To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 19

“Ah… right, you’re connected to Count Parden too. I understand. Even if you enjoy teasing, you wouldn’t ruin a lady’s reputation.”

At Albert’s playful reply, Ian looked him up and down, clearly unconvinced. Albert shrugged and placed a reassuring hand on Ian’s shoulder.

Ian didn’t hide his discomfort at the contact. He immediately knocked the hand away, and Albert, giving a sheepish smile, casually disappeared into the crowd. But whether Albert was there or not, Ian’s eyes stayed fixed on Aisha. Her dance had just ended, and while she greeted the prince, she was also glancing in Ian’s direction.

Seeing how tense she looked, like a guilty person, Ian gave her an arrogant look, signaling her to follow, and then turned around sharply. He didn’t need to watch to know. Aisha would definitely hurry to follow him.

Ian walked toward the promised place without a single worry about the bet. Just as he expected, as soon as her dance ended, Aisha quickly rushed after him with small steps.

‘It was an honor, Your Highness.’

After offering the minimum politeness, Aisha fluttered away like a butterfly. Jared stood there, unable to stop her, and only after she disappeared into the crowd did he move again, leaving his regret behind.

As he moved, the ladies nearby looked at him with hopeful eyes. The Second Prince rarely danced, but he had just danced once today. Some young ladies boldly stepped up, hoping for a chance, but Jared didn’t even glance at them.

“That’s it? After going through the trouble of dancing?”

As soon as he returned to his seat on the platform, Crown Prince William smiled slyly and spoke to Jared. Jared glared at his brother and snapped angrily.

“What was that push all about?”

“I rescued you from Mother’s nagging. A little thanks wouldn’t hurt”

Jared had asked Aisha to dance because of the man in front of him Crown Prince William. While Jared stood still, being lectured by the Empress, William suddenly pushed him and told him to go dance.

“And really, as a man, how long were you going to hesitate about just asking someone to dance? I couldn’t stand watching anymore.”

“I didn’t plan on dancing.”

Despite Jared’s scowl, William didn’t blink. Instead, he leaned in closer and teased.

“Really? Sure, I pushed you off the platform, but you walked all the way over to Aisha Parden. If you really didn’t want to dance, you could’ve come back, right?”

Jared clenched his fist, angry at his brother’s teasing tone. But he soon loosened it and muttered in a displeased voice.

“She looked really surprised.”

“Of course, she was surprised. A man she doesn’t know—a prince, no less—suddenly asked her to dance. Wouldn’t that be overwhelming for anyone?”

“Damn it. I should avoid her for a while.”

At William’s response, Jared stiffly cursed. Seeing the nervous look in his brother’s eyes, William frowned in disbelief.

“Oh, come on. Is this idiot really my brother? Jared, seriously, don’t go around saying we’re related. It’s embarrassing.”

William knew Jared had liked Aisha for five whole years. Yet after one dance, one touch, and a short conversation, Jared was already thinking about avoiding her because she might be uncomfortable. William couldn’t take it anymore and spoke rapidly.

“Forget everything else and start planning how to see her more often. If you keep secretly watching her like this, you won’t even get another dance, let alone anything else.”

“I wasn’t spying…!”

William hadn’t paid much attention to his brother’s crush over the past few years, being busy with work and his newlywed life. But now that things had settled, he was determined to help as an older brother.

“You saw it too, right? You know who you’re up against for Aisha Parden. None other than Marquis Ian Lloyd.”

Of course, Jared’s love wouldn’t be easy. Aisha Parden was already known to have feelings for someone else. And that someone wasn’t just anyone—it was Ian Lloyd, one of the most sought-after bachelors in the Empire.

“The only real advantage you have over the marquis is your title as prince. But even that doesn’t count for much, considering the Lloyd family’s prestige and your lack of history with her.”

Still, recent rumors about Aisha and Ian were strange. People had been saying they were getting engaged for years, yet nothing had happened.

Even Edward, Aisha’s brother and William’s aide, had recently started showing irritation every time Ian was mentioned. Aisha still seemed to have feelings, but women often opened their hearts to kind men over time.

“Besides, the latest rumors about those two aren’t good. Some say the engagement is off. So now’s the time! While things are weird between them! Push forward! That’s your only chance.”

“Push forward with what? I don’t plan to do anything. So don’t assume things on your own.”

Jared responded coldly to his excited brother. But in that moment, William clearly saw it—deep in Jared’s green eyes—a flicker of joy and fragile hope.

“Whatever. You saw which way Aisha Parden and the marquis went, right? Hurry and find them. If your rival is sneaking off with your crush, you have to interrupt. Right?”

William started pushing Jared down from the platform again. Jared shook his head in protest but still moved slowly.

Not far off, their younger sister, Princess Catherine, watched the two brothers with a look of disbelief and shook her head. The Empress, sitting beside her with her usual stern expression, whispered quietly.

“Don’t be too hard on them. It seems your second brother is finally trying to do something for once.”

After leaving the hall, Aisha spotted Ian in the corridor leading to the garden and sighed in relief. She’d lost sight of him for a moment and worried he might have gone somewhere else, but thankfully, she had guessed right.

Ian stood beside a marble pillar, looking down at the garden with a calm expression. Since the place was wide open and empty except for the two of them, he must have noticed her approaching—but he didn’t turn to face her.

Aisha’s relief quickly turned to nerves. She clasped her hands in front of her chest. The words Ian had said at the Lloyd estate ran through her mind. Even though he had signaled her to follow, Aisha was anxious that simply obeying might upset him.

“If you’re here, come over.”

When Aisha hesitated about ten steps away, Ian finally spoke. As he turned his face toward her, a gentle smile spread across it. Like a piece of metal drawn to a magnet, Aisha moved toward him.

Though it was evening, the summer air was still warm. Ian looked at the back of her neck, then reached toward the spot just below her ear. Aisha instinctively bent away from his hand.

“M-My Lord”

At her sudden formality and honorifics, Ian’s expression twisted slightly. Aisha, watching his reaction, rushed to explain.

“Y-you told me before to keep things proper”

“Ah.”

Only then did Ian remember what he’d said at the Lloyd estate. He gave a small laugh and gently stroked her cheek and neck like someone soothing a pet.

“Right. I did say that.”

His voice was calm, emotionless, as if it had been nothing. That calmness hurt Aisha’s heart. His words about keeping distance had wounded her deeply. But it seemed Ian had completely forgotten what he said.

“You’ve been worried about that all this time? Really, Aisha”

And then, as if it were her fault, Ian subtly shifted the blame. Though his voice was still kind, Aisha felt as if she were being scolded for being overly sensitive. Her chest tightened. As she looked up at him, he smiled with crescent-shaped eyes and whispered.

“You didn’t need to worry Sorry for making you feel that way. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t in a good mood back then. I think I lashed out without meaning to. As you know, there aren’t many people I feel comfortable with. You’re one of the few.”

“So, can you understand?”

Aisha couldn’t respond right away. It felt like something was stuck in her throat. But she slowly nodded. What could she say, when he was the one asking?

“Okay.”

If she showed even a hint of rejection, Ian’s gentle side might vanish like a bubble. He seemed fine now, but he had looked angry in the ballroom. And that side of Ian scared her the most. So she stayed quiet, not even asking why he’d been angry.

After watching her silently for a moment, Ian lowered his hand. The hand that had touched her cheek slid down her neck, shoulder, then arm, and finally held her hand. Aisha’s eyes widened.

“The Imperial Garden is said to be one of the most beautiful. I wanted to show you. That’s why I asked you to come.”

Under the bright moonlight, Ian’s golden hair shone even more beautifully. Still holding her hand, he playfully swung their arms and led her down the stairs toward the garden.

Support To the One Who’s Only Cold to Me