Claude’s brazen arrogance, haughty attitude, and cold gaze made Lisette fearful of what questions he might ask.

“After talking with the shop owner, I got the feeling she deliberately gave me something different from the potion I wanted. Almost like there was some scheme behind it.”

Lisette nervously swallowed.

“And that scheme didn’t seem to be just her idea alone…”

Celia wasn’t the type to reveal anything. For Claude to have such thoughts, he must be relying on his instinctive senses.

Though he didn’t continue, his gaze piercing into Lisette was sharp and menacing, seemingly penetrating her thoughts.

“The truth is… I asked her to help. I asked her to prevent your marriage to Natalie.”

Overwhelmed by his intimidating presence, Lisette hesitated before finally speaking after a long pause. She decided honesty was necessary if she wanted to assert her innocence.

“Hmm. Why would you make such a request?”

Somehow, the corner of Claude’s mouth turned upward. Perhaps he too had been reluctant about marrying Natalie.

“I didn’t want you two to marry. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to forcibly separate two people who liked each other, but I couldn’t help—”

“Wait. Who likes whom? You’re not suggesting I liked that two-faced Imperial Princess, are you?”

Claude interrupted Lisette, clearly displeased with her words.

“What? But I thought…”

Lisette’s eyes widened at the term “two-faced.” Judging by his reaction, Claude not only didn’t like Natalie—he seemed to despise her.

Perhaps the rumor about them liking each other was just that—a baseless rumor.

“Sigh. I don’t know why such rumors spread, but I clearly refused the marriage. So don’t have any strange misunderstandings.”

“Oh, yes.”

Lisette didn’t understand why he emphasized the word “refused” while explaining to her, but she simply acknowledged his statement.

“Now, continue what you were saying. Why did you try to stop my marriage? What was your reason?”

His eyes changed to reflect expectation, like he was waiting for a specific answer.

“Well, I’ve accumulated a lot of resentment toward the Empress and Natalie, so I wanted revenge on Natalie.”

However, upon hearing the word “revenge,” Claude’s expression suddenly changed to disappointment. Though Lisette was just telling the truth, she strangely felt apologetic.

“I don’t think that’s it.”

Claude’s eyes narrowed, subtly conveying a hurt tone.

Should she have given a different answer? Lisette tried to think of what response he might want, but couldn’t come up with anything else.

“What do you mean?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Whenever you saw me, you’d get tense like a startled rabbit.”

“How could you see that when I was wearing a veil?”

“Who do you think I am? Even my subordinates noticed you had feelings for me, so of course I would notice.”

From his gaze, Claude was certain that Lisette harbored admiration for him.

She was secretly in love with Lord Usta? Caught off guard by this unexpected statement, Lisette could only open and close her mouth without words coming out.

He was clearly misunderstanding something. While she couldn’t deny feeling some attraction to him, her behavior was primarily due to fear of having her identity discovered.

It seemed wrong to answer that way, but seeing his expectant look, she couldn’t let him continue with this misunderstanding.

“I was tense because I was afraid you’d discover I had secretly left the palace. I’m sorry if you misunderstood.”

Upon hearing the truth, Claude’s expression hardened like stone.

“I see.”

Then, he muttered in a small voice, sounding disappointed.

Seeing him like that made Lisette feel strangely apologetic, even though she had no reason to feel sorry since he had made assumptions on his own.

‘Why would I acknowledge something that never happened, like a secret crush?’

Could it be… he has feelings for her?

The way his expression and tone changed drastically with her words almost made her think he might like her.

That’s impossible. Lisette immediately denied the thought.

This was the first time they’d had such an extended conversation, and the first time she’d seen such a range of expressions from him. So it was just a momentary misconception. Well, except for the various expressions he’d shown during their intimate encounter.

“Well, feelings can change anytime.”

“Pardon?”

Claude had muttered in such a low voice that Lisette couldn’t hear him clearly. When she asked him to repeat, instead of answering, he grabbed her wrist.

“Let’s go.”

Claude’s tone suddenly became curt. He seemed to be showing that her answer had displeased him.

Lisette tried to shake off his hand.

“Go where? I’m under imperial orders to go to Baron Jerzy’s residence. Taking me away like this would mean disobeying those orders.”

Though their conversation had gone off track, she needed to objectively assess the current situation.

“You’ve already run away, so why all these words now?”

“There’s a complete difference between me escaping alone and escaping with your help, Lord Usta.”

Escaping alone was acceptable to her. She was likely to die either way—whether caught while escaping or taken to the Baron’s—and at least attempting escape would make her feel less wronged.

But Claude’s case was different. He was the Captain of the Imperial Guard. It made no sense for him, who should uphold the Emperor’s commands above all, to disobey an imperial order.

“What’s the difference? I don’t see any particular difference.”

Claude’s answer was resolute, his attitude suggesting there was no problem at all.

“I don’t want to cause trouble for the Usta family.”

“It’s too late for that. My subordinates have already subdued the imperial people, so what can we do?”

Lisette was astounded by his nonchalant attitude about restraining imperial personnel.

Is that even allowed?

Now that she thought about it, the sounds she had heard earlier had stopped.

The clashing of swords, voices shouting “Who are you?”—all gone. Now there were only small groans from those who had been captured.

“If you want to walk alone to Baron Jerzy’s estate, I won’t stop you, but you’ve already walked quite far. Walking back now, you’d likely freeze to death by evening.”

And now he was threatening her. For someone claiming not to stop her, his following words were incredibly harsh. Though she knew one wouldn’t freeze to death walking that distance, his words created an illusion that she might.

“You’re not really thinking of going, are you?”

Despite his harsh words, Claude asked with anxious eyes, afraid she might actually leave.

“If that was my intention, I wouldn’t have escaped in the first place.”

“Good. Since you have nowhere to go, you can come with me.”

“N-no, I can’t.”

“Why do you keep saying you can’t? By now, my father should be meeting with His Majesty in my place, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“Why is Marquis Usta meeting with His Majesty?”

Lisette’s head tilted to one side. The more she talked with Claude, the stranger the situation seemed to become.

“To cancel the marriage to Baron Jerzy and ask permission for your marriage to me.”

“What? Marriage? Me?”

Lisette’s eyes widened in disbelief, her expression bewildered.

“Yes.”

“Me marrying whom?”

“Obviously, you and me.”

“Me?”

No matter how many times she heard it, she couldn’t believe it. Was he trying to make her laugh in this serious atmosphere? If so, it was a terribly unfunny joke.

“Are you pretending not to understand, or are you denying it because you don’t want to marry me?”

“…”

As Lisette continued to show disbelief, Claude looked at her with a dissatisfied expression.

Good heavens. Only then did Lisette realize it wasn’t a joke.

Was this the year of weddings? Just moments ago, she was being taken to marry Baron Jerzy, and now she was about to be dragged away by Lord Usta.

“We’re not close enough to get married.”

It wasn’t that she disliked the idea. In fact, seeing him come to rescue her like this made her heart flutter. But the sudden marriage proposal was so unexpected that Lisette countered his words.

“Do you have to be close to get married? You can become close after marriage. And we’ve already gone all the way—how can you say we’re not close? Our bodies seem quite familiar with each other. Do I need to remind you again?”

With that, Claude took her hand and placed it on his swollen pants. Startled, Lisette quickly removed her hand.

“P-please. Can you stop bringing that thing up?”

“Why? What’s wrong with it? Who made my c*ck stand up? Since that day, it’s been yours.”

Eek! What is he saying?

When crude words came from Claude’s mouth, Lisette’s face instantly turned red.

“Please act like you did when I first met you.”

“What was I like when you first met me? I’m a consistent person, always the same.”

Claude shrugged.

“…”

It seemed pointless to continue arguing with him, so Lisette needed to find another excuse to refuse.

“Does the Marquis approve of me?”

The Marquis Usta was unlikely to approve of Lisette. He would still favor Natalie.