IYWHM Chapter 167

The next day, Kisa left her room to go for a walk, wearing the blue dress as planned.

Although she had doubts in her heart about whether this would really serve as a signal, she couldn’t think of any other method.

Judging by the fact that Gale had specified only blue and red colors regarding the signal without setting any other particular conditions, it seemed he had left the specific method up to Kisa.

After all, even though Chloe worked as a hotel employee, it would be difficult for her to accurately grasp Kisa’s current situation, so that was probably for the best.

“I feel heavy, so I’d like to rest here for a moment before continuing.”

Kisa stopped walking at a location not far from the entrance to the garden and said this to the servant beside her.

It wasn’t even late pregnancy yet, and she wouldn’t have been tired from walking just this short distance, but the servant nodded without any particular suspicion.

Soon, the servant disappeared somewhere and reappeared carrying one of the chairs that had been placed in the garden.

Then she took out a handkerchief from her bosom, lightly wiped the surface of the chair, and gestured to Kisa.

“You may sit here.”

“Thank you.”

“Shall I bring you some water?”

“No, I’m not thirsty.”

“If you need anything, please let me know at any time.”

Was this also Seyard’s order?

The people around Kisa had been treating her even more carefully lately. As if she were a craft made of glass.

‘Well, I suppose it’s natural since I’ve been eating so little all this time.’

Still, this morning she had increased her meal portions enough to make the watching servant pleased.

Her appetite had returned somewhat, and she had also consciously tried to eat more than usual.

Perhaps she might really be able to meet Gale soon.

For Kisa, this wasn’t simply about seeing someone she was glad to meet and grateful for, but rather a kind of hope.

‘…Does Mr. Gale really intend to help me escape?’

Sitting in her seat while feeling the fresh greenery, Kisa quietly posed this question in her heart.

It was a doubt she had been pondering continuously from the time she confirmed his letter yesterday until now.

Actually, if he didn’t have such a purpose, there would be no reason for him to go to such troublesome lengths to contact Kisa.

Moreover, considering the possibility of being caught by Seyard, it was even dangerous.

Various confused thoughts swirled in Kisa’s mind.

‘Is Mr. Gale doing this because he likes me?’

If so, was she worth the trouble and risk he was taking?

If she truly cared about Gale, wouldn’t the right thing to do be to pretend she hadn’t seen his letter and ignore it?

If something happened to his safety because of Kisa’s problems, she wouldn’t be able to face him.

When Kisa left his side, what she had hoped for was a Gale who would return to how things were before she came, diligently handling the trading company’s business and occasionally visiting Mana and Daisy to spend peaceful daily life together.

If Gale also disappeared after Kisa had left, how sad would those two be?

And what about Manoa, who was responsible for the livelihood of quite a few people? Would she really approve of her capable subordinate jumping into this matter?

Or did she know? Even knowing, would she, being the natural businesswoman she was, let Gale go for the sake of just one person, Kisa?

What if this was Gale’s independent action, blinded by love?

Worries that couldn’t be resolved immediately tormented Kisa.

But despite all these problems, Kisa felt herself unable to let go of the single thread of hope that had been thrust before her eyes.

She could escape from here.

She could run away from Seyard once again.

She could distance herself from this terrible love.

Thinking this way, she found herself both afraid of and looking forward to the day she would meet Gale.

“Miss.”

At that moment, what woke her from the whirlwind of thoughts was the servant’s voice.

“I think you should look.”

Where the servant’s fingertip pointed, there were the silhouettes of two familiar people.

They were the noblewomen she had met not long ago: Mrs. Morton and Mrs. Devello.

Standing at a distance, they recognized Kisa, widened their eyes in surprise, and greeted her with gestures.

When Kisa also responded to their greeting with a nod, the two exchanged some conversation between themselves and then headed in the opposite direction from where Kisa was. They seemed to intend to take their walk while avoiding crossing paths with Kisa as much as possible.

Kisa felt a bit bewildered by this unexpected behavior.

‘I thought they would surely approach and talk to me.’

The two people she had seen last time had seemed very curious about Kisa’s detailed circumstances.

Although Seyard had skillfully deflected at that time, it wasn’t a topic that would diminish their interest.

Moreover, to them, Kisa was practically no different from the Duchess of Hillan, having only not held the wedding ceremony, so it wouldn’t hurt to build friendship while they had the chance.

‘But why are they being so cautious?’

Like people who had been sternly warned by someone…

At that moment, a certain man came to her mind. Needless to say, it was Seyard.

Come to think of it, he had said he planned to meet separately with the two ladies’ husbands as well.

‘No, even if the appointment hasn’t been arranged yet, it would be entirely possible to deliver a message to them.’

Given Seyard’s personality, he could have sent expensive gifts as hush money while also making requests regarding matters concerning Kisa.

Something along the lines of asking for consideration since his pregnant fiancée was in a quite sensitive state.

“…….”

This was merely speculation, but the more she thought about it, the closer to the truth it seemed.

For Kisa, her mood became troubled in a different way than before.

Honestly speaking, she didn’t entirely dislike that he cared for her so attentively.

At the same time, she disliked herself because of it.

Why didn’t he, who was selfish by nature, consistently act selfishly?

If he had, she could have suffered through it like a momentary fever, as with Daniel, and quickly shaken it off.

“How about moving to a different spot?”

Suddenly, the servant looked at Kisa and asked cautiously.

It seemed she thought Kisa’s not-so-good expression was due to the unexpected encounter with the two ladies.

Being close to the entrance, people entering the garden as well as those just passing by the garden could easily see Kisa.

It was a spot she normally wouldn’t have chosen. But today, that’s precisely why it had meaning.

At that moment, fortunately, Kisa spotted another familiar face and swallowed hard.

After exchanging glances with Kisa once, Chloe left the area as if nothing had happened.

With her arms full of dry laundry, she looked exactly like an employee busy with work.

Kisa watched Chloe’s retreating figure entering the hotel’s back door for a moment, then stood up from her seat.

“There’s no need. I’ve rested enough. I’d like to take a walk now.”

She also needed to dirty the dress, so she couldn’t keep resting forever.

If possible, it was better to be certain about everything.

Although Chloe had looked at Kisa with a strange expression just moments ago, Kisa planned to give her a double signal.

Regardless of the original person in charge returning, Chloe still worked in the laundry room.

In other words, the probability of her missing Kisa’s blue dress among the laundry was low.

‘How should I dirty it?’

Kisa continued her walk, thinking of perhaps sprinkling some dirt on it.

****

After sending the deliberately soiled dress to the laundry room as planned, the next day she sat in a chair pretending to enjoy the sunlight while lost in other thoughts.

The day Kisa would go out. In other words, the day she could attempt to meet Gale.

Kisa could choose the optimal day without much deliberation.

It was the day she was scheduled to go see Gabriel’s concert with Seyard.

‘No matter how I think about it, this is the best time.’

To be honest, she could have made other excuses to go out.

Seyard wasn’t particularly restricting Kisa’s actions.

However, if Kisa, who had been holed up in the hotel without stepping foot outside, suddenly said she wanted to go out, anyone would find it strange, not just someone as perceptive as Seyard.

‘Even regular medical checkups are conducted by calling the doctor here…’

So to avoid suspicion, it was better to utilize an already scheduled appointment.

Moreover, this day seemed easier than other times to meet Gale. Wasn’t Gabriel currently the most prominent figure in Matera?

In other words, there was a high possibility that a considerable crowd would gather at the concert, and naturally, the surveillance network consisting of Seyard’s people would also become loose.

It would also be easier for Gale to conceal his identity and make contact with Kisa.

‘Thank you, Gabriel.’

Even when she heard that name from Seyard after such a long time, she hadn’t known his existence would be helpful in this way.

“Now, there’s still one problem left…”

How exactly would she inform him that Kisa was going out on the day of Gabriel’s concert?

This was the problem.