A promise
1223 Words
Chapter 7
The grand doors of the banquet hall slowly closed behind them.
For the first time that evening, the noisy chatter of the nobles faded into the background.
The palace gardens were quiet.
The cool evening breeze carried the scent of blooming roses, while golden lanterns illuminated the stone pathways leading toward the royal gates.
Eliana let out a long sigh.
"...That was exhausting."
Asher glanced at her before letting out a soft laugh.
"It certainly was."
She scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"I'm sorry."
Asher tilted his head.
"For what?"
"You didn't have to stand up for me back there."
Her crimson eyes lowered to the ground.
"I probably dragged you into unnecessary trouble."
She genuinely felt guilty.
In the novel, Asher never involved himself in noble disputes.
He remained silent, enduring everything alone.
Yet today...
He had spoken for her.
Asher looked at the little girl beside him.
The moonlight reflected softly against her blonde hair.
She looked nothing like the arrogant villainess everyone described.
Instead...
She looked like a child worried she had inconvenienced a friend.
A gentle smile appeared on his lips.
"It was my pleasure."
Eliana blinked.
"You stood up for yourself."
His voice remained calm.
"You didn't shout, didn’t insult anyone"
He looked ahead.
"I admired that."
Eliana froze.
Then slowly turned toward him.
"...Really?"
He nodded.
"I believe people should defend themselves when wrongly accused."
Those simple words struck her heart.
She had expected pity.
Or indifference.
Instead...
He respected her.
Her eyes sparkled.
Then—
She completely lost control.
"KYAAAA!"
Asher jumped slightly.
Before he could react, Eliana grabbed both sides of her dress and spun in circles across the pathway.
"You're too cute!"
Round and round she twirled.
The maids following behind immediately panicked.
"Young Miss!"
"Please don't spin so fast!"
Eliana ignored them.
She stopped directly in front of Asher.
Pointed at him dramatically.
"You smiled!"
Asher blinked.
"And?"
"You have no idea how cute your smile is!"
Silence.
"..."
"..."
A faint blush slowly climbed Asher's cheeks.
Nobody had ever complimented him like that before.
Especially not another noble child.
He awkwardly looked away.
"I..."
His ears turned red.
"...Thank you."
Eliana nearly fainted.
He blushed!
He's blushing!
This is illegal!
Inside, Emma was screaming loud enough to shake the heavens.
Outside, Eliana somehow maintained enough composure to avoid embarrassing herself further.
Barely.
Taking a deep breath, she clasped her hands together.
"Asher."
"Yes?"
"Would you like to visit my family's estate sometime?"
His eye widened slightly.
"We can have tea."
She smiled brightly.
"My mother makes wonderful desserts."
"And..."
She hesitated.
"I'd like to spend more time with you."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
Only sincerity.
Asher felt warmth spread through his chest.
He had received invitations before.
Most were motivated by political interests.
Some were simply out of pity.
This one...
Felt genuine.
A small smile appeared once more.
"I would be honored."
Eliana pumped her tiny fist in victory.
"Then it's a promise!"
"It's a promise."
At that moment, an older servant approached respectfully.
He bowed.
"Young Master."
"The carriage is ready."
Asher nodded.
"I'll be there shortly."
The servant quietly stepped back.
Asher turned toward Eliana one last time.
"Lady Eliana."
He gently reached for her hand.
His movements were elegant.
Natural.
The etiquette of someone born into nobility.
Lifting her small hand, he placed a light kiss upon the back of it.
"I wish you a safe journey home."
Eliana's brain stopped functioning.
He...
He kissed her hand.
Again.
This time she was prepared.
She immediately hid the hand behind her back.
Never washing this hand.
Ever.
Asher noticed the strange movement but politely pretended not to.
"I shall see you soon."
"I'll be waiting!"
He smiled one final time before walking toward the waiting carriage.
Eliana watched him leave.
The smile slowly faded from her face.
His back looked...
Lonely,painfully lonely.
The silver-haired boy walked with perfect posture.
Calm,Elegant and Graceful.
Yet somehow...
He looked like someone carrying a burden far too heavy for a child.
Emma's memories resurfaced.
She remembered.
At this point in the novel...
Asher hadn't inherited the ducal title yet.
His parents were gone.
His uncle controlled the Winston household.
Publicly, the uncle acted as a caring guardian.
Behind closed doors...
He was a monster.
He neglected Asher. Isolated the poor boy, manipulated him to think he was the cause of his parents death. Constantly beating him up at the slightest resistance.
Everything designed to break a child before he inherited the family title.
Emma had cried while reading those chapters.
Now...
That child wasn't ink on a page.
He was real.
She slowly clenched her fists.
"I won't let it happen."
The wind carried away her whisper.
"I'll make your childhood a happy one."
"No matter what."
She watched until the carriage disappeared beyond the palace gates.
Only then did she turn toward her own family's carriage.
Inside the moving Winston carriage...
Silence filled the luxurious interior.
Asher sat quietly beside the window.
Moonlight illuminated his silver hair.
His fingers unconsciously brushed against the hand that had held Eliana's.
A small smile escaped him.
"Lady Eliana..."
He softly repeated her name.
Then remembered her spinning in circles while calling him cute.
His cheeks warmed.
"...Cute..."
Nobody had ever described him that way.
Most children avoided looking directly at his eye patch.
Others whispered that he was cursed.
Some mocked him.
Yet she...
She had looked at him with sparkling admiration.
Not pity,not fear.
Admiration.
A quiet chuckle escaped his lips.
Perhaps...
Meeting her today had been fortunate.
Across from him sat a man dressed entirely in black.
Unlike the servants outside, this man never smiled.
His posture remained perfectly straight.
His sharp eyes silently observed the young master.
Seeing Asher smiling was...
Rare.
Very rare.
The man finally spoke.
"Young Master."
His tone was respectful.
"What are your orders?"
The smile on Asher's face slowly disappeared.
The warmth in his expression faded.
His visible eye became calm.
Far too mature for a fourteen-year-old child.
It was the gaze of someone who had survived years of betrayal.
Not the eyes of a boy.
The carriage suddenly felt colder.
Asher leaned back against the seat.
His voice remained quiet.
But carried unquestionable authority.
"Continue watching my uncle."
The man bowed his head.
"Yes."
"Every servant who enters my residence..."
Asher's expression hardened.
"I want their names."
"Yes, Young Master."
"And the accountant?"
"We discovered missing funds."
"I expected as much."
There wasn't the slightest surprise in Asher's voice.
His uncle had begun stealing from the Winston estate long ago.
He simply hadn't realized...
The child he believed powerless had already begun collecting evidence.
The man in black lowered his voice.
"Would you like us to eliminate him?"
A long silence followed.
Asher stared out the carriage window.
The image of a blonde girl smiling brightly flashed through his mind.
"You're too cute!"
A tiny smile returned.
"...No."
His answer was calm.
"Not yet."
The man nodded.
"As you wish."
Outside, the carriage continued through the moonlit streets toward the Winston estate.
Inside...
A lonely boy closed his eye.
For the first time in many years...
He found himself looking forward to tomorrow.
Because someone was waiting for him.
Someone who looked at him not as a burden...
But simply as Asher.
- Writer
