The Mistress Runs Away

As Joanne was quietly explaining her theories, there was a light knocking at the door. Thinking it was Melissa, Rowena was about to tell her to come in, but the person on the other side of the door opened his mouth.

“Rowena.”

There was only one person who would call her by her three-syllable name without any kind of honorific. The friendly atmosphere suddenly became tense like a taut thread. Standing up quickly, Joanne assisted Rowena and walked towards the door. She was about to open the door, but the other side opened it first.

“There’s no answer.”

“Your Excellency.”

As soon as Joanne stepped back, Killian entered, making his way toward Rowena; he took a glance at her from head to toe. It was just a glance, but it was as if he were looking deep within her, beyond the thick satin dress, and heat had begun to rise on Rowena’s face as if a fire struck her with his intense gaze.

“Go on, what’s the matter with you all of a sudden?’

He came in without warning, and Rowena, flinching, tried to back away, but Killian came up to her and grabbed her arm as quickly as a hawk would grab its prey.

“Why are you trying to run away?”

“You startled me.”

“Are you trying to hide something?”

He looked down at her pale face, his sharp blue pupils devouring her. Rowena continued looking down at the ground without raising her head, barely managed to let out a few words.”

“I wouldn’t have dared to do that.”

“You skipped breakfast this morning as well.”

Joanne, who had swallowed her breath at the unusual atmosphere, left the room before Rowena could stop her. Rowena bit her lip as she looked over Killian’s shoulder at the closed door.

“I feel bad about leaving Damian behind.”

“….”

“I keep thinking about my child. I’m sorry.”

She thought it would be better to speak honestly rather than tell a clumsy lie about not feeling well or her stomach being upset. As Rowena lowered her head, unfazed by the intense gaze of this cold man, Killian brushed his hand against her locks softly, reminding her of his promise.

“I promised you; he will be following us in a few days.”

“I’m grateful for your generosity.”

Rowena nodded docilely. In fact, that alone was a huge concession. Rowena still felt a tingle run down her spine when she thought of the day she met him again, the way he stared at the closed door that Damian hid behind.

He was always a man who thoroughly ignored anything that was out of his sphere of interest, whether it was a person or an object. Damian, however, was the son she had given birth to and the very threads of her lifeline. Therefore, to Killian, he was an ambiguous object in which he could neither completely ignore, nor take any interest.

Now, however, he had agreed to allow her to spend some time with Damian, albeit only a little, at night. He even agreed to have him follow them to the capital two days later, which was out of character for him.

“I’m sorry if my behavior this morning offended you.”

Since he had been so generous, it was only natural for her to bow down and show her gratitude for his generosity.

Although Rowena was skeptical about the continued generosity he has been showing lately, she did not give too much thought to it. It was just a fickle thing, anyway. After he has played with her enough, she will be betrayed and abandoned by the man whom she had given her heart, body, and soul. This unpleasant fact helped her pull herself together every time she wavered in her decision.

“By the way, why are you here…”

“Look in the mirror.”