MAC 16

Chapter: 16

Patrick turned his back on the noise of the ballroom and stepped out onto an empty terrace.

Leaning against the stone railing, he pulled a cigarette case from inside his jacket and lit a cigarette. As he took a long drag, the tightness that had been constricting his chest all evening finally seemed to loosen a little.

He rarely smoked under normal circumstances, but whenever he attended a society gathering, Patrick always made sure to bring a cigarette case with him.

Either to relieve some of the suffocation he felt, as he did now, or to have an excuse to leave the room, even if only for a little while.

Earlier, when Dominic had led him into the private room, Patrick had immediately recognized Eugenia Norton and was about to turn around and leave.

Just seeing her face had brought back memories of their last tea party, making a wave of exhaustion wash over him.

But then…

“Oh.”

Dominic handed him a glass of champagne and whispered quietly.

“That’s Beatrice Somerset. Looks like she came in after being chased by reporters.”

“Somerset?”

Patrick’s eyes shifted toward the blonde young lady sitting right beside Eugenia Norton. When he realized that she was none other than Mr. Greenleaf’s niece, his curiosity was piqued.

“She’s incredibly pretty, but apparently her personality isn’t all that great. She can’t even hide her expression right now. Not very ladylike, you know.”

While Dominic continued to ramble uselessly, Patrick carefully observed her.

Well, as for having a bad personality…

“…I think I’d make that face at Eugenia Norton too, if I were her.”

There was something rather unpleasant about the way Eugenia Norton was making such a fuss. Beatrice Somerset, on the other hand, looked extremely uncomfortable.

“By the way, I heard she came back after graduating from art school. Haven’t seen her in ages.”

Dominic whispered with a grin.

“She might get along pretty well with you, too. She’s famous for being a bit of an oddball.”

“An oddball, huh.”

Patrick gave a bitter smile and raised his champagne glass.

…And not long afterward, the incident in question occurred.

Patrick brought the cigarette between his fingers back to his lips. He inhaled deeply, and the glowing ember briefly flared brightly in the darkness before the white smoke drifted away helplessly on the wind.

He didn’t know whether he had done the right thing.

He wasn’t certain that what he had done was truly correct. Had he only made things more difficult for her by abruptly storming out of the room?

It wasn’t that he had spoken up for her. The words had simply come out because he couldn’t stand the atmosphere. If he had possessed even a little less patience, he might have thrown a punch.

“Haa.”

Patrick extinguished the barely smoked cigarette with a firm press and let out a low sigh.

How tiresome. What pathetic people.

And yet, on the other hand, he felt oddly reassured by the thought that he wasn’t the only one who drifted around like an outsider in a society built entirely on appearances.

Was that why?

By tomorrow, his mother would probably hear about what had happened and give him quite an earful, but he didn’t particularly regret it.

Well, somehow, things would work out.

The heat in his head had more or less cooled, and Patrick straightened his clothes before heading back inside. Dominic would probably be waiting near the ballroom, and it was about time to see whether the crowd around the director had thinned out.

It was just as he entered the corridor and rounded a corner.

“Ah!”

He nearly collided with someone coming from the opposite direction, but the other person seemed to recognize him as well and stopped.

A water-blue dress, an ostrich-feather fan. Large green eyes and blonde hair that shimmered softly even in the dim surroundings…

“Oh, Viscount? Hello.”

The moment Lady Somerset looked up at him and blinked, Patrick involuntarily swallowed a short breath.

The eyes staring directly up at him happened to be a deep, vivid green. Patrick Bennett loved that color more than anything in the world, a shade reminiscent of damp moss.

“I’m Patrick Bennett. About earlier… I apologize for the discourtesy.”

For some reason, he felt heat rising to the back of his neck, and Patrick stammered out his greeting.

“What are you talking about? I’m the one who should be thanking you.”

She smiled brightly, lightly covering her mouth with the tip of her fan. Patrick’s gaze lingered briefly on the corners of her eyes, which curved gracefully like half-moons.

“Well, it wasn’t anything particularly impressive. I simply empathized with you.”

“It meant a great deal to me. Thank you.”

Unlike Lady Somerset, who answered immediately without hesitation, Patrick kept finding himself at a loss for words.

It was strange.

The noise of the ballroom suddenly seemed to fade into the distance, and he could even feel the faint texture of the yellow gaslight settling over the walls.

And their breathing…

The narrow corridor had become strangely quiet, quiet enough that he could hear the breaths of the two people facing each other.

“Well, then…”

Thanks to Beatrice breaking the silence first, Patrick snapped out of the strange spell and came to his senses.

“Have a pleasant evening, Viscount. I hope to see you again.”

Just as Beatrice left him with a smile and was about to walk past him, Patrick’s gaze suddenly turned toward the ballroom.

She was Lady Somerset, and she was also Edward Rockwell’s niece. If that was the case…

“Um… Lady Somerset. May I ask you for a favor?”

“Yes?”

The words slipped out before he could stop himself, halting her steps. Lady Somerset slowly turned around and stared at him.

“What is it?”

“Ah, well…”

His thoughts became a complete mess. Patrick quickly gathered himself and cleared his throat.

“I actually…”

“Please, go ahead.”

It was simply because he wanted it so badly.

He hadn’t been trying to use some sort of trick. What he had done earlier in the private room was absolutely not because Lady Somerset happened to be Mr. Greenleaf’s niece, nor was it because he had been drawn in by Lady Somerset’s strikingly beautiful appearance.

He simply wanted the chance to meet Mr. Greenleaf, even if only once…

Yes, he would ask.

Overcoming his embarrassment, Patrick summoned his courage.

“If it isn’t too much trouble, could you introduce me to Director Edward Rockwell?”

“My uncle?”

There was a hint of caution mixed with curiosity in her eyes. Patrick took a deep breath and spoke carefully.

“The truth is… I’m conducting this kind of research.”

Patrick pulled out the research paper he had tucked under his arm and held it out slightly. He hadn’t expected her to read it right away. He simply felt the need to prove that he wasn’t making some frivolous excuse.

“What is this?”

With eyes full of curiosity, Beatrice quietly scanned the densely packed charts and forms. Her fingertips, covered in white lace gloves, lightly brushed against the neat leather cover as she smoothly turned the first page of the research proposal.

He had handed it over casually, assuming it would serve as little more than an introduction or calling card, but unexpectedly, Lady Somerset began seriously reading Patrick’s research proposal.

What on earth was going on?

His heart pounded wildly on its own. Trying to conceal his excitement, Patrick stared intently at her face as she skimmed through the documents.

No matter how he looked at her, there was no sign of boredom or ridicule.

Only genuine interest.

“Wow.”

A quiet exclamation soon escaped Beatrice’s lips.

What?

Did she actually understand the contents?

Patrick watched her reaction carefully, half doubtful.

“Hmm.”

Because she was wearing white gloves that reached to her elbows, the papers kept slipping, so Patrick hurriedly reached out to take the research paper back.

But she didn’t seem to care. She continued turning through his work, page after page, completely absorbed in it.

His research proposal, filled with Latin scientific names, cross-sections of cells, and densely packed charts.

“So, you discovered a new species of plant?”

“Yes… That’s right.”

“That’s amazing. My uncle will definitely love it.”

When she finally smiled brightly and handed the paper back, Patrick asked in a dazed voice,

“Do you… happen to know much about plants?”

“Of course! I love them! Come with me. I was actually on my way to see my uncle, too. I’ll introduce you to him right now.”

Beatrice answered without hesitation and gave him a warm glance.

Patrick was so overwhelmed that, for a moment, he couldn’t even speak.

Until now, whenever he had presented this research proposal, the responses he received had been nothing more than puzzled looks asking, ‘Why this topic of all things?’, brief snickers, or subtle dismissals questioning whether this was even worthy of being called research.

Still feeling bewildered, Patrick hurried after Beatrice as she walked ahead of him, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.

“…Thank you so much. Truly.”