Episode 5                       

 

Since meeting Lindsey in the morning, Kenyan hadn’t been feeling good.

 

‘She’s just a bad-mannered dirty commoner.’

 

From a young age, he had been taught by Sylvia to have prejudice against those of lower blood.

 

‘Kenyan, never sympathize with the lowborn. They’re worse than animals. They have no manners, despite their low status!’

 

Indeed, Lindsey, who entered Radian Manor, always caused trouble and accidents.

 

All the servants disliked her. His mother did too, and so did his brother.

 

Lindsey was simply an unbearable person.

 

Her lowly origins matched her behavior.

 

She often indulged in luxury and didn’t hesitate to insult the servants.

 

Thinking about it, Kenyan realized how meaningless it was to seek her out.

 

‘Why did I even come here?’

 

In truth, he knew.

 

It was pointless to see Lindsey. Whatever tricks she might play, she couldn’t threaten him.

 

She might have awakened to divine power. But it was certain that his mother Sylvia wouldn’t be pleased.

 

After all, she was just a woman who would return to the Keshion Manor. And he wouldn’t have to see her again.

 

‘She’s insane. Completely lost her mind.’

 

He was about to turn around and return to his room.

 

“She’s a filthy mongrel!”

 

But then, amidst the commotion, he heard his mother’s voice.

 

That voice made him stop in his tracks.

 

It was a familiar phrase he often said to Lindsey Keshion.

 

‘Filthy mongrel.’

 

Since arriving at Radian Manor, Lindsey had heard this word more than her own name.

 

His footsteps slowed down.

 

He could see what was happening.

 

His mother must be berating Lindsey.

 

Sylvia Radian despised Lindsey. Sylvia always spoke as if Lindsey were ruining the Radian Manor.

 

Kenyan’s steps quickened.

 

Sylvia’s harassment of Lindsey was common. It had been two years since Lindsey and Azhet got engaged.

 

And among those two years, they spent half a year at Radian Manor in preparation for their marriage.

 

Sylvia had disliked Lindsey consistently since two years before Lindsey and Azhet got engaged.

 

Kenyan was aware of this fact as well.

 

Yet he didn’t care.

 

He wasn’t interested.

 

To him, Lindsey was just an annoying and irritating person.

 

He thought she deserved what she got.

 

That wouldn’t change now. No, it shouldn’t.

 

But why?

 

Why was he so irritated?

 

Kenyan looked at Lindsey in front of him.

 

“What in the world…”

 

He saw Lindsey soaked in wine.

 

“Kenyan! Welcome. Did you hear what this mongrel said?”

 

Kenyan felt an inexplicable discomfort.

 

Is this woman stupid? Why on earth is she being hit by wine?

 

Lindsey looked at him. He felt uncomfortable.

 

“Look at the behavior of this mongrel! She’s completely insane! She threw wine at me like she’s protesting!”

 

“Mother.”

 

“Kenyan?”

 

“You should go back to your room.”

 

Kenyan’s tone was firm.

 

Sylvia scrutinized Kenyan’s face. Kenyan seemed…angry.

 

Angry? Kenyan?

 

There’s no reason for that.

 

“There are guests.”

 

“…”

 

“This isn’t the time for such uncouth behavior.”

 

Kenyan’s words made Sylvia look at Lindsey.

 

‘Because of her!’

 

That thought came involuntarily.

 

Kenyan was clearly angry with her now.

 

Even a hint of anger could be felt in his stern expression.

 

Sylvia was perplexed.

 

She couldn’t understand what was going on. Why was Kenyan angry? 

 

“Please, never do this again. Mother.”

 

Sylvia’s face flushed with anger.

 

“But Kenyan! You saw what she did! She poured wine on herself like she was protesting! She humiliated me!”

 

Sylvia glared at Lindsey, wanting to grab her by the hair.

 

But Kenyan’s mood was strange.

 

“Enough… Mother, please. There are many eyes watching.”

 

Looking at Kenyan’s stern expression, Sylvia struggled to think.

 

As Kenyan said, there were many eyes to witness punishing Lindsey now.

 

She valued her dignity.

 

‘Kenyan wouldn’t be angry with me because of that. Maybe he’s thinking about the honor of our family.’

 

Kenyan valued noble honor more than anyone else. So Sylvia thought he might be angry now because of the family’s honor.

 

Otherwise, his actions wouldn’t make sense.

 

It seemed like he was trying to stop her. Sylvia stared at Lindsey and said, “Yes, it’s better to stop.”

 

Now was the time to step back.

 

‘If she becomes the Lady Radian, I won’t let it go. What kind of person is Lord Radian?’

 

She wouldn’t endure the insult.

 

“I will definitely repay today’s disgrace using that person.”

 

She had no intention of leaving Lindsey, who had been insolent to her, alone.

 

She would definitely make her pay for her sins.

 

⋆★⋆

 

Lindsey watched the two of them.

 

“What are they doing?”

 

She couldn’t understand Kenyan’s behavior.

 

‘Is he crazy?’

 

Why is that brat taking her side? It had been over 20 years since Lindsey lived here.

 

In those long years, Lindsey couldn’t forget the people here.

 

She never forgot, not even for a moment.

 

She always pondered.

 

Was it because she missed this place?

 

Because she wanted to come back?

 

Absolutely not.

 

Whenever she experienced the worst, thinking of this place made her feel at ease.

 

‘When I think I’ve gone through the worst, I could endure anything terrible.’

 

And one of the people who gave her that worst experience was Kenyan.

 

But now Kenyan was blaming Sylvia?

 

Sylvia was terrible too, but Kenyan was just as terrible.

 

‘Filthy mongrel!’

 

Wasn’t that a phrase Kenyan often used too?

 

Lindsey couldn’t understand why he was suddenly blaming Sylvia. Sylvia left with her servants.

 

Now only Lindsey and Kenyan remained in the corridor.

 

Lindsey looked up. Kenyan was much taller than her, so if she didn’t look up, she couldn’t meet his eyes.

 

Lindsey and Kenyan’s eyes met. Time seemed to slow down.

 

“What’s your scheme?”

 

“A scheme?”

 

“Yeah, you never cared no matter what happened to me.”

 

“That’s because of what you…”

 

Kenyan, who was about to say it was because of her actions, closed his mouth. What just happened wasn’t Lindsey’s fault.

 

But Sylvia irrationally blamed Lindsey.

 

‘Surely not everything that happened until now…’

 

His thoughts couldn’t continue.

 

Lindsey warned him with a firm and cold voice, “Don’t bother caring about what happens to me.”

 

Kenyan felt suffocated.

 

The person in front of him was supposed to be Lindsey Keshion. But it was too strange.

 

It was definitely Lindsey Keshion… but she seemed completely different.

 

Could that be possible?

 

Could a person change overnight?

 

Kenyan remembered clearly. Just a few days ago, Lindsey was a frightened person, clinging to Azjet’s arm and crying.

 

Didn’t he also mock her for begging not to go home?

 

But now Lindsey, who used to be like that, was standing up to his mother. Kenyan knew how dangerous that was.

 

His mother wouldn’t let Lindsey off easily. He found himself raising his voice without realizing it.

 

“You’ve finally gone crazy!”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t you know what kind of person my mother is?”

 

As always, Kenyan revealed his thorns. Lindsey tilted her head at his words.

 

“Why are you suddenly pretending to be nice?”

 

“What?”

 

She approached Kenyan. And in that moment,

 

Kenyan instinctively took a step back.

 

Another step from Lindsey. Another step from him. Every time she approached him, Kenyan retreated.

 

And soon, Lindsey’s face twisted.

 

As if she couldn’t stand it anymore, she quickly approached Kenyan and slapped his cheek.

 

Kenyan instinctively grabbed her hand.

 

And then, he felt it again. Kenyan’s face contorted uncontrollably.

 

“Damn it…”