Chapter 84 - Everyone Listen (2) (1/2)

After they were some distance away from the party, Carlisle, who had been following her without saying a word, finally spoke up.

“How far are we going?”

“Ah…”

She halted and looked around. They were somewhere around the grounds where the party took place, but this was Elena’s first time in this area. She walked without direction, and they ended up in a scene where purple lavenders bloomed and a wooden bench was provided for anyone who wanted to enjoy the view.

“Maybe I speak to you here?”

Carlisle nodded then gave orders to Zenard, who was following behind them.

“Don’t let anyone approach us.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Zenard bowed his head then walked away at some distance. His behavior was completely different from when she acted as Len the bodyguard. He always looked disapprovingly at her then, but the expression in his eyes now was one of envy.

Carlisle gestured with his eyes towards the wooden bench.

“Sit.”

As Elena approached the spot where he indicated, Carlisle took off his jacket and draped it on the bench. She paused. She knew from the beginning that Carlisle was extremely well-mannered, but the look in his eyes now was not the same when he looked at other people. Clearly there was some difference between the way he dealt with Elena and other women.

‘This gesture isn’t just for me, surely.’

She thought it strange if this behavior was reserved to only herself, so she shook her head and put her thoughts aside. That was not the point now. She wanted to know how Carlisle made his way all the way here.

“The rumors…when did you find out?”

“Not long ago.”

“Did you send Sir Kasha to me as soon as you heard? To make an appointment?”

“Yes. And then I came right away.”

She couldn’t imagine that that was it. She knew he was furious now, but how did he feel when he first heard the rumor? She paused for a moment before speaking.

“Lady Selby corroborated the times I was away from the mansion and based her rumors around that. I was afraid that you would expose my alibis–during the times when I first rescued you, when we went to see the opera, and when we went to Flower Bridge.”

Those were all the times Len was in action. If someone knew this they may start to piece together the evidence. However, there was no change in Carlisle’s expression, as if he already knew.

“Maybe. But no one else would think that your swordsmanship skills would be so good.”

“You should have told me in advance if you were going to reveal our relationship like this.”

She had put in so much work in preserving the story of the first meeting at the ball. She had sent Carlisle away when he met her halfway between the south and the capital city, and he bought a private box and rented out an entire restaurant to hide their identities. So far, the both of them had made the effort to give the impression that their first encounter was in the ballroom. But today Carlisle’s words had thrown everything into smoke. She was at a loss how to explain this to her family.

“I was just trying to hide our relationship, just in case my identity was discovered…”

“That would be the ideal situation. But if you have to choose between revealing your true identity and our marriage, then of course it would be marriage.”

“…Of course.”

“I don’t want your identity to be known, either. But will we let our marriage break down just because of these ridiculous rumors?”

“…!”

Elena couldn’t find herself to respond. The breakdown of the contract marriage would be the worst of all. That was why the rumors that Helen spread were so painful.

“You should have asked me for help as soon as you heard the rumor. You should have discussed how to handle this with me.”

“…”

She had never thought to ask Carlisle for help. She was still not accustomed to opening her hands to someone in an emergency.

“…I’m sorry. I didn’t think of that.”

She didn’t give any excuses with her apology. The contract marriage was not hers alone. The misconceptions could have hurt Carlisle as well.

“If you know something, tell me next time. I almost killed all the nobles at the party for you.”

Elena could not see the joke of the man’s head rolling on the floor. She shot him a serious look.