“Now, Miss Aria. Calm down.”

He quickly came behind the counter and handed me water.

“Customers are waiting like that, at least take their orders.”

It was frustrating, but Marquis Carbodin was right. However, whether he was right or wrong, I wanted him to leave the café immediately.

“…Please leave.”

I tried to speak as calmly as possible, but I couldn’t help my trembling voice.

“Right now, I need to work…”

Though reliable Eric was taking orders despite all this commotion, I was the only one who could prepare the food. The Marquis’s steady hand lightly brushed the back of mine.

“Alright, I’ll see you later then.”

Fortunately, the customers only stared with wide eyes and didn’t ask me any questions. Thanks to that, I had time to think while making drinks and desserts. Why couldn’t I say anything in response?

I should have had enough composure to retort with something like “what nonsense.” I could easily find the answer.

‘I was too flustered.’

I had thought it would end with rejecting his business partnership proposal, but for him to formally ask me to date him—and in front of more than ten witnesses!

‘…He can’t possibly like me for real.’

Apart from being momentarily flustered, I could guess his intentions well enough.

‘Of course, it must be because of Elodie.’

I swallowed dryly. According to Theodore Baniche, the Carbodin family had been disparaging Elodie even before her disappearance. Now that Elodie had returned, he was probably approaching me, the person closest to her, to find her weaknesses.

‘Yes, I was just a bit shocked, but all I need to do is reject this, too.’

I worked all day trying to find the right words for rejection. In the end, what I told the Marquis, who was waiting for me after closing the shop, wasn’t anything grand, just an ordinary rejection.

“…I’ll take your dating proposal as a joke.”

“It wasn’t a joke at all.”

The Marquis had a serious face.

“I’m genuinely interested in you, Aria. If you think I’m playing around, I swear I won’t touch even a finger of yours until we’re engaged.”

“You’ve only seen my face twice. We’ve only spoken twice. What exactly do you like about me?”

“Hmm.”

Marquis Carbodin examined my face.

“Do you think nobles marry someone they’ve seen a dozen times?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

I answered calmly.

“Then you might be surprised to learn that young ladies in society get engaged to men they’ve only danced with once or twice at balls.”

In truth, it wasn’t surprising at all. I knew well enough from books how nobles in this world married. But I wasn’t a noble lady with a proper family and dowry. Of course, dating was different in weight from a marriage proposal, but for a man of no less than a Marquis to make such an offer to me meant he had some ulterior motive. And the reason was clear.

“I like you, Miss Aria. I did some background checking, and a woman without any capital couldn’t establish such a shop without considerable skill.”

The Marquis pointed to the sign with his hand.

“This café didn’t just fall into your lap either. I know Duke Baniche well. He’s the type who would rather give money directly than throw it away on the streets.”

Hmm. For Elodie, he literally threw money on the streets… As that thought crossed my mind, I suddenly came to my senses.

‘Elodie!’

Why on earth was I even talking to this guy?

George Carbodin was someone who had insulted Elodie. All I needed to do was point that out and command him never to appear before me again.

“As you know, Elodie is more precious to me than anything in this world.”

“Ah, you mean the young lady.”

Marquis Carbodin smiled faintly.

“She is lovely. I completely understand.”

“…And I heard that it was you, Marquis, who insulted Elodie.”

“Who told you that?”

The Marquis asked without changing his expression.

“Tell them to come find me directly if they want to talk about it.”

“It was someone trustworthy.”

The Marquis’s eyes narrowed.

“…Duke Baniche, right?”

I neither confirmed nor denied it.

“Ha.”

The Marquis let out a hollow laugh.

“To think he would say such things to you, Miss Aria. This is becoming quite unfair…”

I stared up at him. Of course, if asked who I trusted more between this man and Theodore Baniche, it would undoubtedly be Duke Baniche. But perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to hear Marquis Carbodin’s explanation.

“Young Lady Elodie is illegitimate. No one knows who her mother is.”

“…!”

My eyes widened. No one had told me about Elodie’s mother, and whenever I subtly inquired, they avoided the subject, so I had no way of knowing.

“What I criticized was Duke Baniche. I criticized the fact that he made his own child motherless, I never insulted Young Lady Elodie herself…”

“Miss Aria!”

I turned around at the urgent voice to see Count Jacob calling out to me loudly. I brightened and approached him, but Count Jacob instead strode toward the Marquis.

“Count Jacob.”

The Marquis called him in a stiff voice.

“Marquis Carbodin, Your Lordship.”

Count Jacob gave a formal greeting, slightly lifting his hat. The Marquis seemed somewhat mollified by this gesture, but the words that came out of his mouth were not gentle at all.

“As you can see, I was in the middle of an important conversation with Miss Aria. I didn’t know the Count was such a rude person.”

“I sincerely apologize, but Miss Aria must urgently return to the Duke’s mansion.”

One of the Marquis’s eyebrows rose.

“…Miss Aria? Is that what you call her, Miss Bertin here?”

“Yes.”

Count Jacob said proudly.

“Miss Aria is the guardian of the young lady and an honored guest of our ducal family. Naturally, we must treat her with due respect.”

“What’s the matter?”

I interjected into their conversation.

“The young lady is looking for you, Miss Aria. It seems that the previous incident has occurred again…”

“I’ll go right away.”

I hurriedly went to stand beside Count Jacob. Of course, before getting into the carriage with him, I didn’t forget to say one last thing to Marquis Carbodin.

“Marquis, I decline all the proposals you’ve mentioned. My mind won’t change, so I would appreciate it if you didn’t come looking for me again.”

Marquis Carbodin drew in a sharp breath but said nothing. His expressionless face followed me until the very moment I boarded the carriage.

“Thank you.”

I briefly thanked the Count. I wasn’t unaware that he had rescued me.

“It’s nothing.”

“Were you passing by and happened to see me with Marquis Carbodin?”

“No.”

He shook his head.

“Eric reported it, but since the Duke and I only returned in the evening, we just found out… His Grace sent me immediately.”

I blinked. Duke Baniche had suggested I play the role of a spy. And yet, he had sent Count Jacob to rescue me from an awkward situation?

I clutched the fabric of my dress near my knees. Only the Duke himself would know why he had changed his mind, so asking Count Jacob would be futile. So, what I could ask now, taking advantage of this opportunity… I raised my head and looked directly at Count Jacob.

“I want to know about Elodie’s mother.”

Count Jacob didn’t seem surprised at all.

“I was wondering when you would ask.”

He answered bitterly.

“I asked Sonya. She didn’t give me a proper answer.”

The Count let out a deep sigh. He must have realized I wouldn’t back down easily. If so, he was correct. I leaned toward Count Jacob.

“As you know, Elodie follows me more than anyone else. Naturally, the day will come when she asks me who her mother is, and I’d like to think in advance about what answer to give.”

“……”

The Count pressed his lips tightly and studied me carefully. I also stared back at him without yielding, creating a tense atmosphere. Fortunately, Count Jacob was the first to give in.