CH 12

Chapter 12 – Lawrence Littenverk (2)

Translator: Lioness

“What?”

“I do not want to, why would I?”

He closed his eyes, trying to hide his bewilderment, then opened them. Even after calming himself, nothing changed as Alice certainly had the attitude of being uncooperative with him. It was no use telling her that what was in her possession could result in blood.

At this point, even if he didn’t want to know, he couldn’t help but know.

That Alice Hamilton wants something from him. It might not have been a coincidence that she had the Diamond of the Abyss in her hands. Unable to shake the feeling that she had stepped into her well-laid plans, Lawrence looked at Alice suspiciously, however, he couldn’t figure out anything.

‘I don’t think she was cheating.’

As he told her the details of the Diamond, she admitted that she had no knowledge of it. Thus, if she was indeed an acquaintance, she wouldn’t have looked at him innocently. It would be his fault if she pretended she did not know, or if he did not find any fault in her performance.

The crime of being a duke of another empire while being played by a noble lady from another empire. The sin of looking at the wrong person even though he was sitting in a high position.

‘Thinking about it again, I didn’t know.’

Nonetheless, since she did not steal the item unlike what Karus did, he could compromise. But it was evident that he created this stage to get something from him and not the diamond.

“Be honest with me. What do you want?”

He asked her plainly, tired of wasting more time. Thereby, her expression changed in instant since she indeed wanted something from him. But originally, she wanted to act slower but since he initiated, she had no choice but to spill it out. Just as he expected. She opened her mouth with a determined look plastered on her face.

“His Excellency, the Marquis of Hamilton has arrived.”

Lawrence frowned mercilessly at the words of Plein, his aide, who announced the return of the Marquis outside. With that angry look on his face, Alice quietly shut her mouth. She looked at Lawrence because she wanted to refuse the spark after opening her mouth for no reason.

Then, when the door to the living room opened, Lawrence’s face instantly changed to a mild expression. Alice’s shoulders twitched at the silent change. In her merchant’s life, she had invited many strange people into her home, but Lawrence Littenverk was the best of them all.

‘He’s not an easy kid either.’

Looking closely, it seemed that there were no normal people in this novel. Alice thought again about whether the choice she had made was the right one. Would it be right for her to ask Lawrence to take her to her other empire?

Lawrence’s aristocratic appearance flowed from his side as he calmly exchanged greetings with Marquis Hamilton and explained the purpose of his visit while she thought of her own. The Marquis couldn’t help but praise his gentleness throughout the conversation.

“You are truly aristocratic.”

“That’s too much praise.”

“No. It is an honor just to see someone who is said to have the blue blood of an aristocrat.”

‘As if he was not a merchant.’

Alice pouted her lips at the words of Marquis Hamilton, who complimented Lawrence smoothly as if his tongue was greased. It was a secret action so that the Marquis could not witness her, but Lawrence, who averted his gaze, met her eyes, and saw it. The sharpness of the man she just experienced was washed away with his noble-like and elegant appearance.

‘Eww.’

Alis stroked her arm, feeling his coldness passing over her arm. Lawrence lifted his chin at her as if he had seen her. Like if you want to do it, do it.

‘Do you think I can’t do it?’

Previously, the original story was not finished, and her character could not be revealed, but now the situation was different. The Marquis of Hamilton, noticing the sharp change in her eyes, called her urgently.

“Alice.”

Her head turned to make a whooping sound. The Marquis she met was smiling with a happy face.

‘I made a mistake.’

She was caught watching Lawrence closely by the Marquis of Hamilton. Her knowing gaze radiated from Marquis Hamilton’s face as he smiled at her. Unlike when she said rude words to the Crown Princess, Alice broke into a cold sweat when she saw his eyes as if praising her to have such a good friend like him. She smiled.

“There are days like this in life. You’re familiar with the Duke of Littenverk.”

“I don’t really know him—”

“I asked Miss Alice to be her escort for the third banquet.”

Alice looked at Lawrence, who cut her words and opened his mouth, with a puzzled expression. She wanted to slap those lips that casually spit out his lies, but she couldn’t get her fist in front of the Marquis Hamilton.

“Did you say escort?”

“Yes.”

When the astonished Marquis asked back, Lawrence gave him the definite answer. Alice didn’t know what to do at the expression that seemed to double in an instant. Irrespective of her fidgety attitude, the marquis smiled broadly at Lawrence.

“Then I will only trust you, Your Excellency.”

“Thank you for entrusting me the Young Lady.”

Alice hurriedly opened her mouth to Marquis Hamilton, who stood up after a casual greeting.

“I-I haven’t finished dressing up yet, so I too—”

“Oho! A guest has come, but what are you trying to do? Dressing up is something you can do later.”

The Marquis’s eyes were fierce as he spoke in a gentle voice. Alice averted her gaze as he warned her that he would not leave her alone if she strayed. She had brought him here, but the Marquis preferred him.

The Marquis’s steps were light as he left the room. Alice who had been staring at the Marquis’s back as he walked away, swaying and humming, tried to catch up with him, but Lawrence’s piercing glare deterred her.

‘Ugh, really.’

As soon as the Marquis opened the living door and left, Lawrence’s expression disappeared.

“Ms. Alice.”

“Yes? Ah yes.”

Alice’s expression became serious at the nuance that seemed to continue her story. She couldn’t tell Lawrence her reasons, but she too was eager to leave the empire.

“What do you want?”

“Please take me out of here.”

“Would you like to leave?”

“Please take me to the Nakran Empire!”

Alice, who closed her eyes tightly, spat out her words. After spitting out that one sentence, she felt so relieved. Alice, who had become her most refreshed expression, stared at Lawrence.

At her words, Lawrence stiffened. He couldn’t hide his absurdity, his expressionless face did not show it on the outside, but on the inside, he was greatly embarrassed.

‘I want you to take me to the empire.’

Who would believe that a Young Lady from an aristocratic family like her, from the Erha Empire, want to leave and settle down in the Nakran Empire? The Hamilton family is a family that could do anything they want in the Erha Empire.

As long as she didn’t lust for power, she could live comfortably. The crown prince who will inherit the throne of the Erha Empire is a mild-mannered man, much to the satisfaction of the Nakran Empire.

‘You’re trying to leave a place like that?’

Lawrence couldn’t believe it either. Maybe she’d come to the Nakran Empire to do something, to settle down.

‘Why does she dare to break away from a wealthy marquis family?’

Marquis Hamilton was a person with skills that the Nakran Empire as well as the Erha Empire envied. Does the Marquis know that the sole heir of his family wants to escape from the family? Lawrence asked Alice, tapping the table in the seat with his index finger.

“You want me to take you? To the Nakran Empire?”

“The Nakran Empire.”

“My empire?”

“That’s right.”

There was no sign of fear in Alice as she nodded her determined expression. She wasn’t the one who had been startled and taken aback by his changed expression a moment ago. Desperation was evident, like a person who risked everything to get what he wanted.

‘Desperate?’

Lawrence couldn’t figure out why Alice was acting so nervous. Feeling like she was going to hang on for dear life, Lawrence slid his hand down to rest on the table. If he thought he saw a wistful glance, he was probably mistaken.

“I have to leave this Erha Empire and go to the Nakran Empire.”

“What are you going to do in the Nakran Empire?”

He was curious. What would the only daughter of the wealthy Hamilton Marquis want to do when she came to where he lived? Lawrence slowly took a look at Alice’s face, lost in thought without answering.

‘Black hair and red eyes. Red… Wait, red eyes?’

The eyes were the same color as the princess he was looking for. The red eyes, the symbol of the Nakran family, were a color that was not commonly seen. Red eyes that few people can see even in the Erha Empire. So, there was a woman like this. It was like destroying the features of the princess he was looking for.

Lastly, if she even has a necklace that the crown prince gave her, she was undoubtedly the princess of the Nakran Empire. It was when Lawrence, who had been looking at Alice with shaky eyes, opened her mouth. After finishing her thoughts, Alice’s lips opened.

“I am not going to do anything, though?”

“As expected, the Marquis of Hamilton… what?”

“I’m not going to do anything.”