Chapter 2 – Part 5

Olivia was fundamentally wary of the calm before the storm. The fact that Harry Palmer had been away from the mansion for several months raised her biggest alarm.

A man who acted as the master of the household, regardless of title, had left the mansion? She judged that there must be a special reason. There had to be a reason, and when he returned, he would surely want to make up for his absence.

“Hey, you.”

So when Olivia noticed a man with a different look in his eyes than the other spectators, she had to catch him. She had anticipated that if Harry Palmer had any wits about him, he would have someone watch her actions at the palace.

Sure enough, Harry Palmer had heard and sent someone. The man named John couldn’t fulfill Olivia’s request to say, “Harry Palmer is a bastard.”

“So, if you don’t want to go to jail, follow me quietly.”

Olivia grabbed John’s collar and dragged him along. He struggled, but Olivia calmed him with a smack to the head.

Olivia handed John over to Celeste and requested with a light heart, “He’s been spying on me. Lock him up somewhere until I get back. Make sure he doesn’t die before I come to get him.”

‘You wouldn’t mind doing that much, would you?’

When Olivia asked brightly, Celeste didn’t bother to say there was no such bet but instead ordered his knights to take John away. Olivia left the training ground, hearing John’s cries like background music.

Having trounced the knights who underestimated her, Olivia felt much lighter. She took a deep nap until close to dinner time, dressed up, and ate the dinner heartily. Although the manners and etiquette were quite irritating, Olivia endured them, thinking that if even the protagonists of romance novels could bear it, so could she.

The nobles at the dinner couldn’t approach her easily. Olivia’s overwhelming presence was too much. Using this to her advantage, Olivia greeted Hellebore and slipped away as soon as the dinner ended. Thankfully, no one followed her—except for one person.

“Marchioness, are you going straight to your room?”

Olivia turned and saw that the escort knights and palace attendants were all watching in amazement as Marsden followed her.

“Of course I’m going to my room. Where else would I go?”

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Olivia snapped. But Marsden wasn’t deterred.

“I heard you duel with the knights earlier. It’s a pity I had another appointment and couldn’t watch. Missing the sight of your splendid and beautiful self—I’ll regret it for the rest of my life, even after death.”

The tips of Olivia’s ears turned red. Why did her emotions become uncontrollable and her heart race in front of this man?

She had never felt this way in front of Gael.

‘I am an indifferent heroine. I am an indifferent heroine.’ Olivia mentally chanted, trying to maintain her composure.

“So, are you planning to follow me to my room?”

“I wouldn’t dare. But I’d like to ask if you could spare me a moment.”

His voice, which had been so teasing, now dropped to a serious tone. Olivia stopped walking, and Marsden followed suit.

Their eyes met. Olivia realized through the determination in Marsden’s eyes that he had been waiting for her. He had every right to be anxious, given she hadn’t told him when they’d talk.

“Wait for me in the back garden. I have something to bring.”

Leaving only those words, Olivia walked to her room alone. Though she didn’t hear Marsden’s response, she knew he would follow her instructions.

***

With a determined heart, Olivia headed to the back garden. Even though she had changed into comfortable clothes, her steps felt heavy. It was always like this in front of that man.

It wasn’t too late, so palace attendants were still around. They stared at Olivia, who was dressed in a white shirt and black dress pants, as if she were some strange creature.

Olivia gave them a “What are you looking at?” glare before finally spotting Marsden.

Marsden was dressed exactly as he had been at dinner earlier. It seemed he had come straight to the garden after being told to wait.

Why did he do such a thing when his feelings were so transparent? Olivia approached Marsden and cleared her throat a few times.

“Buddy.”

Marsden’s eyes sparkled like a puppy greeting its owner. His emotions were so clear that Olivia felt awkward.

“Did you wait long?”

“No, not really.”

A lie. It may have taken less time than other nobles, but it still took an hour to remove her makeup and change clothes. It couldn’t have been a short wait.

“How are you feeling? No muscle aches or anything?”

Olivia looked up at Marsden with a tender gaze. His eyes, looking at her, were unwavering. It was an expression that seemed to say he would never regret holding her in his heart.

Olivia pretended not to be shaken and shrugged.

“Actually, I feel lighter. My mood has improved a lot too.”

“That’s a relief. It’s still a shame I couldn’t see it.”

The playful addition was mixed with both affection and anxiety. Olivia found herself increasingly curious about what kind of person Marsden was.

“What’s that? You seem to be holding it quite solemnly.”

Marsden gestured towards the paper in Olivia’s hand with his eyes. Only then did Olivia remember that she had rolled up a piece of paper and brought it.

‘Should I give this to him?’

After a moment’s hesitation, Olivia handed the paper to Marsden.

With an expression of half-expectation and half-worry, Marsden unfolded the paper.

“Ah?”

A deep wrinkle formed between Marsden’s brows. His gaze briefly shifted to Olivia, but she pretended not to notice.

“Buddy.”

Flinch. His voice had a cold edge that it hadn’t had before.

“This is a bit disappointing, no matter what.”

Marsden showed Olivia the side of the paper with the writing on it. It read precisely as follows:

“To Duke Troy Marsden, I have the following questions:

1. Why did you cast a spell on me to make me love someone else? Did I cling to you like a leech and make things difficult for you, Your Grace?

2. Why are you confessing your feelings now? Did you realize your feelings after I went missing, or did you already know and just hide them?

3. I heard you personally executed members of my family. What was the reason for that?

4. Lastly…”

The fourth question stood out clearly in Olivia’s eyes.

4. Lastly, what exactly was the situation when you found my pool of blood?

Olivia’s gaze deepened. While the other questions were important, number 4 was the one she was most curious about. She felt sorry for Marsden, but her curiosity about this outweighed her interest in him. In the original story, it was never revealed who ultimately killed Olivia, which made her even more curious.

“Are you planning to get everything off your chest at once?”

Marsden hit the nail on the head. Olivia, having expected this, readily agreed.

“I know it’s absurd. But strangely, I feel uneasy.”

“What do you mean?”

Marsden’s gaze grew more intense. It was hard to believe he ever wore a nonchalant mask.

“Talking to you openly about my feelings.”

Marsden’s throat bobbed as if swallowing something.

“Why?”

He didn’t seem to be hiding his anxiety. Olivia steeled herself against her weakening resolve.

“I don’t know. It just feels like another part of me inside is telling me not to.”

This was the only way she could explain it. Otherwise, she couldn’t justify the dragging feeling since meeting him or the way her breath caught when she tried to ask.

“But this is a bit much. ‘Please fill out and submit the enclosed questions’?”

Olivia felt embarrassed. She had written politely, using her past life’s experience, but perhaps it was too stiff. She couldn’t write it casually, like she was texting a friend, especially not when the questions were serious and the recipient was the Empire’s only duke.

Moreover, she didn’t know exactly what kind of person he was yet.

“May I ask you to fill it out?”

It was similar when she dealt with the Emperor without Marsden’s help. If she needed his power, she would make a deal, but she didn’t want to beg like a child.

The same applies to this questionnaire. If she was going to ask something, she intended to offer him something in return within reason.

“Then choose one, Buddy.”

Hmm? Something felt off. Before Olivia could guess his intention, Marsden’s red lips opened.

“First, imprison me in your cell so I can see you every day.”

“What?”

“Second.”

Marsden took a step closer, narrowing the distance between them. His sharp jawline was right in front of her nose.

“Call me as many times as there are questions.”

“….”

“I’ll come running like a dog whenever you call.”