Chapter 30 Unrequited Feelings
Last night, at the ball, Kaine had secretly disguised himself, blending into the crowd. He had taken on the persona of a plain and unremarkable man named Baron Linton. The reason for his elaborate disguise was simple: to support Rhiannon.
As the villainess she was, Rhiannon quickly fell into her usual behavior. Kaine skillfully guided the conversation, keeping her on track while showering her with attention. Not only that, but he also subtly kept the men surrounding her in check, quietly dealing with a few who tried to get too close.
When Kaine spoke, Rhiannon's eyes widened, and her face turned bright red as she waved her hands frantically.
"It's not that Baron Linton reminds me of you, Kaine! Not at all!"
"..."
"I mean, it's just that his eyes, his vibe, the way he talks... they're similar to yours, and I didn't think he was cute or anything..."
Kaine sighed, turning his face away slightly at Rhiannon's completely unconvincing yet oddly clear statement.
"...Next time, please find a gentleman more suitable for you, my lady. I just remembered I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
With that, Kaine quickly excused himself, and the door clicked shut behind him. The sound echoed in the otherwise still room, leaving an awkward silence hanging in the air.
Left alone, Rhiannon buried her face on the desk, still blushing. The fluffy kitten Kaine had brought with him playfully pawed at her feet.
"Oh no, I messed up..."
She hadn't realized that the young man named Baron Linton was, in fact, Kaine. She had only remembered him because he vaguely resembled him. Now, Rhiannon was starting to realize something: she had absolutely no interest in any man other than Kaine.
To put it simply, aside from Kaine, Rhiannon didn't care about any other man. Now that she was no longer engaged, she should have been desperately searching for a fiancé, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.
Even someone as emotionally clueless as Rhiannon could understand who her heart was longing for. That sharp-tongued, utterly wicked yet brutally honest butler with golden eyes had always supported and protected her, never abandoning her despite her status as the villainess.
Being with him brought an undeniable sense of calm, but at the same time, it stirred up a fluttering unease in her heart—a strange mix of emotions. But it was clear as day that these feelings would only burden Kaine.
In fact, the moment Rhiannon hinted at her feelings, Kaine had immediately walked away, as if to say, "Cool your head." Rhiannon understood Kaine's thoughts. He was just a butler. She was merely employing him. Even in the past, he was helping her out of an extraordinary sense of responsibility.
It seemed there was no place for sweet emotions like love or affection in their relationship.
"Still──."
Rhiannon sighed.
"But the person in my heart has always been Kaine..."
Her words, directed at the cold tea, went unheard by Kaine, with only the kitten listening. Her feelings remained unexpressed.
Kaine hurriedly left Rhiannon's room, ensuring the hallway was clear before rushing to a nearby mirror to check his face.
(Hopefully, I wasn't found out...)
He looked much the same as always, with just a slight redness around his eyes. Fortunately, his tanned skin meant that any subtle change in complexion would go unnoticed by others. For once, he couldn't help but feel grateful for his mixed heritage.
However, Kaine's face had been burning ever since their earlier conversation.
(That person really...! Not even aware of my feelings!)
The sudden confession of affection had caused Kaine's heart to race wildly, an overwhelming wave of emotions he could never allow to show.
Rhiannon had doomed herself once before due to suspicions of an affair with him. Kaine had always believed that her suspicions stemmed from her inability to hide her true feelings. To avoid repeating that mistake, Kaine forced himself to suppress the heat bubbling within him.
He tried to convince himself that Rhiannon was just a peculiar person who seemed to enjoy being disliked, constantly spitting out cruel words and insults. It was all part of a role he didn't want her to play, yet one he felt he had to accept.
Still, Rhiannon had a way of stirring Kaine's feelings. Despite her efforts to be unlikeable, she never truly hated him. On the contrary, because she wasn't straightforward, she often spoke words of genuine affection!
(What if I just took that delicate hand and ran away somewhere...)
Kaine grimaced at the foolish thought that flashed through his mind, letting out a heavy sigh as though expelling all the air from his lungs. The desire for revenge against Sarah Belts still lingered, but being with Rhiannon felt like it could be enough.
If they could escape this noble society, at least Rhiannon wouldn't face doom. But was that truly happiness for her? Kaine couldn't imagine the pure-bred lady living peacefully as a commoner. Moreover, the thought of Rhiannon being labeled as a noblewoman who eloped with a commoner was unbearable to him.
To end these foolish thoughts, Kaine shook his head. Continuing to dwell on them wouldn't lead to anything productive. He had more important matters to attend to—ensuring Rhiannon wouldn't face doom. Resolving to focus on that, Kaine ignored the heat still lingering in his flushed cheeks and began walking quickly down the hallway.
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