Chapter 73
Slightly parted lips. Green pupils that seemed a bit larger, though perhaps it was just Marien’s imagination.
Unconsciously, he let his gaze sweep over Marien’s figure, then quickly turned his head to the side. It wasn’t polite, after all.
“You’re so beautiful, I’m at a loss for words.”
“And my chest? Can’t you see it properly from your height?”
For Marien, that was the most important thing. She didn’t want to show half of her chest to people she didn’t even want to meet.
Such a perverted Northerner. If you want to show off to others, show your own chest. Why demand I reveal my bare skin when it’s not even yours?
Ironically, when the noble young men became captivated by her beauty and swarmed around her, it would be him who felt annoyed.
It was a flow that was painfully predictable.
“I can’t see it.”
“You didn’t look. That’s why you can’t see it.”
“Do you really have to… look to check?”
Marien rolled her eyes.
“Can you check without looking?”
“I, Marien—”
“Before Lord Bierson’s ears turn any redder, hurry up.”
If not Baileon, who else could verify it? She had just thought of having a maid lift her onto a footrest, but it would be faster for Baileon to just glance.
“You just need to turn your eyes.”
Baileon’s white Adam’s apple moved clearly as he looked over the cravat.
So much inner conflict in his focus. Was this the same person who had been kissing her relentlessly in the office until just before leaving?
Finally, he seemed to have made up his mind. Baileon stole a quick glance at Marien’s chest. The sound of a book snapping shut rang louder than usual.
“I still can’t see well.”
“Success!”
Marien looked back at the maids still tidying up the room. She had received definitive acknowledgment from the adorned young lady version of herself. Pride beamed across the maids’ faces.
“Can you go down the stairs alone? I’ll hold you.”
Baileon stretched out his hand, trying to keep a neutral expression. Marien suppressed a laugh. Until she had descended about a third of the way to the first floor, she felt fine.
I’m not going to fall, am I?
Perhaps because she was wearing heels higher than usual, a sense of danger gradually crept in. She couldn’t see her feet—she had to step purely by instinct.
Of course, the moment she stumbled, Baileon would catch her.
Still… that second of uncertainty about tumbling down the stairs remains!
Earlier, the maid had told her to walk as if kicking the heavy hem of her dress—but that was only possible on flat ground. She couldn’t kick her feet like that on stairs.
Then, an absurd thought crept in.
When I wasn’t there, Baileon must have escorted Odette, right?
The graceful aura from Odette’s delicate frame. Even though she was frail, she would manage in a heavier dress.
She needed to stop habitual comparisons. Her mind knew it, but it was hard. The thought that Odette would never do something like this made her feel worse.
The superior never bothers comparing, sniff.
Marien froze on the landing. She even withdrew the hand holding Baileon.
“If both I and Her Highness the Fourth Princess fall into the water, who would you save first?”
The impulsive question was for that very reason—a bit of petty mischief.
“Of course, Your Highness first. She’s so frail. I know I can float if I relax my body. It’s only natural to save the one in greater danger first.”
Romance is strange. Sometimes, you ask a question you already know the answer to.
Hearing his words would sting her heart. Yet, it was hard to resist the momentary impulse. Either way, Baileon would end up in an awkward position, and Marien would be the one whose feelings got hurt.
Baileon’s neat brown brows tensed. He must have been choosing his words. Marien quickly turned her head.
“Forget it. That was a silly question.”
“Oh, I want to hear your answer.”
She didn’t notice when Chloe had arrived. Her younger sister looked at her brother with eyes sparkling with curiosity.
“It’s a timeless dilemma. Probably people have wrestled with this for about 4,000 years. So, brother, what will you answer?”
“Chloe Bierson.”
“Maybe it’s my specialty. My heart beats so fast whenever I hear questions like this.”
Chloe’s eyes sparkled like stars.
“Hurry, brother. Decide whether you’ll take poison or hang yourself—pick one quickly.”
Regret slowly shadowed Baileon’s gaze toward his kin. At some point, for some reason, he seemed genuinely remorseful.
“Or maybe our prime minister will try some tricky third route and get stabbed?”
No answer could truly satisfy a lover.
Chloe’s words implied that, but Marien, aware of what would happen today, didn’t take them at face value.
Her thoughts drifted from her question to future events.
Is this a foreshadowing to not try a third method?
Perhaps it was a warning not to do something reckless just because she didn’t want Baileon hurt.
No matter how much Marien tried to think, it was inevitable that he would be stabbed by a dagger today.
If she hinted this to Odette, even worse emergencies could arise.
Then I shouldn’t even recommend the corset…
She had prepared a thin iron plate wrapped in white cloth as a corset, but even that seemed unusable.
Was she really going to have to watch Baileon’s stomach pierced before her eyes?
Did they disinfect the blade? Oh, what am I saying. Of course they didn’t. If they didn’t even apply poison, consider ourselves lucky.
Her thoughts on the assailants’ hygiene made her frown. But Baileon seemed to interpret her expression differently.
“I’ll save Marien.”
“And Her Highness the Fourth Princess…”
“She has Duke Blackwood.”
Baileon drew a gentle line. That Northern guy will indeed save her Highness. Marien pouted inwardly.
Given Cain’s temperament, Baileon would probably jump in first to save Marien before even considering the water, and he’d cool the atmosphere in the process.
She might have to shout for him to save Odette first. Of course, he would ignore her.
Such an extreme self-centered guy!
If Baileon was too nice for everyone, Cain was excessively ruthless, making one angry.
His goal was simply to get Marien out of the water. Her opinions didn’t matter. If she succeeded, Cain Blackwood would just become the Northern Duke.
Still, she wished he’d be more aware of his surroundings. Learn about coexistence, too.
“You chose the craftiest answer among all options. Even though you know the Duke wouldn’t act like that.”
“All I know… is that I, Baileon Bierson, am Marien’s lover, and I will protect you in any situation.”
“Tch.”
Marien rolled her eyes in annoyance.
“Do you think everything will be solved if you keep spouting sweet words?”
“Was what I just said sweet?”
Baileon’s lips curved lazily.
“I didn’t intend it to sound that way.”
“…Once again, I’m naturally being left out.”
She hadn’t realized Chloe was beside her. Chloe slowly unfolded her lace fan with a rose pattern.
“Honestly, I’m confused whether my brother is an unexpected romance genius or if the advisor is just too soft on him. I’m pretty sure it’s not the former…”
Having stolen the attention of her kin, Chloe quickly looked away.
“The weather’s nice today. Time to take the carriage, perhaps.”
Chloe swiftly left. Baileon averted his eyes from his departing sister and reached for Marien again.
Marien placed her thin summer-gloved hand gently into her lover’s larger palm.
Step by step, they moved toward the entrance. It felt nice to be escorted like a princess.
If it weren’t for the overly voluminous hem of her dress, she could have stayed closer to Baileon.
Marien acknowledged that the dress was extremely beautiful and expensive. Yet, why did she keep nitpicking? First it was the deep neckline, now the skirt hem.
Who was the real source of this dress that forces automatic distance from others?
Marien sighed inwardly.
Ah yes, it was a gift from Cain Blackwood.
Recalling that truth she had momentarily forgotten, even the lavish hem that would inspire envy now felt like Cain’s spite. Not being able to link arms with Baileon seemed entirely his fault.
To think our Baileon would have to get stabbed while that reckless guy would survive a carriage crash unscathed.
Heaven is indeed indifferent.
Even though it was a ball she had dressed up for, Marien couldn’t fully enjoy herself.
And even while worrying about the assault group, Marien never thought of throwing herself in harm’s way.
◇ ◆ ◇
“That must be the rumored diamond gifted by the Fourth Princess…”
“I didn’t know the Fourth Princess’s treasury was doing well. Such a gift to a commoner-born advisor, not even a noble girl.”
“Even if she gifted it, I bet it came out of Duke Blackwood’s pocket.”
“True.”
“Looks like the Fourth Princess and the Duke are quite close. Giving such precious gems to a subordinate and the Duke didn’t stop her.”
This wasn’t gossip from behind their backs, nor criticizing openly. They were speaking quietly nearby.
The funny thing was, there were many people like them in the vast ballroom.
Whenever people gathered, they gossiped about Marien’s jewels, dress, and origin. All eyes were on her. Sometimes, she felt she drew more attention than the royals. Marien sipped her non-alcoholic iced tea.
“Hoho, advisor, welcome to high society. Don’t stress too much—you’ll get used to it gradually.”
Chloe whispered to Marien, exchanging busy greetings beyond her fan.
“Why do I feel like the young lady is enjoying this situation?”
“It’s not a feeling—it’s true.”
Chloe’s eye-smile brightened even more.
“Do you know what they said about you over there? They said you’re like a sugar decoration on top of a cake.”
“…Doesn’t that mean I look like a clueless glutton?”
