Chapter 5 – Part 12

As soon as he finished speaking, she swiftly turned and walked away. Marcus felt a sense of relief watching Liselotte move away, feeling that even rolling in the gutter would be better than this. Then he noticed it again. She was wearing a dress that completely covered her arms and legs, presumably to hide the bruises and marks from her recent ordeal.

She’d even chosen a colorful, sheer fabric, lest she be misunderstood. He didn’t even realize what she was wearing, as his attention was constantly drawn to her pale face.

Indeed, Liselotte was diligently striving to become the flawless doll he desired.

How could she be so stupid? To Marcus, it was foolish for the woman to respond sincerely, even though she clearly knew that this kind of play was just a joke.

So what’s the point of being so sad when he was willing to put an end to this ridiculous play if she wanted to.

She’s a high-minded woman, so he understands that his offer might have hurt her pride. But he had no intention, as usual, of poking at her weaknesses to provoke a reaction. He just wanted to put an end to the false relationship that would only last for the summer and be honest for a moment, even if briefly.

If she’d said yes, he’d have gotten paid more money than she’d ever earned in decades of working in a maid’s uniform.

Marcus cursed in a low voice, his brow furrowing and one hand sweeping across his face. His neat blond hair was disheveled, with a few strands falling across his forehead. When he looked up again, his blue eyes were as cold as frost.

If she wanted to play the role of his lover so badly, then he would have to comply.

The week after, an unprecedentedly large social event will finally be held at Bachmann. She would have to endure the gazes of everyone glued to her throughout the hot season, pretending to be affectionate with him, just to satisfy his desires.

There was no reason he couldn’t accept the melodrama he had proposed in the first place.

The situation proceeded smoothly. The rumor that Marcus had acquired a lover spread before the season even started, resulting in fewer annoying letters than before. If things continued like this, the summer season that would have been boring otherwise would be spent joyfully, thanks to her.

But why is he still in such a bad mood?

Marcus stared at the spot where Liselotte had left, then pushed his chair back and stood up. He felt like he could use some strong liquor to help him feel better.

The woman was entirely to blame for his suddenly frequent visits to the liquor and cigarettes he didn’t really enjoy.

***

All the way down to the orchard in the carriage driven by the servant, Liese wiped her tears away with her sleeve. Then she saw the tear stains on her expensive silk dress and sighed.

When had it gotten so easy to become a prized possession that would have to be sold after the summer? Being stuck with the richest man in the kingdom had made her lose touch with reality.

How foolish. Marcus was a man with a gap as vast as heaven and earth from the beginning.

A wave of indescribable humiliation washed over her as she remembered Marcus telling her to take the easy way out. She felt like she had been reduced to the status of a pr*stitute. The Duke, who had always thrown money at her like a paintbrush, was now wondering how much he could get for her.

Sniffling silently, Liselotte quickly composed herself as they approached the orchard. After getting out of the carriage, she thanked the servant as usual.

“Thank you for giving me a ride again today.”

The young servant, a member of the Duke’s aide, stared at her and handed her a handkerchief. He was a blunt man who didn’t say a word as he carried Liese to Marcus’ place several times.

‘Did I look so pathetic? ’

“…It’s okay. I’m right in front of my house, so I’ll go in.”

Liese turned around quickly. The sound of the carriage engine not long afterward reassured her.

Once she was out of sight of the servants, Liese pulled the hem of her skirt up to her knees. It was difficult to walk in her narrow dress. There was no one around to see the path leading to the orchard.

Now was the crucial moment. It was time to push aside her sorrow and be cautious.

Her suspicious grandfather is bedridden and unaware of Liese’s changed schedule. But there was still a nanny and Charlie at home.

She makes excuses for them whenever she has night plans, but it doesn’t do her any good when they catch her returning home in the middle of the night.

Under cover of darkness, Liese stripped off her evening dress and changed into the casual clothes she had hidden in the bushes. After fiddling with her hair, she cautiously opened the door and stepped out.

She ran straigh into Charlie, who was coming out of the kitchen.

“…Sister?”

Startled, Liese hid the dress in her hands behind her back. Charlie, holding the lamp, rubbed his eyes and shook his head.

“Sister Liese, did you just arrive?”

“…Uh, I told you I had plans with Ian today.”

Liese smiled and quietly closed the door behind her. Her eyes flickered to the nanny’s room, then back to Charlie.

“What are you doing up at this hour?”

“I woke up because I was thirsty….. I washed the cup clean and put it back in the cupboard.”

“Did you reach the cupboard?”

“If I stand on tiptoe.”

Charlie puffed up his chest with a somewhat dignified expression. Liselotte chuckled and shook her head. It was because of the memory of her brother whimpering and stretching his arms out in front of the cupboard when they first arrived in Bachman.

‘Had he grown up already?’ Now that she thought about it, he seemed a little taller. she patted her brother on the head in amazement.

“You did really well. You’re so dependable now, you can do anything.”

“I’m sure I can.”

“And I’m sorry I came in so late. Do you want me to read to you until you fall asleep?”

“No… it’s okay. I’m not a child.”

Charlie shook his head, sounding sleepy again. He’s not even in puberty yet, Charlie had been feeling increasingly embarrassed lately about Liselotte or the nanny coming to pick him up in front of the school. Smiling brightly, Liese grabbed her brother’s hand and tugged him toward the stairs.

“By the way, sis.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you smoke?”

A bewildered look crossed Liselotte’s face as she lowered her head.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“You smell like cigarettes…. You also smells really bad of alcohol and perfume.”

“…….”

“Ian doesn’t seem to smoke. He doesn’t wear perfume either. As for alcohol… I don’t know.”

Charlie mumbled to himself and yawned. As he climbed the stairs and stood in front of his bedroom, he waved to his sister.

“Good night, sis.”

“…Yeah, good night. Sweet dreams.”

Liese stared at her brother’s door as it closed, then lowered her chin and sniffed.

The fresh scent of grass that always emanated from her was nowhere to be found. Even after changing clothes, the strong scent of the Duke permeated her body.

He heart sank for a moment. she was glad it was Charlie she’d run into. He was too young to have any misconceptions about his sister smelling like a man.

But how long could she hide it from her family? The summer social season hadn’t even started yet, so all of this was just the beginning. Night outings would become more frequent, and returning home with unfamiliar scents would also become more common. What would happen when her grandfather returned from the hospital…

Above all, Liselotte couldn’t grasp how much more humiliation she would have to endure. Even thinking about enduring three months for a hefty sum didn’t improve her mood.

For a moment, Liselotte silently cursed and walked to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She wanted to wash away every trace of Marcus from her body.

But it seemed like the vivid marks on her neck wouldn’t disappear for a while.