London (2)

Year 1863

Thea took off her mask. Her breath was short. She looked at Kay who was smiling triumphantly.

"Are you that happy to win over me?" Thea put down her foil, annoyed. When she finished learning in the etiquette class, Kay immediately took her to play fencing.

"Yes, that is so." Kay did the same.

"I thought you were still stressed about the matchmaking."

This time they both took off their jackets at the same time. Thea took a drink then sat by the window first. The jacket shirt earlier made her sweat so much. Thea pushed open the window door slightly. The summer twilight winds squeezed in against her face.

Another summer day is almost over again.

"Earlier… I guess I thought too much about it. So I thought why should it be? If there's no one I like there then there won't be a problem. There will be no matchmaking." Kay smiled with satisfaction, as if that was the perfect solution.

"Are you sure?" Thea doubted it. She put down the glass. "Where are you going to meet them?"

"Oh, I haven't told you? Father said it was afternoon tea the day after tomorrow, at Lord Lutz's house."

"Do they have beautiful daughters?" Thea often heard Blake talking to Mr. Lutz on the phone, but had never seen him. And every time she heard that name, she remembered something.

"As far as I know, no. I've never heard Mr. Lutz talk about his daughter. "

"Oh ..."

Thea stretched out her hand to grab the glass, her movements stopped when her eyes met Kay's.

The man looked straight at her.

"What?" Thea canceled her intention. If Kay had done that, it meant that he had something serious to say.

Kay thought for a moment. "I know you don't like crowds, Te ..."

Thea nodded. "And?"

"I know you don't like it ... but will you accompany me to that event?" asked Kay.

Thea didn't answer right away. She was silent for a long time. Kay didn't force her to talk either. The two of them were silent. Kay knew he was asking her for something very difficult to do.

Maybe, for some people taking a walk out is a  common thing to do, but not for Thea. Her life was limited to a mansion and the lake.

Kay finally stood up. Maybe Thea needed some time to think about it.

"Let's talk again tomorrow. Now take a rest, I know you're tired."

"Why?" she asked. Thea finally spoke. Her eyes turned to Kay. "You know I never like crowds. Why are you now trying to ask me?"

"I just wanted to ask you out, Te. Besides, it's time for you to see for yourself how the outside world now."

"What does it matter to me?"

"You know, right? Girls at your age should socialize more. You can't live forever depending on my father and me. One time, you also have to get married, because of that ... "

"Is there anyone who wants to marry a person like me?"

Kay was silent. "Why do you always think of yourself as flawed? You're beautiful, Te! The scar won't affect him."

Thea laughed sarcastically. "Are you blind? You never saw their look at me?"

"It is not like that– "

"I hate them! You know they always look at me with disdain and disgust ?!" Thea's voice was shrill.

"Te ..."

"Every time they looked at me in disdain, I was reminded of that incident!"

"THEA !!! You look down on yourself for thinking too much about your past! Forget it. You live in the present. Those people are different from the ones you met ten years ago!" Kay raised hi voice. He had no idea how this woman kept that negative though in her little head all the time.

"ALL THE SAME!!!" she shouted. Thea clenched her fists. "You know what it feels like to have no parents? NO! You know what it feels like to live with these scars and be despised? I don't think so! You have parents and you have no scars !! "

Kay's expression changed. "Thea, honey ..."

"I don't want to go! To hell with your match. "

...

Kay sighed. His body was suddenly felt heavy and tired. He threw himself on the bed. His mind drifted. It wasn't his intention to make Thea angry. He shouldn't have yelled at her earlier either. In fact, it just makes them quarrel.

If it about matters like this, Thea is really stubborn. Kay knew Thea hated strangers because they preferred to stare at the scars rather than her face.

It was the same when Thea first stepped on this house. It was very difficult for Thea to open up to him. Kay didn't want her trauma to drag on. However, Thea must be able to handle it. Indeed, this is the first time Kay has brought it up and this is the first time Kay has seen Thea so angry.

He felt guilty.

***

Thea sat on her bed in the dark. Her mind was in complete chaos. The words she had thrown at Kay earlier echoed in her ears. Kay's expression still made an impression on her mind. Kay shouldn't have asked for it, so she didn't have to say that.

All this time she thought Kay could understand her so he didn't bring up old wounds. Apparently, Kay just put it off. She stood closer to the mirror. Her reflection was not clearly visible in the moonlight, but she was still able to identify herself.

Thea turned her head to the right. Her hand went up, felt the burn scar. For Thea, this scar was a reminder of the death of her parents.