For a moment, Kisa had to doubt her own ears. That was because the story that came out of Hazel’s mouth was so unexpected.

She reflexively examined the person in front of her.

‘Hazel Turdy…’

The woman Daniel would want to protect forever even at the cost of his own life. According to him, his soulmate without any romantic attraction.

She had briefly exchanged words with this woman on the day she first learned of her existence, but this was the first time she had faced her in such a calm atmosphere.

At that time, due to Daniel’s presence, Kisa had not had enough time to observe what kind of person this woman was.

Gray hair, somewhat pale skin, and light brown eyes. Not strikingly beautiful, but with harmonious features and a small frame with fine bones that stimulated a protective instinct. Moreover, there was a calm yet mysterious atmosphere about her.

Kisa felt like she could understand a little bit why Daniel was so captivated by her.

Although there had been no contact since their first meeting, Hazel had always cast a shadow on Kisa’s mind. She wondered what was so outstanding about this woman that she had drawn out Daniel’s affection, which Kisa had desperately wanted but couldn’t obtain for over a decade.

It was a strange thing. Just as her feelings for Daniel were fading and such curiosity was gradually diminishing, the day came to face Hazel.

Daniel’s woman was currently looking at Kisa with a slightly sullen face.

“I’m sorry. I must have surprised you by bringing this up so suddenly.”

For someone who had just made such an outrageous statement, her attitude was impeccably polite.

Kisa moistened her parched throat with the tea brought by the maid before speaking.

“First, should I call you Miss Turdy?”

It seemed a bit odd to call someone who had been married before but was widowed ‘Mrs.’

“You can just call me by my name. Turdy is my late husband’s surname.”

“Alright, Hazel. To answer your question, I’m not so much surprised as I am displeased.”

“Ah…”

“I’m displeased from the start that you came to see me like this. Aren’t we not close enough to visit each other without an appointment?”

Hazel’s gaze turned downward.

“I have nothing to say about that. I’m truly sorry. In my haste, I committed a breach of etiquette.”

It wasn’t just sarcasm or superficial words. She was genuinely sorry.

And Kisa found that fact rather unpleasant.

“Um, if you’re busy right now, I can leave and come back when you’re free. When would be convenient-”

“That’s enough. Just say what you have to say. It would be a waste of time to have you come twice.”

Unless she hadn’t met her at all, having heard the story about reuniting with Daniel, it would only be unsettling to send Hazel away like this.

After all, wasn’t it out of curiosity about why Hazel had come all this way to meet her that Kisa had let her into the reception room in the first place?

For what reason?

While she had been staying out of Kisa and Daniel’s conflict as if it were someone else’s business until now.

Even if she had come with complaints about the engagement announcement, Kisa had expected Daniel to come, not Hazel.

“…”

The woman who had been silent as if struggling to speak finally seemed to gather courage and opened her mouth.

“I know that what I’m about to say will cause you considerable displeasure. I also know that I’m not in a position to say such things. But I want you to believe just one thing. I didn’t come here with any other intention or purpose. Please just listen to my words as they are.”

“…Alright. Let’s hear it.”

“Thank you. As I said earlier, I hope that you would.”

She paused briefly, took a breath, and then continued.

“Reunite with Daniel.”

Indeed, what she had heard a few minutes ago was not an auditory hallucination.

Kisa silently looked at Hazel’s face. As if trying to gauge the intentions hidden behind it.

Although her straight posture and calm expression couldn’t hide her nervousness, there was no sign that she wanted to take back what she had just said.

After a moment, Kisa broke the suffocatingly uncomfortable silence with a voice that revealed no emotion.

“Do you clearly understand what you just said?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Are you here saying those words from earlier due to someone’s instigation or coercion?”

“No, not at all. This is entirely my own will and judgment.”

I see. So it’s your will and judgment, you say. Kisa pondered over Hazel’s words for a while.

How much time had passed? The blue eyes were tinged with clear hostility.

Kisa spoke, enunciating each syllable distinctly.

“How dare you.”

How could she make such a demand of her?

Not anyone else, but her.

She took a moment to catch her breath. It was to refine the fiery emotion boiling in her chest.

She didn’t want to vent her raw anger in front of someone who was surprisingly calm despite having thrown a bomb at her.

“It’s natural for you to be angry.”

But just as Kisa was carefully considering what to say, Hazel spoke first.

“But could you please calm down for a moment and consider my request?”

She clasped her hands together with a pitiful expression.

“Daniel has been struggling a lot since breaking up with you. Please give him one more chance.”

“…Chance?”

“Yes, I beg you. Please postpone your engagement to Duke Hillan for a while and have an open-hearted conversation with Daniel. It would be even better if you could restore your broken relationship to what it was before.”

“In other words, are you asking me to get engaged to Daniel again and then marry him?”

“That’s right.”

“Why should I do that?”

“Because you love Daniel. You wouldn’t want him to go astray either. But Daniel has been going off track since the breakup. After hearing the news of your engagement to another man, it’s gotten worse, and he drinks every day. His relationship with his father has also deteriorated as much as it can. He’s always been a proud person-”

“Stop.”

Unable to listen any further, Kisa raised her hand to stop Hazel’s words.

“That’s enough. I’m not interested in how Daniel is doing these days.”

Hazel drooped her eyebrows at those words.

“I fully sympathize with your feelings of having to hate Daniel. But the most important thing is a person’s life, isn’t it? For the sake of saving Daniel, rather than hatred, love-”

“You don’t seem to understand. Not being interested means I don’t love him anymore.”

She repeated once more to make it absolutely clear.

“I don’t love Daniel.”

Suddenly, Kisa realized that this was the first time she had said these words out loud.

Since when? When had she become able to say with certainty that she no longer loved him without the slightest hesitation?

“Is, is that so?”

As if she couldn’t believe those words, Hazel blinked her eyes for a moment.

“Could it be that you still suspect Daniel and I are in a romantic relationship? That’s a complete misunderstanding! We’re just friends. I swear to heaven, I’ve never done anything shameful with him!”

Ah, this part is exactly the same as what that guy claims.

In the past, Kisa might have shouted, “Don’t lie, how can that be possible?”

But now, for some reason, their consistent claim didn’t seem suspicious.

Or to be more precise, she didn’t care either way.

“Hazel.”

She called the name of the woman whom her once-beloved fiancé cherished so much.

“Whether you and Daniel are friends or lovers is not that important.”

“What?”

“Daniel Lowens, who was so stingy with me, gave you his whole heart, whether it was love or friendship. That was an act of disregarding me, his fiancée. And that day, I realized that he had been secretly looking down on me as stupid all along.”

“…”

“That’s the end. That’s where my relationship with Daniel ended. In our conflict, what kind of relationship you truly had with Daniel is just a secondary factor. It’s not that important.”

She had finally come to a clear conclusion about the issue that had been bothering her for so long.

Ah, now no feelings of inferiority towards Hazel could torment Kisa anymore.

As long as she didn’t love Daniel, Hazel was just a stranger Kisa didn’t know well.

“You said Daniel is struggling a lot? Then you, his soulmate, should comfort him. Daniel would probably prefer that too.”

As Kisa’s tone became more relaxed, Hazel’s complexion darkened.

“Are you serious when you say you no longer love Daniel?”

“Absolutely.”

“Even so, couldn’t you save him out of affection, given your long history together?”

Seeing Hazel pleading so desperately, curiosity began to rise more than anger.

“Why are you trying so hard to bring us together?”

“Daniel needs you, and I want to help him.”

“So you plan to marry me to Daniel, dump all the duties of a wife on me, and freely enjoy your friendship with him?”

“No, no! If you wish, I’ll try to keep my distance from him. If I become just a casual friend like his other friends, wouldn’t I stop bothering you?”

“You still don’t say you’ll never see Daniel again until the end.”

Hazel, startled, waved both hands.

“That’s not true. Of course, I should follow your wishes. I can leave his side anytime.”

Kisa’s eyes narrowed.

“Is it really true that there are no romantic feelings between you two?”

“Of course. We’re just friends.”

Looking at the seemingly innocent woman’s face, Kisa moved her lips.

“Liar.”

It was a cold, low voice.

“You love Daniel.”