Chapter 20
“……”
Luna tilted her head slightly, her winter-hued eyes entangled with his.
It wasn’t the first time she faced him at such a close distance, yet the thought that if she lowered her head just a little their lips might touch made embarrassment slowly creep up her cheeks.
The silence of her client felt like a warm season. Even though the breeze scattered her hair and cooled the heat at the nape of her neck, seeing the man equally ruffled by the wind made her heart thump without her permission.
Luna bit her lower lip, wondering if she had done something wrong. At that, his frosty pupils fixed themselves on her now glistening lips.
“If someone tries to hug you from the front, don’t turn your body. Instead, push your hips back to make space. In that split second, strike a vital point and escape—your success rate will be much higher.”
“Ah. Yes!”
She had been nervous that he might hear the pounding of her heart, but before that could happen, the client rose to his feet first.
Luna followed his advice, standing up rather casually while fixing her clothes.
“And let’s end here for today. I’ll tell you when I’m ready for the next session.”
“Huh?”
Had he noticed her inattentiveness? She had just resolved to do better the second time, but the lesson ended already, leaving her stunned.
“It’s clearly my oversight. Seeing you, I realize it would be better to start with theory step by step.”
“That sounds great!”
Luna answered so cheerfully it was almost obvious.
She didn’t quite understand his intentions, but if he were to hold her in his arms again, she had a feeling she wouldn’t resist—her strength had been ebbing away with strange emotions since earlier.
“Here, please take this. It’s a cake I baked myself.”
“……”
Luna held out a basket of desserts to Khalid. He tapped the basket as though it were some suspicious object.
“The sweetness is almost suffocating.”
“There’s no poison in it, you know?”
“It never hurts to be cautious.”
Oh, really? Was he dismissing the cake she had painstakingly made that morning just like that?
Luna smiled brightly, reaching out her hand.
“Give it back then. If you don’t want it, I’ll eat it myself.”
“Didn’t you give it to me? Then I’ll accept it. Whether I eat it or not, that’s for me to decide.”
Before her fingers could touch the basket, it was lifted easily out of reach.
Luna tilted her head stiffly upward. The man who had been so grave now wore a boyish, gentle smile.
“I’d prefer if you did eat it, you know.”
Her urge to snap at him vanished, and she picked up the coat she had left on the tree stump.
“Understood.”
As she slid her arms into the sleeves, a clear answer reached her ears.
Luna’s lips curved faintly as she pulled her long, rosy hair out from under the coat. The weather today was refreshingly pleasant.
“Luna, come out here. You have a guest,” Baron Alonzo called the next day.
Expecting her client, Luna went to greet him—only to freeze mid-step.
The stranger beside her grandfather didn’t need an introduction. She recognized him instantly.
‘Count Darwin Mond.’
In person, the count was a thin, cold-looking man. His hair was pure white, wrinkles etched deep around his eyes and mouth—a man who looked every bit the elder.
“Good day, Count Mond.”
“This is our first meeting, isn’t it? Yet you recognized me at once? As I’ve heard, you are indeed perceptive.”
The count smiled faintly and bowed.
“Lady, forgive my forwardness, but would you allow me the honor of a late lunch outing?”
“……”
Though his manners were gentlemanly, he carried an air of authority beneath the courtesy.
When Luna didn’t answer, Baron Alonzo gave a soft cough. His expression said he knew she disliked it, but there was no avoiding this.
Luna bit her lip out of habit. A man of his rank surely pressed her grandfather into agreeing—it was hard to resent him for it.
“The count has brought a carriage. It won’t be uncomfortable.”
“All right. I’ll be going, then.”
Even if the carriage ride wasn’t unpleasant, the meal certainly would be. Luna reluctantly nodded. Since things had come this far, she would make sure to reject him clearly.
After preparing quickly, she placed her fingers atop the count’s wrinkled hand, extended for her escort. But immediately, a strange sensation made her frown.
Wasn’t he supposed to be a refined man?
Count Mond, while pretending to support her, had brushed against her waist. Holding her hand was more than enough—he had touched her deliberately.
Luna stiffened and stared at him. He only met her gaze innocently, as though nothing had happened.
Suppressing the unease, she tried to think kindly. It would be over soon—just endure until they reached the carriage.
“Do you prefer meat or seafood?”
As the carriage traveled a while, Count Mond spoke.
“I like meat dishes.”
“So do I. Especially cuts tenderized with a whip.”
“…Because beating it makes it softer, I suppose.”
“Indeed. You’re quite knowledgeable.”
His narrow eyes curved like crescents. Luna ended the hollow exchange and turned her gaze away.
What kind of delicacy requires whipping meat, anyway?
From the first impression until now, everything about the count was distasteful. More than anything, she just wanted to end this and go home.
Determined not to converse further, she looked out the window. Though the chatter ceased, she soon felt his leisurely gaze crawling over her—first her face, then her chest, then lower still, down her thighs to her toes.
Her fine hairs stood on end. His sticky stare made the carriage ride feel unbearably long.
She couldn’t put it into words, but something violent seeped from him, dark and sinister.
Luna straightened her back, trying to shake off the unspoken dread.
“We’re here. Let’s go in. You’ll like it.”
At last, the long-awaited carriage stopped.
Luna braced herself as she took his hand again. This time, he escorted her normally until they were seated inside the restaurant.
She let out a small sigh, thinking she might have been too sensitive. But when she looked around, her doubts only deepened.
The restaurant was dim—so dark it felt suspicious—and resembled more a tavern than a dining hall.
“This place is on the road from the east to the capital. I stumbled on it once—excellent food.”
“…I see.”
Despite his explanation, her unease only grew heavier. Every server, every patron in sight was a burly man.
Worse, the customers all carried swords or hid their faces under deep hoods, like mercenaries.
“Count Mond, will we be able to return immediately after the meal?”
“Of course. I only wished to see you briefly today. Having obtained this rare opportunity, I hope we can enjoy it.”
His eyes smiled, but his lips stayed stiff. She couldn’t trust a word.
Luna pretended to study the menu while scanning the room again. Over the count’s shoulder, she locked eyes with a scarred, brutish man.
She quickly looked away, her complexion darkening. No matter how she tried to excuse it, something was wrong with this place.
“While we wait, I’d like to speak of marriage. If you have no objection, I’d like you to accompany me back to the capital. You would make an excellent mistress of the house.”
“Count, I’d rather not discuss marriage. Thank you for considering me, but I have no intention from the start.”
Her voice was firm as she refused, shaking her head resolutely.
“I did expect you might refuse. In that case, how about this: why not bring Baron Adderet along to the capital as well? Naturally, I’ll pay off your family’s debts in full.”
“May I ask why you go to such lengths? There’s nothing to be gained for you.”
Despite her refusal, he offered another proposal, his arrogant smile betraying the airs of a high noble.
Luna sipped from her water glass, her throat dry. Though debts remained, she could resolve them on her own with continued purification work.
Even if the count didn’t know, there was no reason for him to force a marriage with a penniless baron’s house.
At that moment—
Luna’s hand was suddenly seized. The shock made her lips part in surprise.
She slowly lifted her gaze to the count. In the dim light, his eyes glowed eerily.
“You are coming to me. I have fallen for you.”
“…What?”
