Chapter 6 – Part 6

“Are you seriously dating a woman?”

Marcus, leaving the smoking room with Lord Witrock, stopped in his tracks. He had just bumped into Prince Reinhardt, who was entering the hall.

As fellow cadets from the military academy, they had spent their most vigorous days together, so the prince couldn’t help but be curious about the partner the Duke had brought to the grand ball.

With a wry smile, Marcus replied, “What are you asking? Do I look like it?”

“I heard rumors about the lady you brought, trying to avoid attention. I was just curious how much of it was true.”

“Well…”

Marcus replied ambiguously before raising his upper lip. Prince Reinhardt, about to light his cigarette, opened his eyes in surprise. It was because a strange smile appeared on the Duke’s face, as if he was imagining something extremely enjoyable.

“Seeing you smile like that adds credibility to the other rumor that you secretly got engaged. Is it true?”

“Whatever it is, don’t ask her directly. You might just cause her unnecessary trouble by being confronted by royalty without warning.”

“You’re saying the obvious.”

Prince Reinhardt responded with a composed smile. Being a true gentleman to his core, the prince wouldn’t dare ask impertinent questions to a lady. Then he recalled Marcus’s additional words and tilted his chin with a smirk.

It seemed like he meant not to talk to her at all, as she would be so bewildered that she couldn’t even breathe properly. If it wasn’t a misunderstanding, it seemed like a defensive gesture to block contact with men beyond the discomfort she would feel.

It was clear as day that their relationship was still in its early stages, yet Marcus’s affection for her was evident enough to be considered excessive, even for him.

“Hmm… I didn’t know you had a thing for innocent country girls.”

“She’s a woman worth noticing for more than just her background.”

“The more you speak, the more I start to believe in the rumors about the back door. If you are considering getting married, let me know in advance. I’ll need time to prepare grand congratulatory gifts, even for royalty.”

“I’ll remember that.”

After their awkward conversation, Marcus headed back to the ballroom. There was a hint of impatience in his usually steady and relaxed gait. Acknowledging greetings from the guests with a nod, he couldn’t help but think of only one person.

When Marcus reached his destination, he didn’t enter the room right away. He stood by the arched doorway, carefully observing Liese, who exuded a distinct presence even from afar.

How had such a slender woman managed to stand out so prominently among the elegantly dressed crowd?

Liese was surrounded by people she didn’t seem to know well, yet she handled herself decently despite not being accustomed to social gatherings.

Seeing her make bold gestures while politely rejecting unwanted advances, Marcus smiled faintly. It was a face that had brought him joy many times before.

However, his pleasant emotions vanished as soon as he noticed the watchful eyes directed at Liese. Marcus, who saw the swollen bastards slowly approaching Liese step by step and Trevor, who had settled down within reach with just an outstretched hand, completely erased his smile.

As if she had heard something from Trevor, who was sitting across from her, Liese pushed the chair aside with a straight face and stood up. She faced Trevor again, who had followed her just as quickly as she had, and the standoff continued for quite some time.

All Marcus could see was the round back of Liese’s head. He can only guess what kind of words are being exchanged by Trevor’s occasionally smiling face. But that was enough.

No matter how many times he tried to correct him, that bastard Trevor was like a stubborn mongrel. Marcus would soon break his fingers, even if he had to do it forcibly. With that thought, Marcus confidently strode forward.

Trevor, realizing the approaching giant figure, panicked and stepped aside. Marcus had no time to chase him down, so he approached Liese instead.

Standing by the edge of a long table, she seemed to be about to pick up a glass of strong wine.

“Is it uncomfortable here?”

Approaching as if to embrace her, Marcus murmured softly. Liese, visibly surprised, hunched her shoulders slightly. She shook her head without even looking back.

“No, Your Grace.”

“Your Grace?”

“…Marcus.”

“That’s right.”

With eyes from all directions, Marcus embraced Liese with one arm, fully encircling her slender waist. Her waist was thin enough to arouse primal desires.

Understanding her inner turmoil to some extent, as evident from the subtle glances she threw around.

“Did Claudie teach you bad drinking habits?”

“What?”

“This is Hyalesan White Wine. Despite its fresh appearance, it’s quite hard.”

Reaching out with his other hand, Marcus pushed away the glass at Liese’s fingertips.

“I understand your desire to drink, but it’s not wise to consume strong alcohol on a day like today.”

“I just mistook it for apple juice. I had no intention of drinking.”

“Are you nervous?”

“…Just, my throat feels a bit dry.”

“So dry that you can’t even distinguish between a glass of alcohol.”

He wanted to press his lips against the lying woman’s neck. The furtive glances they received suggested that their actions were being closely observed, with eyes darting back and forth between them more rapidly.

The anticipation of the crowd had already been drawn to the two figures who had inaugurated the ball by dancing a waltz filled with various meanings, so it was natural for them to huddle in a corner and whisper.

If it weren’t for Lieselotte shaking as if a gun had been stuck in her mouth, she would undoubtedly have seemed like the perfect lover.

“Why are you so tense? Did someone touch your noble pride?”

He asked, embracing her stiff back tightly. Liese hurriedly shook her head.

“No, it’s my fault. I’ll be careful.”

“Tell me who dared to tarnish my honor. If you can’t handle it, I’ll have to pierce that bastard’s throat with my own hands.”

“I don’t want to see blood! I really don’t.”

Liese shouted in panic, then regained her composure and pleaded earnestly.

“I won’t make mistakes anymore. Please don’t worry.”

She gently brushed her swollen knuckles. It seemed like she was trying to put on a pretense of a play. He didn’t realize how much such contact made him uneasy.

Marcus, who had been absorbed in the scent of apple blossoms and the softness of her body, now gazed into the empty space with a cooling gaze. Even at this moment, there were dozens of gazes coveting her.

It was a bunch of riffraffs, swallowing their saliva as they watched Liese pick up her glass. They were the kind of scoundrels who would try to do something while pretending to be supporting a woman who might stumble because of the alcohol.

Marcus, who had lived his whole life mingling with men, knew them well. They were a group of bastards who were desperate to smell the scent of a passing woman and claimed that they were given a lewd advantage just by having their skirts blowing in the wind.

It was Liese’s fault for attracting their attention. Despite knowing that it wasn’t the case, he wanted to blame her.

It was ridiculous. Marcus, who was just playing the role of a lover without fault, couldn’t stand Liese’s attitude of either flinching or hiding her aversion.

What’s so difficult about pretending to laugh? Thinking of the pathetic scene of Liese and that worthless guy idling around in front of the sparkling riverbank, he felt an irrational irritation rising within him. Was it so difficult just to smile warmly at him, even when everything else she did was so easy?

Lost in his own thoughts, Marcus pulled Liese’s wrist and turned her body around.

“I’m not worried about your mistakes.”

Liese, as expected, seemed tense.

“It’s the annoying assumptions about you going back and forth.”

“….”

“Some men might misunderstand that you’re trying to seduce someone under the influence of alcohol.”

At this, a rebellious light flashed in Liese’s eyes. With her innocent green eyes full of threat, she stared at him fiercely.

It was laughable how her rebelliousness, which didn’t even feel threatening, was felt. Marcus could only let out a hollow laugh at the fact that there were still remnants of her marks left when he unwound the lace around her neck.

“A gentleman wouldn’t make such a foolish misunderstanding.”

“Look over there.”

Marcus pointed to the end of the long table with his eyes. A group, including Murphy, were sipping their drinks and glancing at Liese.

“Like wild dogs in heat, those men are eagerly waiting for you to tilt your glass, even though they clearly know that you’re my partner.”

“Your Grace, no.. you’re mistaken.”

Despite being told to drop the title, the woman made another mistake. Marcus looked at Liese, revealing his twisted feelings.

“Mistaken? It’s not even funny to distort it. In your eyes, I think they look like a well-groomed gentleman instead of a hyena cub.”

Stung to the core, Liese was speechless and swallowed dryly.

“Those guys won’t mock me, so the problem must be you. Because you seem to not love me, all sorts of trash stick to you.”

“I’m sorry. I’m the one who’s more…”

“I knew your acting skills were terrible, but I didn’t know you weren’t earnest.”

Marcus raised his hand and gently brushed Liese’s cheek. His calloused knuckles, hardened from handling all sorts of weapons, touched the soft, delicate face of the woman, which was a sight to behold even in his eyes.

“That’s not true, Marcus. I promise I won’t make any more mistakes.”

“Then kiss me.”