05
I shrugged.
“It’s a secret.”
“You keep so many secrets.”
“You’re speaking too casually to me.”
“I was just talking to myself.”
The young attendant suddenly pointed at my cheek and shamelessly changed the subject.
“You’ve got a crumb there.”
“Here?”
“No, not there…”
He looked annoyed and actually started to reach out his hand—then froze.
I thought he would get flustered and pull back.
But instead, he stared right at me and asked, “Want me to wipe it off for you?”
I hadn’t expected that bold question.
“No.”
At my answer, he slumped his shoulders as if disappointed.
“Then at least clean it off properly.”
“Better now?”
“Well… sort of.”
Annoyed, I rubbed my cheek roughly with my palm. He clicked his tongue at me.
As long as it was clean, who cared?
“You’re not the kind of person I expected.”
“Why? Did you imagine some tragic heroine?”
“You’re more like the infamous villainess Baroness Anastasia Roxan.”
“…Fine. Good for you.”
“Anyway, you’re different from what I thought.”
“I’m not standing here eating cookies just so you can judge me.”
“I wasn’t judging. I was just being honest.”
“In society, that’s the same thing as judging.”
He fell silent, then handed me a glass of water.
It was exactly what I needed—my throat was dry from the cookies. He was surprisingly sharp.
“Feeling more sober now?”
“No.”
“You’re very honest for someone drunk.”
“Do you think anyone’s more honest than me?”
He just stared at me like he had something on his mind.
“You’ve got a question, don’t you?”
“No.”
“Go on, ask.”
“I said no.”
“Why won’t you ask?”
“…I’m not standing here just to ask you questions.”
He smirked a little, like he’d copied my earlier words.
I knew what he wanted to ask anyway.
He probably wondered, ‘Did you really give Rohwinas Canesion a love potion?’
But he didn’t ask.
So I didn’t have to answer.
I was sick of saying “I didn’t.” I’d already said it too many times.
“By the way, aren’t you slacking off?”
“Why should you care?”
He spoke shortly, then added, “That wasn’t to you, Baroness.”
“Then who?”
“The people working here.”
“Normally you’d say ‘colleagues’ or ‘seniors.’ You sound like you’re not even one of them.”
“I don’t want to be grouped with them.”
“Why not?”
“They don’t understand me.”
“Ah, so they don’t get you.”
I had to bite my lip to stop myself from laughing in his face.
Still, I couldn’t hide my smile, and he frowned at me.
“I’m serious.”
He muttered, almost sulking.
“Anyway, you should leave. Being seen with me won’t do you any good.”
“…”
“I could cause trouble for you.”
He meant it kindly, but he looked hurt, as if I were kicking him away.
He glanced at me, his face suddenly cold.
“Am I bothering you?”
“No.”
“Then what’s the problem? Why care about what others think? I don’t.”
I just smiled quietly.
When had I become so timid?
“This is my choice. If anything happens, I’ll take responsibility.”
He stared at me intently.
“Don’t tell me to leave.”
His eyes were surprisingly serious—almost desperate.
“Then come with me.”
“…What?”
“To the terrace.”
I smirked, and his eyes widened, then narrowed again.
He scanned the room, then pointed.
“That one on the far left has the best view. And the sunset’s about to start.”
“Just so you know, I’m not suggesting anything improper.”
“I’m not stupid, Baroness. I know that.”
He raised his brows, then turned away.
“Go ahead first. I’ll bring something to snack on. But no more wine—you’ve already had too much.”
Suddenly I was left alone.
It felt strangely familiar.
“…Just like Julie, nagging me.”
I went into the terrace he pointed out.
I pulled back the curtain and golden sunlight poured in.
The sky was clear and bright—perfect for a sunset.
As I walked closer to the railing, the flower Julie had tucked in my hair was blown away by the wind.
I reached out to catch it.
Then—
Thud.
Someone pushed me from behind.
My body lurched forward.
A chill ran down my spine.
I reached for the railing, but drunk as I was, my hands only grasped air.
At the very least, I had to see who had pushed me—
But before I could, someone pulled me back with force, faster than I was falling.
I crashed against the terrace wall, wrapped in someone’s arms.
I looked up.
Silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, flowing like threads of light.
The man’s face looked as if it had been carved by the gods—so holy I felt guilty for ever suspecting he was the one who pushed me.
Under long silver lashes, clear red eyes gazed down at me.
I steadied myself.
“Are you all right?”
“Are you unharmed?”
We spoke almost at the same time.
I had bumped into him, but he had taken the full impact against his back.
Yet his expression was full of worry for me.
“I’m fine. Almost fell, but you saved me.”
He let out a shaky breath.
“Good… that’s good.”
“And you? Are you hurt?”
“…No, I’m fine.”
But his arms and hands trembled as they still held me.
His embrace felt strangely warm.
“What’s wrong?”
“…”
“Your hands are shaking. Did you get hurt?”
“N-No.”
He suddenly pulled away, pressing himself against the wall, looking unsettled.
“As if even he was shocked by his own reaction.*
“Is your back all right?”
Still doubtful, I asked again.
“Yes, it’s nothing.”
He shook his head, though his fingers twitched as if holding something back.
I nodded anyway.
“Well, I’m glad. Thank you for saving me.”
“Anyone would have done the same, Baroness.”
“Really? As long as they weren’t the ones pushing me.”
At my words, his face flushed with alarm.
I turned and saw someone clinging desperately to the railing.
“That him?”
“Yes.”
The drunk nobleman who had stormed off earlier.
Now he was the one barely hanging on.
“Well, I’ll never forget you. You’ll always be the idiot who tried to push me but fell himself.”
“Y-You’ll pay for this! Everyone will hear you tried to kill me!”
“How? You’re the one hanging off the terrace.”
“Pull me up! Quickly!”
I laughed in disbelief.
But before I could react, another man appeared—tall, with long silver hair.
Only then did I notice his clothes.
A white priest’s robe.
For a moment, I thought he would save the man.
But instead, he grabbed him by the collar and lifted him higher.
“Father! Please, pull me up!”
The priest’s eyes turned cold.
“Is it not God’s will that sinners face punishment for their crimes?”
He glanced at me.
“Watch closely, Baroness. See who delivers judgment.”
“What—?!”
The priest let go.
The man screamed as he fell.
“Ahhh!”
His body landed in the branches of a large elm tree below, hanging limply.
I wasn’t exactly shocked. The terrace wasn’t that high. With luck, he wouldn’t die.
The priest must have noticed the tree and dropped him there on purpose.
The silver-haired priest turned back to me, his red eyes searching mine nervously.
“Forgive me, Baroness. Did I offend you?”
“No. Not at all.”
“….”
“You’re the one who got hurt, not me.”
And honestly, it was surprising to see this holy-looking man act so mercilessly.
“Not really hurt…”
I nodded toward his hand.
A trickle of blood stained it from scraping the railing.
“Oh.”
As he lifted his sleeve, I instinctively grabbed his wrist to stop the blood from smearing his robe.
At once, he flinched violently and shook me off as if burned.
He even stumbled backward.
Strange—he had held me in his arms just moments ago. Why react so strongly now?
I quickly apologized.
“Sorry. That was rude of me.”
“No. I’m the one who should apologize. I just… panicked.”
“I won’t do it again. Don’t worry.”
He froze at my words, like he hadn’t expected them.
He bit his lip, hesitant.
“…I just didn’t want my robe stained. But yes, I’ll seek treatment.”
Yet he still didn’t leave.
Instead, he stepped closer and held out his hand.
“…You may touch me.”
“…What?”
“Earlier, I only pushed you away because I was startled. But you may hold me now, Baroness. As much as you like.”
