To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 62

Ian’s tense jaw and raised eyebrows showed how upset he was. He loudly placed the dish he was holding onto the cabinet near the break room entrance, his face stiff with anger.

Ian had already recognized Jared’s voice from behind the curtain and knew he was inside the break room. Without even glancing at Aisha, he stared at Jared and spoke in a low, pressed voice.

“Why is Your Highness here?”

Jared looked startled by Ian’s sudden appearance. Then, noticing the clear hostility, he smirked and raised his eyebrows sharply, not backing down.

“What, no greeting now? Just one fight and the Prince of the Empire seems like an easy target?”

“Answer my question. Why are you here?”

At parties like this, only family members or official partners were usually allowed into a break room together. So Ian questioning Jared wasn’t entirely inappropriate. However, his tone was too aggressive for someone speaking to a prince.

“Do I have to explain that to you, Marquis?”

Jared shrugged mockingly. Ian’s neck veins stood out in anger. He exhaled shortly, as if trying to stay calm, and said in a low voice.

“You said you weren’t engaged back then, and now you’re still approaching Aisha even though she is officially my fiancée.”

“You sure like to brag about being engaged. So what? Just because Lady Aisha is engaged to you, does that mean there’s a law saying she can’t even talk to me?”

“I’m saying this because Your Highness keeps bothering Aisha. She is my fiancée. Shouldn’t you help protect her honor?”

“Protect her? From who? With the way you look at her, I think Lady Aisha needs to be protected from you.”

The conversation turned into an argument and began to sound childish. Aisha couldn’t take it anymore and stepped in between them.

“Your Highness, thank you for helping today. I’ll give you a proper thank-you later.”

Ian’s expression softened just a little at Aisha’s subtle way of telling Jared to leave. But when she added that she’d thank him later, his eyes narrowed.

“Will you be alright? If I leave”

Jared glanced at Ian while looking at Aisha with concern. But that only added fuel to Ian’s anger. Aisha noticed this and quickly added,

“Your Highness, I need to speak with my fiancé alone. Please.”

Jared saw the plea in her eyes and bit the inside of his cheek. But he couldn’t refuse a request from the woman he loved. He shot Ian a glance and walked past him.

“I’ll leave you two, then.”

“Take care, Your Highness.”

Aisha remained polite, unlike Ian, who said nothing. Jared gave her a bitter look as he reached the entrance, then seemed to change his mind. He turned back and, just like when he came in, exited through the balcony railing. Aisha watched him disappear, looking uneasy, and only turned to Ian after Jared was gone.

“Do you know what kind of rumors it can start when a woman with a fiancé is alone with another man in a break room?”

As soon as Aisha turned to look at him, Ian stepped closer and asked harshly. Aisha let out a small sigh and immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Her bowed head showed no sign of defiance or resentment. But Ian’s face twisted even more at her apology.

“Sorry.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry.”

“You right now”

Ian remembered how Aisha had once said the same words, quietly, when he complained she was too thin. She looked exactly the same now face full of resignation, voice empty like she had given up. Seeing her like this made Ian’s mouth go dry from anxiety.

“You…”

Ian grabbed her shoulders and searched her face carefully. His grip grew tighter, and Aisha twisted her upper body to escape his hold.

“Ian, His Highness only helped me.”

“Helped you with what?”

Ian shot back immediately, and Aisha fell silent. She didn’t want to admit that Jared had helped her avoid hearing more gossip about Ian and Lady Helen.

When Aisha said nothing, Ian’s blue eyes flashed. He tugged at his cravat roughly and loosened it, then spoke with heavy sarcasm.

“Are you staying quiet because you won’t talk or because you can’t?”

“What does that mean?”

Ian didn’t really think Aisha and Jared had done something inappropriate. But hearing Jared’s voice outside the break room had made him so furious that he lost control. He lashed out, questioning her with sharp words.

“I’m asking if you two were doing or saying something you shouldn’t have. Things that often happen in break rooms at parties.”

Even if he didn’t believe it, he shouldn’t have thrown out such an insulting remark. Aisha’s lips tightened at the offensive comment, and she finally spoke.

“Isn’t that something you should be saying to yourself?”

“What?”

“You asked what he helped me with? He helped me not have to hear more gossip about you and Lady Helen.”

This time, Ian was the one left speechless. Seeing his tightly closed lips, Aisha clenched her hands.

“Ian, you once told me not to be petty, right?”

“His Highness and I hadn’t seen each other since the last party at Marquis Reimond house. But what about you and Lady Helen? You kept meeting after that, using business as an excuse, and she even came to your house.”

The same argument from before the party was back. Ian ran his hand through his hair and turned away, not wanting to hear more. But unlike last time, Aisha didn’t stop. She raised her voice with determination.

“I’m not finished. What did you do with the gift His Highness sent me?”

A ripple passed through Ian’s eyes at the mention of the gift Jared had sent on the day of their engagement. Aisha pretended not to notice his shocked face and went on.

“He said he sent me a gift. But I never received anything from him.”

“I know you took it. Who else would have done it but you?”

“Lady Helen even attended our engagement ceremony but you couldn’t even let me have the prince’s gift? Then Ian, who’s really being petty here?”

Ian’s face slowly turned red. He knew what he had done was small-minded and shameful.

“Damn it…”

He wanted to argue again, like before, accusing Aisha of not acting like a proper lady. But with Helen’s name brought up, he couldn’t say anything. In the end, Ian turned sharply and walked out of the break room like he was running away.

Aisha watched him go without blinking. Only when the curtain stopped moving did she look away from the entrance.

Her eyes fell on the plate Ian had brought, still sitting on the cabinet. It was neatly arranged with soft desserts and looked quite nice.

‘He probably brought it over with a scowl.’

Knowing Ian’s temper, even carrying the dish a few steps must have annoyed him. Aisha felt foolish for letting herself soften and hold onto hope over such small things like that plate.

Dragging her feet, she went to the couch and took off her shoes carelessly. She pulled her knees up, wrapped her arms around them, and buried her face.

Outside the break room, laughter echoed. Aisha shut her eyes tightly, wanting to block out the sound.

Did they fight?

Helen stared at Ian, who had just come out of the break room. His blond hair and clothes, which had been neat an hour ago, were now a little messy. But even that added to his charm. Without realizing it, Helen licked her lips.

With that temper, he probably won’t talk to anyone right now But if they really fought, maybe I can…

Helen turned toward the break room Ian had exited. She had been watching closely ever since he and Aisha walked in, so she knew exactly who was still inside.

Good. You have to take your chances when they come.

Helen folded her fan and smiled crookedly. She told her partner she had something to do. He was busy talking to people, so he didn’t stop her.

Unlike when she walked with her partner, Helen moved quietly. Like an assassin sneaking through enemy territory, she avoided people’s eyes and hid behind pillars as she approached the break room.

Finally, she stood in front of it. She glanced once more at Ian, who was now talking to the Duke of Levantus. Even though the duke tried to hold him back, Ian shook his head and left the hall.

Go. Just go already.

Once Ian left, Helen smiled and, with her perfectly manicured fingers, pushed aside the curtain.

As the curtain swayed, her red hair disappeared into the break room. Along with it, the scent of her deep red rose perfume vanished into the air.

The sound of a dress brushing the floor and a strange scent entered the break room. Aisha, who had her face buried in her knees, lifted her head when she noticed the strong rose fragrance.

A woman with a presence as bold as a red rose stood at the entrance, smiling sweetly at her. Aisha recognized her and quickly lowered her legs, her lips pressed into a firm line.

Helen tucked her red hair behind her ear and walked toward Aisha. Her wide smile showed no sign of regret for disturbing someone’s quiet moment.

“Nice to see you. This is the first time we’re alone, isn’t it?”

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