Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Unlike his title of being the ‘Head of a family’, courtesy was also found in the manner of conduct, gestures, and habits of conversation. If the people around him resembled mynah birds with artificial feathers, he was like a real peacock.

It felt as if he was lonely. Hence, many women felt sorry for him.

It was only natural for the other men to be envious of him because of his enormous power, background, and attractive appearance and personality. But somehow, all that attention was now being drawn to Barrett, a man who was driveling beside her.

“Miss Laurentia, you are looking very beautiful today. I think you weren’t feeling very well the last time we met. But, are you in good health today?”

‘It was because of you, you bastard! So, please shut up!’

Afraid of her words slipping out of her mouth, she forced a smile.

“Sure enough.”

She answered without even giving him a second glance. Of course, she didn’t have any rude manners. In a world like this, it was a courtesy to make sure that even rejection did not offend anyone.

If they failed to fulfill it, they would have to face consequences in an aristocratic society like this. Furthermore, Barrett was a popular noble, who is one of the most powerful men in the Empire. And countless people were eavesdropping on the conversation between him and her.

But that didn’t mean she would have to speak great words to him. She just wanted to say something or else she would have sworn at him.

“Haha…..but I don’t think you look very well today, Miss Laurentia.”

“Thanks to someone.”

As she replied in a cold voice, Barrett shut his mouth.

‘Even if you wear a mask of a generous man, it wouldn’t change the bitter fact that you’ll soon turn to be a traitor.’

“Miss…”

“If the Marquis doesn’t have anything else to say, I’ll get up first.”

Afraid of Barrett following her, she hurried into a crowd. She didn’t want to be in the same place as him.

She didn’t really like to attend banquets. She was tired of delivering false smiles towards the aristocrats with whom she had made deals and contracts. It felt like she was working at an event she was supposed to enjoy.

However, this banquet held by Grand Duke Veridian, where she just shook off the Marquis of Acpencia off her shoulders, was the place where they had officially declared their relationship.

It was only four days ago when Barrett was invited to their mansion, so it was natural for the rumors of a marriage between the Aztane and the Acpencia families to bloom with full glory.

And the creator of that rumor must have been Barrett. Thanks to him, she could take the precautionary measures to end this relationship before he could even implement his plan.

‘Did he think I can’t hold a grudge against him when I was blinded by him in the past? No man can refuse me if I ask them.’

She thought as she saw men glancing at her as she passed by them.

“But none of them seem very helpful.”

Four days after she returned to the past, which is today, Barrett was constantly attached to her, contrary to what she had expected. His obsession and greed were all directed at her. The property of the Aztane family, to be exact.

He was a greedy person. Perhaps if he had absorbed all the wealth of her family, he would have emerged as a peacock. But, he actually did it using her sister as the pawn.

But now that there was still time, there was an opportunity. She would be able to escape his game, protect her family, and even herself.

But she needed the strength. Power from a contract that would help her to advance in her life without the fear of facing any threats from the Acpencia family.

But it would be hard for her to find someone in this country who would be brave enough to stand against the Acpencia family.

‘Expect the Veridian, Safeldric, and the Imperial families.’

The current Crown Prince was an ally of Barrett.

The Duke of Safeldric had four daughters.

Finally, Ian, the Grand Duke of Veridian.

“……How can I persuade someone like him?”

‘He isn’t someone who can be convinced, even by the most beautiful girl on the Continent.’

However, dissipation might be quite helpful. Supporting his funds would be like a shield for him.

But even if a group of people supported the Veridian family with their funds, they wouldn’t be able to meet their unimaginable annual budget.

So it was impossible to make a contract with money.

But the Veridian family was her only hope….

Considering the fact that the other candidates on her list were either very old or very young than her.

Eventually, she sighed while strolling in the garden.

“There you are! Miss Laurentia!”

She heard a familiar voice calling her name that seemed as if he was breathing heavily. But there was not a single drop of sweat on his face.

‘Hah, your immature acting wouldn’t work on me. I’m experienced enough to distinguish people.’

She turned around looking at him with a pathetic look in her eyes. Clearly, she wanted to get away from him as soon as she could.

But he was a more tenacious man than she thought.

“Please wait, Miss!”

Barrett screamed so loudly that it confirmed that he wasn’t breathless at all.

Dash. She ran up the stony pavement, completely ignoring him. But, Barrett soon caught up to her, roughly pulling her wrist.

“I told you to stop!”

“Kyaa!”

‘It hurts! Who in the hell is he to grab my wrist like that?’

She looked down her throbbing wrist and then looked up at him, her eyes giving him a light glare.

“What are you doing, Marquis? Let go of me!”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. I need to know why you’ve been ignoring me these days.”

“I’ve never done that. Let me go! It hurts!”

“Answer me first!”

He spat, his grip tightening on her hand. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape his grip.

“Why are you ignoring me?!”

She wanted to shout out ‘Don’t you know, you scumbag?! You cheated on me with my own sister and betrayed me!’ But, she just bit her lips and stared at him for some time.

“This is not how a gentleman talks. Please let me go.”

“Only if you answer me first. You would run away if I let you go, wouldn’t you?”

He was quick-witted. More than that, it was unpleasant to keep using honorifics without letting out his innermost thoughts, even though he had mocked her and told her to get out of her own mansion.

“Answer me!”

“Kyaaah!”

She felt dizzy as he shook her, gripping her other wrist. She wouldn’t have come here if she had known she’d be caught by a man with whom she didn’t want to engage herself. Nothing but silence filled the garden under the starry night where there was no one who could rescue her after hearing her scream for help.

“Miss….!”

“What do you think you’re doing in someone else’s garden?”

Barrett turned his head as he was cut by the voice. The voice was unfamiliar to Laurentia too.

“Huh? Isn’t this the Marquis of Acpencia and the Lady, who are rumored to be together until their death? What are you doing here? Were you having a secret conversation that went…..to the next level?”

The man who appeared with a sly voice and a grin on his face was none other than the host of the banquet, The Grand Duke of Veridian, Ian. Why was he here? What was he saying?

“Wha-What are you talking about, Grand Duke? What do you mean by ‘together until their death’?!”

“Huh? Is it not true? Almost all the people at the banquet were gossiping about it. Besides, you’ve been stuck together from the very beginning. Who are you trying to fool?”

He staggered a little like he was drunk. But the way he spoke and the gaze of his eyes were never that of a drunk man.

It was as if he was pretending. Unlike his pure appearance at the banquet, he now seemed to be a mysterious person.

‘No! This is not the time to think about it!’

“Help me!”

“Huh? You want me to help? Are you in some danger?”

“He’s dangerous!”

“Who?”

“Him!”

“Oh, really? I didn’t know.”

‘Huh? Is that all?’

“Please!”

“Miss Laurentia, what are you trying to say…..!”

“Do you really need my help?”

She nodded, avoiding Barrett’s hand that was trying to shut her mouth. Ian smiled, reaching out his hand as if he knew what was going to happen.

‘Huh? What is he…?’

He spoke with a brazen look on his face.

“They’re pretty expensive, you know.”

‘What is he talking about?’

Both of them just stared blankly at him, forgetting that they were in the middle of a quarrel. Then they saw him pointing towards a bush of eggplants beside the pavement.

Ian’s eyes shifted towards Laurentia and tilted his head.

“What? Still didn’t get my point?”

She looked up at him, trying to escape hastily. But before she could shout, Barrett covered her mouth with his hand and pulled her away from Ian.

‘Let go of me, you bastard!’

Barrett finally spoke, trying to restrain Laurentia, who was struggling.

“Laurentia! Why are you coming out alone in this cold? You would fall sick if you continue to be like this.”

The smiling face of his was feverish. She was angry at herself for not being able to rebel against the human, who had treated her like trash in her previous life.

“Mmph!”

She swung her feet as hard as she could. As the heel of her shoe hit him exactly at his shin, Barrett screamed and released her mouth.

“Argh!”

‘What an ugly scream, but it suits you perfectly.’

But since he didn’t release her wrist, she couldn’t get a chance to run away from him.

“You f*cking bastard!”

In an instant, his hand grasped her head, pulling her roughly.

“Kyaah!”

“How dare you hit me?”

She felt like her head was going to explode. She was disgusted by the way Barrett was smiling insidiously at her, whose hands were wriggling behind her.

The moment his hand crept up to her waist slowly, she felt goosebumps all over her body. She felt like it would have been better if there were bugs crawling on her instead of his hand.

“I’ll break this habit of yours today.”

He leaned forward, his evil eyes locked on her terrified ones.

“Ah, just in case.”

But that hand never crawled up higher. Ian, who had disappeared from their view, appeared again as if nothing had happened and began to talk. He slowly opened his mouth, looking at her as if she was a luminary.

“What if I give you a discount?”

‘Really, he’s—!’

“Please help me! I’ll give you as much as you want!”

“Is that so?”