About Your Pride and My Prejudice
Chapter 10

Was It You?

My mother looked worried, which was not like her.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

No matter how scary the stalker is. Still, she is hesitant to send her daughter to the social world. I’ve been waiting all my life to see it.

Is this what a 20-year-old says?

“I’m okay.”

My mother rarely stood watching me climb the carriage. In the dim night air, my mother’s amber eyes were trembling with anxiety.

“Be careful, Melissa……. You said Tobias couldn’t come, didn’t you?”

My mother referred Toby, with whom she had yet to meet, in a friendly way as if she were calling her son-in-law. I answered with a light smile,

“Yes, exams are important.”

“…….”

“It’s okay, mom. The Victory Ceremony is the biggest royal event.”

“……Yes, there are many eyes to see, so even that suspicious man is not a big deal.”

Literally that is the case. The Victory Ceremony is the last royal event of the social season this year. It is clear that the ball that will decorate the grand finale will attract a great crowd. It wouldn’t be a good environment for Mr. Stalker to be active.

Me being introverted, I tend to struggle with crowded places, but I wasn’t very worried because today Viola was there. Moreover, today was the day that Viola’s lover, Jacob, was to be introduced.

So, for today alone, there will be no need to look like a shabby loner, stand alone in a corner and glance at the venue over people’s shoulders.

“Melissa!”

“Yes, mom.”

“You have to be careful, really…”

In fact, I’ve been thinking about one thing all along. Since today’s ball is the royal event, Mr. Leopold and his only successor……

“Don’t worry.”

I’ll surely attend.

“…I’ll be late at this rate, mom. I’ll leave now.”

After the carriage door was closed, complete silence came.

The numb sensation, which began deep inside the stomach, spread slowly all over my body. It won’t be simply because the corset is too tight.

I stretched out my legs, trembling with tension. I couldn’t put any force on my toes.

“Whoo…”

Since the carriage has just begun to run, it would take at least forty minutes to reach the National Theater where the ball was held.

But my poor heart was already beating like it was going to explode.

As if it was about to come out of my mouth at any moment, I quickly bit my lips. Then, with my trembling hand, I touched my chest silently.

It wasn’t just the beating of the heart that was transmitted through the palm of my hand.  A thin yet clear sense of foreign thing felt from the inside of the clothes with a rustling sound.

No matter how much I think about it, I must have been possessed by something for a while.

“…….”

Why did I bring this?

* * *

The front of the theater was already crowded with people and carriages. As if the night had slipped away, the scenery with bright lights everywhere was spectacular.

“Mel!”

Getting off the carriage with the coachman’s escort, I looked around awkwardly. I’m sure I heard my name…….

“Melissa!”

As I turned my head toward the voice, I saw Viola standing on one side of the majestic outer wall. Waving her hands continuously next to a bulky man

……That’s Jacob.

“I was waiting for you to come in with me!”

Jacob hurriedly approached behind Viola, who cheerfully crossed her arms (with him).

“Miss Collins?”

“… Oh, hello. You’re….”

“I’m Jacob Brickhouse. I’ve heard a lot.”

Jacob was a gentleman with a distinct impression and beautiful sun-tanned skin. He was dressed neatly in a dark blue coat that looked pricey at first glance, and his curly dark brown hair was neatly tied back and hung down.

“You’re from Piccom, right? Even if you’re in Florin at this late hour…….”

Even before I finished talking, Viola suddenly opened her mouth.

“It’s okay! He is going to sleep at my house today.”

Viola, who wrapped Jacob’s forearm with the rest of her arms, leaned against him and added,

“Of course, we are going to use separate rooms.”

Isn’t that obvious….

(T/N: it’s obvious what will happen ahem)

Thinking so, I suddenly noticed that Viola’s voice was thinner and quaint than usual. This is the voice in front of a lover.

Well, it’s natural that you want to look good to someone you like. It would be natural to pay attention to even the smallest things.

Come to think of it, how was I when I talked to Tobias? I don’t think I’ve even refined my voice. Although we’re not even lovers in the first place.

But I’m willing to stop daydreaming if he can be my resting place. I just don’t like it because it seems to be closer to use than dating.

“Jake, do you like my hair today?”

“There’s never been a time when muffins weren’t pretty.”

“…….”

The air between Viola and Jacob, their eyes shining towards each other, was simply unfamiliar. Even the breath they exhale seems to twinkle like stars.

But at the same time, I suddenly realised how miraculous it is for two people to fall in love together. Unsurprisingly, that is.

No wonder, I’ve never seen Viola like this before. Although she was always bright and cheerful, I have never seen her look this full and relaxed. I don’t know if it’s right to express it like this, but she finally seems to be complete.

I’m just speculating, wondering if this is what people say is the power of love.

Of course, I didn’t feel particularly envious. For me, love between opposite sexes was such a distant and blurry feeling that I had never hoped for in my life.….

“Let’s go in!”

Viola, who held Jacob’s hands tightly in both hands, took the lead, exclaiming excitedly. Her lover and I were reluctantly dragged and smiled as if we couldn’t stop her.

* * *

Viola held my hands tightly and cried.

“Sorry, Mel…….”

“It’s okay.”

The two pairs of opera gloves met and made a soft sound. Of course my gloves are old and not as fine as Viola’s satin gloves.

“Do you think I don’t take the hint that you are going to dance with Mr. Brickhouse?”

“There are so many people here, but I’m afraid to leave you alone…….”

You said it’s hell without me. Viola added in a gloomy tone.

It wasn’t that I didn’t know the psychology of Viola. She’s with her lover, but she’s bothered because I was alone. It’s the first time that three people, not two, have come to a party since our social debut.

“It’s not even something to dance for an hour. It’s really okay, so go.”

I pushed her back. I didn’t forget to wave my hand to Viola, who glanced back at me as she walked away from the center of the venue.

It wasn’t like me, but I wanted to reassure her as much as possible. I’m really okay, so I didn’t want her time with her lover to be disturbed by useless worries.

It was not until the two completely disappeared into young men and women who stepped up. Stretching out their arms.

I was going to go to the tea room and drink. It’s a little bitter, but it’s true that without Viola or Tobias, there aren’t enough people to even say hello to.

Anyways, where is Alan Leopold? It was strange but regrettable that I couldn’t see the person who had troubled my heart the whole time I came here.

Well, it’s natural that I can’t replace him at once because there are so many people. Even on the way to the tea room, my shoulders constantly bumped with someone else’s. Nevertheless, it was somehow useless.

Right at that moment. My wrist was caught roughly by someone.

“Ah…..!”

I was literally dragged away. He was holding my wrist tightly in his clasped hand, and frantically rushed through the crowd.

It was too much to chase his stride. I felt like I was about to step on the hem of my dress.

Eventually, I raised my head in a flash with a scream.

“Excuse me! I……!”

I couldn’t talk anymore and held my breath with my head down.

……Why did I discover it now? That the man who was dragging me recklessly was tall, has broad shoulders, and black back of the head.

“…Alan?”

I had no idea why he grabbed my wrist or where he was going to take me. It seemed as if the accident had come to halt.

I was deeply relieved that he had not heard my voice, and I only gripped the hem of my dress tightly so as not to step on it.

It was the terrace where he led me. My head was dizzy from the sudden cold wind.

“Sor…”

And when he turned around toward me, my dizziness got a little worse.

“Sorry, Milady!”

“…….”

Looking back, he had dark brown hair, not black hair, and although he was tall, his posture was bent.

“I thought you were the woman I was looking for..….”

Above all, he did not have perfect skin texture like wax or blue-gray eyes as clean as ice.

What the hell am I… How could I mistake this person for Alan?

“I guess I didn’t see it properly because I was too excited. I don’t know how I should apologise…….”

I don’t know what the story was, but the man’s face was flushed. Is this also because of love?

No wonder why I calmed down. I wasn’t particularly angry. My wrist throbbed a bit, and the hem of my dress was stepped on about a couple of times and it became dirty.

Well, it’s not even a new dress.

“It’s okay. I think you’re in a hurry. Please go in.”

“I…”

Then, the man touched the back of his head and opened his mouth.

“If you don’t mind, can I know your name?”

“…..What?”

My eyes widened at his words. This is definitely when a man and a woman express their feelings for each other……

But didn’t he say there’s a woman he is looking for?

“I, I don’t mean anything else. Just…..It looks like you stepped on the hem of your clothes because of me, so please I want to make up for it….”

Ha. I scorned myself in a small way. It’s not even funny, Melissa.

“Oh, my name is Malcolm Longhorn.”

“…… It’s a humble dress. Thank you for your words, but it’s okay.”

I expressed a polite rejection. I thought that being with this person continuously would harm my face. However, Mr. Longhorn simply did not back down.

And I often feel tired of dealing with people with strong persistence.

“…. I’m Melissa Collins.”

“Collins, Young lady.”

As if a little calmed down, the man calmly gave courtesy.

“I’m so sorry. If I have a chance, I will make up for today’s rude behavior.”

It was not until he returned to the venue that I could rub my stiff wrist and sigh lightly. It’s been a while since I went out and experienced such an absurd thing. When I left the house, the words of hardship came to mind.

I wonder if it’s still dance time. If it was over, Viola would be looking for me. With that thought, I quietly turned around. If the dance wasn’t over yet, I could rest a little in the tea room.

By the way…… Unbelievably, Alan was standing in front of me. I rubbed my eyes in shock.

“…….”

……No way. It’s really Alan Leopold. But how can he hold my envelope in his hand…?

My mind went blank, and I fumbled around my dress. I definitely put it in here…….

It’s not there!

“Oh, how…….”

“A woman in a red dress dropped this.”

I glanced down at the hem of the old dress with bewildered eyes.  Even in the dark, my dress was a blazing bright red. My legs relaxed as if I had lost all hope.

Alan, who had a colder face than the moon, asked, shaking the envelope lightly.

“Was it you who wrote this letter?”

***

T/N: THE SECOND HAND EMBARRASSMENT,,,,,I CAN’T, LET ME DIE INSTEAD OF HER,, I CAN’T!!!

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Comments from Korean readers:

Crazy… I had an illusion that I was in the ballroom, too ㅠㅠ But whenever Alan comes out, my tension is crazy. Writer, I have to wake up in three hours. What are you going to do about this? Hik, hik

I’m so embarrassed ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ Argh ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

I hope it goes well. Not a couple but It’s going to be a dark past.

Rest in peace Mel….