Chapter 6 – Part 10

“Ahem.”

As they continued their kiss, Liese suddenly felt a presence. She blinked rapidly, snapping out of her trance of fluttering eyelashes.

At some point, Eric and Claudia had stood side by side, eyes wide open, watching them. Liese, startled, quickly turned her face and adjusted her clothes unnecessarily. Eric, pretending not to notice her embarrassment, spoke up awkwardly.

“Did we interrupt something?”

Marcus quickly turned around with a cold look in his eyes, annoyed at being interrupted during their intimate moment.

“If you know what’s good for you, go away.”

“Oh my, what’s with the attitude? We just came to fetch Lieselotte as the chocolate fountain has just started flowing.”

Claudia smiled kindly and reached out her hand to Liese.

“Lieselotte, won’t you come with us? The chocolate is fantastic.”

“…Okay.”

Liese, freed from Marcus’s embrace, hurriedly joined Claudia. Her flushed cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.

“It’s nice to see you again. I regret not having a longer conversation at the opening ceremony.”

“Oh, I felt the same way. You were so adorable, barely waving from a distance.”

Claudia laughed. That day, Eric arrived late because the car he was driving suddenly broke down. Since it was the first day, they were all busy saying hello to as many people as possible.

“Let’s go see the chocolate fountain.”

Linked arm in arm, the two women moved briskly. Marcus and Eric, who lost their partners in an instant, followed silently, watching their departing figures with a hint of reluctance.

As they entered the banquet hall, Liese’s eyes widened, and she gasped. In the center of the hall, towering over her, stood a seven-tiered chocolate fountain, steadily flowing.

Claudia explained that it was best enjoyed with fruit slices or vanilla ice cream dipped in. Liese, intrigued, dipped a piece of fruit into the flowing chocolate and placed it on her plate. It was a fascinating experience.

“Why are you intruding on our private conversation?”

Claudia frowned at Marcus and Eric, who followed the women to their seats at the table.

“You don’t even eat chocolate, yet you’re here.”

“We’re here to keep an eye on you.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Making sure no undesirables bother my partner.”

“Being overprotective, huh?”

“Or perhaps to make sure no one gets you drunk and takes advantage of you.”

Marcus glanced at the whiskey bottle on the table but nonchalantly dismissed it when Eric brought it over to him.

“Are you really talking about me? I won’t force Liselotte to drink.”

“Liese is weak to smiling faces. If you offered her a strong drink, she wouldn’t be able to refuse it and would take it.”

“That’s not true”

Liese, who was savoring the sweet chocolate, furrowed her eyebrows.

“I also know how to express my opinion. I don’t think Lady Claudia is the kind of person who would force you to drink alcohol.”

“Did you hear that?”

Marcus laughed at the girls working together.

“Then take care of yourself. I don’t want others to see you drunk and rushing to the guest room.”

“Do not worry.”

“It’s a bit rude to say that in front of a lady.”

Eric, who had been silent until then, blushed and pointed out. Claudia, demanding her share of whiskey, made Eric stand up obediently.

As the four of them sat at the rectangular table, it began to fill up with young acquaintances joining them. Liese, wiping her lips with a napkin, paused as she glanced at the person sitting opposite her.

It was Trevor and Haley.

“Your Grace! Just a moment ago, Haley and I were having a profound debate.”

Slightly tipsy, Trevor pulled Haley’s shoulder, shouting. Haley pushed him away with an annoyed expression.

“It wasn’t a debate; it was just your nonsensical ramblings.”

“Anyway, we got curious about other people’s opinions.”

Trevor smirked, showing his sharp teeth.

“What do you think about the proposition that humans are beasts?”

Some of the women, taken aback by his unrefined language, covered their mouths with their fans.

Marcus, instead of reaching for the whiskey bottle, shifted his gaze from it to Trevor’s face. His straight finger tapped lightly on the table.

“It seems like you want to crawl like a dog in this place.”

“Oh, no! Don’t throw that at me. I’m very serious.”

Trevor’s face turned pale, and he folded his hands earnestly. He then straightened up and sat down as if preparing to engage in a serious debate.

“Well, Haley and I agree with that proposition. Right?”

“I don’t want to be associated with his nonsense, but yes. Humans are no different from beasts.”

Haley’s sharp gaze turned to Liese.

“They both behave without shame.”

A strange atmosphere swept over them. How should one deal with such indirect attacks? Liese blinked, pondering, and in that moment of hesitation, Claudia intervened.

“You’re not seriously trying to determine the truth or falsehood of a profound philosophical proposition with just one argument, are you, Lady Dawson?”

She twinkled her eyes.

“Human beings can distinguish themselves from animals based on knowledge and ethics, and they can control themselves. It’s the inability to do so that leads to shameful behavior. Don’t you agree?”

Haley, unable to retort, remained silent, closing her mouth. Liese caught a glimpse of Claudia’s desire to engage in endless debates over unfathomable topics.

“I agree as well. Humanity’s ability to judge and control oneself based on knowledge and ethics is what distinguishes us from animals.”

Eric, who had returned to the table unnoticed, glanced disdainfully at Trevor. Various trivial opinions were being expressed here and there. Then Marcus, who had been quietly watching Liese eating strawberries, spoke up.

“Lieselotte”

It was clear that he didn’t intend to attract attention as a captivating man.

However, the fact that he simply opened his mouth and called Liese’s name while rubbing the chocolate on her lips with his fingertips caught the attention of everyone sitting at the table.

“Beware of those who insist that such propositions are true. It’s an argument that seems afraid of social criticism, like someone afraid of being condemned for following base instincts like an animal.”

“Ah… like an excuse?”

“Yeah, you want to create an escape route relying on intangible propositions. Pathetic.”

Haley’s face turned as red as crumpled paper. Even though Liese had wiped off all the chocolate, she subtly grabbed the hand of Marcus, who was about to touch her lips.

“Thank you for the advice. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“I’ve been saying this since earlier, but it’s not just advice. I’m concerned about you.”

Marcus, whose hand gesture was blocked, clasped his hands together and faced each other. Now she felt numb in her hands and feet.

“And I’m curious about your opinion.”

He said, looking at Liese as if they were the only ones in the vast banquet hall.

“I kissed you without caring about what others think. I have no intention of stopping my shameless behavior, and if you allow it, I’m capable of doing even more. Like an animal.”

Liese was sure she was being retaliated against for what she had said to him on the deck.

But she had no intention of closing her mouth stupidly and inviting everyone’s ridicule. This, too, was a performance she would handle to the best of her ability.

“Like an animal… that’s not proper at all.”

With a trailing remark, Liese lifted the corners of her mouth slightly. Her eyelashes fluttered nervously, making her look like a shy woman unsure of what to do in front of the onlookers.

“They say you lose your reason when you fall in love.”

“…”

“So I can accept it. I think you want to express your affection to me wherever you are.”

Liese leaned her face slightly against the hand that held her chin. It was a gentle gesture like that of a cat being stroked, a move she had learned from Marcus on the opening night.

“So, does Lady Brennan agree that humans are animals?”

Interrupting the subtle atmosphere, Haley suddenly asked a question.

“The argument from earlier sounded like the opinion that even the most rational man can be aroused in front of a woman.”

“I must be drunk. I never said anything like that.”

Trevor was frightened and took his feet away. ‘The reason the Duke doesn’t throw that bottle is because you’re a woman,’ he whispered, but Hayley did not change her words.

Liese turned her eyes from Marcus, who had been focusing on her all along, to look at her. Haley’s innocently smiling face was full of intent, telling the ignorant girl from the outskirts to hit back at anything.

“You’re making too much of a leap, Lady Dawson.”

“If we follow Lady Brennan’s argument, then yes. I don’t think it’s that much of a leap.”

Haley shrugged her shoulders with pursed lips. Her defiant attitude pricked Liese’s small sense of pride. Liese calmly moved her lips.

“I would like to point out that love and heat are completely different. And theoretically, estrus is a physiological period experienced by females, not males. Unlike females who go into heat according to their cycles, most males, once mature, can accept s*xual desires at any time.”

Claudia’s eyes, listening to her clear voice, sparkled incessantly. She seemed to harbor impure intentions of kidnapping Liese at the university, prompting Eric to warn her with a glance.

“There’s some logic to that. It explains why there are no nights without fire in the brothel for gentlemen.”

Trevor babbled thoughtlessly, laughing insolently. It was only when Marcus’ blue eyes, which had only been focused on Liese, turned to him again that he quickly closed his mouth.

“It’s amusing. Then what about Lady Brennan?”

Hayley, who was seething with jealousy, persisted.

“Are you saying that when the period that only women go through comes, you’ll accept any approaching partner, regardless of who it is?”

“I don’t understand why you’re asking such a rude question.”

“Rude? How is it rude? Your argument earlier sounded like an excuse prepared in advance for women who want to roll around in bed and are afraid of social condemnation.”

It was the moment when Haley, blinded by jealousy, revealed her hostility. Marcus didn’t intervene to stop her. Instead, he looked at Liese with an interested gaze, expecting her response.

It felt like being in an exam room where one small mistake could lead to failure. Liese chose not to show her cards and took a deep breath. She stared back at Haley without flinching.

“I am a human with reason. Even if a tempting period comes where judgment may be clouded, I won’t choose a partner without caution.”

“You’re talking a lot and then taking a step back?”

“It is logic that only applies to those who believe that the proposition is true.”

Liese didn’t stop there.

“I mean, I’m different from Lady Dawson. I also don’t agree with the proposition you mentioned.”

“…Huh.”

‘Unlike you, I am not an animal and I will not follow my instincts and do messy things.’

Hayley, at a loss for words, glared venomously.

“And please don’t forget that the Duke is by my side right now.”

Liese looked up at Marcus with a meaningful glance. Since he had been looking at her all along, their gazes immediately intertwined.

“It’s not proper to mention another partner while your lover is present. I hope Lasy Dawson will also be careful not to hurt the feelings of others inadvertently.”

Despite there being more than a dozen people seated at the table, the silence was so profound that not even a single ant could pass through.

Those who witnessed the confrontation between the former and current partners of Duke Balthazar couldn’t stop rolling their eyes incessantly. Some suppressed laughter aimed at the defiant Haley, while the majority briefly pondered the seemingly innocent young lady from the countryside.

“Shall I show you to the first-class cabin, Liese?”

Until then, Marcus, who had been holding Liese’s hands, pressed his lips to the back of her hand as he proposed. Without hesitation, Liese nodded. It had been a long time since she lost her appetite in the futile argument and her head had been pounding.

“I think a rat is going to scratch my precious lover, so I’ll leave first.”

He grabbed Liese’s forearm and helped her up. It was a movement that showed impatience, so the young women’s faces turned red.

There was only one reason why the man who heard what was no different from a confession of love rushed to the guest room with his lover.