Chapter 144

It took another hour of one-sided exchanges before Millian and Coryda finally calmed down.

Then, Liv realized that Millian, who had heard the news that spread overnight from the maids, had fled her home without asking her parents for permission.

It was irresponsible of Millian to go out recklessly, but what were the maids thinking, not stopping her?

After delivering a letter to the Vendons barony through the maids, Liv decided to find out the details of the circulating news outside.

“So, the only facts that are mentioned with certainty are eyewitness accounts from the pharmacy and the boutique.”

This made sense, as no one would have known about Liv’s way of contact with the Marquis.

The only objectively verified truth was that the Marquis had visited the pharmacy and boutique with Liv. Everything else was speculation and imagination, not fact.

This was likely within the grasp she could handle. Even if she couldn’t expose the other things, there was one fact she could reveal.

“I told you before that I owe the Marquis, right? Actually, he’s been supporting Coryda’s treatment.”

Coryda interjected, her eyes widened at Liv’s words.

“Liv! You never told me that the one who’s been helping us is Marquis Dietrion!”

“He’s not someone I can easily expose.”

Liv’s excuse was simple, but it also sounded like something anyone could easily believe.

“That is also the reason I went to Hyslop. The Marquis has graciously arranged for us to purchase the new medicine.”

It was a good thing that the first place the Marquis had taken Liv to was Hyslop. She happened to have had a quarrel with the doorkeeper of Hyslop, allowing her to easily make up the next excuse.

“And about the boutique… Actually, there was no plan to visit the boutique. Hyslop treated me brusquely because of my outfit, and the Marquis saw it and took pity on me.”

She didn’t like bringing up the issue of receiving bad treatment at Hyslop to the young girls, but she felt it was better than feeding up their absurd fantasies.

“I can guess what kind of words are spreading out there, but it’s not true. Sometimes high-profile people make anonymous donations privately, and we were lucky enough to be chosen.”

Her excuse was more plausible and realistic than a vague love story. Millian seemed to have lost some of her enthusiasm as though she also found the explanation reasonable. Liv felt inwardly relieved by her response and continued smoothly.

“So, Millian, if this topic comes up when you’re with your friends, can you please correct them?”

Liv clearly remembered how the Marquis’ visit at Millian’s birthday party had caused a commotion. It was obvious that those young aristocratic girls would become agitated and start probing into it. Since Liv was Millian’s tutor, they would certainly direct their questions to Millian.

The decision to use Millian to set the rumor straight was somewhat off, but it was a far more effective way to get Millian talking than if Liv did it herself. At least this way, no one would treat Millian badly.

Of course, this excuse wouldn’t last long. If the Marquis were to act bolder, disregarding public scrutiny, whatever their relationship might be, everything would fall into a ridiculous excuse.

Nonetheless, there was no way to explain her encounters with the Marquis except to make it up like this. Whatever the rumored relationship between them might develop into later, it was better to start with the notion of sponsorship.

“I didn’t know that the Marquis was interested in being a sponsor.”

“Yeah, I was surprised to find out about this too.”

Millian, her lips pouting, looked back at Coryda.

“If you didn’t know about the Marquis at all, does that mean you’ve never met him?”

“Mhm, I always come for therapy…”

Coryda nodded with an embarrassed look on her face, then suddenly looked up.

“By the way, Liv, what made you stay over yesterday? I… thought it was because of your new love.”

“Well, that’s…”

Liv paused at the unexpected question. Just as she was about to struggle to respond, Coryda clapped her hands and spoke as if she had unraveled the mystery.

“Oh, you were at the Ven—”

Liv realized that she had previously used the excuse of being with “Baroness Vendons” to explain her late arrivals to Coryda after confirming her additional work. It was the excuse she always fell back on when coming home late.

Conscious of Millian’s round-eyed glances shifting between her and Coryda, Liv hurriedly interjected, stumbling over her words.

“Um, but how did you two get close? Didn’t you just meet today?”

As she intentionally raised her voice inquisitively, the attention of the two girls swiftly shifted. It was Millian who took the initiative to answer Liv’s question.

“Oh, I came to meet you, Teacher, but because you weren’t here, I waited for a while. While waiting, we started chatting and getting to know each other!”

It seemed that the naturally cheerful Millian and the sociable Coryda had no trouble getting along.