Chapter 3.5

“Could you please step aside? I still have bread to distribute.”  

“Ah, actually, that’s what I came to discuss.”  

“Pardon?”  

“My aide happened to pass by here last week and witnessed your kind deeds, Mademoiselle. He suggested that we offer some help.”  

“Ciel and I are enough hands to distribute the bread.”  

“Simply handing out bread doesn’t quite qualify as help, does it?”  

Liam gestured toward a direction. There, several individuals who appeared to be servants were diligently pulling carts, each loaded with sacks.  

He strode over to the carts with his long legs and untied one of the sacks to reveal its contents. Inside were loaves of bread that looked far more delicious than the ones Yvonne had painstakingly baked.  

“Does this seem like a sufficient gesture of goodwill?” 

Liam asked. His tone was soft enough to avoid sounding arrogant, despite the obvious display of generosity.  

“It’s more than sufficient—almost excessive. Is it really alright to accept this?”  

“I’d be delighted if you did.”  

“In that case, I’ll gladly accept.”  

Yvonne didn’t decline twice. She had often felt regretful for not being able to distribute enough bread. While the stranger’s kindness seemed suspicious, it wasn’t unwelcome.  

Moreover, despite his refined appearance, Liam revealed an unexpectedly humble side. Even when some of the beggars emitted foul odors, he didn’t flinch and continued handing out bread. 

Only after the beggars had received their fill and the sacks were emptied did Yvonne bow her head to Liam in gratitude.  

“Thank you for your kindness.”  

“Is that all the thanks I get?”  

Yvonne flinched at the unexpected remark. Although startled, she took a deep breath and responded as taught by her tutor over the past few months.  

“…I understand that a gentleman has simply fulfilled his duty as a gentleman. Am I mistaken in thinking so?”  

Though she tried to remain composed, her voice trembled slightly.  

Despite having served the former Baroness Bertrand closely and undergone months of bridal lessons to learn noble etiquette, Yvonne’s roots were those of a common maid.  

She was more accustomed to reading the mood of nobles and fearing them than confidently interacting with them.  

Thus, Liam’s handsome appearance didn’t catch her attention at all. To her, nobles were mostly trash.  

Philip, the third son of the prestigious Conrad Marquis Family, Marceau, and Earl Marlon—all of them.  

This man might look polished on the surface, but his inner nature was likely just as rotten.  

While Yvonne was busy gauging Liam’s mood, he smiled warmly, exuding friendliness.  

“Well, perhaps I’m not much of a gentleman after all.”  

“What do you mean…?”  

“Just as you said, I’m openly scheming. I want to know more about you.”  

“That’s quite an inappropriate joke.”  

“If I told you I fell for you at first sight, would it still sound like a joke?”  

“…I’m sorry, but I already have a fiancé.”  

“Ah, that senile old man?”  

Shocked, Yvonne quickly scanned her surroundings, worried someone might have overheard.  

Fortunately, it seemed no one had. Her temporary personal maid, Ciel, Liam’s aide Gabriel, and the servants Liam had brought were all busy tidying up the area.  

“Please refrain from such disrespectful remarks. I’m afraid someone might hear.”  

“I don’t recall mentioning anyone directly.”  

Liam stepped closer, and a strong musk scent tickled Yvonne’s nose. It was a fragrance that didn’t match his seemingly gentle appearance.  

“Judging by your reaction, Mademoiselle, it seems you’re not entirely pleased with the marriage either.”  

“It’s easy to find out that my fiancé is Earl Marlon with just a little investigation. Besides, my circumstances shouldn’t concern you, Monsieur.”  

“How could I not care? Such a beautiful Mademoiselle is in distress.”  

Liam reached out and touched Yvonne’s long hair. The gesture was so natural that she didn’t immediately notice it. 

“Isn’t it a gentleman’s duty to help?”  

Yvonne instinctively opened her mouth to retort but closed it again. Instead, she withdrew her hair from his hand and stepped back.  

“The gesture you showed today is help enough, Monsieur.”  

“…”  

“But please let the jokes end here. I’ll overlook what just happened in light of your kindness today.”  

With a polite bow, Yvonne walked over to Ciel and headed toward the Debroge mansion with her maid.  

As Yvonne hurried away, she resembled a bird fluttering off.  

If she were truly a bird, Liam thought, he would have caught her and clipped her wings.  

His fingers twitched with an inexplicable impulse.  

At that moment, Gabriel approached him with a sly grin.  

“Rejected, weren’t you?”  

“No.”  

“Really? The Debroge lady left with a pale face, dragging her maid along. Are you sure?”  

“I said no.”  

“Alright, alright. But don’t take it too personally. Not every woman in the world will like you, Monsieur… Ow!”  

Gabriel yelped as pain surged through his calf. Naturally, Liam was the cause.  

Despite kicking Gabriel, Liam was already walking away. Gabriel glared at Liam’s retreating figure with resentment.  

Last week, Gabriel had investigated Jeanne de Debroge and discovered that she distributed bread to beggars every weekend evening.  

He had gone as far as to pressure the kitchen staff to prepare bread for her, only to be punished for teasing Liam slightly!  

‘No wonder he got rejected with that attitude!’  

Groaning in pain, Gabriel realized Liam had already walked quite a distance and quickly chased after him.  

Meanwhile, Liam murmured Jeanne’s name as he recalled her composed yet cold demeanor.  

“Jeanne de Debroge…”  

According to Gabriel’s findings, she wasn’t much different from other noble ladies.  

Though somewhat prickly, she was obedient to her parents and a sacrificial pawn in her family’s arranged marriage.  

The only notable difference was her outstanding beauty, which had caught Liam’s attention.  

And,  

“I’m sorry, but I already have a fiancé.”  

Her display of loyalty only added to her allure.  

Liam was well aware of his own attractiveness. Most women on the verge of marrying an old man would have indulged in a bit of fun. The fact that Jeanne didn’t made her all the more intriguing.  

“But please let the jokes end here. I’ll overlook what just happened in light of your kindness today.”  

Recalling Jeanne’s words, Liam chuckled. If she thought it was a joke, the solution was simple: show her it wasn’t.  

Liam decided to send a marriage proposal to the Debroge Family as soon as he returned.  

***

Yvonne was out distributing bread on the streets again. Though she was nervous about Liam possibly showing up, he didn’t appear.  

‘As expected…’  

It seemed he had only been testing the waters.  

Yvonne felt relieved that her intuition was correct but also bitter about her situation. After all, her future was to become Earl Marlon’s wife.  

Marceau had set a deadline for Jeanne to be found and brought back, but honestly…  

Yvonne sincerely hoped Jeanne would remain free and live happily.

Jeanne knew that even if she hadn’t run away, the situation wouldn’t have been much different. Emma would have fallen ill, and Marceau would never have provided medicine for free.  

Her life was already doomed, so she wished at least her cousin, who had fled, could find happiness with the man she loved.  

With that thought, Yvonne quickly brushed away her thoughts about Liam.  

Three days later, however, when Liam’s marriage proposal arrived at the Debroge family, Yvonne had to admit that her intuition had been wrong.  

The incident began as follows:  

Out of the blue, Marceau summoned her and asked,  

“Have you ever met Earl Arthus?”  

“Pardon?”  

“You don’t know who he is?”  

“Well… I think I’ve seen a monsieur with that surname before.”  

“His name?”  

“Liam de Arthus? I believe that was his name.”  

Marceau let out a low hum and stroked his chin.  

“So, you have met Earl Arthus.”  

He’s an Earl? But he seemed so young.  

Yvonne blinked slowly in surprise at this unexpected fact, though she quickly dismissed it by recalling Philip, who had become a baron at a young age.  

“But why are you asking about him? Did Earl Marlon take issue with it? I’ve only met Monsieur Arthus a few times by chance.”  

“No, this has nothing to do with Earl Marlon. I’m asking because a marriage proposal came from the Arthus family.”  

“A marriage proposal…?”  

“Yes. Would you like to meet him? Honestly, you or Jeanne, that girl, would probably prefer a younger man to an old one.”  

“What…?”  

Yvonne trailed off, her face stiff with confusion. The words made no sense. 

Was this some kind of test? Or was he serious?  

“I’m already promised to Earl Marlon. Besides, Father, you have already received the rights to use the Rido Canal.”  

“That’s true.”  

“Then is it really alright for me to meet another monsieur?”  

“It’s fine, which is why I’m suggesting it. Because it’s Arthus.”  

“…?”  

“Have you forgotten? I mentioned that the Arthus family has the greatest influence on the Rido Canal usage decisions, followed by the Marlon family.”  

“Ah…”  

“This is why women are so foolish.” 

Marceau clicked his tongue and placed a cigar in his mouth.