Chapter 40 - A Short Night’s Outing (2) (1/2)

Ch. 40 A Short Night’s Outing (2)

She stared at Carlisle with a startled expression.

“Are you sure? If you’ve never hidden your identity and you don’t wish to…”

“If you want me to hide my face, then I cannot refuse you.”

Elena wondered if Carlisle had some hidden agenda, but she didn’t sense an intent to mislead her. And contrary to what he said earlier, he also seemed to have decided to disguise himself under the cloak. And somehow…

The two were close enough that they could feel each other’s breaths at the slightest exhale. She was frozen on the spot, unable to move. After a moment’s hesitation, Elena decided to do as he wished, at least to escape his simmering gaze. With faintly trembling fingers, she grabbed the hood behind Carlisle’s neck and drew it over his head, concealing his handsome face and only barely revealing his sharp jawline. Carlisle was now disguised just as she originally planned, but she didn’t realize she it would be by her hands.

“…Is that enough?”

The concealment of Carlisle’s intense blue eyes allowed her to released her halted breath.

“I think so, Lady.”

Elena felt a blush spread up to the tips of her ears when he addressed her in that way.

“Please don’t say that.”

“I thought I’d try pretend to be a slave gladiator who fell for the daughter of the Count.”

The visible part of Carlisle’s face was caught in a sly smile. He seemed to be following Elena’s example when created a setting of love at first sight at a ball. Despite his mischievous tone, however, his blue eyes, dimly visible beneath the robe when he looked at her, were serious and subdued. There was a peculiar heat in his gaze towards Elena.

“If the scenario were rule, I would have won every gladiator contest for you.”

“…I am grateful for your words.”

Winning a gladiator contest was far from an easy task, but strangely, his words did not feel like a joke to her. Elena was left confused. Carlisle was an enigmatic man. Every time Elena met him, her curiosity about him seemed to grow. She still hadn’t figured out why his arm turned into that of a monster’s. She still had a few other questions as well.

“Shall we go then?”

Even when cloaked, Carlisle’s figure was darkly imposing.

“…Yes,”

She replied curtly, then headed again towards the exit of the building. Neither side was one to talk much, and there was not much conversation left to be shared. This was only a short night’s outing of them walking silently. Elena never had a night so strange.

*

*

*

“Who is this?”

As expected, the family knights were wary of Carlisle’s large, cloaked appearance, and Elena blocked any questions they would have.

“I know him personally. We will travel together to the front of the inn.”

Without listening to the knights’ responses, Elena opened the carriage door and gestured Carlisle inside. Elena’s deferential manner made the knights reconsider speaking out. They could see the stranger was a man, but because his face was hidden, they could not identify which family he came from. The knights could not protest easily at risk of disrespecting someone of high rank.

After a moment’s hesitation, the knights soon stepped away from the carriage without a word. They couldn’t disobey Elena’s order, and the carriage ride was only a short distance anyhow. It was determined he was no threat to Elena’s safety.

The Blaise’s carriage was designed to keep conversation inside, so long as the window was not opened. However, Elena couldn’t help but lower her voice as she spoke.

“Do you feel comfortable?”

“…Yes.”

The carriage somehow felt cramped with Carlisle inside. Was it because of his long legs? The carriage wheels began to turn and rattle as the carriage moved forward, and Elena looked straight at the other passenger. His face was obviously concealed by the hood, but she could feel his gaze resting heavily on her.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”

“How did you know I was looking at you?”

“If you stare at me that hard, I can tell no matter if you’re wearing a cloak.”

“Really?”

Carlisle’s mouth curved into a mocking smile beneath the hood before continuing.