DHCYA 11

Chapter  11

How to End a One-Sided Love

Noah senior’s strange behavior continued all the way until the final day of the break.

He kept coming to pick me up, and like an idiot, I couldn’t refuse him. Honestly… what was I supposed to do when it felt good?

Wait—how did he even find out my schedule?

Anyway, two days passed like that, and with my mind still unsettled, the vacation began.

“How are we supposed to get through this?”

Any excitement about the break vanished as I stared at the crowd and clicked my tongue. With all grades mixed together, it was even more chaotic.

Carriages were swarming like a hive of bees in front of the school gate.

I looked around trying to find our family’s carriage, which was relatively modest, but I couldn’t see it anywhere.

“…What?”

Even after a long time had passed and many carriages had already left, ours still hadn’t appeared.

Did something happen on the way?

Without thinking much, I slipped my hand into my pocket. A letter was there.

“…No way.”

A sense of unease crept in as I forced a stiff smile.

With trembling hands, I unfolded the crumpled letter and squeezed my eyes shut.

I’ll send the carriage on the 27th. Love you, daughter!

“….”

Today wasn’t the 27th—it was the 26th.

My father had mistaken the date.

With a groan, I collapsed to the ground and pressed my forehead.

Ah… Dad.

“Hey, I’m doomed. Should I rent a carriage?”

“You won’t be able to. People have been renting them for days—there won’t be any left.”

At Dora’s reply, I bit my nails anxiously.

“Ah… Echo and Mallory… they’ve already left.”

“Then what do I do? Am I supposed to sleep outside?”

I pulled at my hair with a tearful expression.

Dora grabbed my arm and pulled me up.

“Hey, let’s take our carriage to the city gate first. We can find an inn there or rent another carriage.”

“Ugh…”

A sense of helplessness drained all the strength from my body.

I leaned weakly against Dora, letting out a hollow laugh—when a voice I’d grown familiar with reached my ears.

“Is something wrong?”

It was Noah senior. When did he get here?

“Ah—senior.”

I flinched for a moment and shoved the letter back into my pocket.

“You’re still here.”

I said, glancing at the Marquis Uriel family’s carriage that was already waiting.

“I was planning to at least say goodbye. I was looking for you.”

Blinking, Noah senior spoke.

“You’re still not leaving either. Did something happen?”

“Well, it seems our family carriage ran into some trouble on the way…”

I bit my lip quietly.

Looking down at me, the senior pointed toward his carriage and casually offered,

“Want a ride?”

“No, it’s alright. The Marquis Uriel estate is in the capital.”

I waved my hands in alarm.

If we had to go all the way back to our estate and then to the capital again just because of me, I’d feel too guilty toward him and the coachman—I’d probably want to jump out of the carriage.

“You’re very kind, senior. Thank you.”

Still, since he made such a generous offer, I felt I should at least express my gratitude. I smiled slightly and bowed my head.

Then, as my face darkened again with helplessness, someone tapped my shoulder from behind.

“Unnie.”

“Waaah!”

I rubbed my ears, getting goosebumps, and turned around to find the owner of the voice. My expression instantly cooled.

“What are you doing here again?”

Behind Arhan, who was smiling brightly, stood the carriage of Count Hiris’s family. Damn it—I was jealous.

“Looks like there’s a problem.”

“Hmm? It’s nothing serious. It seems our carriage just didn’t arrive.”

I fidgeted with my sleeve awkwardly.

Arhan tilted his head toward Noah senior.

“I see… but why is that person here?”

“‘That person’?!”

I panicked and smacked Arhan on the back.

How bold could he be? Leaving aside seniority, there was a status difference—how could he be so fearless?

I swallowed hard and glanced at Noah senior.

His face, which had always been unchanged—even when I confessed—was now faintly stiff.

Oh no. Did I really come off too disrespectful?

My face turned pale as I bit my nails nervously.

“Uh… I’ll go now.”

Unable to endure the suddenly heavy atmosphere, Dora quietly stepped away.

“I’ll see you when school starts again.”

Patting my shoulder, she boarded the carriage, and as the horses began to move, she watched us with great interest.

Oh, so now that she’s out, it’s fine for her?

I let out a dry laugh, pouting slightly.

“…Kate’s friend?”

Noah senior tilted his head slightly as he spoke. Even tilted like that, he was still handsome.

Wait—what did he just call me? Kate?

…Huh?

While I mulled that over, Arhan, who had shifted his gaze away from Noah senior, slipped an arm around my shoulder with a sly smile.

“Ah, unnie. I’ve got a great idea.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s take our carriage.”

Arhan pointed at his own carriage with one hand.

I covered my mouth and looked up at him with sparkling eyes.

“…Are you an angel?”

For a moment, it felt like white wings were fluttering behind Arhan.

Come to think of it—why didn’t I think of that? His estate was right next to ours.

“Hey, thank you. Come here. You’re my savior.”

After all, nothing is truly hopeless.

I hugged Arhan and patted his back. At this moment, he felt like my rescuer.

“By the way, what happened? Why didn’t your carriage come?”

As he escorted me to his carriage, Arhan asked with curiosity.

“I don’t know either. Maybe my father mixed up the date.”

What was there to mix up…

I shook my head.

“Oh, senior.”

As I was about to board the carriage, I turned back and nodded toward Noah senior.

“See you after the break.”

“…Yeah.”

It might have been my imagination, but he seemed slightly disappointed.

Still, how could I possibly take his carriage? We were heading in completely opposite directions.

I climbed into the carriage, straightened my crumpled skirt, and glanced out the window.

Noah senior was still standing there.

“Unnie, you’re really too much. Studying even here?”

“Reviewing is that important.”

I skimmed the underlined pages and replied half-heartedly.

Arhan, sitting across from me with his chin propped up and a sulky expression, snatched the book from my hands.

“Hey!”

I frowned and flailed my arms in the air. Arhan teased me by waving the book around like he was training a pet. I wanted to punch him.

That damn guy—when did he get so tall?

“You called me your savior. Play with me.”

“Give it back.”

After some struggle, I managed to retrieve the book and shot him a glare.

“Why are you so serious about grades, unnie?”

“Nothing wrong with preparing for the future.”

At my obvious answer, Arhan tilted his head.

“Worried about the future? If you really have nothing to do, marry me.”

I calmly closed the book with a thud and replied,

“Why would I have nothing to do? If you have nothing to do, come work as a servant. I’ll feed you.”

“Pfft.”

Arhan burst into laughter, covering his mouth.

“A future where unnie has nothing to do is just as unrealistic as that.”

“You never know what life will bring.”

“Well, that’s true.”

Arhan smiled with narrowed eyes.

“Why do you keep making your eyes like that? Can you not see well?”

Maybe your eyesight’s gone. You should get glasses. I had great vision at your age too.

I tapped around my eyes with a concerned expression.

“Your eyes are going to get smaller like that.”

“….”

Ignoring Arhan’s suddenly cold expression, I tossed the book into the corner of the carriage.

Rubbing my aching back, I muttered,

“How many hours have I been stuck in here? And I still have another full day to go like this.”

“Ow, my back hurts.”

“Your back hurts?”

Arhan tapped his knee lightly and chuckled.

“Then want to sit here?”

“No, I’m fine.”

I rejected him immediately.

He clicked his tongue, looking disappointed.

“You can sit if you want.”

“No.”

Picking up the book from the corner, I resumed reading.

Is he worried about me? That guy… kind of cute.

As I quietly watched him, Arhan suddenly let out a small laugh.

“Unnie, does your hair taste good?”

“Ah.”

I pulled the hair out of my mouth and laughed awkwardly.

Silence settled in the carriage again.

As I reread a slightly confusing concept, chewing on the tip of my pen, Arhan spoke again.

“Kate.”

“What?”

I looked up at him, surprised by the sudden nickname.

Arhan blinked and continued,

“That’s what that senior called you.”

“Ah… right.”

I nodded slowly, still dazed.

Why bring that up all of a sudden?

Come to think of it, he used a more formal tone this time. Good—at least he got the hierarchy right.

“Are you two close?”

His red eyes carried a rather serious look.

“Hmm…”

I frowned slightly and let out a troubled hum.

It didn’t take long to answer.

“…No.”

It was a bitter conclusion, but the one I had arrived at after thinking it through.

Due to the senior’s inexplicable behavior, I had seen his face quite a lot recently, but before that, aside from club activities, we had barely interacted at all.

“Then why did he suddenly call you… that nickname?”

I fiddled with my lips and tilted my head.

Arhan rested his chin on his hand and looked out the window, murmuring,

“I see… now I’m really curious.”