Chapter 88
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 88
Oscar was like a magnet drawing iron. The moment he appeared, the nobles hovering outside the exhibition hall began to drift toward him.
"It's His Excellency, Marquis Reinhardt."
"His Excellency is here?"
Yet none dared to call out to him, choosing instead to whisper amongst themselves. It was just as these quiet murmurs coalesced into a low buzz that a new sound cut through.
"Brother?"
A bright, clear voice filled with anticipation pierced the air, reaching Seo-ah's ears. From beyond the Lily Arch, a woman more radiant than any lily came running out. She paused for a moment before the arch, her face lighting up like a prospector who had just struck gold in a barren desert.
At her appearance, the whispering ceased as if by magic. A melodic silence settled over the space, only to be broken by a voice so cheerful it sounded as though it had never known a single day of sorrow.
"Brother!"
The call, brimming with pure delight, made everything clear.
Gathering the skirts of her long dress, Sabine ran toward Oscar. In a single breath, she closed the distance and threw herself into his arms. Oscar's black suit was instantly enveloped by her golden shawl, which shimmered like spun light.
If a black sun and a golden sun were to take human form, this is what they would look like.
"Sabine."
They were clearly siblings.
Seo-ah felt as though she were trespassing on a private moment. It reminded her of childhood, of peering over a wall on a bright summer day. The giggles drifting from the other side would dance on the sunbeams, and her secret observation would always end the same way—by being caught.
Just like now.
The moment her gaze locked with Sabine's violet eyes over Oscar's shoulder, her heart plummeted. The little girl from the past, the one who would instantly duck behind the wall, was still alive somewhere deep inside her. I want to disappear.
But once you were spotted, running away was never that simple.
"Seo-ah!"
That smooth, cheerful voice arrested Seo-ah just as she was about to flee. Its bright tone felt like a chain, binding her in place.
"Seo-ah!"
Insulting words, disdainful stares, and mocking laughter.
Her entire day had been filled with such things, yet she had felt neither wronged nor sad. She hadn't even found their insidious sneers disgusting. After all, she harbored a heart far blacker than their petty schemes, concealing intentions much worse than their malice. She was a far greater monster than any of them.
Their words and laughter had no reason to hurt her. So why, then, did a call as bright and warm as the sun make her throat tighten like this? The only thing that had changed was that he was here. That was all.
"You should say goodbye before you leave, shouldn't you?"
Her throat felt as dry and cracked as a parched field. Every breath she drew through it stung.
Seo-ah bit her lip and turned around. It felt as though millions of invisible needles were pricking her skin. A desperate, overwhelming urge to vanish seized her.
She had no time to figure out whether this panic was triggered by Sabine's sunlit call or the unexpected appearance of the man beside her.
As she offered a polite bow, Sabine's clear laughter rang out.
"Alright, take care!"
Seo-ah felt Sabine turn away. The man, along with the towering, statue-like guards following him, moved away as well.
"Brother, you should have told me you were coming! Though, I'm still thrilled you're here. Today..."
Sabine's voice drifted further away, eventually swallowed by the background music. Only then did Seo-ah slowly straighten. Her body, which she hadn't realized was so heavy, now felt like waterlogged cotton.
She turned to leave.
As she took a step toward the stairs, her eyes met those of a man who had been standing there for who knows how long.
It was Abel, his expression grim.
Perhaps being naive to the ways of the world meant she was simply incapable of reading the room.
"Abel, I'm sorry."
The petite woman standing before him was a complete wreck. Her hair, once styled so neatly that not a single strand was out of place, was on the verge of unraveling, as was the red ribbon tied in it. Her clothes, of course, were utterly disheveled.
"I'm sorry."
Abel's lips parted, but no words came out.
"For what?"
The voice that slipped out, his first in hours, sounded incredibly raspy and cold, even to his own ears. Damn it, not like this.
As they descended the stairs, Abel stole a glance at her face. It was heavily shadowed, wearing a look of profound exhaustion. And what on earth had she done to her lips?
What exactly are you sorry for?
Fearing that opening his mouth would only lead to more harsh words, he looked away. He needed to compose himself. If there was one thing Abel Sting excelled at, it was controlling his expressions. In an instant, the tension melted from his face, replaced by a charming smile.
He reached out a hand to Seo-ah as she walked down the steps.
"If you're really sorry, want to hold hands?"
Her brown eyes, which had been glued to the floor, slowly rose to his outstretched palm. Under her gaze, his hand felt strangely ticklish. He clenched and unclenched his fist, gave it a little wiggle, and then playfully fluttered his fingers as if running them across piano keys.
Her neat eyelids, framed by thick lashes, fluttered. Abel Sting didn't miss his chance.
"In Luxen, holding hands is the standard way to show you're sorry."
Her gaze finally drifted from his palm to his face. Abel gave his hand a shameless wag, cutting her off before she could protest.
"Don't ask me what holding hands has to do with being sorry. Who am I to question the profound wisdom of our ancestors?"
"..."
"And if you don't want to hold my hand, then don't say you're sorry either."
"..."
"Wow, I'm hurt."
Abel pouted, feigning heartbreak. Seo-ah stared at him in disbelief before finally letting out a faint, sigh-like chuckle. His grin only widened.
Matching her pace, he walked beside her down the crimson-carpeted stairs.
He didn't want to thank her. No matter how he looked at it, it would have been better if she had just stayed out of it. Yet, he didn't want to hear her apologize either. In truth, he simply didn't want to talk about what had happened at all.
"If you don't want to hold hands, how about a piggyback ride?"
"No, thank you."
"Come on, let me carry you."
"No, really, I'm fine."
"Just lean on these broad, mountain-like shoulders of mine. Imagine the looks on everyone's faces."
"They'd think we're crazy."
"They'd die of envy, you mean."
The disheveled woman finally managed a slightly wider smile.
It was late evening. The department store was quiet, save for the top floor where the exhibition was being held. Even so, the Backup Team maintained a fierce, vigilant watch. Abel escorted Seo-ah to a prepared carriage. Once inside, he handed her a blanket.
"Lean back and get some rest. The roads are congested, so we'll have to take the long way around."
Soon, the carriage rattled to life. As Abel watched the Backup Team disperse through the window, Seo-ah suddenly spoke.
"The people wearing hats with white feathers… and red jackets. Did you see them?"
"The Royal Guard?" Abel asked, his eyes still fixed on the window.
"The Royal Guard?" she repeated.
"Yeah."
"Do you know where they went?"
"Where else? Back to the Royal Palace, most likely. They're the King's Royal Guard, after all."
Abel finally turned from the window to look at her.
"Why do you ask?"
"No reason… I was just curious."
Sitting demurely, Seo-ah wore an unreadable expression.
A brief silence fell between them.
For the first time in his life, Abel felt completely at a loss for words.
'I bet you would've looked beautiful in that dress today. Want to come back tomorrow?'
Are you kidding? As if she'd ever want to think about that dress. Would you want to come back here if you were her?
'If something like that happens again, just stay out of it. It's not like you can do anything, anyway.'
God, what an idiot.
As Abel mentally shot down his own thoughts one by one, a dark, festering question bubbled up from deep within his chest.
What did those noble bastards do to you?
Shrouded in the shadows of the carriage, her eyes were hidden from view. Only when a passing streetlight illuminated her face could he see her lips, bitten raw and bleeding.
"Why did you chew your lips to pieces like that?"
The harsh words slipped out before he could stop them. Seo-ah turned her head away, tucking her lips inward. Abel squeezed his eyes shut in frustration.
He was acting like a complete fool. Where on earth had the legendary charmer, Abel Sting, gone?
He rubbed his face in exasperation before speaking again.
"Ask Barbara for some ointment. It's purple, but it works wonders."
"I will."
"Don't skip it just because of the color. Or… do you want me to put it on for you?"
"No."
"You always say no," Abel grumbled, turning his gaze back to the window.
The carriage was taking a massive detour on purpose. Since they had drawn so much attention today, the Backup Team was taking precautions to shake off any potential tails.
Staring blankly out the window, Abel stole another glance at Seo-ah.
The heavy wooden wheels rattled over the cobblestones. Faint, sporadic beams of light filtered through the window, washing over the exhausted woman.
Her thick eyelashes fluttered softly. Gradually, the gentle movement slowed. Like a butterfly settling down to rest, her lashes trembled at longer and longer intervals until they finally stilled. By then, the carriage was winding its way along the outskirts of Luxen.
As he watched her sleep, the playful grin slowly faded from Abel's face. He stared at her quiet form, then dragged a hand down his face.
"Sigh…"
It had been an exhausting, painfully long day.
*
Sabine, who had been walking arm-in-arm with Oscar toward the arch, turned back when he suddenly stopped. Her brow furrowed as she followed his gaze.
The mysterious bridesmaid, who had looked so enchanting just moments ago, now appeared completely disheveled, as if she had just been through an ordeal. Sabine shot a fierce glare at the young noble libertines standing nearby.