Chapter 6 – Part 7

“Then kiss me.”

At the unexpected command, Liese froze like a statue. She breathed out through her parted lips, bewildered. He wanted to devour everything about the woman, even the faintest breath.

“Why are you hesitating? Kiss me.”

Marcus, leaning in as close as possible, looked down at Liese as if he were about to devour her.

“If it’s a low misunderstanding, wouldn’t it be better if I did it?”

“There are too many eyes watching. I don’t want to kiss you in a place like this.”

Liese glanced around nervously, fidgeting. Despite being in a secluded corner and with the ball in full swing, she seemed unusually concerned.

Of course, there were still eyes watching, albeit discreetly.

“It’s fine. It’s probably for the best. Let’s pretend we’re so in love that nobody else matters.”

The following request seemed excessive, causing Liese’s eyes to shake slightly. The more embarrassed the woman in front of him became, the faster Marcus’s heart beat.

“Prove it, Liese.”

He took out a card to help her move without even making a single movement.

“How useful a woman are you, and whether you are worthy of receiving money in exchange for pleasing me.”

Liese looked into Marcus’s eyes alternately, with a stern expression. The worry didn’t last long. She slowly stretched out her hands and grabbed his collar so tightly. Despite her weak strength, Marcus was dragged along obediently.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

As their breaths mingled, he whispered with a smile. Liese took a deep breath, as if making a big decision and held his face.

Every thought in her mind was read thoroughly. She repeated to herself that she just had to do it like she did at the end of the waltz—just a soft, tender kiss. Such pathetic thoughts, trying to comfort herself.

With her eyes closed tightly, Liese leaned in. Their lips met unceremoniously. Marcus, with a mocking smile, tousled her soft hair and grabbed the back of her head. He parted her stubbornly closed lips and delved deep into her.

There was no time for the woman, who was new to kissing, to get used to it. He hugged her tightly, exploring the body that he had longed to taste. He swallowed every gasp of breath that escaped her lips.

Mixing saliva with a hint of bitterness, he licked her tongue. He put more force into his arms, wrapped around her thin waist and pressed his lower body closer. Then her tiny fists pressed against his chest. Amidst it all, she feared misunderstanding, so her resistance was all he got.

Marcus hugged the innocent and lovely woman as if enclosing her in his embrace.

Before long, the movement of gasping for breath was heard. Marcus lifted his head and turned to face her. Suddenly, her watery eyes were looking up at him as if she were resenting him.

“It wasn’t bad for the first time.”

He murmured in a leisurely voice. Despite her deepening resentment, Liese whispered, struggling to hold back tears.

“I hate you, Duke.”

With darkened eyes, Marcus kissed her briefly, his lips smeared with saliva of unknown origin.

“They won’t think that, so it’s fine.”

That was the only important fact. Marcus reminded himself.

“I want to excuse myself for a moment.”

“As you wish.”

With his permission, Liese left the ballroom with a flushed face. It was a shy retreat.

After Liese completely disappeared, Marcus turned around and immediately drank from the glass she had touched. He still felt thirsty. Despite stealing the kiss he had longed for from the woman, he couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

Summer social season has just begun, so there is no need to rush. But without knowing why he was in a hurry, Marcus set the glass down with a thud and wiped his wet lips with the back of his hand.

***
Bastard.

Damn bastard.

Worthless scum.

With her fist clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palm, Liese stood in front of the water fountain, trying to calm herself down. Wrapping her flushed cheek with a towel soaked in cold water, she let out a sigh repeatedly.

Her pounding heart gradually eased. The woman in the mirror, who had been a chaotic mess of emotions just moments ago, looked much better now.

This was a lounge far away from the ballroom. Fortunately, she knew about the secluded spots thanks to her time working as a maid, she was given directions to places where few people ventured. Being in a place where there were no prying eyes allowed her to calm her emotions alone.

Liese recalled Marcus’s infuriating face. Her fist clenched again.

How could a person be so twisted?

She couldn’t believe that such a trivial mistake, mistaking a glass for juice, could escalate into such a big issue. What was it about her that bothered him so much?

It wasn’t Liese’s fault that those men had their eyes on her like vultures, but why was she blamed for picking up the wrong glass?

Of course, she knew she was at fault too for being unable to handle the pressure of acting. It was also a problem that she couldn’t hide her true feelings like a proper lady and smile hypocritically.

Nevertheless, there was nothing she could do about the lingering sadness. Once today passed, the Duke would surely treat her as if she were a disgrace, determined to embarrass her further.

“…Let’s calm down.”

This much was not unexpected. She had anticipated that physical contact would be inevitable.

Liese firmly resolved to suppress her crumbling heart. She knew how to pick herself up when she felt weak.

She imagined her grandfather, who had cleared away his illness and was now lively in his new wheelchair. She pictured Charlie, who had grown so much, and the nanny smiling without a care in the world, and the family was finally debt-free and independent.

As she thought about it, the door opened with a click. Liese,who was pressing her eyelids tightly, turned her gaze.

“Lady Brennan, may I come in?”

It was Haley Dawson, smiling broadly.

How did she know to find her in this deserted lounge? It was puzzling, but Liese nodded quietly.

“Of course.”

“Thank you.”

Sitting down heavily on the sofa, Haley leaned back against the cushions and looked up at the ceiling. The hem of her pale pink dress billowed like clouds.

“Ugh… Men are really annoying, aren’t they?”

“Pardon?”

“I mean Lord Miller. Didn’t Lady Brennan also have an awkward moment earlier? He’s such a cheeky guy. I feel like a fool for choosing him even though I knew he was arrogant. Such trash. Who does he think he is…”

Muttering to herself, Haley sighed with her shoulders slumping. Liese stared at her silently before speaking up.

“I’d like to talk with Lady Dawson, but it’s been a while since I left my seat. I should be going…”

“May I tell you an interesting story?”

Sitting up straight, Haley smiled, her lips painted coral.

Liese responded by remaining silent.

“When I was young, I visited a republic in the southeast with my parents. With my father away on business, my mother and I started looking at exotic jewelry and industrial plants. I was desperate to buy rare souvenirs that were not available in Lohiem.”

“… … .”

“Then my mother ambitiously picked up a piece of embroidery, and the colors and embroidery on it felt very familiar. As I searched my memory, it seemed like something I had seen at a department store in Lohiem. So, I suggested that she put down the ordinary piece of cloth. I added that we had seen that embroidery in Lohiem.”

“… … .”

“My mother stubbornly insisted and ended up purchasing it. She even haggled with the maids and insisted on buying the heavy fabric, saying she would have a custom dress made, one that no one had seen before, even in Lohiem.”

“… … .”

“You know what was funny? That embroidery was actually being sold at a department store in Lohiem. It had been imported to Lohiem just a few months ago. It was a Phiru that anyone could buy if they had the money. My mother felt so disillusioned. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

Haley smiled, pushing her coral lipstick-painted lips even higher.

“It means my eye for detail is quite good, Lady Brennan. Not only do I remember objects, but I also remember people who have passed by, even if only for a moment.”

“I guess you wanted to say that you saw me at the Duke’s residence that day.”

Haley widened her eyes as if in surprise at Liese’s perceptiveness before smiling again.

“Exactly. More precisely, I saw Miss Brennan wearing a maid’s dress that day.”