An Early Engagement - Chapter 30
What was absurd was Damian’s reaction.
Contrary to her expectation that he would blush or stutter in embarrassment, he was handling the women with an extremely calm demeanor.
He didn’t accept their offers, but he responded in a gentlemanly manner, staying just polite enough to not be rude. Shirley could hear his composed replies clearly.
His ability to draw that fine line only seemed to make the women more eager. They clung to him, trying to pull him along, promising to show him a better time, even attempting to link arms and drag him to their spots.
Every time a woman tugged at him, the fruit wine in the cup he held sloshed dangerously, threatening to spill.
Seeing this, Shirley charged straight toward Damian.
“Shirley.”
Damian smiled at her as she approached, but instead of smiling back, she slapped the cup out of his hand.
*Thud.*
The wooden cup fell to the ground, spilling all its contents, and rolled away before coming to a stop. Shirley didn’t wait for it to stop rolling before she turned and ran.
“Shirley!”
She heard his voice calling from behind but didn’t stop, continuing to run.
*Idiot. Stupid.*
*Thud, thud, thud.*
Shirley ran out of the central square and kept going. But it didn’t take long for Damian to catch up to her.
“Let go!”
Her arm, which she had tried to pull away, was caught, and she ended up being held tightly from behind by Damian.
“I said let go!”
His grip was firm, almost like a restraint, leaving Shirley unable to move.
“No.”
Damian said this as he lowered his head and buried his face in the nape of Shirley’s neck. The hot breath that spilled onto her neck made her panic, and she thrashed even more violently, like a bird caught in a snare.
“You… idiot!”
She huffed angrily, but it was no use.
“I’m still not letting go.”
Unlike Shirley, who was completely out of breath, Damian’s breathing was steady. It didn’t even seem like he had been running.
Frustrated for no reason, Shirley stomped hard on Damian’s foot.
“…Shirley.”
He let out a short sigh as his foot was crushed, but he didn’t show any sign of pain.
“Why are you acting like this?”
“You’re asking why? If you like those women so much, why don’t you just go play with them…!” Shirley almost spat out the words before clamping her mouth shut. She nearly bit her tongue in the process.
What kind of ridiculous thing am I saying?
I sound like some pathetic, jealous fiancée just because he talked to a few women.
“I’m sorry, Shirley.”
Damian, as usual, was the first to apologize.
“I shouldn’t have bothered with pointless politeness. I should’ve come back to you sooner.”
“……”
His arms tightened even more around her.
“Forgive me, Shirley.”
Shirley swallowed hard, saying nothing. She was grateful that Damian couldn’t see her face right now. It was probably one of the most pitiful expressions in the world.
“Let me go.”
Shirley tried her best to speak as calmly as possible.
“If I let you go, where will you go?”
“I can go alone.”
“You can’t go alone. Do you even know the way? How far you have to walk? It’s already dark, and there might be wolves on the path trying to eat you.”
“……Am I a child?”
“Shirley, sometimes I see you as the age you were when we first met.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“So let me take you. It’s dangerous to go alone.”
Shirley fell silent for a moment. As she clenched and unclenched her hands, Damian buried his face deeper into the nape of her neck and nuzzled her.
It was like a puppy trying to charm its owner. It was a habit he had whenever he apologized to her or tried to cheer her up.
The sensation of his soft, golden hair tickling her neck felt nice. But Shirley tried not to show it, steadying her voice.
“……Fine.”
As if granting a great favor, Damian let out a sigh of relief at her reluctant agreement.
“Let’s go.”
Finally releasing his tightly wound arms, Damian took Shirley’s hand. His grip was firm, as if he were worried she might run away again. Shirley found it absurd.
As they walked to where the horses were tied, neither of them spoke.
Every time the scene she had witnessed earlier resurfaced in her mind, Shirley had to suppress the surge of emotions. It was an involuntary reaction.
She couldn’t see Damian’s expression as he walked ahead, holding her hand.
Did he think of her as a childish kid? His comment about seeing her as the age she was when they first met kept bothering her.
“Damian doesn’t have an older sister or a younger sister. Maybe he thinks of you like a little sister.”
Is that really it? But if that’s the case… who would kiss someone like that? If I asked him if he could kiss me like that, he’d probably be horrified.
While the questions she couldn’t bring herself to ask Damian tangled chaotically in her mind, Damian led the horse over and lifted Shirley onto the saddle in one swift motion. Then he mounted behind her, and they began to ride down the moonlit path.
Suddenly, she remembered the time she met Seyden at the masquerade ball.
Was that how Damian felt when he saw me then? What did Damian feel about those women? Did he really feel nothing at all?
As they rode, the questions she wanted to ask only grew, but not a single one made it past her lips.
By the time they arrived at the villa and dismounted, her head was on the verge of exploding with unresolved questions.
As soon as she got off the horse, Shirley brushed off Damian’s hand as he tried to help her.
“…Shirley.”
Damian looked at his hand, which had been awkwardly pushed away, and let it drop to his side.
“Don’t follow me this time.”
“……”
“And the festival isn’t over yet. Go enjoy it more. With those women.” With that, she hurried off to her room.
She couldn’t bear to look at Damian’s face, to meet his eyes, because she had no idea what she might say.
The tangled mess in her chest and mind showed no signs of unraveling.
Just a while ago, when she had followed Damian to the festival, she had been in a good mood. But now, returning like this, it felt like a heavy stone had been placed on her chest.
*Thud.*
Shirley closed the door behind her as she entered the room. Her mood was at its worst.
