Chapter 53 - I’ve Fallen (1) (1/2)

Ch. 53 …I’ve Fallen (1)

Elena and Carlisle finished their meal then left the restaurant. She felt a chill on her skin as she stepped from the warm building into the cool night, and took a deep breath and savored the fresh air. Unlike when they first arrived here, Carlisle’s men were nowhere to be seen. However, she could still perceive them with her sharp senses.

“…Please.”

Carlisle opened the carriage door and helped Elena in as usual. He had turned very quiet after Elena had thrown the fork at the dart board. There was an unreadable expression on his face, as if the chaos of his thoughts left him unable to speak.

However, Elena pretended not to know how Carlisle felt. She was the protector, not the one to be protected. Regardless of his feelings, it didn’t change the meaning of the word. If there was an arrow that flew at him at this moment, Elena would throw herself in front of him without any hesitation. There would be absolutely no confusion regarding that.

Elena silently stepped inside the carriage.

Hiing–

A horse whinnied hotly into the air. Her heart yearned to run on horseback on a cool night like this, not sit inside some stuffy carriage. However, she had dedicated herself to the role of a noblewoman and had to suppress her desires.

Elena glanced at the horse with longing eyes and then turn her eyes back to the carriage.

Tak!

Carlisle shut the carriage door without saying anything, then strode away from Elena.

“What…?”

She was about to ask about his mysterious behavior when he replied with a nonchalant look.

“Don’t you want to ride?”

“Oh, I thought about it for a moment, but…”

“Then say so. You speak well, but sometimes you express yourself strangely.”

“…”

“Just tell me what you want to do, not what you have to do.”

It was a shocking statement for Elena, who herself had a strong sense of responsibility. What she wanted most was to save her family, even if that meant abstaining from everything else.

“I’m fine. No matter how late it is, I can’t be seen out in the open with you.”

Their identities were hidden while they were in the carriage, but out in the open on horseback was different. Carlisle and Elena could not ride together to the mansion this way.

Carlisle ignored her and barked an order into empty air.

“Bring my horse.”

Then, amazingly, someone appeared from the forest, holding the reins to a massive black horse, larger than any normal horse. Elena could tell that it was a fine steed.

Carlisle mounted the horse with practiced ease then held his hand out to Elena.