An Early Engagement - Chapter 18
[It seems you find this party boring…]
“W-well, not really. This masquerade is an event that every noble in the capital looks forward to.”
[Then, is it because you couldn’t find the partner you wanted?]
“My partner is—”
Shirley bit her lip mid-sentence.
[Your partner is?]
The man looked at her as if waiting for her next words. His expression was completely hidden behind the mask, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking. Shirley swallowed dryly without realizing it.
“My partner… is here.”
Saying those words felt unexpectedly difficult, as if a thorn had suddenly lodged itself in her throat.
[I see. Did you meet them here?]
“No, he’s my fiancé…”
[Then where is your fiancé now?]
“I don’t know. And I don’t want to know…”
Shirley found herself answering the rapid-fire questions almost involuntarily.
[Is he not treating you well?]
“Damian is… a good friend. A very old one.”
At her words, the masked man fell silent for a long moment.
[That sounds like you don’t see him as a man.]
Once again, his words struck a nerve, and Shirley quietly clutched the hem of her dress.
“It’s not that… It’s just that we’ve known each other for so long. Maybe Damian feels the same way. We’ve been connected since before we were born. In a way, we’re closer than blood relatives. I think it’s fine. We know each other so well, we’re comfortable, and…”
As she rambled on, Shirley suddenly glanced at the man, who had gone quiet. Had she spoken too much? Did he even understand…?
“I’m sorry. Was I speaking too fast and too much? Anyway, Damian and I have no issues between us.” Shirley forced a bright smile, though she could feel her lips trembling slightly. Suddenly, the man took a large step toward where Shirley was standing.
[Closer than blood relatives, you say? Then I suppose this wouldn’t be possible.]
For a moment, Shirley’s eyes widened in shock.
“What?”
Instead of answering, the man pulled her closer and guided her to a corner of the balcony. Into the deep darkness, where no light could reach.
“What are you doing?”
Before she could even cry out, Shirley was enveloped in complete darkness, and something soft and warm pressed down on her.
It was the man’s lips.
“Huh.”
The man, who had partially removed the mask covering his face, parted Shirley’s lips and roughly invaded her mouth.
With one hand gripping both of her arms, the man began to taste her lips at his own will.
His tongue, like a tyrant, explored her mouth, rubbing against her moist mucous membranes and wrapping around her tongue to suck on it.
This… this was something she had never even done with Damian.
A blazing fire ignited in her mind.
No, no.
She twisted her body, but the man slid his leg between her struggling thighs, pushing her even harder against the wall.
Trapped between the wall and the man, Shirley had no choice but to endure his kiss.
“……!”
The man’s leg, wedged between her thighs, began to press firmly against her. It was undeniably intentional.
It was an unmistakably deliberate movement.
“Ah, no…!”
She shook her head frantically, but her cheeks were cupped firmly in his hands, leaving her no choice but to surrender her lips.
Shirley, unable to push him away, was forced to endure his relentless kissing for what felt like an eternity. Her body kept jerking involuntarily under the pressure of his leg pressing insistently between her thighs.
**Boom.**
Suddenly, a loud noise echoed nearby, and the surroundings brightened. Tears blurred her vision, making it hard to see the man’s face clearly.
Realizing that the man was adjusting his mask, Shirley took advantage of her freed hands and shoved him away with all her might.
Without a second thought, Shirley turned and fled in a daze. She ran into the garden, not daring to look back, focusing only on getting away. What if someone had seen? What if, what if…
How far had she run?
**Thud.**
The sound of footsteps behind her made her heart feel like it would burst. At the same time, a hand wrapped around her waist, and she thrashed wildly.
“Let go!”
She kicked and flailed, but it was futile.
“I said let go!”
As she shouted, a familiar voice reached her ears.
“Shirley.”
“……”
She stopped struggling and turned to see that it was Damian who had caught her.
He had chased after her, his mask askew, his hair disheveled, and his clothes in complete disarray.
“It’s me.”
“Ah…”
Shirley stopped resisting, her face filled with emptiness. As she did, her dangling feet, still suspended in the air, began to feel embarrassingly awkward.
“……Can you put me down?”
At her words, Damian obediently set her down. But as soon as Shirley’s feet touched the ground, she stumbled, and Damian quickly steadied her.
“Does your foot hurt?”
“…I don’t know.”
“Hop on.”
Without another word, Damian knelt in front of her, offering his back. He even stretched his arms back, waiting, but Shirley showed no sign of climbing on.
“Shirley?”
“I can walk. Being carried by my fiancé is just too embarrassing.”
At her words, Damian reluctantly stood up.
“Tell me what you’re upset about, Shirley.”
“Upset? About what?”
Feeling unnecessarily defensive, Shirley hesitated and stepped back.
“You’ve been like this all along. If you want to be upset, that’s fine. But give me a chance too. If I’ve done something wrong, I need to fix it…”
“No, no, no, you idiot!”
Shirley blurted out her words in a burst of frustration. She was furious at her fiancé, who remained ridiculously kind even in this situation.
Who was it that had just been kissed by a stranger in his arms? Why was *I* the one getting angry?
“Shirley.”
And why… why is Damian the one apologizing to me?
Shirley looked at Damian, who stood tall in front of her. He looked as though he might burst into tears at any moment. And she was the one who had made him feel that way.
She felt like she had become a terribly cruel and wicked woman. But what could she do?
It seemed like she was about to say something even worse.
“Can we… postpone our wedding a little?”
“……What?”
Damian furrowed his brow, as if he thought he had misheard her.
“I said, let’s postpone the wedding.”
“……”
Realizing he hadn’t misheard, Damian’s face turned pale with shock.
“Why?”
His voice was cold, carrying a hint of frost.
“Just… I need some time to think.”
“Think about what?”
Damian’s voice dropped low, but Shirley, who had finally voiced what she’d been thinking, didn’t have the time to consider his reaction. It was like an old habit.
Since childhood, it had always been Damian who took care of everything for Shirley. What she was thinking, what made her uncomfortable—things like that.
Shirley had always just spoken her mind and acted on her feelings, never needing to consider Damian’s emotions or thoughts.
So, she could casually suggest postponing the wedding without a second thought. She didn’t even consider the shock it would cause Damian.
And so, there was no reason to hesitate before saying the next thing.
“Look, even though we were engaged from the womb, I don’t think we *have* to… go through with the marriage.”
“……”
