Chapter 5 – Part 10

“Get up.”

Pushing the chair aside, Marcus grabbed Lieselotte’s arm and helped her up. Standing up in the rolling waves, Liese asked with a slightly slurred speech.

“Where are we going?”

“Your drunk. Let’s get some air for a moment.”

It was no exaggeration to say that all eyes in the dining room were on them.

A man and woman leaving the table while dessert was still on the table, and Liese’s swaying, shaking body leaning half against Marcus. There was no way to explain it other than they were going to find a quiet place and enjoy some alone time.

It was a misunderstanding, but Liese, who was unconscious due to intoxication, silently followed him, unable to fight off the strong arm around her back and the muscular grip on her shoulders.

“Did I make a mistake?”

Liese asked once they were outside the dining room.

“Should I not have taken the drink Miss Fitzgold offered me?”

“It’s not your fault that you have a low tolerance in alcohol.”

Their impatient footsteps echoed on the marble floor. Nearly falling again and again, Liese grabbed his arm and leaned against him.

“I didn’t make a mistake.”

Marcus, standing beside her, spoke again.

“It must have seemed like I was h*rny after seeing you drunk and wanted to go have s*x. So, I’m just staying true to my role.”

Liese glared at the man in her blurry vision. He looked like that even when he spoke.

The two had reached a narrow staircase. It was a staircase built into the wall in a corner, like it led to a secret place.

“Come on up.”

Marcus took a couple steps ahead and held out his hand. Liese took his hand and led him up the stairs.

“Where are we going?”

“To get some fresh air, remember? Is there something else you want to do?”

It was his usual sneering voice. Liese shook her head hastily.

“I don’t want to do anything.”

“Well, if you want to fulfill the expectations of the rest of the humans in the dining room, say so, because I don’t mind.”

“No! I don’t want to…! I don’t want to.”

She insisted, even with her tongue-twisting pronunciation, and the mocking, wind-draining sound returned. Liese was pulled by whatever force was clutching her tightly, heading for an unknown destination.

They walked down an eerie hallway until they came to a glass door with a see-through interior. He opened it for her, and a cool breeze greeted her. She stepped out onto an outdoor balcony that overlooked the mansion’s front yard.

The garden was perfectly symmetrical, divided into two branches. Up above, the night sky sparkled with stars. Even in her daze, the view from up high was breathtaking.

“…….”

Fortunately, she retained enough judgment not to exclaim loudly.

Instead, Liese’s eyes widened and she turned her head to stare. She leaned her hands on the railing and looked down again, then bit her lip as if she were about to fall. Her heart pounded from the alcohol.

“Why. Are you feeling sick?”

As she placed her hand over her chest, Marcus, who had approached quietly, asked in a subdued voice.

“A little, but that’s okay, I’m getting some fresh air and I’ll feel better soon.”

“Your face looks pale. You also seem lethargic.”

Marcus cupped the tip of Liese’s chin in question. Instead of answering, she glanced up at the man in front of her. He didn’t look worried at all.

The ominous premonition was correct.

“Is there a man clinging to you from behind?”

Her drunken mind snapped back into focus. Liese’s eyes froze as she looked at Marcus. There was no smile on his face either.

“You can’t be serious.”

“Perhaps?”

Liese barely resisted the urge to cupped the duke’s cheek.

“Don’t treat me rudely like this. And don’t insult me.”

“Not for the first time.”

“Do you even realize you’re being rude?”

“Of course not.”

Liese shrugged off his hand that held her face, and Marcus tilted his chin at an angle as if he’d seen the same defiance.

“Then please think twice before you speak. The Duke’s insulting behavior bothers me.”

“What difference would it make if I were nicer?”

“At least it would make it less difficult for me to pretend to be the Duke’s lover..!”

“Even with a terrible acting skill like yours, what difference would it make?”

“I’m going back to the dining room, I don’t want to be with the Duke anymore.”

Turning on her heel, Liese headed back out onto the balcony. She couldn’t wait to get out of here. The sparkling scenery was no longer visible to my eyes.

However, before he could take two steps, Marcus grabbed her by the wrist. Liese glared up at him, furious.

“Let go of me!”

“I heard you were seeing a man. Who is it?”

A look of bewilderment crossed Liese’s face.

“I told you I don’t have one. When are you going to believe me?”

“Answer me straight. I’m talking about all your relationships.”

His voice came out in a raspy, guttural tone. Liese narrowed her eyes, not sure what had set him off.

It seems that the duke did not intend to be sarcastic or pick on her by talking about her changed physical condition from the beginning. He had gotten some information, misunderstood it, and decided to find out the truth.

In the narrow circle of people she knew, there was only one other person who could have been caught up in the scandal.

“You don’t mean Ian, do you?”

“It seems that mentioning his name confirms the truth.”

Marcus sneered.

“What’s your relationship with him?”

“Ian is….”

There was no doubt that there was a ridiculous misunderstanding. Ian helped out at the orchard, and now he was a friend who willingly lent a hand whenever there was a crisis.

“He’s just a friend of mine, not in the way you seem to think.”

“Do you think he feels the same way?”

“Of course….”

Gasping with agitation, Liese stopped talking. It was hard to tell if Ian considered her more than a friend.

His occasional glances at Liese, his quick blushes, and his kindness beyond kindness all pointed to one answer. Enough for even the most desensitized of her to recognize. Liese swallowed dryly.

“I understand your concern, but I’ll be careful how I conduct myself so as not to affect this deal in any way.”

“You’re evading the question without answering. I can sense something is up.”

“That’s not what I meant… I will do my best to prevent the rumor from spreading that the duke took a woman with another man as his partner.”

“It’s not something you can accomplish just by trying. Even if only one side holds feelings, sometimes it appears mutual to others.”

“So you’re telling me to insulate myself from my one and only friend?”

He didn’t answer, but his grip on Liese’s arm didn’t loosen. A sense of childish madness flickered in Marcus’s eyes as he stared at her.

“It’s indeed not any kind of relationship. I’ve told you. I… I’m not in a situation where I can hold someone in my heart right now.”

“Sounds like you’d like to set your heart on someone when you can afford it.”

“…Your Grace.”

By then, the question was on the tip of her tongue, ‘Doesn’t this have everything to do with you?’

In the first place, Liese accepted the deal because she needed the money, and she needed a lifeline out of the pitfall she found herself in. So once the summer was over, it was none of Marcus’s business who Liese was seeing.

Liese couldn’t voice her fear. Yet, Marcus’s piercing blue eyes seemed to have read all her thoughts with their sharp glint.

She had a bad feeling, and her premonitions were rarely wrong.

Liese took a step backward. As if waiting for her to flee, Marcus grabbed her and shoved her against the wall.

“……!”

Liese’s shoulders jerked in surprise as her back was pressed against the cold, hard stone wall. The large man’s aura completely enveloped her. There was nowhere to run. Liese stiffened, then looked up at Marcus, her eyes filled with resentment.

“Why do you keep doing this? I’ll forever come to hate you, Your Grace.”

“You already hate me.”

“…….”

“But you can’t leave me because I have something you need. That’s too bad.”

“I don’t know why you’re so angry, what can I do….”

Her trembling voice didn’t seem to reach him at all. Marcus, who had Liese firmly pinned between his arms and the wall, was glaring at her like a madman.

“Ian will always be just a friend. Trust me. My will is what matters.”

“So, according to your will, that guy can only remain a friend? Ridiculous.”

A thin line of blood flared across his forehead, exposed by the pomade. Liese’s chest heaved rapidly at the distance, her breathing tangible.

“Your will is so powerless, Lieselote.”