Chapter 13
“Because of me?”
Huh? Why would he wait for me?
Pointing at myself with my finger, I asked. Felix frowned and tilted his head side to side.
“Do you only understand things after hearing them twice? Yes. Leticia Aster, I said I was waiting for you. I was getting bored out of my mind.”
Waiting? For me?
I tilted my head again.
“Um… so why…?”
Felix clicked his tongue and clapped his hands silently, as if mocking me.
“You really have an amazing memory.”
He’s so annoying. Just say what he means instead of being sarcastic.
“Yes, yes. I’m very sorry for having such an amazing memory.”
“Good. Glad you understand.”
Felix smirked and stepped a little closer.
“Don’t you remember? You said you’d tell me what I wanted next time.”
“Ah, that.”
I finally understood and nodded slightly.
“Um… but I don’t think I can right now. As you can see, I’m on my way to the Imperial Princess’s birthday banquet. And I assume the Marquis is as well, right?”
“Right. That’s why I’ve got something for you.”
Felix smiled and looked down at me.
I felt uneasy at his suspicious smile.
No matter how I looked at it, this didn’t seem like a normal request…
“You.”
And unfortunately, my prediction was correct.
“Be my partner today.”
“…Pardon?”
“Fast answer. Good. Let’s go.”
He grabbed my hand, but I quickly pulled away and stepped back.
“No! When did I agree to that?!”
I protested, but Felix let out a dry laugh.
“You literally just said ‘yes.’”
That’s not what that meant! Who interprets that as agreement?!
“That was just me being surprised!”
Felix’s partner?
Absolutely not.
The Marquis who had reappeared after years, showing up with a partner at that?
It would become gossip instantly.
I’d rather become a social outcast forever.
As an extreme introvert, I politely refused that kind of attention.
“Suddenly asking me to be your partner… why would you even request something like that?”
“You see, I have a very noticeable face.”
That part was true, but hearing him say it himself was irritating.
“That look—what? You disagree?”
“No, no. Of course not. You’re right.”
I nodded reluctantly, and Felix continued.
“I hate noisy women clinging to me. And if I bring a partner, the old noblemen nagging me to marry will shut up for a while too.”
“I understand your situation, but I still can’t. I have my own circumstances. You should ask another lady—”
“I didn’t tell you before?”
His voice turned cold.
“I hate people who go back on their word.”
“…That’s…”
While I was hesitating, Felix leaned in slightly with a sly smile.
“I didn’t want to do something this cheap either. But you started it first.”
“Madam Boura’s dress shop.”
“…!”
I swallowed hard.
That calm, knowing gaze.
He definitely knows something.
But how could Felix possibly know about that?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have no idea at all.”
I tried to act clueless.
Felix crossed his arms and looked down at me.
“Need me to explain more? You and the useless son of Count Crofton—alone in a fitting room—doing something quite suspicious…”
“Stop!”
I quickly covered his mouth with both hands.
His eyes curved in satisfaction, as if he had already won.
I didn’t know how he found out, but someone definitely told him first.
Madam Boura…!
You said you wouldn’t misunderstand! Liar!
“So? Have you changed your mind now?”
He pulled my hands away and asked confidently.
“Look, I don’t know what you heard, but it’s been distorted. Nothing inappropriate happened!”
“Whether something happened or not doesn’t matter. The fact that you two were alone in a fitting room is enough. People will make up the rest themselves. Actually, that might be even better.”
I stared at him, lips tightly shut.
How can a person be this annoying?
I sighed deeply.
Felix then smiled casually and held out his hand again.
“So? What will you do?”
In the end, I had no choice but to take his hand.
“You were going to agree anyway. So troublesome.”
Grumbling, Felix led me forward.
I silently prayed.
Someone please shut this man up.
* * *
The moment a man in a neatly tailored dark brown suit entered the banquet hall, all eyes turned toward him.
“Oh my… that’s Marquis Gray?”
“He looks completely different from the rumors… wasn’t he supposed to be monstrous and ugly?”
“He’s… handsome.”
The noble ladies gathered in one corner nodded in agreement.
Tall, sharp presence, and a well-built frame.
Under his neatly styled ash-colored hair, his refined features stood out clearly.
Everyone was shocked that he didn’t match the title “Monster Marquis.”
Then their gazes moved to the woman beside him.
“Wait… that lady is…”
“Leticia Aster?”
“Why is she with Marquis Gray?”
The ladies exchanged surprised looks.
The mysterious Marquis who had reappeared after years, and his partner being the famous Leticia Aster.
The banquet hall buzzed again.
Leticia’s blue dress, carefully made by Madam Boura, shimmered softly like sunlight on the sea whenever she moved, highlighting her pale skin and red hair beautifully.
“Excuse me, Marquis. Could you please let go a little? And you don’t need to hold my hand that tightly…”
“What are you talking about? This is normal for partners.”
“Ha… haha…”
Leticia forced an awkward smile, grinding her teeth, but to others it looked like a shy, gentle smile.
The noble ladies whispered again.
“Why is Lady Aster with Marquis Gray?”
“The atmosphere between them feels unusual…”
“Oh my! Could Lady Aster be announcing an engagement with Marquis Gray?”
“What? But she’s already…”
“What did you just say?”
“Eek!”
Aiden suddenly appeared, startling the ladies.
“Who is engaged to whom?”
Aiden asked coldly. The lady pointed silently toward the hall.
And when he saw Leticia standing next to Felix, his eyes shook.
Meanwhile, on the grand staircase in the center of the banquet hall, the Imperial Princess watched everything with great interest.
“Wow. This is amazing. This kind of drama is exactly what I live for.”
She muttered words no one else could understand, sipping wine and enjoying the scene like it was perfect entertainment.
