The truth is that she was confused all day. Ever since she encountered him, she couldn't concentrate on her work, her heart was pounding so hard that she ended up having to run away from the office.
All day long she was tormented by one thought. Why was he trying to kiss her? Why was he looking at her with the same eyes as before? Why did he act like he still had feelings for her?
Honestly, part of her wanted to start over, relying on those eyes and attitude.
Then she denied it for so long, pretended not to notice for so long. This time she wanted to be the one to make the first move, to start the conversation.
But.
- They say this is the engagement of the century. That you two are the perfect couple.
Now everything was different. Ilex Davenport was no longer the second son of the Davenport family, and he was not alone. He was now the rightful head of the house, and he had a beautiful bride.
And then, as now, Tilia never intended to become a mistress.
“Honestly, I don’t want to join the chorus of words about how good you look together, so I’ll just congratulate you.”
Maybe he really came back, wanting to revive what they had.
Who could blame him? It was too strong a feeling to forget. For him this time must have been a precious piece of his brilliant youth.
But regardless of his true intentions, now the only possible connection between them was inappropriate.
He might even be so blinded by love again that he would try to break off the engagement, but she didn't want that.
Love is just a fleeting emotion. Tilia didn't want him to suffer great losses in life because of a feeling that would most likely fade over time.
She also didn't want to risk her hard-won stability for a heart that might leave her unanswered again.
- And... there's something I've always wanted to tell you if we ever meet again.
No, those were just excuses. The truth, buried deep, was that she didn't want to ruin the beautiful memories.
Tilia had a small garden inside that she had cultivated for years with great care.
The garden of love, where she carefully planted the brightest moments of her life. She carefully looked after it, shining it with sunlight every day and driving away pests that ate memories.
No matter what anyone says, she was the only custodian of this garden. She alone possessed these wonderful memories. No one could take them away from her.
Even Ilex Davenport, who shared them.
- There, at the academy... I'm sorry that I treated you so badly.
Tilia took a deep breath and gathered her courage again. As she slowly turned her head towards Ilex, the dim light of the street lamp fell on his face.
Was he angry? Grinning? Or simply did not express emotions?
His expression was hard to read, half hidden in the darkness, but she looked at him intently, choosing her next words as carefully as a prospector sifting for gold.
- And... thank you. Maybe it didn't mean much to you, but to me at the time...
But she couldn't finish.
Plop. A thick ice cream cone fell to the ground at her feet.
- You know what?
Half-melted ice cream splattered onto the toe of her new shoes. But Tilia didn’t even notice the stain - she stared blankly at the person who threw it.
-You always make me unhappy. It is in those moments when I expect more from you.
Only then did she understand. He wasn't angry. He didn't grin.
He was just in pain.
Ironically, the moment he revealed his pain to her, everything she had built within herself collapsed.
His wounded eyes pierced right through her. Suddenly she felt a jolt of something familiar. Had he looked at her like that before? Had she ever hurt Ilex Davenport like that?
While her eyes darted around in confusion, unable to find a place for herself, he sighed in disappointment, stood up and left.
His broad back retreated without hesitation, becoming smaller with every step.
Like a person watching a train disappear in the distance, Tilia could only sit there, stunned, until it disappeared. Only then did she slowly, hesitantly rise to her feet.
It's time to go home.
Without taking her eyes off, she muttered quietly.
It's time for me to go home. Wash and sleep. There's a lot to do tomorrow, so I really should go to bed early...
As she forced herself to think about the busy day ahead, she noticed that the dessert was still in her hand.
The ice cream, warmed by the warmth of her hands and the spring air, had long since melted, turning into a mushy mass.
What a shame. The thought came unbidden, and she instinctively brought it to her lips - but then suddenly blushed with shame.
She threw him to the ground, just like Ilex did.
Slap. The soft, dirty lump landed with a plop, merging with the first, seeping into the cracks between the bricks.
Looking at the pitiful sight, Tilia bit her lip until it bled.
Tears threatened to burst out. The fact that she had almost eaten the melted mess at that moment, the fact that she had not finished anything properly - all of this made her feel unbearably pathetic.
Couldn't she have said something else? Something more appropriate to end this relationship? When would she finally be able to remove the necklace that was still hanging around her neck?
Questions that could not be answered rang loudly in her mind, finding no way out.
She couldn't bring herself to sit on the bench. I couldn't bring myself to leave. Tilia just stood there, motionless, for a long time.
...It's really time to leave.
Tilia woke up with a completely exhausted expression on her face, as if she was about to faint, just as night had completely fallen.
“It’s time for me to go,” Tilia thought, unable to move, when her attention was drawn to a newspaper left on the bench.
Why did you ask me to buy it just to leave it here?
Muttering something with quiet indignation, Tilia picked up what Ilex had left and casually read the article on the first page.
The moment she read the headline, her pupils dilated as if struck by a ray of light.
The seasons passed each other without regard to human affairs, and spring came again, full of blooming flowers. The trees were full of migratory birds returning in search of warmth, and the air was so charged with the energy of spring that even in the darkness the night no longer seemed cold.
In this absence of cold, in the dim light of a street lamp, Tilia read and re-read the newspaper he left behind.
Until the ice cream stain on the polished toe of her shoe, which was long overdue for erasing, became a permanent defect.
Until her face, which had just returned to its original color, flared up again with indescribable emotions.
***
The train from Ontario to Edepfalz, the capital of Acansis, was always crowded, but, oddly enough, one first class car was empty.
Amidst the silence, broken only by the roar of the engine, the door to the carriage opened and someone entered with long strides.
A man with long hair looked around at the empty seats and, quickly noticing the only passenger inside, headed towards him.
- Your Mightiness.
Kevin Smith, no longer the Duke's servant but an assistant, bowed slightly to Duke Davenport and began his report, holding a thick folder in his hands.
- The rights to the railway in Barned were issued in accordance with your instructions. However, the board of directors presented several proposals in this regard...
- Business.
- Sorry?
Ilex, who had been silently listening to Kevin's long report, suddenly interrupted with an unrelated question.
- How far has the matter progressed?
Oh. Kevin, who had been watching his boss's sculpted profile in bewilderment, quickly realized what he meant.
- The official letter was sent through our contact at the consulate. We expect a response within a month.
The young Duke's vague wording left no room for ambiguity. She pointed to one specific person - so specific that there was no need to name him.
So special that without even saying it, Kevin immediately knew who the Duke meant when he said “business.”
“According to your previous instructions, a room has been prepared for Miss Tilia Ambrose in the main residence.”
It looks like his guess was correct. Ilex did not react to the quietly spoken name, which only confirmed it.
-...Have you prepared her in the guest wing?
“We have prepared the room closest to your bedroom, Your Grace.”
After the assistant’s answer, the tension in Ilex’s frowning brows subsided a little. Noticing this, Kevin quietly exhaled with relief and continued his report.
- Let her stay somewhere else.
Ilex spoke again only after the report was completed and several documents had received his approval.
Still looking indifferently out the window, the man raised his blue-gray eyes to his assistant and gave an order.
- Not the main house - prepare an extension.
Extension. There was a faint sparkle in Kevin's eyes.
Among the many estates that belonged to the Duke of Davenport, only one he simply called an “annex” without any additional explanation.
One of the Davenport residences scattered throughout the continent. And yet, for the Duke, who drifted without ever putting down roots, this was the only place he considered his “home.”
"So he's going to prepare a room for her at the Essentine estate..."
Suppressing a sigh, Kevin bowed his head again.
“We will ensure that the room closest to your Lordship’s bedroom is ready.”