Chapter 10
The woman holding his hand was trembling, her head lowered.
Even if her appearance was unfamiliar, the man holding her was not.
Vinter Rettman.
A name that had been constantly mentioned everywhere along with Sincere Visvaren.
Vinter forced a stiff smile and tried to pull. Sincerely away.
“Captain Adenauer, my apologies. My partner drank too much and caused a scene, haha.”
“Drank too much? She doesn’t look like it.”
Mikhail let out a cold, mocking laugh.
If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable.
There was no smell of alcohol coming from the woman at all.
If she could get drunk without even drinking, that would be a talent worth learning.
He stepped forward.
His tall figure and sharp expression created an intimidating presence—like someone who had been handling guns until just a few months ago.
“I’m not in the mood to play along, so let go of her and leave, Vinter Rettman. It won’t do you any good to cause trouble here.”
“W-what did you say?”
“If a scene breaks out, who do you think will be more embarrassed? Didn’t you just say, ‘If you want to become someone no one would even take for free, go ahead’? I didn’t expect you to understand your own situation so well.”
Vinter’s face instantly turned red with humiliation as his own words were thrown back at him.
He stepped back, muttering excuses, but they sounded no better than the squeaking of a cornered rat.
For someone supposedly a nobleman’s son, he’s quite something.
Mikhail sneered and helped the woman into the cabin.
Unlike the other cabins nearby, this one was a resting room anyone at the party could use.
He hadn’t expected to walk in and witness something like this.
Mikhail seated the woman on the sofa.
Even then, she couldn’t lift her head.
Her hands, tightly clasped over her dress, were pale and trembling—proof that she was still conscious.
Mikhail sat across from her and lit a cigarette.
By the time one cigarette had burned down, she finally steadied her breathing and spoke.
“Th-thank you… for helping me.”
“No need to thank me. You should thank your luck instead.”
Mikhail had simply happened to be there.
Yes—just a coincidence.
Twice.
***
As he watched her regain color, Mikhail realized something.
Her face looked familiar.
And then he recognized it—
It was the same face he had once thought was too good to belong to a servant girl.
What an absurd coincidence.
The country girl who couldn’t even cross a street without trembling—
was the same sincere Visvaren, rumored to be cold and proud.
After calming herself, Sincere was now pretending to be composed.
If her face hadn’t still been pale, she might have convinced anyone that nothing had happened.
Her lowered gaze cast shadows from her eyelashes onto her cheeks—
like tear stains that could never be wiped away.
Everything people said about Sincere Visvaren was wrong.
She wasn’t involved with Vinter Rettman.
She wasn’t stiff or arrogant either.
Once the fog of rumors cleared—
What remained was a fragile, pure woman.
Still…
One thing was true.
As rumored—
Sincere Visvaren was beautiful.
***
Mikhail put away his cigarette case and lighter.
“You’ve already experienced it, so I suggest you don’t attend these kinds of parties again. Before accepting invitations, you should check the other person’s reputation. If you ask your grandmother, she’ll likely be able to tell you.”
“You know my grandmother?”
“It’s hard not to know the Visvaren matriarch in Fritz society. Isn’t that right, Miss Sincere Visvaren?”
At those words, her expression froze.
She clearly hadn’t expected him to recognize her.
A naive thought.
That’s probably why she came all the way to Fritz, secretly looking for another marriage partner while holding onto a proposal.
“H-how do you know that name…?”
“It’s already widely known throughout Fritz. I didn’t expect to hear the name of the woman I proposed to through rumors first.”
And yet—
She was out here looking for another man.
***
Now that he saw her in person, everything became clear.
The Visvaren family must have wanted to “test” her value.
Whether they didn’t like Adenauer or simply wanted a better deal—
They intended to weigh their options and sell her at the highest price.
And this situation proved it.
Even if she had no real relationship with Vinter—
She didn’t come all the way to a ship party just for sightseeing.
***
As expected, Sincere seemed conflicted—
then made up her mind and spoke.
“Captain Adenauer, I also have something I want to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you propose to the daughter of Visvaren?”
Her hands, resting neatly on her lap, clenched slightly.
“You could have chosen a better woman. Isn’t the Visvaren daughter… a disappointing match for you?”
“So that’s your question.”
I’ve heard this several times already.
Now she’s even trying to measure her own worth.
Mikhail let out an annoyed laugh.
For someone bold enough to follow a man to a ship party without knowing anything—
There’s no reason not to answer.
“I’m the one at a loss without you, Miss Visvaren.”
“…What?”
Her face flushed red instantly.
Naturally, he had pointed out Visvaren’s weak position.
“In case you didn’t know, it’s not wise to keep someone waiting when you’re in a weaker position, Miss Visvaren.”
At that, Sincere stood up angrily.
“How rude, Captain Adenauer. I didn’t expect an officer of the Bitenholtz Empire to be such a shameless and disrespectful man. I’ll be leaving now. Thank you for today.”
“Where will you go? To Vinter Rettman’s room?”
“Captain—!”
Her eyes reddened again.
She looked hurt—
as if she couldn’t believe the man who saved her would say something so insulting.
Only then did Mikhail chuckle and stand up.
“I meant, do you still have a way to get back? Usually people come in their partner’s car.”
Only then did Sincere stop glaring.
Her expression revealed everything—
fear, embarrassment.
She had clearly come with Vinter Rettman.
“If you don’t borrow a carriage from this rude and shameless man, you’ll have a hard time getting back to Fritz, won’t you?”
Mikhail smiled faintly and extended his hand.
His white-gloved hand—
still something she could hold onto for support.
Whether she wanted to or not.
“I’ll take you back safely.”
