Chapter : 43
Hiiing.
With the sound of a horse’s whinny, the carriage came to a complete stop.
Because of the darkness surrounding us, the banquet hall of the royal castle, with its lights on, appeared even brighter and more splendid.
The mingled sounds of people’s laughter and greetings, along with flowing melodies, filled the air.
The duke glanced around briefly before stepping out, as a servant of the royal castle opened the carriage door for him.
“Patricia, it seems the Marquis hasn’t arrived yet. Morgan, stay with her until she meets the Marquis.”
“…Yes. Understood.”
Morgan seemed reluctant at first but soon nodded.
The duke stepped out of the carriage first and extended his hand to me.
Holding his hand, I got down from the carriage, feeling the small murmurs and curious gazes of those around us.
“Patricia, I’ll go in first. Have a good time with the Marquis today.”
The duke noticed the gazes of the people and smiled even more brightly than usual.
I gave a light nod.
He patted my shoulder lightly one last time and then entered the banquet hall.
“Come here.”
Morgan spoke coolly.
“What kind of partner hangs around like this? Seems the Marquis isn’t all that interested in you either, huh?”
It had been a while since I had heard such teasing, so I quietly stared at him, and he furrowed his brows in frustration.
“Ahem. What’s with this because of you? It’s cold out.”
Morgan, apparently unwilling to argue any further, turned his head first.
After a while, the carriage that Milum and Barber had ridden in stopped, and they glanced at Morgan and me briefly before entering the banquet hall.
And still, some time passed.
Morgan spoke again.
“You’re really going to wait to meet the Marquis before going in?”
His words carried an irritated mockery, but I didn’t answer.
No, I couldn’t.
Even though I had a shawl over me, the chilly late-autumn night air made me shiver.
After waiting about five more minutes, Morgan complained again.
“Hey. What’s with this because of you? We’ve been waiting twenty minutes already.”
“You can go in now.”
“What?”
“I’ll wait alone, so you go in.”
“Huh?”
Morgan let out a small incredulous laugh and looked me over up and down.
“You said so. Fine then.”
He left as if he had no regrets.
“Ugh… it’s cold.”
I had been trying to endure the cold to avoid looking ridiculous in front of Morgan, but only after he left did I carefully brush my now-cold arms, losing the little warmth I had.
My hands were already cold, so it wasn’t much warmer.
“When is he coming?”
I sighed at the uncertainty.
Waiting twenty minutes wouldn’t normally be a problem, but today wasn’t a good day.
I had to endure both the cold and people’s curious stares.
As I subtly shifted my feet under my dress to stay warm, the carriage of the Gerhardt family arrived.
For a moment, my eyes met Lawrence’s inside the carriage.
His jet-black hair swept back to reveal a smooth forehead and thick, defined eyebrows.
For a man, unusually long eyelashes framed partially hidden eyelids, and bright red eyes peeked through.
Lawrence Gerhardt looked around as he slowly descended from the carriage.
Broad shoulders and long limbs.
When he turned his head, his high nose and sharp jawline came into view.
Pale skin, lips as red as his eyes.
Dressed in formal evening attire, Lawrence Gerhardt looked different from usual.
Amazingly, even more handsome than usual.
Strangely, colder than usual.
Clomp, clomp.
Lawrence approached without hesitation and looked down at me.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“…Yes.”
His eyebrows twitched slightly at my answer.
“Sorry, it’s cold out.”
He spoke a short apology and then turned his head.
“Let’s go in.”
Lawrence, wearing leather gloves, extended his hand toward me.
Though I didn’t know him well, he looked different from usual for some reason.
After hesitating for a moment, I took his hand, and he completely averted his gaze from me.
“Marquis.”
“…Yes?”
“Are you upset?”
Finally, his gaze met mine again.
Even if only for a brief instant.
“No.”
I couldn’t find the right words to respond to his brief denial, so I fell silent.
“Lady Patricia Heraille, please enter with Marquis Lawrence Gerhardt!”
The usher announced, and as we stepped into the banquet hall, I felt many eyes on us.
Passing through the murmuring crowd, Lawrence guided me inside and approached Duke Heraille to greet him.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries and the Duke’s trivial jokes, their greeting was over.
Lawrence then exchanged greetings with the others who had gathered around us and started a short conversation with them.
“If you send me an invitation, I’ll drop by sometime.”
“Oh, if the lady says so, I’ll make sure to arrange a visit soon.”
I responded politely to the young lady speaking to me, but Lawrence still occupied my thoughts.
He had his arm linked with mine as he escorted me, yet he was keeping a distance from me.
From the very first time we met.
It felt even farther than the day he had gotten so angry.
Why?
I glanced at him.
No trace of a smile, cold eyes.
It was clear he was in a bad mood today.
Whether it was because of me, I couldn’t tell.
Had I made him angry that day?
Perhaps Lawrence still remembered our quarrel from that day.
“Um, Marquis…”
His eyebrow raised slightly, as if asking why.
“Just a moment.”
I nodded toward the terrace, and he complied.
With the curtains drawn, the laughter and music from the banquet hall were slightly muted.
“What’s this?”
“Are you… upset with me?”
Lawrence frowned slightly.
“…No.”
Anyone could tell he was reacting as if something was wrong with me.
“I think I was a bit too sensitive at the military drill. I’m sorry if it upset you.”
Lawrence took a half-step back.
“You were upset because of me.”
“……”
“…Right?”
He abruptly turned his head.
With a small sigh, he looked tired.
I had assumed he would have held onto that day in his heart.
I should have at least sent a brief apology by letter.
I assumed he felt the same way I did.
“I wasn’t right either, so don’t worry about it.”
Lawrence sighed again.
Even as he said this, his lips twitched as if he wanted to say more.
Slightly drooping corners of his mouth, eyes looking down weakly.
If he were truly angry, it might be easier to deal with.
Seeing Lawrence so exhausted made me uneasy.
After all.
He had accompanied me as my partner today out of consideration.
To help me avoid getting scolded by Duke Heraille, he had acted thoughtfully.
Looking back, he had helped me a lot.
If Lawrence were someone who used violence when angry, I would have been beaten by now.
The Lawrence I knew wouldn’t resort to violence easily, no matter how angry, and that would have been true with Carlos too.
“I should have apologized sooner. I’m sorry.”
“I told you, don’t worry about it.”
If he had been angry, there must have been a reason.
“If you’ve said everything you wanted to…”
Lawrence began to walk away, signaling it was time to end.
“Marquis, are you really okay?”
“……”
“It’s been a while since we met. Really a while…”
No matter what, Lawrence Gerhardt was someone I was grateful for.
I glanced at him and then lowered my head.
If I let him leave like this, I felt we would drift apart forever.
Although we weren’t in a position to become close, I didn’t want to grow distant like this.
“That day, I think I was more sensitive because I felt bad about Carlos…”
“……”
“I don’t want to fight and grow distant from you, Marquis.”
Here, he had been the first person I could rely on.
In a strange place.
Among strangers.
Among family who disliked me, he had been there for me.
Eventually.
He would be someone I might drift apart from, but I didn’t want it to end like this with flushed faces.
“I’d like you to tell me why you were angry…”
Thud.
Lawrence took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.
The scent reminded me of a dense forest in early winter.
I looked up at him in surprise, and he sighed before speaking.
“I don’t know either.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know exactly why I’m angry.”
Again.
That was a look I had seen before.
A face that seemed abandoned.
“What do you mean…”
“Is it because you changed and no longer like me?”
He furrowed his brow as if he didn’t understand why he was asking, then sighed softly.
“I’m bothered by the fact that you suddenly changed.”
“Excuse me?”
“You said it’s fine since you handled things with Duke Heraille well, but I don’t know if that’s true. I worry that you’re lying because my help feels burdensome.”
Lawrence rubbed his forehead, frustrated.
