Chapter Thirteen
Lady Eleonora stepped forward with a polite tone to break the silence. "Kyle, welcome to the manor. Have you come for Arwa?"
Arwa stood in the middle of the table, her gaze shifting between Kyle and Inas. The atmosphere was charged—thick with unspoken words, untold memories. No, this isn't good… This isn't good at all!
She looked at Kyle and saw the shadows of pain in his eyes—the kind of pain known to every lover betrayed by life, or rather, by fate in the form of a woman. Inas wasn't looking directly at him, but she was fully aware of his presence. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, as if trying to gather her thoughts—or perhaps, not thinking at all.
"Alright!" Arwa suddenly shouted, clapping her hands so loudly that everyone jumped in their seats.
Kyle turned to her slowly, while Lady Eleonora raised an eyebrow in surprise. Even Inas seemed to snap out of her daze.
"Sir Kyle Strathmore, don't you have anything better to do than stand here staring like a Roman statue?" Arwa said as she dramatically grabbed his arm.
He looked at her in bewilderment but said nothing.
"My dear mother, my beloved brother, the lovely Inas, I'm sorry, but I suddenly feel the urge to visit Uncle Denis, and Sir Kyle will be taking me!" Then she leaned in and whispered, gripping his arm tighter, "Let's go before this turns into an inescapable tragic drama!"
His surprise didn't give him enough time to object, for Arwa had already begun pulling him out of the room, weaving her way past everyone with effortless charm.
Outside, the sky had begun to take on the reddish hues of sunset. Arwa walked quickly, gripping Kyle's wrist as if afraid he might escape.
"Where are we going?" he finally asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Anywhere far from prying eyes and complicated situations," she replied, continuing to drag him along.
"Arwa…"
"No, don't start with the 'wounded man' tone." She said it playfully, suddenly stopping and turning to face him.
His eyebrows shot up in surprise, and he smirked bitterly. "The wounded man? Arwa, I think you have a dangerous tendency to create chaos."
She placed a dramatic hand on her chest. "Me? Chaotic? Impossible! I'm simply talented at saving people from awkward situations." Then she leaned in, lowering her voice. "And also, very skilled at changing the hearts of gloomy men like you."
Kyle let out an involuntary chuckle, but it was brief, as if he were still trying to maintain his stern façade. "I don't think I need saving."
She placed her hands on her hips and gave him a scrutinizing look. "Oh, but you do. You look like a cat left out in the rain—miserable, drenched, and with no idea where to go." Then she patted his shoulder like an old friend. "But don't worry, I'm here to save you."
He stared at her for a moment before exhaling, shaking his head. "Arwa, you're… really strange today."
"Why, thank you! That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me today," she replied with a bright smile.
"That wasn't a compliment."
"Of course it was. Anyway, Kyle Strathmore, here I am, standing before you—a storm that cannot be stopped—determined to make you smile for real." She said it with sudden seriousness, clasping her hands behind her back as her silver eyes gleamed.
He was silent for a moment before sighing, as if finally surrendering to her strange energy. "Arwa… you can't change the past."
"And who said I wanted to?" She shrugged playfully. "I just want to change the future."
"Let's go. I really miss Uncle Denis. I want to see him. And I'm starving—I haven't eaten anything."
Kyle smiled slightly and said quietly, "Thank you, Arwa."
"For what?" she asked.
He rubbed the back of his head. "Nothing… It's just… you made me laugh today. I've been going through a rough time lately."
Outside, the sky had begun to glow with the warm hues of sunset. Arwa sat in the car as Kyle drove. Without meaning to, I had turned into a complete clown in front of him, desperately trying to convince him to take me along. It only took a few seconds before I realized how foolish I had been. I wished the earth would just swallow me whole! A wave of embarrassment burned my cheeks as I sat beside him in tense silence.
Kyle drove calmly, his eyes fixed on the road, but he couldn't ignore the stiff expression on my face. Finally, he glanced at me and spoke in his usual calm tone.
"Miss Arwa."
I quickly lifted my head, nervous.
"Yes, Mr. Strathmore?"
He smiled slightly and said,
"Don't call me by my last name. Just call me Kyle."
I felt my heart drop into my stomach. Flustered, I struggled to process his words. Kyle, the heir of the prestigious Strathmore family, wanted me to call him by his first name? Impossible! That went against every rule of etiquette I knew!
"But… I can't! You're much older than me."
He chuckled lightly, glancing at me before returning his eyes to the road.
"There's no need to be shy. It's simple. Just say Kyle."
But because I wasn't originally from this world, I didn't want to seem strange. So, I searched my mind for a more respectful way to address him.
"I'll call you 'Oppa'—it's more respectful."
He paused for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, catching me off guard.
"Oppa? Haha! I heard that word when I was studying in Spain."
He stroked his chin thoughtfully while keeping one hand on the steering wheel.
"I had a Korean roommate. His younger sister had a friend who was still in elementary school, if I remember correctly. She used to call him 'Oppa.' He told me it was a term used to show respect for an older brother."
I tried to act natural, clasping my hands together and speaking innocently,
"Yaa, I read it in a novel once."
But the truth?
Oh, God, I almost exposed myself!
If he found out I wasn't from this world—that I was actually inhabiting this body—how would he react? No, I didn't even want to think about it!
I shook my head vigorously to dispel those thoughts, and Kyle noticed, raising an eyebrow in suspicion.
"What's wrong?"
I laughed nervously, trying to sound casual.
"Nothing! My ear just feels itchy inside, so I'm doing this to fix it."
"Haha, that's… weird," Kyle said with a small smile. "Anyway, we've arrived."
I lifted my head and looked ahead, freezing in place.
Strathmore Manor… A piece of heaven.
The massive gate before us stood open, leading to a long stone pathway surrounded by vast gardens. Rare flowers in vivid colors filled the landscape, while towering trees swayed with the gentle breeze. Water flowed through small streams, cascading into exquisitely sculpted fountains. In the distance, the grand manor loomed—an architectural masterpiece that seemed to belong to another era.
The manor itself was like a dream, nestled among distant waterfalls, with mountains adorning the horizon. I stepped out of the car slowly, my eyes drinking in the breathtaking scene.
Kyle walked beside me, murmuring,
"My father is waiting for you. I don't know why, but he's very fond of you."
"Uncle Denis is very kind," I replied sincerely. Despite his imposing presence, I had felt his warmth before.
As we entered the grand hall, it felt as though I had stepped into another world. The vaulted ceiling was hand-painted with mythical scenes, and a massive crystal chandelier hung from the center, shimmering like a constellation of stars. The floor, made of black and white marble, reflected the golden light filtering through the tall windows. The walls were adorned with breathtaking paintings and intricately carved statues.
And there, in the heart of the hall, sat Lord Denis Strathmore.
He was a man of commanding presence, despite the warmth in his smile. He sat with the confidence of a nobleman, beside an elegant woman in her fifties who didn't seem old at all—rather, she exuded an air of refined grace.
Lord Denis smiled and spoke in his deep, authoritative voice,
"My dear, I have a special guest today."
Then he turned to the woman beside him and said,
"My dear Sarah, let me introduce you to the daughter of my dear friend and brother, Duke Othman Valeska… Arwa."
Sarah, his wife, smiled in surprise.
"Darling, does Othman truly have a daughter this beautiful? Why didn't Eleonora tell me about her? I've never seen her before!"
Lord Denis looked at her with a faintly sorrowful smile.
"Arwa was unwell for a long time. She wasn't allowed to go out much. That's why I asked Kyle to bring her today—to give her a change of scenery."
I smiled and bowed respectfully, as befitted the daughter of a duke.
"My greetings to you, Lord Strathmore, and to you, Lady Sarah."
Lady Sarah chuckled,
"Come, sit with us, Miss Arwa."
I stepped forward and took a seat, but inside, I couldn't shake the growing unease.
This world was beginning to feel too real…
And a terrifying thought kept echoing in my mind:
I am not the real Arwa. What will happen if they find out the truth?