To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

“Liv.”

“Hayden?”

It was Hayden, who had just departed from the gathering. Just as Emmett and Hildegard were about to dismiss him, Liv spoke up first.

“I should have a brief conversation.”

“Miss Liv.”

“Sister…”

“Well, if I’m to keep my distance going forward, I should at least talk to him.”

After saying that, Liv extended her hand resolutely to exit the carriage, and Emmett reflexively moved to take her hand. Only after Liv had alighted did Emmett realize he had ended up assisting her, an awkward expression crossing his face.

Liv gestured for Hayden to follow as she walked away, and Hayden trailed after her with an intrigued gaze. Hildegard and Emmett could only watch their departing figures with uneasy expressions…

* * *

“I won’t be able to stay close to you from now on.”

As soon as Liv said that, Hayden’s face immediately turned displeased.

“Why not?”

“Emmett and Hildegard told me not to associate with you anymore.”

“How childish.”

Hayden scoffed dismissively.

“Like an obedient little child listening to her guardians.”

“I have different standards from others and there’s much I don’t know, so I should heed what others say.”

When Liv answered in a calm voice, Hayden regarded her with an even more perplexed expression. He seemed genuinely unable to understand her.

“So you’ll keep your distance from me now?”

“Yes.”

“But you’re interested in me, aren’t you?”

Liv fell silent before raising her gaze to meet Hayden’s eyes. Unable to determine how to respond, she hesitated for a long while. For Hayden’s words were…

‘Accurate.’

She was indeed intrigued by Hayden. It was the first time she had shown interest in anything. Of course, she paid far more attention to Emmett and loved him dearly, but it was different.

Whereas Emmett was a destined existence she was fated to love, an integral part of Liv’s life, Hayden was the sole presence outside her life that had piqued her curiosity.

‘It was intriguing.’

That the gods didn’t warn against him, and that he wasn’t hostile towards her despite undergoing divine punishment.

That was what had sparked Liv’s interest in Hayden.

Having been struck at her core, Liv hemmed and hawed before finally opening her mouth with difficulty.

“Still, I can’t do anything. I shouldn’t get close to you for no reason.”

“Do you not plan on doing anything yourself?”

At those seemingly mocking words, Liv finally answered with clear pronunciation.

“No.”

Her eyes shone with an upright light.

“It helps people if I don’t do anything. It’s better for me to minimize my words and actions, and not form relationships with others. I have to live like that.”

Despite experiencing divine punishment because of Liv, he didn’t seem to understand even this simple conclusion – he didn’t appear to be very wise.

Hayden didn’t respond, and he continued to look at Liv with an inscrutable gaze for a while.

“I have to live like a dead person.”

When Liv drove the point home by saying that again, Hayden let out a light sigh before finally turning his back.

“…Alright, I get your point.”

“Yeah, so now…”

“But I didn’t say I’d do as you say.”

“Huh?”

Hayden disappeared without another word.

Watching the spot he left from, Liv’s expression became uneasy. Emmett had told her not to get close to him, but somehow she didn’t think it would go according to Emmett’s words.

* * *

“Miss, Duke Lartman has arrived!”

“Oh!”

Liv, who was lying in bed, sat up abruptly at the butler’s words.

Meeting with Emmett had now become natural for her, and it seemed those around them thought she and Emmett had reconciled again.

Liv changed into the pale pink dress Hildagard had told her to wear that morning and went to open the door. No, she tried to open it.

Bang bang!

If it weren’t for the sound of knocking coming from the window.

“What’s this?”

Since the sound seemed to be coming repeatedly from outside the mansion, not the hallway, Liv opened her eyes wide and looked toward the window. And then…

“Hayden?”

She could see Hayden supporting himself with his arms on the window sill, precariously standing with his feet against the wall. Wondering what on earth was going on, Liv hurriedly opened the window, and Hayden came into Liv’s room through the window.

“Whew, I thought I was going to slip and die there…”

“What’s going on here?”

Of course, if it were someone else, they would have questioned the rude act of breaking in through the window, but fortunately or unfortunately, it was Liv. She was simply curious as to why Hayden had come to see her without any warning. When Liv asked, Hayden winked awkwardly and said:

“Why do you think I came? I said I wouldn’t do as you said, didn’t I?”

“So why did you come?”

“I told you, I’m interested in you.”

“Why?”

To Liv’s question, Hayden shamelessly said as if he found it absurd.

“Wouldn’t it be strange if I didn’t become interested in you even after experiencing that divine punishment? How could I not be interested when the being who endures all the gods’ love is right in front of me?”

“Um…”

Since his words seemed to make sense, Liv let out a small hesitant sound for a moment, but soon came to her senses and tried to push Hayden out the window.

“Get out quick! Emmett told me to stay away from you.”

“So you’ll chase me out the window just because of that?”

“You came in through it anyway!”

Liv pushed against Hayden with both hands, but her frail strength was naturally no match for him. Going a step further, he now regarded her with an amused look.

Then, a knock sounded at Liv’s door.

“Miss Liv? May I come in?”

“Huh? Huh?”

It was Emmett. Flustered and at a loss, Liv hurriedly replied, realizing she couldn’t have Emmett waiting outside.

“Yes…!”

“Well, if you’re letting him in, what about me?”

Hayden quipped mischievously. At that very moment, the door opened. Hayden briefly wore a startled expression for about a second before reverting to his usual playful demeanor.

In contrast, Emmett seemed unprecedentedly flustered upon entering Liv’s room and finding Hayden there.

“Miss Liv, why is this man here…”

“Umm…”

How should she explain this? That he had trespassed through the window? …Since that was the truth, she would have to say it.

“He came in through the window…”

At those words, Emmett’s expression changed abruptly. He strode over and stood before Hayden, and an intense heat seemed to swirl in his eyes, usually either warm or cold…

Smack.

Startled by the sound of someone being struck, Liv covered her mouth. Turning his head, Hayden cradled his cheek as he looked at Emmett’s face.

“My, quite the sensitive one, aren’t you.”

Despite being hit, Hayden clicked his tongue with an utterly unfazed expression, and a tense atmosphere hung between the two men.

As Liv looked back and forth in shock, Emmett glared fiercely at Hayden.

“So you have trespassed into Miss Liv’s room?”

“‘Trespassed’ is such an unpleasant way to put it.”

“This won’t do. I shall hand you over to the guards.”

Emmett wore a more frightening expression than when he had been angry at Liv before. Seeing this side of Emmett for the first time, Liv’s eyes widened, but Hayden simply responded with unbothered nonchalance.

“I had something to say, but you two wouldn’t let me meet her, right? Don’t I have a right to speak my mind too?”

“This is an inexcusably rude act!”

“I didn’t expect you to hit me outright in front of her though.”

Now Hayden was glaring sharply at Emmett too, clenching his fist as if about to strike back, while Emmett adopted a stance ready to counter.

The moment Hayden threw a punch towards Emmett, his wrist was caught. In an instant, Hayden’s body was flung to the floor.

And just as Emmett was about to deliver a forceful blow to Hayden…

“Th-This could lead to trouble if you hit him here…”

Liv was trying her best to pacify Emmett, causing him to halt with a perplexed expression. Seizing that opportunity, Hayden quickly got to his feet.

“Scared, are we?”

Bringing his face close to Liv’s, Hayden spoke. True to his words, tears were brimming in Liv’s eyes. It wasn’t out of intense fear, but simply surprise at the violence unfolding before her.

“…I apologize.”

Emmett seemed deeply flustered to see tears from Liv, who was usually so bright and innocent.

“Miss Liv, are you alright?”

He approached the slowly calming Liv and checked on her closely.

“That man didn’t do anything untoward when he trespassed, did he?”

“No…”

“I should have confirmed with you first, Miss Liv. That was my mistake. I’m sorry for startling you. I became overly sensitive without realizing…”

“It’s okay…”

With a look of firm resolution, Emmett pulled the still fearful Liv into a tight embrace. Then he whispered into her ear:

“You see, I can touch you now…”

“…Ah.”

The moment Liv seemed to realize something from those words, Hayden’s voice rang out.

“Yes, yes, enjoy your tender moment. I’ll be taking my leave then.”

Hayden had already swiftly crossed the room and mounted the window frame. By the time Emmett rushed over to stop him, he was making his way down the wall.

Even so, Hayden looked up at Liv, who had leaned out the window, and called out loudly:

“The reason I came here was to ask you to help me!”

“Help?”

“Yes, Liv Hamelsvoort, help me bring down the Emperor!”