Chapter 35: Suddenly?
Classie’s face flushed as she stole glances at Kishin, then lowered her head.
“You’re like a flirt, Sir Kishin.”
“I’m not.”
“But you seem like one. How could you say something like that…”
Classie squirmed shyly.
Kishin noticed how red her ears had turned.
Worried, Anna peeked at the situation from the window, then shook her head and quietly stepped away to give them space.
Classie, who had been curling up like a rope, straightened up instantly when Kishin gently held her arm.
“I only said I missed you because I did.”
“You said you think of me once a day.”
“The truth is… I think of you many times.”
“!”
“I said once so it wouldn’t burden you.”
Classie stared up at him in a daze, and when she felt a silly smile coming on, she quickly bowed her head again.
“Do you only think of me once a day, Miss Classie?”
“I… I don’t think of you just once a day.”
“Then you’re the flirt, Miss Classie.”
At that very moment, Merran, who happened to witness the scene during her walk, ground her teeth and sneered internally. Look at these two naive fools, flattering each other like they’re seasoned lovers!
Classie hadn’t noticed Merran watching her.
But sharp-eyed Kishin instantly sensed someone’s gaze and looked toward where Merran stood.
Caught in his gaze, Merran faltered slightly. His eyes were cold.
Most people acted friendly and warm when they saw Merran, a stunning beauty. Very few looked at her as coldly as Kishin just had.
And it wasn’t just her imagination—Karen, standing behind her, muttered softly,
“Did Miss Classie say something bad about our lady to Sir Kishin? I don’t know why that man is glaring at her like that.”
Classie, who had been lowering her head, finally noticed Merran and quickly composed her expression.
Seeing this, Merran seemed to decide she had no choice but to step closer.
“Sir Kishin, did you come to see my aunt?”
She looked momentarily surprised, but a relaxed smile soon returned to her lips.
Though his gaze remained cold, Kishin politely greeted her.
“Yes. Have you been well, Miss Merran? It’s been a while.”
Merran burst into a bright, lilting laugh and hooked arms with Classie.
“I hope I’m not interrupting your date. I was just out for a walk and ran into you two by chance, so don’t think of me as inconsiderate.”
Classie wasn’t sure if Merran had really come here by chance or if she had forgotten her promise and was once again here to interfere with her romance.
Because of that uncertainty, Classie’s expression briefly twisted before smoothing out again—and Kishin noticed the change right away.
Realizing this, Kishin made his stance clear while still keeping polite.
“I won’t interrupt your walk, either. Please, go ahead and continue.”
“!”
He was clearly telling her to leave. Merran’s face turned just as red as Classie’s—but for a completely different reason.
Until now, everyone who had shown interest in Classie had also been kind to Merran. Even if they didn’t fall for Merran’s seduction, they were still polite.
Since Merran was Classie’s niece, it was only natural for people to be kind to her.
But now that Kishin was acting so cold, Merran felt humiliated.
Karen, who had been sneaking glances at Kishin’s handsome face, also sighed inwardly. So the rumors were true—Sir Kishin’s personality really is the worst. Now I see why.
Classie let out an awkward laugh. She had already experienced Kishin’s blunt remarks several times before—particularly when he misunderstood her.
Merran looked at her aunt with pleading eyes, hoping Classie would scold Kishin and take her side.
But Classie, lost in thought, only shook her head slightly.
‘Crazy woman! A man is more important to you than your own niece?’
Seeing this, Merran’s anger flared. She let go of Classie’s arm and strode off. She was so upset that she didn’t even say goodbye to Kishin.
Karen followed her and asked in a small voice,
“Miss, isn’t Sir Kishin close to Lord Dernick? Are you sure it’s okay to just leave like this without saying anything?”
That only made Merran angrier, and as soon as they reached a deserted spot, she burst out in protest.
“You saw how that redhead ignored me! And you want me to smile and say hello to that?!”
“Even if the other person was rude, does that mean we should be just as rude? Especially when we’re the ones in the weaker position.”
“I don’t feel weak at all! Lord Dernick has eyes—he’ll know what kind of temper his friend has!”
Karen sighed wearily.
“Anyway, the rumors were true. Sir Kishin has perfect credentials, but his personality really is something. Do you think Miss Classie actually likes a man like that?”
“Aunt’s gone crazy trying to get married. She’s been running around like a starved hyena, desperate to snatch anyone. Now that she’s found a prime target, she’ll do whatever it takes to sink her teeth in. Do you think she even sees his personality? Honestly, Aunt is great in every other way, but when it comes to men, she completely loses her mind!”
Well, that’s only because you’ve always sabotaged her love life… Karen thought silently, but she didn’t say it out loud. She was on Merran’s side no matter what, so she had no reason to defend Classie.
* * *
Classie’s ears started to itch.
‘Merran’s probably talking behind my back.’
In truth, Classie had seen the look Merran gave her, silently pleading for help.
But Classie had deliberately stayed quiet.
One reason was that Kishin had spoken up for her, and it felt wrong to scold someone who had done that for her.
The second reason was that she didn’t want to defend Merran and then sit down to have a nice little chat as a group.
If Merran were just a normal, average niece, that might’ve been fine. If she were even just a neutral niece, it wouldn’t have been a problem.
But Merran had a long history of interfering in Classie’s romantic life.
Even so, once Merran was gone, Classie didn’t feel entirely good about it. She felt a bit conflicted.
And something else gnawed at her just the same.
‘Does Sir Kishin think I’m cold-hearted? That I just sat by while my niece was being humiliated?’
“Do you dislike me because I was rude to Lady Merran?”
But unexpectedly, Kishin was the one who voiced a concern similar to Classie’s first.
When Classie widened her eyes in surprise and looked at him, Kishin met her gaze with a look of concern.
As their eyes met, warm and gentle, the worries Classie had moments ago vanished in an instant, and she ended up blurting out her thoughts in excitement.
“I was worried about that too. I thought you might think badly of me because I didn’t side with Merran. I guess we were thinking the same thing.”
As Kishin’s lips curled into a smile, Classie couldn’t help but laugh along.
Kishin extended his arm, and Classie placed her hand on it.
Walking closely side by side into the house like that, Classie felt a sudden rush of giddiness.
With this man, she felt sure—no matter what kind of interference Merran tried to cause between them, he would never be swayed.
* * *
Kishin had initially come by just to take a walk together, but since there were guests along the path, he said he’d prefer to talk somewhere quiet.
It was clear Kishin didn’t want Merran—or anyone else—interrupting their time.
Classie quickly took him to her room.
There, the two briefly exchanged updates and asked how the other had been. Even though they had already exchanged letters in the morning and knew nothing major had happened, they both pretended not to know that.
Soon, the conversation naturally shifted to Greengall City, which Classie had briefly mentioned at the end of her letter.
“Even if you leave now, by the time you arrive in Greengall City, the New Year’s Festival will be over. Do you really have to go?”
It was clear that this had been the real reason Kishin had come to talk. He asked carefully.
And what he said was true—today was December 23rd, and the New Year’s Festival was from December 31st to January 1st.
Classie fidgeted with her clasped hands before confessing.
“Actually, the festival is just an excuse. My second sister is due to give birth around that time and asked me to come.”
“Ah.”
“She said it would be nice to have a female family member there to help, but Mother is abroad. And she can’t really ask her sisters-in-law, right? So she’s calling me.”
“Then you might end up staying longer than expected.”
“Yes. Even if I only help for a month, with the travel time, I’ll be away for nearly three months. And if my sister insists I stay longer… it could stretch out even more.”
As she spoke, Classie began to feel gloomy.
Two years ago, she had been called upon in the same way—to help take care of her sister’s newborn twins for three months.
Back then, the reason was the same: “Mother is abroad, it’s awkward to order around my mother-in-law, I don’t have sisters-in-law, and even though my sisters-in-law live nearby, I can’t ask them. So you have to help.”
Merran had accompanied her but firmly drew the line, saying it wasn’t her job to take care of their cousin’s children.
Feeling stifled, Classie let out an unconscious sigh.
‘I’ve finally started getting closer to Kishin, but if I’m gone for three months… he might change his mind about me in the meantime.’
That small sigh was enough of a clue for the perceptive Kishin to grasp what she was feeling.
Since he had come intending to talk her out of going to Greengall City, Kishin felt he had an opening and spoke with more courage.
“Surely your sister has close maids with her, doesn’t she? I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary for you to go.”
“Honestly, I don’t want to go either. But she’s family—how can I refuse?”
“She’s family, yet she shamelessly demands that her younger sister, who lives nearly 1,580 miles away, come wait on her.”
“!”
Kishin was the type to draw a clear line, even with his own family. He also knew that others didn’t always see this kind of attitude in a good light.
So Kishin held back much of what he truly wanted to say about Classie’s second sister and instead shifted his approach.
“Forgive me. I spoke honestly because the thought of not seeing you for three months upset me.”
Classie’s heart fluttered at the word “honestly” and she asked,
“Do you want to be with me?”
“Yes.”
Kishin was always direct—whether insulting someone or reaching out to them.
Classie’s lips twitched, and she turned away, not wanting to smile at him like a fool.
“I feel the same. I want to be with you too.”
When she whispered that, Kishin slowly approached from behind and hesitated as though about to reach for her.
Classie waited for him to gently embrace her from behind—but instead, Kishin lowered his hand and stepped around to face her.
Standing directly in front of her, he asked again,
“Can you not go? I want to be with you.”
Classie fidgeted with her fingers and toes. She really did want to stay with Kishin and leave her not-so-favored second sister to handle things on her own.
But if she didn’t help out, her parents would be disappointed. And losing their favor would be a huge disadvantage for Classie.
Even though it was clear how she felt, Classie couldn’t answer right away.
Seeing this, Kishin eventually relented.
“It seems I’ve made things difficult for you. You should go. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable because of me.”
But even as he said that, Kishin’s voice betrayed a hint of disappointment.
Noticing it right away, Classie hastily spoke up.
“Then… marry me.”
“!”
* * *