Chapter 10: Why Did He Call Me Instead of Her?
“Who sent me a flower basket?”
Classie’s hand slipped as she was peeling the mussel shells. She lifted her gaze to look at Merran.
Merran lazily propped her chin on her hand and yawned. She didn’t seem to be boasting.
“Really?”
Classie muttered nonchalantly as she recalled that silver-haired lunatic, Dernick.
She didn’t like Dernick. She didn’t care whether he sent Merran a flower basket or built her a castle out of flowers.
However, what she did mind was his timing. Why did he have to mention sending Merran a flower basket right when she had been dumped? He was truly a cruel man.
“It looked too expensive, so I sent it back. It was from someone I didn’t know, after all.”
Merran kept mumbling.
Well, it had looked like a high-end flower basket. Even in the dead of winter, it was overflowing with fresh blossoms. Classie nodded as she pictured Dernick’s extravagant gift.
“I see. That makes sense.”
“Does Auntie know who sent it?”
“How would I know that?”
Feigning ignorance, Classie resumed peeling the mussel shells.
If she acknowledged the flower basket, she’d have to explain that she had been dumped by Kishin yesterday. And she really didn’t want to bring that up with Merran.
“At first, I didn’t know either. But when I sent it back, I looked into it—and apparently, a man named Kishin was the one who sent it.”
But at those words, Classie’s hands, which had been moving steadily, came to a complete halt.
She quickly lifted her gaze. Her heart felt as if it had been struck, resonating like a great bell.
Merran was still idly propping up her chin, stirring her soup with a spoon. She didn’t seem to be boasting about stealing Kishin away.
That was certain. Merran had always treated the men she took from Classie like trophies, and she never spoke so indifferently when talking about them.
Classie’s mind raced. Then… What the hell was going on?
Wasn’t it Dernick who had sent the flower basket? Why had Kishin sent Merran a flower basket?
“He’s been showing interest in me ever since I visited the guards. I guess he must have fallen for me then.”
“……”
“He seems pretty capable. He’s still young, but he’s already the vice-captain of the 1st Platoon of the Palace Guard. I heard he’s famous for having no interest in women. Am I his first love? When I think of it that way, it feels like a waste. He was very handsome when I saw him before.”
Merran continued her monologue, though it was unclear whether she was boasting or complaining.
In summary: Kishin’s face is very much to my liking. But his personality seems a little strange. Also, sending flowers out of nowhere is kind of cliché.
Classie half-listened, letting the words drift in one ear and out the other—until she couldn’t stand it anymore. She put down her fork.
She had lost her appetite.
Now, she understood why Kishin had dumped her. And why Dernick had conveniently handed her a flower basket to deliver to Merran right after she had been dumped.
It was all a misunderstanding. When Merran had gone to the guards, Kishin had already fallen for her. And Dernick had known.
Otherwise, none of this made sense.
A dull ache bloomed in her stomach. Classie decided to stop eating. If she continued, she’d only make herself sick.
“I’m going to get up first.”
Classie stood, pouring hot water into her coffee cup.
“Why? Are you still feeling unwell?”
Merran immediately approached, placing a gentle hand on Classie’s forehead.
“You don’t have a fever. Should I call a doctor?”
Aside from a select few who were close to Classie, no one seemed to realize what Merran was doing to her.
No matter how openly Merran sabotaged her suitors, people dismissed it as mere teasing. Merran’s affectionate demeanor and warm, doting gaze played a part in that perception.
Classie herself was just as confused.
Even when no one else was around, Merran acted like this. As long as there wasn’t a man involved, she was always the kind and caring niece.
“I’m fine.”
Muttering, Classie took her coffee and left for the living room.
But as she climbed halfway up the central staircase, a sudden, loud pounding echoed from the front door.
‘Who could that be?’
Classie paused and glanced down.
The butler emerged from the study and hurried toward the entrance. When he opened the door, the person standing there was unexpectedly dressed in the uniform of the palace guards.
‘What now? Didn’t they already come to retrieve the identification badge?’
Classie stopped in her tracks, trying to guess what kind of misunderstanding had cropped up this time.
“What is the matter?”
The butler asked with a trembling voice, clearly concerned.
Hearing the commotion, Merran peeked out from beyond the dining hall’s archway.
The guard removed his hat and gave a brief bow before speaking.
“My apologies for startling you. I have come on Sir Kishin’s orders. He has instructed me to escort the young lady of this house.”
Kishin must have called for Merran.
Classie let out a short sigh and slowly resumed climbing the stairs.
From behind, she heard Merran’s voice asking, “Why is Sir Kishin calling for me?”
Just as Classie reached the top of the stairs, she decided to lock herself in her room for the next two days.
She had been rejected by men countless times. If she sulked for two days, she would get over it. No—maybe three days… perhaps even four. But it wouldn’t take more than a week.
“Are you Miss Classie?”
A voice from behind made Classie stop in her tracks.
Blinking, she hesitated before stepping back down a few stairs. Turning slightly, she saw the guard, the butler, and Merran all looking at her.
“!”
Realizing she had been caught eavesdropping, her face flushed with heat.
But she quickly straightened up and raised her voice, feigning indifference.
“I’m Classie.”
The guard glanced between her and Merran before speaking with a peculiar expression.
“The one Sir Kishin has summoned is Miss Classie.”
A rare look of surprise crossed Merran’s face. It was clear that she was embarrassed.
Classie felt equally uneasy. Kishin had sent Merran a flower basket and rejected her. So why was he now summoning her?
Whatever the reason, it didn’t feel like a good one.
“Tell him I’m not going.”
Classie quickly turned, intending to retreat to her room.
“He said he would wait until you come.”
The guard’s urgent voice made her pause.
Did Kishin expect her to refuse?
Glancing back cautiously, she saw that all three of them were still staring at her.
Even though she had done nothing wrong this time, her face burned again. Especially when she looked at Merran.
She had been in Merran’s position too many times to count. Merran was probably mortified right now.
“…I’ll get ready. Where are we going?”
After some hesitation, Classie decided to go.
She had to get back at Kishin for what he did to her.
She had to stand him up, just like he had done to her.
But still, she wanted to see him one more time.
“I’ll be waiting to escort you. Sir Kishin strictly ordered me not to make any mistakes this time.”
The guard grinned as he spoke, and Classie nodded before heading to her room.
As soon as she closed the door, she rushed around, pulling out all her prettiest outfits and laying them out on the bed and sofa.
She had no idea why Kishin had called her, but she wanted to look her absolute best.
She wanted him to regret what he had done.
‘I must have no pride’, she thought bitterly, but she couldn’t stop picking out clothes.
‘Pride only matters when it’s useful.’
Finally, she chose the perfect pink dress.
But just as she was changing into it, the door suddenly swung open, and Merran walked in.
Classie smoothed out her skirt and asked as casually as possible,
“What?”
But she couldn’t stop herself from looking at Merran’s face, as if drawn by a magnet.
She expected Merran to look angry—just as she herself had when she had been in Merran’s shoes.
But instead, Merran looked completely composed.
So composed, in fact, that it was unsettling.
Seeing that expression, Classie felt uneasy.
Why did she come here with that face?
What was she planning now?
“Auntie, take me with you.”
Of course.
Merran had come with a purpose.
The moment Classie heard her brazen request, she frowned.
“What? Why should I?”
“You’re just going to leave me behind?”
“You’re not a child. Can’t you stay home alone?”
Classie flatly refused and turned back to the mirror to fix her hair.
Merran moved beside her and snatched the pink ribbon from her hands.
“You’re going to wear a pink ribbon on top of all that pink? Auntie, people will say you’re being childish. You should dress with elegance—like a proper lady.”
Merran was smiling sweetly, but Classie knew she was upset that her request had been denied.
After all, Merran knew how much she loved pink.
She had always told Classie that her smile was as warm as spring and that pink suited her perfectly.
“You said pink looked good on me.”
“That was last year.”
“All my friends wear pink dresses with pink ribbons.”
“They don’t have nieces as old as me.”
Classie sighed. Here she goes again.
“I don’t see how my clothes are any of your business. You’re my niece, not my daughter.”
If her second sister were here, she would’ve scolded her for acting the same way.
But right now, it was just the two of them.
Her words hit the mark.
Merran’s expression turned cold, and she responded in a quiet voice.
“Auntie, you raised me. That makes you practically my mother. And you said yourself that even though Mom is your sister, she always felt like your mother, right?”
Merran sat on the sofa, refusing to return the ribbon.
Classie bit back a curse and said,
“In any case, you’re not coming. I don’t take bratty nieces anywhere.”
“Auntie, I’m not being petty. I’m saying this for your sake. Think about it rationally. Do you really think Sir Kishin called you because he wanted to see you?”
“What do you mean?”
“He called you to talk about me. About how I returned his flower basket. But if you show up all dressed up like this, what do you think he’ll assume?”
“!”
“Am I wrong?”
Merran confidently walked over and hugged Classie from behind, resting her head against her back with a smug smile.
“The only way to make sure you don’t look embarrassed in that dress is to bring me with you. That way, Sir Kishin won’t think you got all dressed up for him. He’ll just assume… you like wearing bright colors.”
Merran was already certain that Classie would take her along.
Unlike Classie, she didn’t even plan to change. She was confident that she could face Kishin just as she was.
Classie felt dejected.
Merran was right about everything.
In fact, from the moment she had learned Kishin had called her instead of Merran, something had felt off.
She just wasn’t as quick-witted as Merran.
But still…
“No.”
Classie firmly refused and bolted out of the room, dashing down the stairs.
“Auntie!”
Merran shouted after her, chasing her down.
But unless Classie’s legs were cramped, she was much faster than Merran.
Like a squirrel, she swiftly descended the staircase and burst out the front door.
“Auntie! Don’t leave me behind!”
Merran’s voice rang out behind her, but Classie didn’t stop.
Her swift steps came to a sudden halt only when she found herself face-to-face with two dumbfounded men.
She froze.Kishin Hayward and Dernick were staring at her, both wearing expressions that clearly said, What on earth are we witnessing?
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