Year 1863
Thea took off her mask. Her breath was short. She looked at Kay who was smiling triumphantly.
"Are you that happy to win over me?" Thea put down her foil, annoyed. When she finished learning in the etiquette class, Kay immediately took her to play fencing.
"Yes, that is so." Kay did the same.
"I thought you were still stressed about the matchmaking."
This time they both took off their jackets at the same time. Thea took a drink then sat by the window first. The jacket shirt earlier made her sweat so much. Thea pushed open the window door slightly. The summer twilight winds squeezed in against her face.
Another summer day is almost over again.
"Earlier… I guess I thought too much about it. So I thought why should it be? If there's no one I like there then there won't be a problem. There will be no matchmaking." Kay smiled with satisfaction, as if that was the perfect solution.
"Are you sure?" Thea doubted it. She put down the glass. "Where are you going to meet them?"
"Oh, I haven't told you? Father said it was afternoon tea the day after tomorrow, at Lord Lutz's house."
"Do they have beautiful daughters?" Thea often heard Blake talking to Mr. Lutz on the phone, but had never seen him. And every time she heard that name, she remembered something.
"As far as I know, no. I've never heard Mr. Lutz talk about his daughter. "
"Oh ..."
Thea stretched out her hand to grab the glass, her movements stopped when her eyes met Kay's.
The man looked straight at her.
"What?" Thea canceled her intention. If Kay had done that, it meant that he had something serious to say.
Kay thought for a moment. "I know you don't like crowds, Te ..."
Thea nodded. "And?"
"I know you don't like it ... but will you accompany me to that event?" asked Kay.
Thea didn't answer right away. She was silent for a long time. Kay didn't force her to talk either. The two of them were silent. Kay knew he was asking her for something very difficult to do.
Maybe, for some people taking a walk out is a common thing to do, but not for Thea. Her life was limited to a mansion and the lake.
Kay finally stood up. Maybe Thea needed some time to think about it.
"Let's talk again tomorrow. Now take a rest, I know you're tired."
"Why?" she asked. Thea finally spoke. Her eyes turned to Kay. "You know I never like crowds. Why are you now trying to ask me?"
"I just wanted to ask you out, Te. Besides, it's time for you to see for yourself how the outside world now."
"What does it matter to me?"
"You know, right? Girls at your age should socialize more. You can't live forever depending on my father and me. One time, you also have to get married, because of that ... "
"Is there anyone who wants to marry a person like me?"
Kay was silent. "Why do you always think of yourself as flawed? You're beautiful, Te! The scar won't affect him."
Thea laughed sarcastically. "Are you blind? You never saw their look at me?"
"It is not like that– "
"I hate them! You know they always look at me with disdain and disgust ?!" Thea's voice was shrill.
"Te ..."
"Every time they looked at me in disdain, I was reminded of that incident!"
"THEA !!! You look down on yourself for thinking too much about your past! Forget it. You live in the present. Those people are different from the ones you met ten years ago!" Kay raised hi voice. He had no idea how this woman kept that negative though in her little head all the time.
"ALL THE SAME!!!" she shouted. Thea clenched her fists. "You know what it feels like to have no parents? NO! You know what it feels like to live with these scars and be despised? I don't think so! You have parents and you have no scars !! "
Kay's expression changed. "Thea, honey ..."
"I don't want to go! To hell with your match. "
...
Kay sighed. His body was suddenly felt heavy and tired. He threw himself on the bed. His mind drifted. It wasn't his intention to make Thea angry. He shouldn't have yelled at her earlier either. In fact, it just makes them quarrel.
If it about matters like this, Thea is really stubborn. Kay knew Thea hated strangers because they preferred to stare at the scars rather than her face.
It was the same when Thea first stepped on this house. It was very difficult for Thea to open up to him. Kay didn't want her trauma to drag on. However, Thea must be able to handle it. Indeed, this is the first time Kay has brought it up and this is the first time Kay has seen Thea so angry.
He felt guilty.
***
Thea sat on her bed in the dark. Her mind was in complete chaos. The words she had thrown at Kay earlier echoed in her ears. Kay's expression still made an impression on her mind. Kay shouldn't have asked for it, so she didn't have to say that.
All this time she thought Kay could understand her so he didn't bring up old wounds. Apparently, Kay just put it off. She stood closer to the mirror. Her reflection was not clearly visible in the moonlight, but she was still able to identify herself.
Thea turned her head to the right. Her hand went up, felt the burn scar. For Thea, this scar was a reminder of the death of her parents.
Year 1853Xander moved his fishing rod a little, checking to see if the bait had caught the interest of something, but it turned out that it didn't. It wasn't even approached by the fish.It has been more than 2 hours since he was here, but not once has the bait been eaten by the fish. Even he spent lunch here despite threats of being scolded by Miss Yerez for not eating together and if he get caught, of course he would starve until dinner time arrived.Xander put down the rod again, maybe he would get something if he waited a little bit.Pluk!A tremor in the pool caught Xander's attention. The boy narrowed his eyes, staring straight at the surface of the pond, it seemed like something was there.Pluk!Xander stared at it again, it seemed like it was the sound of a rock being thrown into the water. He looked for the origin of the stone throwing, maybe it was the prankster of one of the residents who tried to disturb him but
Year 1863Knock ... knock, knock ...Thea turned around. Without even opening the door, she knew who was standing behind it. The beat was Kay's signature beat. Thea ignored him. She did not move an inch from her place.Knock... knock, knock ...One… two… three… four… five… he counted to himself and a third beat was heard.Knock ... knock, knock ...This time Thea counted to ten and the door opened.***Kay couldn't sleep. He was restless from earlier. He finally got up from his bed and left the room.He hated fighting with Thea.He had to see her and solved this uncomfortable feeling.If the fight dragged on, Kay would not be able to concentrate in the hospital tomorrow as usual. He went to Thea's room and stood in front of her door for a long time.Kay didn't know what to say. He had no intention of apologizing. He
Year 1853Xander immediately pushed her out of the kitchen. He grabbed Thea's small hand and ran as far as possible before returning everything to its original place.They returned to the pond.Thea regretted eating well. Now, all of her guts seemed to be coming out after being dragged away by Xander. Her expression was getting worse.Xander, oblivious to that, picked up his fishing rod and turned around."You have to come back soon. Miss Yerez will inspect anyone who is not present at the dinner table." With that, Xander said goodbye.After Xander was out of sight, Thea ran towards the bushes. Everything she had swallowed earlier came out, she couldn't endure it anymore.'Puke...Puke...'Her body trembled after vomiting all of her guts. She washed her mouth and hands with the water from the pond and fell down on her knees.She stared at her reflection on the surface of the water. She had never felt this miserab
Year 1863The servant opened the door for Thea.She saw her uncle and Kay already sitting in the dining room first."Good morning, Uncle," she greeted him and took her place across from Kay. The Uncle, Blake, just nodded slightly. He did not even glance at her.Thea immediately took the spoon. She was used to Blake's attitude."Don't forget to go home early today. Do you understand, Kyle?"Thea stared at Kay. Blake never called his son 'Kay'. That's just what Thea way to called him."Yes, father. I think Thea also wants to come," he said.Thea glared. For almost two days, Kay didn't come home and met her, which made Thea think Kay would never bring that up again.Before Thea opened her mouth, Blake suddenly opened his mouth and agreed."Well, I don't think that's a bad idea. You too, Thea. Go out tonight with Kyle.""But, uncle ..."Blake looked at her. Thea didn't like being stared at by hi
Year 1853Thea chose to spend the rest of the afternoon sitting by the pond. Throughout collecting the second piece of trash, she avoided the other kids as much as possible, let alone the bunch of knee-length jeans boy and his genk.Thea had no intention of getting along well if they themselves didn't want to befriend with her.She sighed.Thea had nothing else to do, other than what Miss Yerez had told her. Her hands had been moving to throw small pebbles into the pond after her task completed. Without aware of the surrounding where she was not alone.Xander smiled. He found the girl on the same spot like yesterday. Fortunately he didn't go fishing so the pebbles she threw wouldn't make a trouble for him. Xander approched her.Thea stared at the far away scenery. Her parents used to take her on picnics in the summer. Typical hardworking father. During the workday, he would really concentrate and ignore Thea and her mother. Even so,
Year 1863She almost screamed.Thea gripped the perfume bottle tightly behind her. Her body stiffened.Did Kay knew what she's been doing? She never said about her dirty work at all.Never.Was she caught?Thea felt her knees weaken. Blake always said she shouldn't be caught by anyone and Thea agreed. Even though the world was collapsed, she didn't want to look any different in front of them. The one who should not know what her did is Kay, and it turned out that this man ..."Why is your face so pale?" Kay approached her."Ka, you said ... I ... am a murderer?" Thea's tongue suddenly froze when she stared at Kay, who nodding firmly."Of course. You kill me in every game we play. Horse racing. Archery. Shoot. Play chess. Fencing… Oh! I forgot. A few days ago I was—"Thea's body almost slumped to the floor if Kay didn't catch her. She, who suddenly short of breath for a moment, rushed to take
Year 1853Thea's neck was sting and sore when the dirty water touched her wound.Adel's eyes widened. After pushed and splashed her with water, she immediately threw the bucket in her hand. She seemed to have just realized what she had done."My hand slip accidentally! I didn't do it on purpose," she said, panicked. "You know too, don't you, Rose?" she was trying to justify herself when she saw a truly terrifying sight. Then Adel ran away from the place."Adeeellll !!! Where are you going?" Rose cursed. She turned to Thea "A- are you okay?""AAAAAAkkhhh! Help me! Aaaaaa, it hurts! Help me! " Thea was crying. She opened and clenched her fists, not daring to touch her neck. "Call someone. Anyone! Help me! "Rose still stood dazed. She ran looking for someone, when she saw Miss Yerez not far from where she was standing, she shouted."Miss Yereeezzz !!!""Why are you running, Rose? A woman can't–!""You must i
Year 1863 The commotion around her suddenly disappeared when Kay left her. Oh come on! Thea didn't want to be left alone with this strange looking man. "So you are Kyle's cousin?" Thea furrowed her brows. Didn't Kay tell you that earlier? "Yes," Thea still replied politely. After all, she was here on behalf of Thea Wilkess, the distant relative of the Earl. At least, Thea had to behave without embarrassing Blake or Kyle. Rupert led her aside. Thea followed him reluctantly. Her body straightened. Thea's neck even stiffened. The summer afternoon wind could not ease her restlessness. Several people began to look curiously as soon as they arrived at a table full of pastries. With her keen hearing, Thea could hear the people whispered about her. "For you, my lady," Rupert raised a glass of white wine and handed it to Thea. "Thank you." Thea immediately took a sip of her drin