Chapter 3.3

The woman hesitated slightly upon seeing Liam and Gabriel but offered a small bow before attempting to pass them by.  

“Excuse me, Mademoiselle.”  

Liam spoke first.  

“I am Liam de Arthus. I’ve recently become acquainted with the owner of this estate, Earl Marlon. And this is my aide, Gabriel de Saint-Laurent.”  

Gabriel offered his own polite greeting while Liam flashed a warm smile—the kind that women in the capital’s social circles couldn’t resist.  

“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask your name, Mademoiselle?”  

“…Jeanne de Debroge.”  

So she wasn’t his daughter after all. Then again, there was no way someone as stunning as her could come from Earl Marlon’s unattractive ginger-haired lineage.  

‘Debroge? Where have I heard that name before?’  

While Liam tilted his head in thought, the woman bowed slightly and brushed past him. Typically, women would try to prolong their conversation with Liam, captivated by his handsome features.  

Of course, reactions varied once they learned he was the notorious third son of the Conrad Family, but her indifference was refreshing nonetheless. 

Even after she passed, Liam and Gabriel couldn’t take their eyes off her retreating figure.  

“Wow… Now I understand why Earl Marlon was so desperate earlier.”  

“What do you mean?”  

“During the meeting. Earl Marlon couldn’t let go of the Debroge proposal. I heard he plans to remarry, and his bride is supposed to be a young Mademoiselle from the Debroge family. I didn’t expect her to be this beautiful.”  

“What? Remarry? That woman?”  

“You heard her name earlier, didn’t you? Jeanne de Debroge. Were you too distracted by her beauty to notice?”  

“No, I heard it. I just didn’t make the connection.”  

Liam brushed his bangs back from his forehead, muttering under his breath.  

“Remarrying someone so much younger… The old man’s gone senile.”  

“It’s not uncommon. For someone seeking remarriage, Earl Marlon is relatively young, wouldn’t you say?”  

“Still senile.”  

“Well, if we’re talking about senility, then Monsieur Debroge is worse. He’s so obsessed with money that he’s willing to give away such a young and beautiful daughter.”  

“….”  

“I heard he adored his wife, but why treat his daughter like this? It’s not as if his wife died in childbirth… Poor Mademoiselle Jeanne.”  

Gabriel clicked his tongue in disapproval.  

By then, the young woman had reached Natong, who was standing in front of the estate, bidding farewell to guests. Natong’s face lit up upon seeing her.  

“He’s grinning like a fool.”  

“Well, of course. She’s much younger and prettier than him.”

For a brief moment, Natong exchanged words with the young woman, then pulled her close to his side and began greeting the guests. It was obvious to anyone that he was showing her off.  

Standing beside him, the woman also greeted the guests with a smile. Her serene face became even more beautiful when she smiled.  

“Surely, that woman must despise Earl Marlon?”  

“You’re stating the obvious.”  

“Do you know why the head of the Debroge family is sending his daughter to Earl Marlon?”  

“It seems the Debroge Family is engaged in the spice trade. They need access to the Rido Canal, and Earl Marlon was practically the authority in the area before you arrived, Monsieur. That’s the deal they struck.”  

“In other words, as long as they can use the Rido Canal, they don’t care who they’re dealing with.”  

“That’s… Wait a moment, Monsieur. Surely you’re not thinking what I think you are? You’re not, right? Please tell me you’re not!”  

Gabriel urgently questioned Liam.  

No, it couldn’t be. No matter how much of a scoundrel or a troublemaker he was, surely he wouldn’t try to steal someone else’s soon-to-be wife.  

Gabriel tried to calm himself down.  

But Liam, with a sly smile, replied, 

“Oh, I think I am.”  

He walked forward, leaving Gabriel behind.  

Watching the scoundrel’s back as he shattered the last bit of faith Gabriel had in him, Gabriel clenched his fists and trembled with rage.  

Unable to hold it in, Gabriel finally shouted.  

“You… you…! Hey! You insane bastard!”  

Having thrown away all pretense, Gabriel’s outburst was filled with curses and informal speech. It was only possible because he had been friends with Liam since childhood.  

Liam, knowing Gabriel’s fiery temper, turned around leisurely, his expression relaxed.  

“Isn’t it a bit disrespectful for a retainer to address his superior like that?”  

“Well, then stop saying such nonsense! And stop acting like such a damn scoundrel all the time!”  

“There are many eyes watching, Monsieur Saint-Laurent.”  

“Argh!”  

Gabriel ran his hands through his hair in frustration before quickly catching up to Liam, closing the distance between them.  

Now standing close, he whispered in a voice only Liam could hear.  

“Why, of all people, are you targeting her?”  

“She’s beautiful.”  

“Not because it’ll be fun?”  

“That too. I get to annoy that thorn-in-my-side Earl Marlon and, at the same time, gain a beautiful wife.”  

“Wife? Wait a minute. Are you seriously planning to marry her?”  

“As you know, my reputation is utterly ruined. Add to that being cast out of the Conrad Family—no noblewoman from the capital would want to marry me. So, if I want to marry, I have to look elsewhere.”  

Liam’s reasoning wasn’t wrong.  

What woman would willingly marry a notorious troublemaker who had left behind a trail of scandals? Especially now that the prestige of the Conrad Marquisate no longer shielded him.  

Still, Gabriel couldn’t help but be surprised that Liam, of all people, was seriously considering marriage.  

This was the same man who’d flirted with countless women, taken no responsibility, and earned himself more than a few slaps in the process. Yet now he was talking about marriage with sincerity.  

“Why are you looking at me like that?”  

“No reason… I just find it surprising that you’re considering marriage. I thought you’d never settle down.”  

“I can’t keep causing trouble forever, can I? Maybe it’s time I tried living a respectable life for once.”  

Liam shrugged playfully. Gabriel wanted to retort, ‘Stealing someone else’s bride isn’t exactly respectable. What part of this is respectable?’ but he held his tongue.  

Though their conversation was lighthearted, Gabriel couldn’t forget how Liam had acted when he was practically driven out of the Conrad Family.  

A scoundrel is still a scoundrel, no matter how much they try to act virtuous. Provoking him further wouldn’t lead to anything good.  

Letting out a deep sigh, Gabriel regained his composure.  

“That’s all well and good… but please remember one thing.”  

“What is it?”  

“God sees everything. Making enemies never ends well, Monsieur. It’ll all come back to you someday.”  

“Haha… Gabriel, you sound just like a woman.”  

“Ah, yes, like the young Lady Rozier you dated for three days before getting caught sleeping with her maid? What was it she said? ‘A trashy man like you will surely be punished.’ That was exactly 19 days ago, wasn’t it?”  

“Not her, someone else…”  

“…?”  

“Never mind.”  

Liam trailed off mid-sentence, his expression hardening as he turned away.  

With every step he took, faint memories seemed to echo in his mind, accompanied by a tearful voice.  

“P-please don’t… Let me go…!”  

“No, please, God will… forgive… ah!”  

It wasn’t a memory he wanted to recall. It was the one time he had forced himself on a woman who had clearly said no.  

‘Was it at Rivette?’  

It had been one of the territories under Baron Bertrand’s jurisdiction, where he had gone on behalf of his aging father.  

The problem had been the unexpectedly strong alcohol the baron had served, claiming it was specially prepared. The first few sips were light, but as he drank more, the alcohol hit him like a wave. Even someone like Liam, who had a high tolerance for alcohol, found it overwhelming.  

Feeling like he might pass out, he had stepped outside for some fresh air, only to have a woman suddenly fall into his arms.  

Judging by the white lace apron she wore, she seemed to be a maid. A maid throwing herself into his arms…  

‘How obvious.’  

It was a cheap seduction tactic he had seen countless times in the capital. Pretending it was an accident, apologizing, and then striking up a conversation…  

Still, the sensation of her body against his had pleased him enough to consider playing along. Though it was dark, her silhouette seemed appealing.  

Her motives were obvious—either his looks or his wealth.  

If it were the former, she’d be satisfied with one night. If it were the latter, a bit of money would suffice.  

When she tried to pull away, claiming she wasn’t interested, he recognized the act. Many women pretended to resist before revealing their true intentions.  

Normally, he would have let her go, finding such pretense tiresome. There were plenty of women who genuinely wanted him; why waste time on one who didn’t?  

But that night was different. He hadn’t been with a woman in a while, and his desires had built up. The alcohol only made it harder to resist.  

So he held on to her.