HBTF 8

Chapter: 8

The Promise to Meet, The One Who Left

[I must have caused you a lot of inconvenience.

Even so, you caught me when I fell from the window and even carried me to my room. I sincerely thank you. If you don’t mind, I’d like to treat you to a meal as a token of my gratitude. Could we perhaps meet tomorrow at Rochez on Driblue Street? I have plenty of free time, and since Sir Kishin is a busy man, I’d like to adjust to your schedule. Please come at any time that is convenient for you.]

Kishin did not show the letter. However, since Dernick kept trying to read it, he had no choice but to summarize its contents briefly.

“She wants to meet tomorrow.”

Dernick whistled teasingly.

“Impressive. You helped her for just a moment, and now you’ve captured the heart of a beautiful lady.”

Without a word, Kishin folded the letter and put it back into his wallet. He neither said he would go nor that he wouldn’t.

Dernick did not ask him, “Are you going?” either. He had been friends with Kishin for a long time. He knew him well. Kishin wouldn’t go.

The handbag arms dealer was clearly not a noble who had lived in the royal capital, given that she had not yet heard the rumors about Kishin.

Kishin Hayward had rejected every woman who had ever pursued him. As far as Dernick knew, the number exceeded seventy.

* * *

After soaking in warm water, Classie could move her legs again. However, she was still not light on her feet as she usually was.

Anna brought her an indoor cane, her eyes brimming with tears.

The accident nine years ago had left such a lasting scar on Classie. Yet, people only twisted her story for their own amusement. Every time Anna saw her legs, it pained her heart.

As Anna’s eyes welled up, Classie deliberately changed the subject in a cheerful voice.

“Anna, that man who carried me earlier—wasn’t he really handsome?”

Fortunately, it worked. Anna’s tears vanished, and she coolly evaluated him.

“What’s the use of a handsome face? They say there isn’t a single decent person in the palace guards. Don’t bother paying attention to him, my lady.”

But I already sent a letter. Classie fidgeted with her cane, feeling awkward.

Earlier, inside the secret room, she had found Kishin’s black wallet and agonized over it for quite some time. It took her less than three minutes to retrieve the wallet, write the letter, and slip it inside. But she had spent over fifteen minutes debating whether to do it.

Classie knew it. Kishin had no special interest in her. Carrying her had been an act of courtesy, nothing more. He had only helped because, as a knight, he saw someone struggling to walk.

Her letter would likely be ignored—just like every other time she had shown interest in a man.

And yet, in the end, she had written it.

She liked him.

It wasn’t just because he was handsome. She liked that he seemed unwavering, that he had his own center of gravity.

That silver-haired fool had immediately accused her of stealing his ID card on purpose, but Kishin Hayward had not been swayed by such words in the slightest.

That aspect of Kishin left a strong impression on Classie.

Just then, Merran returned, leaving Classie no time to think about Kishin any further.

“Anna, don’t mention that man in front of Merran.”

Classie urgently held onto Anna, who was about to go check on Merran, and pleaded.

“Oh my, my lady. Of course, I have to mention him. Because of that man, both you and Lady Merran went through such trouble. And yet, here you are talking about how handsome he is. I must tell her.”

“Anna, please!”

Only after Classie earnestly begged did Anna grudgingly agree.

“Fine. I’ll just say that some palace guards came by.”

Classie sighed in relief.

She didn’t know yet whether Kishin Hayward would reject her. But if he was going to turn her down, she’d rather it be because he wasn’t interested, not because Merran interfered and snatched him away.

When Classie and Anna went downstairs, Merran was taking off her outer coat and hanging it over her arm.

“What on earth is going on?”

The moment Merran saw Classie and Anna, she grumbled in irritation. It seemed she still didn’t know what had happened.

“The palace guards came by here too. You have no idea how startled we were.”

Anna replied with open displeasure.

Classie’s heart pounded as she looked at Anna.

Fortunately, Anna did not mention that among the guards was an incredibly handsome man and that Classie had shown interest in him.

“How is Auntie? Is she doing okay?”

Merran, after ranting about the palace guards while changing her clothes, finally asked about Classie.

“Yes.”

Merran scrutinized Classie’s face carefully. Determining that she seemed fine, she immediately began scolding her.

“Why did you go to the party alone? See what happened? Next time, take me with you from the start. That way, none of this will happen.”

Her attitude made it clear—she didn’t think she had done anything wrong. In her mind, the only mistake was Classie leaving her behind.

“That’s right! Next time, make sure to take Lady Merran with you, lady.”

Anna, oblivious to the underlying tension, chimed in cheerfully.

Even Merran’s maid, Karen, quietly nodded in agreement from behind.

Classie felt a lump rise in her throat.

She had told Anna many times how Merran constantly interfered with her romantic pursuits, but Anna never took it seriously.

Once, Anna had even said:

—Lady Merran just wants to protect you. She adores you like a mother. Please think of it as cute. In a way, it’s really quite endearing.

Classie hadn’t responded then.

And she didn’t respond now either.

“I’ll have something brought up for Merran to eat.”

* * *

The next morning, Classie woke up earlier than usual. It was still a time when even Merran and Anna were fast asleep.

When she went down to the kitchen, she found only one night-duty servant, dozing off at a table.

Classie quietly rummaged through the cupboards by herself.

Startled by the noise, the servant jerked awake and asked,

“My lady, are you looking for something?”

After grabbing a simple snack and returning to her room, Classie washed up alone, without calling for a maid.

Her legs were now completely fine—to the point where she could even dance.

She dressed in a yellow gown and draped a sheer yet elegant cloak over it. Looking in the mirror, she was satisfied with how lovely she appeared.

As soon as she stepped outside, the early winter breeze made her cloak billow. The cold sent a shiver through her body, but she didn’t go back in for extra layers.

When she woke the coachman at dawn, he groggily asked,

“My lady? Are you going out to freeze to death?”

As soon as Classie shot the coachman a glare, he shut his mouth and silently fetched a horse from the stable.

Inside the carriage, Classie huddled from the cold, bringing her hands to her mouth and blowing warm breath over them repeatedly. Though it was only early winter, stepping out at dawn made it feel freezing.

By the time she arrived at Driblue Street, it was no longer dawn, but even with the sun up, the cold remained relentless.

To make matters worse, the famous restaurant where she had asked Kishin Hayward to meet her was still closed.

Classie waited in the carriage for about thirty minutes, watching the shop door, until finally, a staff member stepped outside. She immediately got out of the carriage and turned to the coachman.

“You can tell people I went out, but don’t tell anyone where I went. Understood?”

“Not even Lady Merran?”

“Not even Anna.”

“Understood. I’ll follow your orders, my lady. What time should I return?”

“No need. I’ll take a hired carriage back.”

After the coachman departed, Classie stepped into the restaurant.

Inside, there wasn’t a single customer. The staff looked surprised to see a noble lady arriving so early in the morning.

Classie chose a seat right by the entrance, ensuring she was easily visible. Since she had no idea when Kishin Hayward would arrive, she planned to wait right there for him.

Kishin hadn’t outright refused her request when she had sent a messenger. That meant, at some point today, he would show up—even if only briefly.

* * *

When rejecting a suitor, Kishin Hayward was anything but gentlemanly.

From experience, he had learned that multiple polite refusals never worked on those in love. Instead, a single, cold and merciless rejection was far more effective.

Thus, he hadn’t even bothered sending a messenger to the Kalashi mansion. By the following day, he had completely forgotten about Classie and focused on his work.

Ironically, it was Dernick who remembered Classie’s invitation.

At five in the afternoon, just as it was time for dinner, Dernick went out of his way to find Kishin and reminded him.

“Aren’t you going to visit the arms dealer?”

Only then did Kishin recall the shyly written letter he had received the day before. But it didn’t change his decision.

“I’m not going.”

His response was firm.

“You sure you don’t want to just stop by?”

Dernick prodded him cautiously, but Kishin didn’t budge.

“If you’re so curious, you go.”

Kishin replied coldly, keeping his eyes fixed on the documents in front of him.

“Shall I?”

To Kishin’s surprise, Dernick accepted the suggestion immediately, as if he had been waiting for it.

Kishin, who had been ignoring Dernick and focusing on his paperwork, finally frowned and looked up.

“You’re actually going?”

He hadn’t meant it seriously. He had just wanted to shake Dernick off.

But Dernick grinned and lifted the pendant hanging around his neck—a necklace he had fashioned from the ring that his older sister, Mary, had given him ten years ago.

“The arms dealer is actually sister Mary’s younger sibling. And the young lady who was mistakenly taken in yesterday, Miss Merran, is sister Mary’s daughter.”

“Ah, the benefactor you mentioned. So, are you planning to go and repay your debt?”

Dernick simply shrugged before asking again.

“Either way, if you’re not going, I can go instead, right?”

Kishin thought for a moment before replying.

“Do as you like.”

Wherever Dernick went, trouble followed. But that strange friend of his was also steadfast enough to remember a favor he had received ten years ago for a lifetime.

At the very least, he wouldn’t cause any incidents with the family of his benefactor. Even if he didn’t help them, he wouldn’t make things worse.

* * *

After hearing from Kishin about the meeting place and time, Dernick was a bit surprised.

Classie hadn’t specified a time. The letter had only said she would be waiting.

He figured that she might have waited for a short while and left already.

That’s what most nobles would do. And if she still had any lingering attachment, she would have at least left a messenger behind.

Just in case, he bought a large bouquet and headed to the restaurant, but he was almost certain she wouldn’t be there.

However, she was still inside.

The moment Dernick opened the door, he spotted Classie.

It was impossible not to notice her. Not just because she was sitting in a conspicuous seat, eating cake, but because of the thirty empty plates stacked in front of her.

“How long has that glutton been here?”

Hiding his face behind the flower basket, Dernick asked a passing staff member.

“She arrived as soon as we opened and has been there ever since. Said she has an appointment. But if you ask me… I think she got stood up.”

Dernick was taken aback.

“Then she’s been ordering food every few minutes?”

The staff member gave him a dry look. Was that really the important part? Wasn’t it more surprising that she had been sitting there since the restaurant opened?

But to Dernick, neither detail particularly mattered.

Lowering the bouquet, he walked toward Classie.