To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 103

Jared couldn’t move for a while, even though William was already holding Iskan back. Only when William started to look like he couldn’t restrain Iskan any longer did Jared snap out of it and hurriedly step down from the stage.

“Wait. About the tax you mentioned last time, related to spices”

William shot a sharp look at his younger brother while struggling to hold onto Iskan again. But even with his older brother’s effort, Jared still hesitated and couldn’t go any closer to Aisha. He only found the courage to approach her after seeing the shape of her lips as she looked toward Ian.

“Don’t come.”

Even though Jared knew her eyes were not looking at him, the moment he saw those words on her lips, his heart dropped. His heart beat fast—because of guilt.

“The rumors about the marquis and that illegitimate girl started because of the marquis’s past actions. If he hadn’t given people a reason, would such rumors have spread so easily about an engaged man?”

He tried to tell himself that, just like William said, he didn’t need to feel guilty. That all the blame lay with the marquis, who, while having a fiancée, had stirred up gossip with a bastard child. But the truth was, introducing Helen to his father had only made the rumors about Helen and Ian worse. And more than anything, Aisha must have been hurt by their affair. That’s why Jared couldn’t shake off the guilt.

“The marquis is one of the most sought-after bachelors in the country. So if anyone was to take him away, it should at least be someone like you. That way, the earl wouldn’t be too upset.”

Hearing his brother’s words later on, Jared had felt hopeful. And when he saw Aisha push Ian away, that hope grew stronger. Without delay, Jared asked her for a dance. He regretted it almost immediately, feeling shameless, but when Aisha took his hand, that regret was quickly swallowed up by hope.

“t’s been a while. Dancing with you.”

“Yes. It was during the annual ball at the beginning of the year It’s been more than half a year.”

Looking at Aisha’s hand in its laced glove, Jared remembered the first time they danced. Back then, it was a warmer season when the sun alone could make the air feel pleasant. That day, Jared had held the hand of the girl he had loved from afar for over five years for the first time.

“It feels a little different from back then.”

Wrapping his arm around Aisha’s waist to begin the dance, Jared felt that the current Aisha, pressed close to him, was quite different from that first dance. Back then, Aisha had worn a pale lavender dress and looked very tense, clearly nervous when he asked her to dance. But today, she wore a bright yellow dress and smiled comfortably. As Jared looked at her long eyelashes and then at her slightly lifted lips, he swallowed hard.

“Still beautiful.”

His thoughts about Aisha hadn’t changed over the past five years. A girl, nearly grown, who had worn a pure white dress and a wreath of orange blossoms for her debut. Her red cheeks and bright smile had left a deep impression on the then-21-year-old Jared. His heart had pounded faster than during any intense training, and his legs had trembled. Despite those strange feelings in his body, he had stood there, frozen, staring at the girl who became his first love.

Just like back then, Jared now feared that Aisha might notice how fast his heart was beating. His hand under the glove felt hot and damp, and he worried that his face might be as red as his hair.

But unlike what he feared, Jared looked perfectly calm on the outside. So Aisha, noticing nothing, looked up at him innocently and broke the silence with a light joke.

“What’s the reason you asked me to dance today? Don’t tell me you were pushed aside by Her Majesty or His Highness again, like last time?”

“I didn’t dance with you last time because I had no choice!”

Jared’s face stiffened and his voice rose slightly. As they twirled in a small circle, Aisha was startled by his sudden tone and stumbled for a moment.

Jared caught her with just his arm and steadied her. Then, bowing his head, he apologized in a quiet voice.

“Did I scare you? I’m sorry.”

“It was my mistake. I should thank you instead, Your Highness.”

Seeing how downcast he looked, Aisha quickly shook her head. Jared looked at her smiling face and hesitated before speaking again.

“I said it then, too”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not like I asked you to dance without thinking. I wasn’t watching you or anything, I just… I mean…”

As he tried to explain, recalling the past, Jared stopped. He remembered that he hadn’t answered her properly back then either.

“Even then, even now, I really like you. That’s why.”

The words rose to his throat, but he pushed them back down. He already knew what her answer would be.

“Didn’t I promise myself I’d let her go when she got engaged to the marquis?”

When he had collapsed after a childish argument with Ian at the Marquis Litman’s residence, had Aisha even looked back at him once? And later, in the letter she sent—though she had worded things vaguely, her meaning was clear. And the last time they met on the balcony? She had asked him to leave the moment Ian appeared.

“And whether it was on purpose or not, I’ve caused her trouble. I can’t go any further. No matter what’s going on between her and the marquis, this isn’t right.”

He remembered Aisha’s cold expression as she silently mouthed “don’t come” to Ian before the dance. But in the end, Jared gave up on confessing. No matter how things stood between Ian and Aisha now, they were still engaged. If he confessed now, all it would do is burden her.

“I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“I’m really sorry.”

“Your Highness What do you mean?”

Instead of speaking his true feelings, Jared apologized, thinking of Helen. Aisha looked confused by the sudden apology. But since Jared couldn’t explain the situation caused by bringing Helen to his father, he simply fell silent with a bitter expression.

“It was an honor to dance with you today.”

The short song came to an end. Jared bowed politely to Aisha, who still looked confused. Seeing the prince bow, Aisha quickly bent her knees and lowered her head as well.

“Well, then”

“I’m a step too late, it seems. I thought I’d have the first dance, of course.”

Just as Jared was saying goodbye, a large hand suddenly appeared between him and Aisha before he could turn away.

When he looked up, he saw Iskan who had somehow escaped from William smiling as he reached out his hand to Aisha. Dressed in the traditional red robes of the Kingdom of Astar, with a gold-decorated black turban, he stood out even more thanks to his flashy outfit.

“The crown prince doesn’t seem to know the Empire’s customs. It’s proper to ask for a dance only after the lady’s previous partner has stepped away.”

Jared, unusually sharp, responded coldly to Iskan’s sudden interruption. He had never liked Iskan. Even if the Kingdom’s culture was different, a man with six wives had no business going after a woman he treasured. Honestly, Jared thought he’d like to cut the man down right then and there.

“A prince like you talking about manners doesn’t make much sense to me.”

While Jared scowled, Iskan leaned back slightly and responded with ease. The triangular gold earring on his ear jingled mockingly.

“What do you mean?”

“Stealing someone else’s chance with help from another don’t you think that’s disgraceful, both as a royal and as a man?”

Iskan nodded subtly toward William on the stage, letting his words trail off. When Jared looked in his brother’s direction, William shrugged with a face that said, “I did my best.”

Jared’s face turned red with embarrassment. He had to admit it. Without his brother’s help, he wouldn’t have been able to ask Aisha for the first dance probably not even once during the whole ball.

As the musicians prepared for the next piece, couples around the room joined hands. Jared, after glaring at Iskan, glanced around and eventually looked away. He gave Aisha a small nod.

“Lady Aisha. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Yes, Your Highness. It was an honor today.”

Aisha, who had been anxiously watching the tension between Jared and Iskan, politely curtsied again. Jared gave her one last, wistful look before turning away.

“You’re quite popular, just as expected. Seems like even the men of the Empire know beauty when they see it.”

As soon as Jared disappeared, Iskan took Aisha’s hand without asking and linked fingers with hers. Unlike the soft tune from before, the lively dance now required quick steps from both partners.

“Come now. Forget the man who’s gone. As promised, dance one with me.”

When Aisha glanced at Jared’s retreating figure, Iskan moved his face close to hers. His warm breath brushed her ear, and she leaned back in surprise.

But as the music began, Iskan pulled her close with force. Though Aisha felt uncomfortable being so near him, she had already promised to dance and the song had started. So she moved her feet without saying a word.

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