Chapter 6 – Part 3

“That’s not true; come on, I want to walk with you.”

She replied, her voice bright enough to be heard, and tugged urgently at Marcus. The man’s body, which hadn’t flinched no matter how many times he’d been hit and pushed, obediently followed Liese.

His back was still pierced by sharp eyes.

A leisurely promenade had been laid out near the Melir River, glistening in the sun.

On the road between the rows of green trees and the riverside, there were people walking their dogs, men and women walking at a distance as if they were husband and wife, and women walking hand in hand with their children.

Marcus and Liese blended into the peaceful scene under a clear summer sky.

Of course, on the inside, they were anything but.

Marcus’s attention was focused on the woman standing next to him. He stared down at Liese’s unusually round head with unflattering eyes.

The stubborn woman kept her mouth shut and walked straight ahead. It was a lot to look at, but it wasn’t the kind of place where she should be mimicking an affectionate lover, so she was determined to focus on walking.

Funnily enough, she still had her fingers intertwined with his. It was a position she maintained only because Marcus had tightened his grip on her and refused to let go—something he’d intended to do as soon as they’d entered the walkway.

His irritation was growing, and he didn’t know exactly why he felt like he was stuck in the mud right now.

‘How is it possible that I’m not an idiot and can’t fathom my own feelings when the woman I wanted to be with is now palm to palm with me.’

“Lieselotte.”

At the sound of her name, Liese clears her throat as if she’s been sentenced to death. Her lace collar, which reached to the tip of her neck, fluttered lightly in the breeze.

“Yes, Duke. What is it?”

It was a clear line drawn between the only two people who could hear the conversation. Deeply annoyed, but not pointing it out, Marcus continued.

“I meant it yesterday.”

The woman, who had been looking stubbornly ahead, made eye contact with him. Her brow furrowed.

“…You meant it?”

“Yes.”

“So you’re saying that the proposal, which was tantamount to asking me to warm up your bed for a higher sum of money than I earn now, was sincere?”

“I understand that your pride was hurt, but I didn’t mean to drag it out unnecessarily. I didn’t intend to mock you.”

Liese fell silent, looking at a loss for words, then looked straight ahead again. Her anger was evident in her gait.

“I apologize for making you uncomfortable without knowing your intentions, Duke.”

“Don’t cry uselessly when you know you’ve inconvenienced me. I still mean it.”

Liese flailed her arms as if to dislodge their entangled hands but it was a futile struggle.

“I’m sorry for declining twice, but I really don’t want it. I’d prefer if such a proposal had never been made.”

“How can I take back words that have already left my mouth?”

“We can’t pick it up, so let’s just pretend it never happened.”

“What’s the problem? Worried it might hurt since it’s the first time?”

Liese, who had been walking ahead of him, stopped dead in her tracks. A look of disbelief crossed her thin face.

“That’s not the problem right now.”

“Then what is it?”

“Do you truly not see any problem with propositioning a woman with money in exchange for sleeping together?”

“Would you like me to suggest going to bed with a woman who despises me without her gaining anything from me?”

“You’re being incredibly charitable. This is the kind of idea only someone who’s had everything they’ve ever wanted in their life would have.”

Biting her lip until it was white, Liese held back her extreme anger. There was even a faint glimmer of moisture in her fair eyes. If pushed further, tears would surely flow. Marcus, no longer comfortable, raised an eyebrow.

“All I want is one thing: to act as your partner during the social gathering, just as we agreed.”

“…….”

“In fact, I should be grateful to you. I expressed my gratitude to Claudia as well. You are someone who takes care of my needs while looking out for my convenience.”

“It’s an honor to be grateful that I can put my lips on your body as I please.”

“Let’s not get carried away. The whole deal was that we were only going to pretend to be lovers in front of other people, not when we were alone.”

Liese paused again, her voice rising for emphasis.

“And I don’t want you to do anything disrespectful to me ever again.”

“…….”

“I just want to feel grateful to you. I’m sincere. If only the memories of today could remain without any regrets when looking back in the future. I hope you feel the same way, Duke.”

The woman, who would have burst into tears if she had not been given any consideration, boldly expressed her thoughts. Instead of responding, Marcus stared at Liese intently with deep eyes.

He hoped that this summer would leave him with memories without regrets as well.

Does she know what he wants?

He didn’t like the tone of her voice, the way she had it firmly in mind that this was a relationship with a predetermined end. Whoever proposed in the first place should know that. The fact that Lieselotte had to tell him was annoying.

A relationship that would end after the summer. It sounded like she’d been thinking about it all along.

As if she wasn’t expecting an answer, Liese resumed walking forward. Still, when she saw the gentleman and lady coming from the opposite direction, she faltered, then tightened her grip on Marcus’ hand and tried to appear intimate.

It was almost ridiculous.

A woman who cringes at the mere touch of his lips on the nape of her neck now tries to pretend to be his lover. Marcus untangled his hands and wrapped them around Liese’s small back.

“It’s good to see we’re on the same page.”

“From the beginning, I was inclined to follow the Duke’s suggestion… Ah!”

As if covering Liese’s mouth as she was responding, he grabbed hold of her soft body beneath the thin fabric. As expected, this innocent woman was startled by the sudden contact and closed her mouth.

“I thought the same thing the night of the dinner.”

As he walked side by side with the woman who hated him, only one thing became clear in Marcus’ mind.

He, too, was sincere in his pretense of love.

Leaning down, Marcus kissed Liese’s temple as she stared at him intently through the corner of her eye. Her slender frame visibly stiffened. He looked down at her with eyes that told her how lovely she was.

“I want you to live up to my expectations and do your best. Don’t let me down, Lieselotte, not even for a moment.”

Again, no answer came, but Marcus, feeling much better, took her in his arms like a man who never wants to be separated from his lover, and they strolled leisurely along the riverbank.

The woman, who remained motionless like a doll, pleased him immensely. Specifically, the fact that he could feel her warmth in his grasp satisfied him.

It didn’t matter that the feeling was temporary.

After all, summer was just starting.

***

The official social season had begun in earnest.

It was a festive time for everyone, regardless of status, and it’s no exaggeration to say that everyone in the Kingdom of Loheim descended on Bachmann.

Starting at the bustling Central Station, the procession of tourists meandered along the River Melir, which cuts through the city. From cathedrals and parks to leather markets and museums, excited crowds mingled in every direction.

In Fountain Square, crowned by a clock tower, women in flowered robes banged and danced to a traveling band. Children ran cheerfully alongside an old man blowing giant soap bubbles.

It was a lively scene, all visible from the Duke of Balthazar’s residence on the highest point.

“It’s always a beautiful city to see.”

The ladies at the windows of the great ballroom exclaimed. The ballroom, as opulent as the palace itself, was packed with guests from all over the country.

“If only I could look down at this view every day, I would feel like I had everything in the world.”

“Indeed. I’ll strive to be even more dedicated to the one who granted us such wealth.”

“I don’t think Your Excellency is the type to live in gratitude to the heavens….”

The women burst out laughing.

“Have you seen, by the way? Rumors have been swirling since before summer.”

Even without a prompt, they all nodded and turned their heads in the same direction. At the end of their gaze, the young Duke Balthazar was engaged in conversation with a prince.

A hero of great deeds, the Duke was a man of extraordinary valor, a man who could turn the heads of any human being with eyes, a man whom every nobleman with a daughter had set his sights on as a possible groom.

But the women’s gaze shifted to the woman next to the Duke. The woman, who still looked tense and nervous despite the festive atmosphere, never left Marcus’s side for a moment.

“I hear she’s a noble from the countryside, but she’s quite pretty, and she seems tall too.”

At the sound of someone’s muttering, observant eyes scanned Liese.

Her soft, light brown hair hung down her back, and she wore a dress as blue and subdued as the color of a peacock’s eyes.

Although her neck was completely covered with a darker lace, the fabric from her shoulders to her arms was slightly translucent. The design accentuated her alluring curves, revealing the tempting contours of her chest and slender waist.

Contrary to her sensual figure, her face was one of pure innocence and gentleness, as if she had never entertained a bad thought in her life. Even her lack of familiarity with society added to her charm.

She was a woman who drew the attention of men and women alike, even dismissing rumors that the Duke of Balthazar had brought out a scarecrow because he didn’t want to be scandalously entangled with the other noblewoman.

“It seems they’re quite the lovers.”

Lady Mo muttered, and everyone agreed.

She, who the Duke had been wearing since before the event even began, looked quite the opposite of him, but she suited him quite well.
.
If Marcus was the image of a jewelry piece painstakingly crafted to perfection from a gemstone that was too large and sharp to be used as it was, the woman was the gemstone itself, round and sparkling. It could get muddy, but it wouldn’t get dirty, and it would shine with a quick wipe of his sleeve.

Even those who thought Marcus might be better suited to a woman like Haley Dawson, with her sweetness and glamor, had to admit it after seeing Liese.

“What a perfect pair of lovers.”

“I’d love to chat with them, but they look busy, and it’ll be a while before our turn comes around, won’t it?”

“Then we should greet them after the dance.”

“Oh, look forward to it.”

The ladies covered their mouths with their fans and laughed heartily.

The gathering begins with an opening speech read by the Lord of Bachmann himself. Afterward, those with spouses would remain in their seats to mingle, while all the unmarried nobles would proceed to the ballroom to dance in pairs.

Of course, before that, there was the order where the hosts or other high-ranking nobles would take the stage with their partners. It was often omitted, but everyone was looking forward to seeing the Duke and his young lover walk the ballroom.

The covert glances were now openly sparkling as they began to scrutinize Liese.