Chapter 4 Duke-004

The mysterious man stood tall, gazing intently at Hazel with a burning intensity. However, after what felt like an eternity, he took a deep breath and turned his face away.

"Back to the party," he said firmly, his voice returning to calm. "The night is not over for you yet."

Before Hazel could respond, the man turned and left with a steady stride, exiting the balcony. Hazel remained where she was, her body still warm from their kiss and the coat draped over her shoulders. She looked at the night sky, feeling the cool breeze against her flushed cheeks. She realized the mistake she had almost made. Amid the confusion and desire, she nearly made an improper decision, especially in the midst of such a crowd. Nonetheless, there was a sense of relief in her heart. Relief that the man left before things could have turned worse. It would have been extremely embarrassing if they had done something inappropriate on the balcony.

However, aside from her mistake, Hazel also noticed something else. The man had left his coat hanging on her shoulders. The coat was still warm, carrying a tempting masculine scent.

Hazel quickly returned to the party, her eyes searching for the man among the guests. But there was no sign of him. Panic began to creep into her thoughts.

"He must have already left," Hazel murmured to herself, feeling a bit disappointed and confused. "But where did he go?"

She walked across the room, searching for him with a cautious gaze. Yet, there was no trace of him. Her mind was filled with unanswered questions, making her more anxious.

"He just left me like that," Hazel hissed, feeling offended by his behavior. But beneath that feeling, there was a deep curiosity about why he left so suddenly and without saying goodbye.

Hazel asked a few acquaintances about the man, but no one knew of his whereabouts. Frustrated and slightly desperate, she stood in the middle of the hall, clutching the coat tightly.

"Lady Hazel, is something wrong?" Lady Liseaux's voice sounded from behind her. Hazel turned and saw the woman, one of the Ellsworth family's acquaintances.

Hazel tried to smile as she spoke to Lady Liseaux. "Did you see a man with black hair and sharp blue eyes? He left his coat, and I want to return it."

Lady Liseaux furrowed her brow, thinking for a moment. "Sorry, I didn't see anyone matching that description. He might have already left."

Disappointment filled Hazel as she nodded. "Thank you, Lady Liseaux."

Lady Liseaux gave a slight smile before returning to the crowd. Meanwhile, Hazel remained in place, feeling an odd emptiness. The man had appeared suddenly and left just as quickly, leaving a deep impression on her heart.

With a heavy heart, Hazel decided to go home. As she walked through the hall, she felt some guests' eyes on her. But this time, she paid them no mind. That night had given her an unexpected moment of freedom, albeit brief. Unknowingly, gossip began to spread after she anxiously searched for the man.

Upon arriving home, Hazel went straight to her room. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she gently held the man's coat. The masculine scent was still strong, reminding her of their brief encounter on the balcony. Looking out the window, she continued to think about the man and their strange yet unforgettable meeting.

Barnum, hearing that Hazel had returned home early from the party even before it reached its peak, immediately called for the servant who accompanied her to find out what had happened.

"What happened at the party? Why did Hazel come home early?" Barnum asked with a stern tone.

The servant bowed his head before answering, "Sir, Miss Hazel did not interact much at the party. She was mostly by herself. Strangely, Miss Hazel suddenly started looking for a man and asked several guests about his whereabouts. It has become a topic of discussion in the party hall."

Barnum listened to the servant's report with anger and offense. Without hesitation, he went to Hazel's room. When Barnum roughly opened the door, he saw Hazel sitting on the edge of the bed, still wearing the man's coat.

"Hazel! What are you doing?" Barnum barked, his voice echoing in the room. "You foolish girl, who doesn't know how to behave!"

Hazel looked at her father with tearful eyes, unsure of what to say.

"You cannot act like this and tarnish the Ellsworth family's reputation! Creating a scandal with a stranger? Especially when you're already engaged to Duke Kingsley!" Barnum continued, raising his voice. "Don't you think even a little about the family's dignity?"

Hazel remained silent, lowering her head, taking in every sharp word her father said. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held back from crying.

Barnum then threw an invitation toward Hazel. "Tomorrow you must attend Countess Lora's tea party. Don't embarrass me again! Do you hear me?"

Hazel nodded slowly, taking the invitation with trembling hands. "Yes, Father. I will attend," she replied with a hoarse voice, holding back the tears that almost spilled.

Barnum glared at Hazel before finally turning and leaving the room, leaving Hazel alone with her shattered feelings. Hazel felt tears streaming down her cheeks. She clutched the invitation tightly, trying to find strength within herself to face the next day.

Behind the pain and disappointment, Hazel resolved not to be a burden to her family anymore. She realized her life was being controlled by others, and she had to force herself to endure the storm to uphold the honor of the Ellsworth family.

***

The next day, Hazel was ready to attend the tea party hosted by Countess Lora. She chose one of the two dresses her mother had prepared, a soft-colored dress with simple yet elegant lace detailing. After putting on the dress, although her heart was still filled with doubt, she felt a bit more confident.

Before asking her mother, Samantha Ellsworth, about the gift, Hazel saw her two older brothers, Alastair Ellsworth and Jacob Ellsworth, who had just returned from special royal military training, chatting with their mother in the living room. The room was filled with laughter and cheer, something Hazel rarely experienced in her daily life.

Despite feeling hesitant for a moment, Hazel finally mustered the courage to greet her mother. "Mother..."

Hazel's soft voice made the cheerful atmosphere turn awkward. Her two brothers stopped their conversation and looked at Hazel in surprise. Samantha stared at her daughter with wide eyes, as if she couldn't believe Hazel was actually standing in front of her ready to speak.

"Hazel, dear, what do you need?" Samantha smiled warmly, trying to ease the awkwardness. "About the gift for Countess Lora's tea party, right?"

Hazel nodded, feeling all eyes on her. "Yes, Mother. Is there anything I need to prepare?"

Samantha answered gently, "Everything has been prepared for you, dear. You just need to bring it," she said, trying to reduce the awkwardness. "Why don't you sit with us for a while? The party is still a few hours away, isn't it?"

Alastair and Jacob exchanged glances, feeling the situation was a bit awkward. Alastair, the older one, cleared his throat and tried to start a conversation. "It's been a while, Hazel. How are you?"

Hazel answered shyly, "I'm fine, Brother Alastair. Thank you."

Jacob, who was more straightforward, added, "You seem ready for the tea party, huh? It should be fun."

Hazel nodded, trying to smile. "Yes. I just hope I can uphold our family's reputation."

Samantha looked at her daughter with a gentle gaze, feeling both pleased and guilty. "Hazel, dear, I'm glad you're talking and getting involved. We thought you preferred to be alone, so we didn't want to intrude."

Hazel nodded, almost in tears. "Thank you, Mother. I just wanted to know if I'm part of this family too."

Samantha approached and gently took her daughter's hand. "Of course, dear. You've always been a part of this family. I just want what's best for you."

Alastair and Jacob nodded, feeling awkward yet touched. "We do too, Hazel. You're our sister, and we always care about you," said Alastair firmly.

Jacob added, "That's right, Hazel. Don't hesitate to talk or ask for help. We're always here for you."

Hazel felt a warmth in her heart, though there were still doubts and pain that had not fully faded. "Thank you, everyone," she said with a voice that was almost trembling. "I'll leave now. I hope I don't disappoint you."

Samantha hugged Hazel gently. "You'll never disappoint us, dear. We're proud of you."

Hazel nodded and walked out, carrying the gift her mother had prepared. As she stepped away, she felt a slight weight lift from her heart. Though there were still many challenges ahead, at least today she felt a bit stronger with the support she had just received from her family.

In her heart, Hazel wondered, 'Have I been wrong about Mother and my siblings all this time? Maybe they do care about me, even if it doesn't always seem that way.'

***