Chapter 43

“It’s an ordinary residential area.”

“It doesn’t sound so ordinary if it’s a neighborhood where you have to be on the lookout for riding a carriage.”

Liv chose not to refute. It was obvious that the slums and the neighborhood where Liv lived in would not look any different in the eyes of the Marquis. Even if she claimed that it was different, it would only look like she was standing on her pride.

Rubbing his chin with his hand, the Marquis looked up from his musings.

“Do you want me to escort you?”

“… What?”

Liv asked back without realizing it. The Marquis subtly twisted his lips when he saw she opened her eyes wide as if she had heard something unbelievable.

“Why? Do I look like I don’t know the word escort?”

“It’s not that.”

He actually looked so. Escort. She never thought the Marquis had such an elegant and polite word in his head.

Well, it would be a little strange for him to be ignorant of manners. Wasn’t he the great Marquis Demus Dietrion? He didn’t need to show his manners, but it didn’t mean he was ignorant of it.

But why are we talking about escorts here?

Oh, he asked if I was robbed. Did he bring that up because he thought my way home was dangerous?

But why does that lead to escorts?

Liv’s complexion changed from moment to moment, following her complex thoughts. Liv froze, unaware that the Marquis was watching her with intrigue, and it wasn’t until a moment later that she realized he was looking at her.

The Marquis was waiting for an answer.

Liv said cautiously, trying to suppress her confusion.

“I’m grateful for your offer, but it won’t fundamentally solve my problem, so no.”

“Are you asking for a fundamental solution?”

There was a hint of laughter in the Marquis’s voice as he asked back. Liv became more perplexed and shook her hands.

“I’m not asking for something, but—”

“Do it.”

Interrupting Liv, the Marquis said in a lucid voice.

“Ask for it, Teacher.”

It was a cold, dry order, as if the brief laughter had been an illusion.

Yes, order.

It was indeed a strange order. An order to ask for a favor from him.

“Why would I ask for a favor from you, my Lord?”

“There’s no reason not to either, no?”

Liv still looked at the Marquis with a confused expression.

“If I had to find a reason…”

The Marquis, who had been staring intently at Liv as he dragged his words, dropped his cigar into the ashtray. The half-burned cigar was dying down.

“I’m curious. How far will the person who is still upright even if she’s stark-naked cling if she crosses her own line.”

His answer was more insulting than expected, so it was difficult for her to understand it at once.

Liv, who had been mulling over the Marquis’ words several times with a blank face, blushed belatedly. Her face contorted, the emotion she couldn’t hide smeared like paint.

“If you don’t like me—!”

“I don’t know why you think I don’t like you.”

Despite Liv’s attempt to raise her voice, the Marquis’ blue eyes shone as he clicked his tongue nonchalantly.

“Isn’t it more convincing to understand that I’m interested in you?”

Liv opened her mouth, forgetting that she was getting angry. The Marquis’ way of thinking was beyond her daring to follow.

Liv, who was gaping, gritted her teeth and swallowed a sigh.

The Marquis could have been right. Wasn’t he a man with a hobby of watching someone sitting naked for hours? Adding another habit of casually insulting the person he watched would be nothing. There were even people scattered all over the world who would be very thankful with his insults.

That man was Demus Dietrion. The man whose gaze everyone in Buerno wanted to catch a glimpse of. A man who could have such arrogant and heartless speech as a right.

“I will take it as you’re interested in me, but I’m not sure if it’s good for me.”

Liv conveyed in a euphemistic tone that she was not happy with his interest. Fortunately, the Marquis wasn’t a fool, so he seemed to understand what she said quickly.

“Life is something one cannot know for sure.”

The Marquis, who replied indifferently, averted his gaze from Liv.

“You are more difficult than I expected.”

There was a hint of irritation on the Marquis’s face as he muttered that.

“I thought you were only stiff, but you are also slow.”

“I’m…”

“Let’s call it a day.”

It was earlier than usual, but the Marquis raised himself without hesitating. Liv, bewildered, also rose from her seat, but the Marquis left the room first without looking back at her.

Liv, who was left alone, belatedly realized that she had offended the Marquis too much. A wave of worry and regret washed over her.

But there was nothing she could do.

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