The Man I Was Not Supposed to Love

Left Alone

Irene’s POV

I feel uncomfortable. The man in the entrance was staring at me the moment he appeared, and his gaze brought me shivers I never wanted to feel. His eyes are making me uncomfortable, not to mention that the old lady beside him is no other than Marquise Aran, the one responsible for my low self-esteem. I can still remember the time when she made those statements in the past that caused all the guests to talk about my ugliness and laugh at me. That’s one of the reasons why I have never shown up to this castle since then. If only mom had not forced me here now, I would not have come.

“Fix yourself, Irene,” Mom murmured as she came closer.

I nodded and sat down properly on the table. I looked at the cup of tea right in front of me and tried to focus my attention there. However, I find it difficult to do so. I can still sense that stare from that weird man who appeared to have seen a woman just now. His stares are totally different from William's. Ah, if only he was here. What am I thinking? I know that is not possible. Of course, how can our two families be invited on one occasion aside from those organized by the palace? All the nobles in Ekron know that our families are sworn enemies.

“Marquise Roman!”

That voice made me flinch. At once, I lifted my head to look at the source of the voice that called for my mom’s name. Coincidentally, my eyes caught that man’s eyes who is now so near me and still looking at my eyes. Immediately, I looked another way so that he wouldn’t read the fear and uneasiness inside me.

“Oh, Marquise Aran and Marquise Narcar!” my mother greeted her in her usual lively voice around people who are not her family members. She totally turns into a different kind of person the moment she faces other people aside from her family members and slaves in her castle.

“You look fabulous as always, Lady Roman,” Marquise Narcar commented.

“Oh, thank you so much, Lady Narcar. You look gorgeous yourself,” mom replied.

“Oh, who is this gorgeous lady beside you?” Lady Aran suddenly asked.

My heart beat faster than normal. Can’t she recognize me at all? Can she not recognize the girl that she humiliated twelve years ago? If only I can act the way I want to. I should have frowned there.

“Oh, can you not recognize my Irene?” mom answered. Her voice is so dear that I found it difficult to accept that she was speaking about me. Is this right?

“Ah!” Lady Aran gasped as her hands lifted to cover her mouth. “W-wow, I was not able to recognize your daughter. I’m sorry, Lady Irene.”

I bowed my head and smiled shyly, not knowing how to respond to this kind of statement from her. It seems that she changed compared to the woman in my memory.

“Right?” mom said again. “I myself cannot believe that my ugly duckling grew up after all.”

I flinched at that. Is this right? Is mom praising me? This is the first ever that her statement is even close to that of praise or appreciation.

“Introduce yourself to them, Irene,” mom ordered.

I faced the two old ladies at once, avoiding the eyes of the man who never cut his stares at me.

“G-greetings, Lady Aran and Lady Narcar, I am Irene Roman, the daughter of Marquese and Marquise Roman of Adarna,” I said softly. “Thank you for inviting us here.”

“Oh, what a darling!” Lady Narcar said as she looked at me with tender eyes. “Well, I also brought my son with me. Henry, why don’t you introduce yourself to everyone?”

“Oh,” the man right in front of me finally said. “Greetings to you, Marquise Roman and Lady Irene. I am Henry Narcar of Arbor, the son of Marquese and Marquise Narcar. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He kissed the back of mom’s hand. I knew that I would be next, and I froze the moment I realized that he was waiting for my hand.

“Irene…” mom said.

Immediately, I lifted my hand and gave it to his hand suspended in the air. I trembled the moment our hands touched. However, he lifted my hand towards his lips and kissed it lightly. His lips lingered there. I flinched the moment his lips touched my skin. However, I know that it would be impolite to pull my hands from his grasp now.

“Awww!” Lady Narcar reacted. “This is the first time I have seen my son acting towards a lady like this. How I wish this moment would last forever.”

That comment made me blush and I was aware of the warming up of my face and ears. For sure, they are turning reddish now.

“Oh, that’s the same with my Irene,” mom commented at the same time. “I have never seen her entertain a gentleman like this. This daughter of mine was never good at facing men, honestly speaking.”

If only I could make myself disappear, I would have done it immediately. How unfortunate that I can’t. All I could do was to endure this moment with these strange people, including my own mother. What’s more, this guy named Henry is still holding my hand, not releasing it for a bit. Slowly, I tried to pull it out of his grasp.

“E-excuse me, Lord Henry, m-my hand…” I said softly as I turned my head to the side.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” he said as if surprised, and then released my hand quickly.

“Oh, I guess we should give these youngsters some time to talk, shall we?” Lady Aran said and pulled my mom and Lady Narcar’s hands. “Come and help me welcome everyone who came to this tea party.”

“Oh, I would love to,” Lady Narcar said.

“That would be an honor,” mom said, and followed the two other old women who went to another side of the table.

We were left alone by ourselves, and I can feel Henry’s gaze more intensified than ever. Can’t his eyes separate from me and give me time to breathe?