The clock struck a quarter past four before sunset.
The sun knelt like a bride strutting in her beautiful gown, scattering just enough of its soft glow to highlight the stunning dusk's paint that rose from crimson red and yellow to gold.
Louis closed his large suitcase, pushing it aside before turning his head to the door where Albert knocked and smiled broadly from the threshold. "Are you packed?"
"Yes, everything is ready." He smiled garishly. He knew he should have all the fun today, as it was his last day in Ilgan and also coincided with a cheerful country wedding
But he kept thinking about all the problems and crises that would be thrown at him upon his return to the gloomy city. He kept worrying and fretting about not finding definitive and final solutions that would free him from the troubles that had occupied his life beyond his grasp.
Albert's smile twitched as he stood next to him with a serious face and worried eyes. "Are you still determined not to accept my help? Believe me, the ring will untie many knots and..."
"I told you before that I can't just take what binds you to Anna. Besides, I've already taken care of that debt, don't worry." He hated lying to his uncle so easily. But he knew Albert wouldn't stop insisting, and Louis wouldn't give in
He always believed that a wedding ring contained many pure, warm feelings that should not be easily forgotten. It was like a bond through which two souls embraced in a sacred bond that should not be underestimated, but rather should be immortalized forever.
And he would never take that bond away from his uncle, no matter what .
How lucky the woman she marries will be to have such a poetic man, Louis." Albert teased him gently, Louis rolling his eyes with a faint smile as he stood up and walked back to the door, turning to face him with a hint of a glance.
"Don't forget to dress up for the wedding tonight, as Mrs. Seguin Palum will be there." Albert winked evasively before leaving, his gaze clinging to Louis's helpless sigh. "I know what you're getting at, and it's not true!"
Albert's high-pitched laughter echoed through the hallway, and Louis shook his head in despair, feeling his smile shrink as he straightened up and looked down at his simple clothes, which hung monotonously on the candlestick
He knew Albert kept making those comments just to mess with him, but thinking about his first night here until this last, a lot had happened that had upset his feelings and shaken his vision.
He had heard about Sigin Palom's bad side from people and had seen sides of him the night before, but during that chance encounter with the beautiful blonde, he had seen flashes of her true nature that made him reconsider his calculations. He was bewildered.
There should have been no relationship of any kind between him and any woman, and as he returned to the city under everyone's judgmental gaze, he should not have mentioned the ravishing nights he had spent with the beautiful blonde, but he could not pretend that nothing had changed in their relationship.
She was so different that he was attracted to her
She had a unique beauty that captivated him. She had a strong personality that amazed him. She was a deep thinker that delighted him. She wasn't like any other woman. She was the kind of woman you could argue with, and she would know exactly what to talk about.
She might even convince him of her point of view with ease. She was the kind of woman who wouldn't just console him in a crisis, but would sit with him and think of solutions to help him as if she were part of the crisis. She was a woman he could count on, and she would never let him down .
Louis exhaled deeply, his eyes filled with a distracted look in several ways. His feelings were turbulent, wondering which path to take without return: either forget everything that had happened between them and everything he knew about her, or throw everything to the wind and follow the call of a whispering heart.
He looked out of his room window at the green hill that revealed to him part of the house where the woman who had occupied his mind and conscience for the past five days had stayed, and his breath became ragged.
He had to make a decision.
Did he want to take his relationship with the beautiful blonde to a deeper level? Or would what had happened with Ilkan remain in Ilkan forever?
The atmosphere around her was calm.
She inhaled the scent of the hovering jasmine sticks from her incense burner, which rested next to her mirror, reflecting the pale light of the sunset that bounced off her pale face with her submissive gaze
Sigin Palom looked at her reflection in her decorative mirror while she brushed her golden locks with a calmness she had never experienced in her life. Her features were drawn with gentle lines beneath her eyelids, a strange but distinct addition to the sharpness of her gaze and the fading of her irises.
Preparing for a wedding, much less her own, was not something she was used to. Looking at the mirror and seeing herself wearing an elegant gown, not a formal dress, gave her a fluttering feeling in her heart. Perhaps it was happiness, perhaps it was anxiety. After all, there was no man waiting for her on the doorstep.
She tied a few strands of her hair with her antique blue scarf before stroking her corset, feeling her breaths strain and leave their marks on her face, which fought to remain steady.
It was just a wedding .
She cast her eyes toward the ornate copper box that lay above her bed and slowly walked toward it. How could a small box stir in her mind memories that had faded and whose fire had never been extinguished?
She opened it to gaze at the precious and antique items that lay at its bottom with complete surrender. Each item contained a part of a soul that had been dying for years. Each item held a part of her life attached to it.
She pushed all her obsession aside as she picked up what she wanted, which was in its small box, to which dust had added an antique touch. The silver hairpin, with its serrated edges and elegant top, also appeared. An antique item tarnished by a sad memory.
"Siqin..."
That voice. Its harsh tone, laced with a hint of rebuke, never left her ears. She remembered that it was an hour like this, when sunset was about to bid farewell to the sky, abandoning London's sublime theater to embrace the night with its twinkling stars.
She raised her head from her mirror, imprisoned in a miserable shadow, and reflected an eager look at her father, who stood on her doorstep with eyes that never failed to frighten her... no matter how many years passed.
"Yes, Father?"
"Mr. Ralph Herriman is outside and wishes to greet you himself." She couldn't quite comprehend the situation. There was a man outside, waiting for her permission, a formality, to enter her room to pay her a special tribute?
What surprised her about all this was his father's receptive attitude to the idea.
"Of course, Father. Of course."
It was never a word of his that was even open to debate. She stood firmly on her heels, persevering to maintain it, watching her father's presence move away to make way for the forty-year-old legal man who entered her private lair with great confidence .
) Remember how uncomfortable and frightening the whole situation had been.
"Mr. Herman." She bowed courteously, trying not to make eye contact with him. It was not proper for a woman to look up into a man's eyes. So they had told her.
"What a beautiful girl you have, Henry," the lawman commented, his compassionate voice irritating her ears as his large fist gently took hers for him to kiss. She smiled back at him smirking.
"I have brought you a small present. Please accept it, Miss Pallum." Herman lured her into stating, making her frown in surprise as she examined the expensive box. He opened it to reveal an elegant silver hairpin that she herself admired, yet did not reach out to accept
"This is an extravagant gift for no reason, Herr Hermann." She denounced softly, daring to meet his eyes for a moment, only to see in them a disturbing look that carried many uncomfortable meanings, and she became suspicious.
"It is not precious next to you, fair lady." She was exaggerating in his inappropriate flirting. What surprised her was that her father heard all this and did not object, but rather gestured to her from behind with a steely look, warning her not to accept the expensive gift; which she did reluctantly.
"Thank you, Herr Hermann. That is very generous of you."
Sikin blinked uneasily, pulling herself out of the well of her reverie that had swum years and years back to when she was nothing but a young teenager. All she hoped for was a pretty dress and gentle flirting from one of the handsome young men
Strange that time kills every gentle dream on the stage of miserable reality.
She quickly closed the box on its contents before turning to the woman again, taking one last look at her unaffected form, and sighed. All she had to do was have some honest joy that night .
The town was in a state of joy and happiness, drifting in with the winds to spread their captivating scent over the hearts that danced to the melodies of the flute and the oud with the children who ran happily between the lemon and orange trees, surrounded by a few crystal branches that shone next to the moon.
The house was nothing like the outside noise of the beginnings of the party, where the teenage girls flaunted their delicate dresses to the tunes of country songs, sung by one of them with a charming cadence. All those gentle ceremonies only added a joyful color to the night.
"Mrs. Palom, may I ask you something?" Sikin was surprised by the question of the bride of the party, Isabel Marvin, while the blonde carefully braided her chestnut hair after the girl asked to be alone with the woman for a little time. She nodded affirmatively
"On your wedding night... were you scared?" Isabelle glanced at her through the mirror with a worried face, a fleeting memory flashing through Seqin's distracted mind, making her blink attentively.
She had always had very good relations with the people of Ilgan. She remembered when she was just a little girl running beside her father in the spacious green lands, which made her feel more comfortable and familiar among simple country families than strict city families.
Sevin let go of the girl's hair and turned to sit close to her, locking eyes with Isabelle with a warm smile. "I was very scared, and that's only natural. You're leaving your parents' home for the first time to be in a new home with a man you'll discover who he really is. It's okay to be scared, Isabelle."
The bride smiled for a stolen moment before taking a deep breath, looking at her image in the mirror with a troubled face. "I'm so worried. What if this goes wrong? What if he changes his mind and discovers after all this that he doesn't really love me?"
Seven patted the nineteen-year-old's hand and drew her eyes to hers with a serious look. "More important than love is that he respects you, Isabelle. That he never belittles you or treats you as less important than himself, and that you never allow him to insult you. One insult can lead to a thousand. Remember that well."
Advice she wished someone had told her before. When she was in the same position as a girl, an eighteen-year-old teenager about to marry a man she knew nothing about except that he was a man of the law and twenty-two years her senior.
She wished someone had told her that like Isabelle had found it, so she could remember it. But they say that time teaches what humans fail to understand, and she had lived by that saying for an eternity of her life and learned from it what no one else could have taught her
Isabel nodded knowingly, and Sikin smiled brightly, reclaiming her spot behind the girl once more. "Now let me finish your hair so we can put the silver pin in it."
She saw her past self in Isabel's image. Although the circumstances were different, they were exactly the same.
The night was filled with incessant music. The whole townspeople cheered around the lush fields, and some children gathered around the small table that had been set up nearby. Topped with apple and cherry pies, along with lemon and orange cakes, the crowd greedily devoured them
"Sounds appealing," Louis commented with satisfaction as he walked side by side with Rashdan from the top of the hill. The gardener smiled pleasantly, leaning gently toward him. "I told you, country festivals are nothing like city ones. People here are after fun, not ostentation. No offense."
"Trust me, that's no offense." Louis rolled his eyes mockingly, watching Albert, who preceded their slow steps and went to greet Sir Walter Marrin, who greeted him with great hospitality .
His gaze darted here and there stealthily, feeling for smiling faces without finding anyone who sought her out among them. He became worried. Had the blonde changed her mind and not come to the ceremony as she had promised? With his excitement at seeing a rural wedding for the first time, he was eager to spend the few hours he had left in Ilgan with her.
She really wouldn't let him down. Right?
There she was, the beautiful lady, Sevin Palom. His blue eyes froze as his body shivered with gentle warmth. She was emerging from the crowd, far away, with a bright smile she had given to one of the children.
She looked Korean in that stunning blue dress with the loose cape over it, in addition to the flower wreath that was the wedding sign, resting on her golden hair that fell on her back in waves that added to its beauty.
She was like a Roman goddess who captivated the eyes with her beauty
"You need to catch your breath, Mr. Legrent." He was startled by Rashdan's whisper in his ear, which made him turn grimly. The gardener laughed evasively at him before withdrawing and mingling with the guests, leaving Louie to catch his breath while she approached his spot with a face that beamed with happiness.
"Hello, Mr. Legrent."
He felt as if his tongue was tied for words. He smiled nervously as he kissed her hand, hoping to hide the turmoil that had accompanied him since this afternoon. "Welcome, Mr. Pallum. You look wonderful."
For a moment, he was confused about what appropriate word to use to call her, what appropriate word to use to express her beauty. He was caught in a whirl of formal relationships devoid of flirtation, and a straightforward tongue led by a passionate heart
"Thank you. That's very kind of you." She gave him a gentle smile that numbed him before settling down next to him to continue the ceremony, which unfolded haphazardly. He wasn't entirely aware of it, but was suddenly drawn towards it as each couple, husband and wife, brother and sister, gathered for a traditional country dance .
It was very different from a city wedding ceremony. The arrangements were meticulous, and each step had its due date. There was no feast until a few days after the vows were made. He found in the country wedding an element of genuine happiness, cut short by the knife of monotony and order.
"Would you like to dance?" His heart pounded as he politely and hopefully offered it, only to be frustrated by the pursed lips of her half-smiling face and a light shake of her head. "No. I can't dance."
He nodded in understanding, turning back to watch the dance performed by all present, with steps that differed from those performed at upper-class parties. This country dance was performed with joy and passion, and it was okay if someone made a mistake.
When the bugle announced the end of the dance, he clapped with everyone and smiled widely. He could feel her blending in beside him, with an amused look on her face. She was in a good mood, and that comforted him
His eyes were caught by a six-year-old girl who slipped through the reveling crowd, carrying a baby in her arms. She strutted towards them in her cute green dress, looking up at the blonde woman with a gentle smile. "Hello, Mrs. Palom."
"Hello, little one." Sigin greeted cheerfully, bending down to the little girl's level, whose eyes lit up with happiness. Louie smiled, observing. She seemed good with children, unlike him. He had always loved children, but hadn't had much experience with them.
Sigin gently stroked the baby's cheek and asked gently, "Is that cutie your brother?"
"Yes. His name is Adam. Would you like to hold him, Mrs. Palom?" The little girl looked up innocently, but something changed in the woman's expression, causing her relaxed face to softly contract, and a strange, glassy look took over her eyes .
"No. No, dear," she muttered. He could interpret her fake smile as she told the child to return the baby to its mother, before she turned back on her heels, her features flattened and her joy evaporating, so he furrowed his brow in confusion.
"Mrs. Palom, is everything all right?" Though the answer was obvious, something had suddenly upset her, clouding her already fluttering mood.
"Yes." was all she said, but she was lying. She lifted the wreath from her head and turned away down a long driveway guarded by lemon trees on either side, lit by moonlight and gentle branches of light, so he hesitated to follow.
Sighing, he made up his mind and withdrew from the celebration, retracing her steps down the lemon aisle as the wedding noises slowly died down. "My lady, you seem disappointed. Was it something the little girl said?"
She shook her head, not even giving him a glance. "No. I just avoid holding children; to avoid suspicion."
Louis pursed his lips in understanding and fell silent with displeasure. He knew exactly what she meant by avoiding suspicion. A woman married five times without a single child might be seen as a bad omen for children, even if it wasn't heard out loud.
"I can leave you now, if you wish." His steps almost trailed back, only to be met with a gentle grip on his arm, reclaiming his blue eyes on a path directly toward her demanding greens. "No. Walk with me."
Joy's heart gasped. He settled for a simple nod, feeling her hand drift away slowly, sending shivers down his spine as their fists brushed ever so gently as they walked quietly in the blue moonlight between the lush lime trees .
How completely strange things had been.
Just a few nights ago, he remembered how much he had been contemptuous and repelled by the very mention of Sigin Palom's name, and now he was enamored with her company and eager to hear more of her philosophy, which had never passed him by.
"I feel obliged to explain what I saw between Sir Arthur Nicholas and myself the other night," she admitted suddenly, breaking him from the depths of his reverie. He looked into her eyes, which were turned to him in surprise, and shook his head. "No. I really don't have to explain anything; it's none of my business."
"Please. I want this."
He gave her a blank look in which his latent feelings were conflicting. A few days before, she had told him that she would not justify what he had seen because she didn't have to present her reasons to him, and now she insisted on explaining the situation he had almost forgotten as an obligation to her.
How many confused wars had been waged in his head
Seqin exhaled forcefully, returning her head to the path drawn for the unknown ahead. "Mr. Nicholas and I have a special kind of relationship..."
"Do you love him?" He cut her off unconsciously. His eyes didn't move an eyelash away from her face, which he followed enamored, with worry and apprehension that pounded at his heart as the blonde stared at him in surprise. "What?"
"Since you allow him to touch you like that. Are you in love with him?" He was dying to know the answer to that particular question, as her response would settle many, many issues in his mind.
"Love isn't a word I would ever use." A ghost of a bitter, mocking smile danced at the corner of her lips, frustrating him. It wasn't a clear, decisive answer, as if she had evaded it as usual and hadn't given him a frank statement that would spare him the roaring of his mind and the bleeding of his heart
It was so vague that he couldn't understand it .
"Then I'll never understand what brings you two together no matter how much you explain it to me, Mrs. Palom," he said softly. She was the opposite of him; he believed in love. He would only touch a woman the way she allowed the publisher to touch her if she was truly the one.
He saw that kind of intimacy as sacred, not to be wasted with just anyone. It should be with someone special to his heart and a harvester of his love.
"Your thinking is poetic," she commented after a while with a thin smile, and his lips bounced back in a faint grin as he nodded in agreement. For a man who had lived for years in Paris, it was difficult to readjust to the harsh spirit of London.
He paused for breath and licked his lips in displeasure. "People here find it degrading to express their feelings, whereas I find it ravishing."
"Then you will always remain a dreamer in your thoughts, Mr. Legrent."
He didn't mind. He preferred to be a dreamer with a loving heart than a dullard living his life without love in it. He liked her to look at him as a poetic man dominated by his feelings, rather than to be in her eyes as a strict man who considered his heart a cage for any alluring feeling that touched him.
He saw no end to their path and didn't object. The scent of lemons stole the hovering air with its gentle sting, surrounding them like fairies of love singing a soft melody of passion that pampered their passionate hearts.
He didn't know whether she felt what he felt every moment their hands touched, or whether he was unique in that delicate feeling that struck his heart. He didn't know whether she aimed to steal his immortality and conscience, or whether it was something beyond her control, causing men to fall under her spell
Now he understood why women were jealous of her and men yearned for her. She was exceptional. She was effortlessly beautiful, and the magic of Ilgan was his disease .
"Mrs. Palom..." He stopped abruptly, looking into her questioning face as she stopped a few steps away and smiled sweetly. "Mr. Legrent."
"Louis," he declared. His heart throbbed with passion as he had reached this point, no return.
The point where he had stripped himself of titles and thrown tradition and formality to the wall. Her calm smile widened, her irises glowing with a night-time green that caught his eye. "Seghin."
Seven.
How the repetition of the name without a title preceding or following it had a unique effect on his mind and on his tongue. They were truly there. To the degree he had never thought he could reach with her. The degree whose existence he had denounced even in their relationship, which had been forced upon him on a winter night witnessed by the moon and its stars
He looked deeply into her eyes. How could a person get tired of looking at them for so long? He wanted to spend the rest of his hours lost in her captivating greenery, gazing at the beauty that had suddenly seduced him.
He was in love!
"... Will you marry me?"