Chapter 3.1

“Oh, Miss Rhodes, what should I do? I don’t think I’ll be able to drink tea today because an honorable person suddenly came to visit.”

“That’s all right, ma’am. I am grateful for your offer alone.”

“I’ll give you what we’re supposed to eat as a gift instead. Take it if you don’t mind.”

The baroness beckoned to the maid quickly. The baroness, who confirmed that the maid who had been instructed was rushing to the kitchen, turned to Liv.

“I’m sorry, but I’ll go ahead. I think I need to get dressed up. The maid will be back soon if you wait a bit. Marie, see Miss Rhodes out when she leaves.”

The middle-aged woman who whispered the news to the baroness nodded, saying she understood. The baroness apologized repeatedly and then hurried upstairs.

Who in the world is visiting for her to be in such a hurry like that?

Following Marie’s guidance, Liv, sitting on the drawing room sofa, glanced at the window. There was nothing in particular visible through the drawing room window.

Looking at how the baroness was in great haste, it probably would be a high-class aristocrat. A personage that could surprise Baroness Vendons…

Liv, who had been thinking of various names in her mind, suddenly looked up. It hadn’t been more than a few minutes after the maid headed to the kitchen, but she saw Marie glancing at the clock continuously as if she was restless about something. She carefully asked Liv for her understanding as if it was hard to wait.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I’m thinking of going to the kitchen because the maid’s taking too long, so could you please wait a moment?”

“Yes, it’s fine. I will stay here.”

She didn’t know what was going on, but she knew for sure that it was a guest who could make everyone in this mansion restless. Liv, who was staring at Marie who cluched her skirt and rushed out, put her hands neatly on her knees.

What she’s going to give as a gift must be a snack, right?

She could bring delicious snacks to Coryda after a long time. She had always been worried about Coryda at home while eating refreshments served during her class.

She was happy to think of her younger sister who would be happy, but then she heard a bustle outside the drawing room.

Marie must be back. Liv picked up the bonnet that she had put down for a while and raised herself. At the same time, the drawing room door opened and someone appeared.

“Oh…”

The one who stopped from trying to come inside wasn’t Marie. Liv opened her eyes wide at the appearance of another unexpected person.

He was a tall, good-looking man. Having platinum hair, pale skin, and cool eyes, he found Liv and frowned slightly.

His eyes scanned slowly through the drawing room. After doing that, his eyes reached Liv again. The lips, which were tightly closed in a straight line, showed no signs of opening first, and the slightly raised chin showed that he was used to waiting for the opponent’s greeting.

“Erm…”

She had to react, but her lips could hardly open. This was because her head turned blank when she tried to make eye contact.

To put it bluntly, he was a man who was beautiful enough to leave her speechless.

“Miss— Oh, my God! My Lord Marquis!”

Marie, who appeared belatedly, bowed down in surprise. At her shout, Liv also came to her senses as if she had woken up from magic.

Marquis?

“Marquis Dietrion?”

The remark she blurted out rang louder than she thought. As a result, the lines between the man’s eyebrows became a little deeper.

Liv, who covered her mouth with an embarrassed expression, quickly bent her knees to greet him.

“I committed a gaffe for not recognizing you. Forgive me, my Lord.”

“I’m so sorry, Lord Dietrion. The guide made a mistake. I’ll guide you back.”

Marie constantly shook her head and sweated. The Marquis did not look at Marie. Instead, he glanced at Liv and asked a question, tilting his head slightly.

“And you are?”

“… My name is Liv Rhodes, a home tutor at the Vendons barony. I’m about to go back now that class is over—”

Liv, who was trying to explain the situation calmly, stopped talking at the marquis’ hand gesture. The Marquis turned to Marie as if he was no longer interested.

Marie, who was observing him out of surprise as she was worried if she had offended him, noticed it and quickly took the lead.

“This way please, my Lord.”

The Marquis moved his steps, following Marie’s guidance. It wasn’t until the regular, heavy sound of steps gradually grew further away and finally couldn’t be heard that Liv managed to exhale a long breath.

Holding her chest tightly, she sat on the sofa as if she were collapsing. Oh, my God, it was the Marquis of Dietrion? It made sense that the baroness was appalled and fussy.

Demus Dietrion was a famous figure in the city. First of all, his unrealistic appearance alone provided people with endless stories for a week and a month. Liv also often encountered the shocking beauty of the Marquis of Dietrion, even only through hearsay.

But she thought it was exaggerated because it was a description coming from people’s mouths…