Chapter 7 – Part 6

“What’s with the look on your face, like you’ve been caught having an affair with me?”

“Oh, no, just keep walking, please.”

Marcus shifted his gaze silently, wondering what she’d seen that made her so impatient.

The cause was easy to spot. He clearly remembered the man from the riverside, the one with flamboyant orange hair who had looked like her lover in the eyes of the Count of Smith, who was supposed to be her only friend.

Unconsciously, his insides twisted. Why did this fool have to come out and get noticed instead of staying put? Fortunately, Ian hadn’t spotted Liese and walked past them.

It was beyond his comprehension that he could spot this tiny woman in a crowd of people. Thank goodness he’d gotten the hell out of his way.

“Some douchebag was glancing at you.”

Marcus lied cheerfully. Liese, who had turned her head to the side to avoid Ian, sucked in a surprised breath.

“Uh, douchebag?”

“He’s got an orange head, and he looks like he’s coming this way.”

“Uh….”

“Is he someone you don’t want to run into?”

Liese nodded desperately. She looked like a deer being chased by a hunter, begging him to save her, unaware that the man in front of her wanted to skin her.

“Come here.”

Marcus tugged on Liese’s helpless wrist and led the way. Their steps were impulsive as they made their way to the dock by the river.

The lace strap of her hat fluttered under her chin as she panted to keep up with the tall man’s stride. She glanced up at Marcus, who moved effortlessly through the crowd.

She hadn’t expected him to help her out of an almost embarrassing situation. He was always the one to get her into trouble.

“I don’t want to keep running. How about we take a boat instead?”

Liese hadn’t realized she’d come upon a row of carved boats until she heard the voice suggesting it. She nodded without hesitation, eager to avoid a confrontation with Ian.

“Let’s do that.”

It was only then that she noticed the amused look in Marcus’s eyes.

***.

How did this happen?

Liese sat up, dazed, and blinked her eyelashes. She was now sitting in a small boat, facing Marcus, as they leisurely rowed across the water.

This wasn’t the plan.

She lifted her hazy eyes and looked up. The feast of lights in the black sky was still a marvel, with the river mirroring all the lanterns, creating the illusion that the two of them were trapped in a swarm of light.

Everything was fine, except for the fact that she was with this man.

Squatting in front of Marcus with her arms hugging her knees, Liese was silent for a moment.

Each time Marcus leisurely rowed, veins stood out on his forearms, visible where his shirt sleeves were rolled up. Shadows played on his face, illuminated by the lanterns, and his golden hair softly fluttered. She noticed details she had previously overlooked.

It felt like a big ball of cotton was lodged in her chest. It was so full that it made it hard to breathe, and the soft fibers tickled her, making her uneasy.

Liese took off her hat and let it fall to her lap. There was a long silence.

“How is it, pretending to be the Duke’s lover?”

It was Marcus who broke the silence. Liese looked at his stoic face and nodded.

“I don’t know how you look at it, but I think I’m doing a pretty good job, and I’m proud of myself, since you rated it near perfect last time.”

“I’m asking about your thoughts, not your performance.”

She had no thoughts on the matter. She needed the money, and it was a duty she had to fulfill, devoid of any sentiment. The arrangement had started with all sorts of negative emotions, so it was only natural.

“Thanks to your support, both materially and otherwise….”

Liese hiccupped silently as she tried to come up with something appropriate to say. Marcus waited, his expression uncharacteristically calm.

Unable to think of anything else to say, Liese decided to change the subject.

“How about you, Duke? Have I been of any help to you this summer?”

“To some extent, there’s been a noticeable decrease in people bothering me about finding a wife.”

“Really? That’s good to hear.”

“They’ll creep back out after the summer, they’re indefatigable, and when they realize I don’t have a lover by my side anymore, they’re not going to stop.”

The corners of Liese’s mouth twitched upward with pride. Marcus winced at the thought of a troublesome future.

They had agreed to return to their respective roles once the season ended. Liese, as the head of her fallen family, would continue her life, and Macus, with his bright future, would move on as a young duke.

Marcus is the envy of the entire kingdom, thanks to his revolutionary feats in the last war. Since his return, Marcus has been aggressive and shrewd in his business dealings, and his influence has grown by leaps and bounds.

A bachelor like him was naturally expected to start a family soon, despite the occasional nuisance of receiving such attention. It was his place, a life where attracting interest was as natural as breathing.

The sound of the water lapping at their boat echoed through the silence. The silence fell heavier when Marcus let go of his paddle for a moment. Liese barely managed to speak.

“Do you still get letters from the ladies?”

He chuckled at the ridiculousness of the question.

“They’re more persistent than my parents. Perhaps the ladies see through your act.”

“Uh… that’s not my fault.”

“Do you think it’s because I’m too exceptional?”

Liese laughed out loud at the shameless retort. Realizing she laughed a bit too loudly, she closed her mouth when he gave her a steady gaze. She kept a faint smile instead.

“It’s just amazing. How can they be so eager to propose marriage without knowing the person well?”

“You might be the only one who views marriage as purely romantic.”

Marcus tilted his chin playfully. Feeling like an immature child, Liese took it seriously.

“But how can you tie the knot and spend the rest of your life with someone you don’t even love?”

“Love is the least necessary thing in marriage.”

Marcus said, resuming rowing, his tone indifferent. His attitude, treating life as a matter of calculation, stirred a rebellious feeling within Liese.

She realized she wanted to argue with the Duke, something her grandfather had often attributed to the Brennan family’s combative spirit.

“Do you believe marriage should be purely logical and rational?”

“And it should stay that way even after forming a family.”

“Of course, in a noble society, marriage is more of a transaction, but it seems too bleak. We’re not machines; we’re human.”

“Isn’t it better to be bland than to be a fool who loses his sense of discretion because he’s in love?”

“Do you think falling in love makes you foolish?”

“Absolutely.”

He responded as if it were not even worth considering.

“It’s a weakness to be blinded by something so unattainable, and even the most noble of men have made irrevocably foolish decisions.”

In an accusatory tone, Liese remained silent.

His view on marriage wasn’t just a product of noble society’s norms. It stemmed from something more personal and intimate, undoubtedly related to his mother’s situation, something Liese was already aware of.

“But….”

It might have been better to remain silent, but she didn’t stop, her lips moving.

“You can’t help it if you make a fool of yourself, can you?”

“Why?”

“Because falling in love with someone isn’t something you can control at will.”

Love arrives before you even realize it. Gradually, or in an instant, it permeates your heart and takes over your mind. By the time you notice your heart has been dyed with rosy hues, it’s likely too late to turn back.

Marcus did not respond immediately but quietly stared at her face. The man’s eyes, which were soaked with the floating lights of the night sky, lost their usual misty color and sparkled. Liese met his gaze without flinching. Their eyes intertwined in the air and remained connected for a long time.

“Yes.”

“…….”

“I guess you’re right.”

It was a straightforward acknowledgment. Given his unusual compliance, it seemed he agreed with her words.

Even so, she didn’t feel as pleased as she might have expected. The fluffiness that had settled inside Liese grew larger, making her chest rise and fall more dramatically and tickling incessantly. Her pounding heartbeat was an added bonus.

Liese absently clenched and unclenched her hand. It was then that she realized she was still holding the brown paper bag. It was a homemade dessert at the sidewalk café.

A rustling sound drew Marcus’s attention to her hand.

“Oh, this. The restaurant owner gave it to us earlier.”

Liese held out a crumpled paper bag. She untied the ribbon-like string and opened the bag, releasing a fragrant, fruity odor. Inside was a colorful jelly covered in coarse sugar.

Liese pulled out a cute, raspberry-shaped piece of jelly and popped it into her mouth. She bit into it, enjoying the fluffy texture and smeared it with sweet and sour syrup. It was hard to resist.

Next time she visited the restaurant, she would have to tell them how excellent the dessert was.

As she happily chewed, her eyes met Marcus’s. She gave him an awkward smile.

“It’s fruit jelly.”

“Is it good?”

“…Would you like to try one, Your Grace?”

Marcus nodded obediently, though the question was only asked after being pointed out. Liese dug through the bag again. She pulled out a bright red, apple-shaped jelly and held it out to him.

“As you can see, I don’t have my hands free.”