."

Elliot set the teacup on the table and stood abruptly.

Ilya's gaze followed his motion, and she tilted her head back.

She urgently called out to Elliot.

"Duke! Oh no! Actually, I just said---"

"Where is she?"

"..."

"Where has Rose gone?"

"Duke---that's not---therefore---"

Ilya opened her mouth, intending to tell the truth.

However, because of the mental pressure exerted by Elliot, words refused to leave her lips properly.

When Ilya muttered and repeated incomprehensible words, Elliot clicked his tongue and moved away from her.

"It would be quicker for me to find out for myself."

Thud!

The door slammed shut behind him with a loud thud. Ilya, startled by the sound, trembled.

Left alone in the drawing room, the baron's daughter stared blankly at the seat that Elliot had previously occupied.

Tears flowed from Ilya's emerald-green eyes. Her small hands gripped the hem of her dress until it crumpled in her fingers.

"...Duke too... Were you eager for Rose Honeywell too? You... me too? Were you trying to use me, too?"

Ilya bit her lower lip and stubbornly held back her tears as her gaze was drawn to the table.

The gift box Elliot prepared for Rose caught her eye. Upon discovering it, Ilya's eyes turned fierce.

Rose couldn't raise her head. 

She knew, deep down, that she was too scared to identify the person approaching her.

As long as there was a possibility that the other person, whether it was a stranger or an acquaintance, could be Stanley Gardner, there was only one decision Rose could make.

Let's run away.

Rose commanded her legs under her dress to move, to get ready to run at any moment.

And when the distance between her and the other person got closer, Rose jumped up and ran without throwing a glance at the other person.

However, even trying to get up and run away with force did not turn out as expected.

It was because her long, bountiful hair made it easy for the other person to catch her.

"Ahhh!!!"

Rose's body was pulled to the floor as the force of the violent tug ruthlessly put a stop to her escape. Rose was then able to identify the other person.

I wished and begged, again and again, but the other person was still Stanley Gardner.

"Rose. Why are you doing such a dangerous thing? I thought I was going to lose you forever, but I'm glad I found you again."

Crouching on one knee in front of the fallen young lady, Stanley closed the gap and hugged her delicate body tightly.

"Please! Please don't leave me."

Stanley gently brushed Rose's bruised and sore cheek, trying to kiss her lips, which were as red as her eyes.

"Go away!"

Rose finally came to her senses at the unfamiliar lips touching hers and frantically waved her arms madly.

However, that slender arm of hers was also caught by Stanley.

Stanley's voice rose.

"I love you so much, but why are you rejecting me?!"

"I do not need your love! Who needs the type of love you give?!"

"If it's not from me, no one will love you!"

Stanley's screams were ear-shattering.

Rose flinched in surprise at Stanley's shouting in front of her. He didn't stop talking.

"Duke Proud doesn't love you. So, I am the only one who loves you in this world."

"Why... What makes you so certain?"

"Huh? What do you mean? Do you mean, how do I know that the Duke doesn't love you? Haha! Are there people who don't know that? You are really great, too. What's good about a guy who doesn't even give you a glance? Why are you following him around like that?!"

Rose couldn't resist. She had no way of refuting her past actions. Her face turned red with shame.

The man in front of me knew---no, everyone knows.

Everyone knew of Rose's past---the past she desperately wanted to erase.

The old Rose Honeywell, who only foolishly pursued Elliot.

She opened her mouth slightly and took a breath.

"I don't care. That's a thing of the past. I will sever all ties with him, and when I return to the manor, I will tell my brother, and I will destroy you and your family."

Stanley cupped Rose's cheek. His hands caressed her cheeks, eyes, and ears, each of his actions drenched with sexual intent.

Rose glared at Stanley without batting an eye at the unclean touch.

Stanley, admiring Rose's face, sneered.

"That's stupid. Do you still want to go back to that manor? You don't even know what's there."

"...What?"

"You don't even know what you've got lurking there."

"What do you mean?"

Stanley's hand, which had been touching Rose's earlobe, ran down her delicate neck.

He leaned over and whispered softly into her ear.

"You didn't know? It was Ilya Titonsser who informed me that you were going to the post office today."

Rose's heart sank with a thump at the truth Stanley whispered to her.

She shook her head. 

I want to deny that, but why isn't my voice coming out?

No, it's not that my voice isn't coming out. I just didn't want those words to be spoken.

Rose recalled the past before she died.

Ilya attended the year-end party with Elliot. 

Then I came back to life, and I had that conversation with her.

"Ilya. You are... Are you going to betray me like that person?"

"I will not betray Rose."

Recalling that time, Rose was filled with hate.

I tried so hard to change the past somehow.

In front of me, you were pretending not to know anything, even making promises, and then stabbing me in the back like this.

Rose had always thought that maybe one day Ilya might betray her, so she tried to prepare, but when it came to reality, she could do nothing.

She couldn't stop Stanley's caress from turning blatant.

She couldn't stop the hand that caressed her lips.

Nor could her battered and exhausted body fight off the one that lifted her dress.

Her whole body became heavy, as if she were sinking into deep, cold water. 

Although she had never actually seen the sea, Rose vaguely thought that if she fell into the depths of the sea, she would be in the same situation as she was now.

Thump!

Rose's body fell backward. Unable to react to the psychological blow, she stared blankly at the blindingly clear sky. She struggled to move her eyes.

I have to push Stanley away. I have to! ... Why can't I move a finger?

Rose begged for someone to rescue her.

Help me! Please!  Someone! Brother! Brother! Your Majesty! Help me!

The moment she remembered Russell's face, Rose began to shed tears uncontrollably.