Chapter 1.2

Christine’s eyebrows furrowed. Hearing them talk about her behind her back made her wonder if she should just go out there and greet them herself. 

Rattle, rattle… 

At that moment, the sound of an old trolley’s wheels rolling over the wooden floor came from behind. A maid carrying drinks and snacks locked eyes with Christine, who was pressed against the wall. 

The maid tilted her head in confusion, and Christine quickly brought a finger to her lips, shaking her head. 

Leaving the chatter behind, Christine decided to move elsewhere, curious about the girl among them. 

Climbing the stairs to the second floor, she pressed herself against the wall in the hallway and cautiously peered down at the open drawing room below. 

Inside, the male students and the lone female student were scattered about, sitting comfortably. 

“Martina, your family home is far away. You’ll have to wake up early.” 

“It’s fine for now.” 

‘So, her name is Martina…’

The girl had thick, vibrant red hair and striking blue eyes. Her figure was exceptional. Christine, almost in awe, let her gaze linger on the girl’s entire form, from her tightly fitted dress to her elegant posture. 

Sitting with her legs neatly together, her skirt draped gracefully, Martina embodied the poise of a mature academy student. She was practically Christine’s ideal. 

Just then, the girl seemed to sense the unfamiliar gaze on her. She looked up, her blue eyes sparkling. Christine, startled, quickly pulled back into the shadows. 

“Ah, Lovell! I think someone’s up by the railing! Could it be Lady Christine?” 

‘Goodness, did she really have to announce it so quickly?”

Such a stunning appearance paired with such a loose tongue. 

“Lovell, stop just eating cookies and say something.” 

“It’s probably just a maid checking if we need anything.” 

Hearing the deliberate crunching sounds as Lovell bit into his cookie, Christine clutched her pounding chest and hurried away. 

***

It was impossible to avoid them entirely while living in the same house. She still had to eat and greet them, after all. 

By dinnertime, everyone had gathered in the dining hall. The room, which usually seated only three or four people at most, was now bustling with so many guests it felt like a party. 

The Earl maintained a dignified demeanor as he used his knife and fork with precision, while the guests occasionally glanced at Christine. 

Lovell, meanwhile, barely spoke, even as Martina tried her best to engage him in conversation. The most he said was a suggestion to the chef: “It’d be nice to have this dish again sometime.” 

“Lady Christine, is Lovell always so quiet at home?” 

Someone directed the question to Christine. 

“Yes… I don’t see him often, but I suppose so.” 

“It would be wonderful if you could attend the academy as well, Lady Christine.” 

“I’m studying at home for now.” 

From that point on, they wouldn’t stop talking to her, calling her “Christine” and “Lady Christine” as they bombarded her with questions from every direction. 

Uncomfortable with the attention, Christine focused on her food. Earlier, when she had overheard them, they had been talking about wanting to see her, insisting she join them, and so on. 

Glancing around while half-listening to their chatter, she caught Lovell’s gaze. His pale blue-gray eyes met hers directly. 

Startled, Christine quickly turned her face away and asked the man across from her.

“What is Lovell like at the academy?”  

“Ah, well… we’ve been hanging out together since we entered the academy. It’s surprising that we’ve stayed friends all this time, considering how reserved Lovell is.” 

As the boy chuckled, Lovell’s irritated voice interrupted. 

“Is that supposed to be an insult?” 

“He doesn’t even make eye contact with women. Once, a senior girl came up to him, complimenting his eye color and nose, and he outright got annoyed and chased her away.” 

“There’s even a rumor that his manners are so bad, it’s impossible to find any trace of them…” 

A smile crept onto Christine’s lips. She felt a small sense of satisfaction at how low Lovell’s reputation seemed to be. The boys, noticing her amusement, smiled along as if drawn into her mood. 

“Still, he’s a good guy when he’s with us. Is this what you were curious about?” 

Lovell, who had been listening, stabbed his fork into his food with unnecessary force. He repeatedly jabbed at the thinly sliced meat, his face flushing red. Sitting beside him, Martina exclaimed, “Oh, Lovell!” and gently wiped the sauce-stained table with a napkin. 

“But Martina…” 

Christine cautiously spoke up. 

“Martina must be very close to him, to have come all the way here. Isn’t that right?” 

“Haha! Martina’s the one chasing after him!” 

For some reason, this sent the students into fits of laughter. Christine, confused but trying to keep up, raised the corners of her lips slightly in response. 

Martina blushed and smiled shyly, the Earl’s stern face softened, and everyone seemed amused—everyone except Lovell. His sharp eyebrows furrowed, clearly thinking he was the target of ridicule. 

Aside from him, the dinner was a lively affair. Christine, flustered by the excessive attention from the boys, grew quieter, prompting the Earl to clear his throat or tap his fork against his plate to break the tension. 

“Lady Christine, you should visit the academy sometime. I’d be happy to show you around.” 

“Christine, just let us know anytime…” 

When several of them began speaking at once, almost as if they were competing for her attention, the Earl coughed loudly, ahem! and even banged his fork against his plate. Lovell, too, seemed irritated, cutting into his food with enough force to shatter the dish. 

After dessert, the group scattered throughout the mansion. Christine, nearly surrounded by the boys, quickly moved to her father’s side. The Earl, noticing her discomfort, led her out of the hall. 

The Earl of Bierre had no intention of considering any of them as potential matches for his daughter. He had high standards: at least a title of Earl or higher, substantial wealth, and impeccable manners. 

Using her father as a shield, Christine managed to escape the gathering. Some of the boys sighed in disappointment as she left. 

That night, Martina and the others stayed in the guest rooms. Christine found this arrangement baffling, but since most of them were noble children, the Earl insisted it was only proper to host them in his mansion. Even Lovell stayed, and the chatter from their rooms continued late into the night. 

‘That guy has his own house!’ 

They played cards, talked about their classes, shared stories about professors and classmates—it was as if the mansion had turned into another boys’ dormitory. 

Unable to bear the noise any longer, Christine stormed out of her room. 

‘For heaven’s sake…!’ 

Draped in her nightgown, she walked irritably down the hallway, glancing toward the guest rooms. 

She only wanted to figure out who was being the loudest. She had no intention of seeing anything she didn’t want to see. She wasn’t curious about anyone’s private life. 

And yet, she never imagined she would find two people pressed together against the hallway wall. 

Christine barely managed to stifle a gasp. 

‘This can’t be happening.’ 

It was just as Lovell’s face was about to disappear into Martina’s cascade of curly red hair. 

Ahhh! Christine screamed internally as she fled back to her room. 

She dove onto her bed, buried her face in a pillow, and muttered to herself over and over again, 

‘Disgraceful, disgraceful.’

‘What do you mean he’s not interested in women? He’s got one right there!’ 

Her heart pounded wildly.