Protect You

 

“I’m sorry? D-did I… by any chance… offend you, my lady?” Baron Gordon stuttered, taken aback. Rather than sympathy, however, I felt anger churning my insides. He treated the powerless brutally but had the audacity to act pitifully in front of me.

He reminded me of my superiors in my past life. They frequently abused their authority, acting servile toward those who stood above them while raising their voices against the weak. Although I wanted to berate him to my heart’s content, I was aware that we were in the middle of a busy street where many nobles frequented. If I blindly supported Father’s disciple, a commoner, I was bound to excite more rumors about me. I had no way around this situation without first putting on a little act.

I pointed at Father’s disciple and straightened my spine, donning an austere gaze. “Well, weren’t you mistreating my man just now?” I declared.

Immediately, Father’s disciple looked aghast. He was taken aback, which I thought understandable. “I’m trying to save you, so keep your mouth shut. Okay?” I tried to hint, leveling him with an intense gaze.

Although I had spoken to the baron, I unexpectedly received a reply from elsewhere: the knights.

“What? What do you mean by that, my lady?”

“What did you mean by my man?”

Their unusually gloomy voices startled me. Yikes. I forgot about them because it was a habit of mine to ignore my escort knights since they made me feel uncomfortable whenever I went shopping.

I turned around. “He’s a secret escort Father privately assigned to me,” I explained calmly. “He’s a very skilled mercenary.”

“I was never informed of this, my lady,” Geraldine said, looking stubborn. He seriously lacked the ability to adapt to these kinds of situations.

I sighed. I decided to explain the circumstances of this situation to them later. This moment called for a few white lies. “I asked Father to keep it a secret from my knights because I assumed it would displease you all.”

“But—”

“I’m talking to someone right now, so I’ll give you all the details about this later.

Geraldine bowed with a sigh. “Yes, my lady,” he said, stepping back.

I resumed glaring at Baron Gordon. “Now, do you really think I’m just going to let you go after messing with my guard, Baron Gordon?”

The baron winced in response. “What do you mean messing with him?! That man tripped me then spoke to me informally!” he protested. It was like his life was on the line or something. “How are you going to compensate for the damage done to me?”

Within aristocratic society, a noble only held their subordinate accountable for a mistake if the conflict it inspired got out of hand. Therefore, it was more common for both parties to let the issue slide so as to not offend each other. Now that he knew it would be hopeless to attempt to forge any friendly relations with me, he switched gears, trying to squeeze some money out of me instead. As a self-made noble with common origins, he was just as servile as expected, but he wasn’t the slightest bit agreeable, judging by how fast his attitude had changed.

Sighing, I realized how much I really didn’t like this person. Even at first glance I could tell that the baron had been the one to initiate the argument, unjustly demanding an apology he had no right to receive. In any case, it would’ve been impossible for Father’s disciple to degrade himself in front of someone who picked a fight with him. Even if he had truly been in the wrong, I doubted he would ever apologize with that fierce personality of his.

It couldn’t be helped. In a situation like this…

“This escort of mine grew up in the countryside, so he isn’t accustomed to the social norms prevalent here. Nevertheless, it’s my fault that I didn’t teach him any manners, so I will take full responsibility as his lady,” I said softly. I leveled the baron with a flagrant death stare, and he met my gaze with a bright expression.

He was probably getting excited at the thought of how much I might compensate him, wasn’t he? But, as the saying goes: an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. In this type of situation, masters either punished their subordinates or compensated the other party involved, but since I planned not to waste my time or money by doing either, I came up with another method to resolve this ordeal. It would prove both peaceful and frugal.

“Why don’t we call it even with this, Lord Gordon?” I began. “Speak as informally to me as my guard did to you.”

The baron’s smile immediately disappeared from his face.

 

✤ ✤ ✤

 

Speak informally? To her?

After digesting Lady Floyen’s suggestion, the baron shivered, coming to a realization. He had made a faulty judgment. The nobles he had acquainted himself with had babbled about the lady’s lack of manners and her dreadful, arrogant personality, so he had been certain about this course of action. However…

“Go ahead. Say something,” she said haughtily, her gaze as clear as it was intimidating and fierce. No matter how he looked at her, she wasn’t the immature child he assumed her to be, but rather a fiend that would threaten his life the moment he lowered his guard.

This vile wench… She only had the nerve to make such a claim because she knew he wouldn't be able to do it. The baron had attained his noble title through staying shrewd, so he knew that if he sought to assuage his pride and forgo formality when addressing her, he would be punished for mutiny. It was a crime serious enough to strip him of his hard-earned yet insignificant status.

Hurriedly, he bowed. “I have caused my lady great inconvenience. Please be generous and forgive me.”

Even though he apologized, she shook her head with disapproval. “I don’t think you should seek forgiveness from me, but from my guard,” she said coldly.

The baron gritted his teeth, livid at the prospect of bowing to a commoner. Even so, he immediately lowered his head, knowing that he would enrage Lady Floyen if he didn’t. “I’m sorry about what happened. It seems that I’ve misunderstood you,” he forced out. Sensing his insincerity, Max simply looked down upon him in lieu of responding.

How dare a commoner behave with such arrogance merely because he was backed by a lady of prominence! The baron stared back at Max, furious, but then he reeled back when he saw the commoner’s red eyes cloud with bloodlust. He didn’t realize it until now. How were that man’s eyes so…

He suddenly came to his senses.

He had done everything to climb the social hierarchy, from becoming a hitman bound by contract to threatening and harming others. Despite all his dirty deeds, he had never seen such menacing eyes.

That thing was dangerous.

The commoner now frightened the baron more than the lady did. Nervous, he gulped, the urge to leave as soon as possible rising rapidly within him.

“Now that I have apologized, I’ll be leaving,” he hurriedly said. Then, he disappeared, fleeing the scene.

Max watched the man go, and as he scrutinized him, a devious smirk slowly slithered upon his lips. He took note of the lowly noble. Baron Gordon, huh…

He should kill that fool soon.

At that moment, however, a voice tickled his ears. “Are you okay?” Lady Floyen asked. “Did you get hurt anywhere?”

When the person he had been searching for came into view, his bloodthirsty gaze dissolved into something much more docile. Did she think an idiot like that baron could hurt him? Max was about to respond as he usually did, but then he stopped, remembering what she had told him once before.

“I’m still in a situation where I’m being ignored by those in high society,” she had said. “How much of a joke will they think I am if you disrespected me as well?”

He took her small, slender, and warm hands, grasping them tightly. “I’m fine, my lady,” he replied.

Jubelian’s eyes quivered.

 

✤ ✤ ✤

 

I couldn’t believe he would run away like that. It was odd to witness the baron leave so quietly after causing a commotion and insisting on an apology like that, but it wasn’t so strange when I really thought about it.

I didn’t intend to make him uncomfortable by telling him to address me informally, but he probably couldn’t help but feel that way due to my lofty status. Well, either way, there was no telling what he would’ve done to Father’s disciple if I hadn’t intervened and unintentionally demeaned him. No matter how skilled Father’s disciple was at swordsmanship, he wouldn’t be able to avoid getting punished for opposing a nobleman.

I cast a furtive glance at Father’s disciple, but it didn’t look like he was injured anywhere. Hmm, since he seemed so stiff, was he shocked by what had happened?

Out of concern, I extended my hand toward him. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?” I asked. He turned toward me. He probably wasn’t frightened because his eyes didn’t look any different from how they usually were. That was a relief.

Was it because I had confided in him a few times already? We weren’t close enough to be considered friends, but I felt comfortable around him anyway. I was glad. After what had happened, I got worried he would be intimidated and keep his distance from me…

At that moment, he suddenly took my hands in his.

Um… Why was he holding them so tightly? His firm grasp reminded me of a lost child who had finally found his parents. It amused me that I could glean such innocence from him despite his imposing size.

I guess he was relieved to encounter someone he knew. Letting him stay in my room and feeding him hadn’t been in vain, it seemed. He was finally opening up to me.

Then, he addressed me in a manner I never thought I’d ever hear from him. “I’m fine, my lady,” he said.

His sudden formality made me skeptical. I didn’t doubt my ears since they were working perfectly fine, so I paused wonderingly. What had gotten into him? I couldn’t understand why someone who frequently invited trouble with his stubborn impropriety now treated me in a wholly uncharacteristic manner.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked again. His dispute with the baron had gone on for some time before I had intervened, so it was possible someone had hit him on the head or something. Bearing that suspicion in mind, I inspected his face attentively, but I couldn’t see much because of his tall stature.

At least he had his height going for him. Not only did he tower over me, but he was also handsome. Even though the commotion had passed, a lot of people continued to stop and gawk at him.

“Who is that gentleman over there?” one person asked.

“Hm. I’m not sure, but isn’t that Lady Floyen next to him?”

“Oh my, it is. And they’re holding hands, I see!”

No matter how big the plaza was, it still sat at the very center of the capital. As the most infamous lady in high society, people recognizing me wasn’t a surprise.

Uncomfortable, I decided to ask him to let go of me so we could head somewhere else. “Hey, we can stop—”

He interrupted me. “There’s something I have to let you know, my lady,” he said. “About that contract you mentioned...”

I still had goosebumps from when he first started behaving politely, but now another issue plagued me. Startled, I covered his mouth with my hands to prevent him from continuing. “You want to discuss the payment you’ll receive from Father, right?” I asked, bluffing. He could only be referring to one contract, and that had to be the proposal I once made to initiate a contractual relationship. He probably had an answer for me, but I couldn’t have such an important conversation occur in such a crowded place. Others could be listening.

“Follow me,” I instructed, dragging him toward my carriage by our clasped hands. “Here, get in.”

Instead of getting in like I directed, however, he regarded me gently. “Why don’t you get in first, my lady?” he asked, and his unexpected offer made me feel incredibly strange. Did he become a little kinder?

Once we got in and the carriage door had closed behind us, I resumed our discussion. “Before, on that day… why did you leave without saying anything?” His upset expression at the time bothered me, and I had wondered about it since then. Did he hate the idea of being in a contractual relationship with me that much? He should’ve rejected me on the spot if that was the case. I could’ve started brainstorming ideas on how to run away, instead…

He gazed at me arrogantly then tilted his head back as if he couldn’t bear the sight of me any longer. “That’s none of your business,” he said.

I knew it. It was impossible for someone to change so easily.

 

✤ ✤ ✤

 

“I have something urgent to discuss with him, so please refrain from staying too close to the carriage,” Jubelian said. Despite ordering her escort knights with a firm, decisive tone, she didn’t sound too forceful. Max gazed at Jubelian, ruminating on her pleasant voice.

Jubelian had always been excessively considerate toward him, which had made her seem somewhat naive. Now, however, she acted with refinement befitting her status as the only daughter of a duke, bowing to none but the imperial family. Bearing witness, Max no longer worried over someone potentially taking advantage of her kindness.

“Although I trust you all, there will be consequences if someone eavesdrops on our conversation,” she continued. The sight of her exercising her authority was an unfamiliar one, but it relieved Max. She wouldn’t get sucked into any trouble, at the very least.

Jubelian met his gaze after they ensured their privacy. “Before, on that day… why did you leave without saying anything?” she asked.

The question flustered him despite the fact that he was rarely the type to find himself taken aback. Shit—what should he say? She had told him that she was planning on running away should she be forced to marry the crown prince. He couldn’t tell her the truth—that he was the crown prince in question—because she would end up fleeing.

“That’s none of your business,” he said somberly, burdened by the thought of her running from him.

She let out a sigh instead of pressing him for an explanation. “Alright,” she said. “Then, what’s your answer for my proposal?”

Max hesitated. There was something that had been bothering him ever since she first brought the subject up: why did she want to start a contractual relationship with him specifically? “There is something I need to ask you before I decide,” he began, hoping the stifling feeling inside of him would dissipate once he heard her reasons.

“Okay, go ahead.”

“Why did you pick me for something like that?”

“By something like that... do you mean the contractual relationship?”

“Yes,” Max responded, clenching his fists. He was wrought with an unknown source of tension. Jubelian’s expression hardened.

“That’s because… you’re Father’s precious disciple?”

Contrary to his expectations, she praised neither his appearance nor his swordsmanship skills. He scrunched his face up at the absurdity of her answer. She wanted to date him for such a trivial reason? Disappointment and anger inexplicably surged within him. He couldn’t believe he was wasting his time with a woman like her...

If Jubelian were anyone else, he would’ve angrily lashed out at her for trying to use him, but he found himself unable to do so because... well, he was looking at her. The longer he gazed at her, the more he felt his irritation subside. Why on earth was he being swayed… by a woman like her?

Consumed by a sense of shame, Max frowned, his eyes downcast.

“I also have another reason…”

When he looked up, he saw her smiling sweetly.

“You’re the only person I’m comfortable enough with to ask this favor from,” she finished.

Comfortable… Max felt the same about her. “I see,” he said.

His sour mood immediately dissipated upon hearing that she felt the same way. Now filled with joy, his heart fluttered warmly. He had more he wanted to ask, but he didn’t want to think about them anymore. Yes. This was good enough.

Without realizing it, Max smiled.

 

✤ ✤ ✤

 

Suddenly, I saw him smile. Why? Nevertheless, it gave me a pleasant feeling for some reason.

Well, it was no secret that he was handsome. Although I didn’t want to admit it, I couldn’t help but acknowledge that he was my type. He might’ve had a vile personality, but I wouldn’t mind being in a relationship with someone with a face like that.

Then, I realized that I still hadn’t gotten an answer from him.

“I answered your question, so shouldn’t you answer mine now?”

He nodded and said, “Alright. I’ll accept your request.”

I smiled brightly, relieved that I had finally found a way to avoid my predestined death. “Thank you. How much do you want for compensation?”

He furrowed his brows. “I don’t need any,” he said, his voice cold. “I’m just doing this to pay back what I owe you.”

This almost had me picturing him as an angel. Now that I was trying to save money and stay aware of my finances, this would help me sustain an independent lifestyle in the future. So what if he was ill-mannered? He was kind.

I wrapped my hands around his, deeply moved. “Thank you. I’m looking forward to working with you.”

“Okay. I get it, so let go of my hands,” he said, scowling.

I had no intention of letting go, however. “What do you mean? We have to act like lovers from now on… it will be difficult to explain if you act halfheartedly!”

Because my life depended on this humorless act, I... I swallowed the last part of my sentence and stared at him steadily as I continued. “Now that we’ve decided to be in a contractual relationship, you must hold hands with me, lock arms with me, and address me affectionately,” I explained. “Do you understand?” Silent, he wore a hardened expression. “Say something,” I said.

He sighed. “Alright,” he quietly muttered. I gave a half-smile and moved on to discuss another essential aspect involved in the start of a legitimate relationship.

“By the way, I don’t think you know my name yet, but—”

“Jubelian,” he said clearly, interrupting me. My eyes widened in surprise. “I know what your name is.”

I wanted to tell him what my name was because he always referred to me as ‘you,’ so I thought he was just as clueless about me as I was of him, but… he knew? My heart shook at his earnest voice, but then an upsetting realization dawned on me: if he knew my name all along, why didn’t he ever use it?

Nevertheless, another problem needed to be addressed. “I still don’t know your name. I’ve asked for it before, but you’ve never answered me. Could you tell me now?”

I spoke carefully so as to not hurt his feelings. Fortunately, he didn’t seem offended. A brief silence ensued before he opened his mouth to answer.

“It’s… Max,” he said.

Max. If I were to find fault with this name, it would be that it was a little too close to the crown prince’s name. Nevertheless, it didn’t have a bad meaning.

“That’s a good name. Your parents must’ve wanted you to become a great person,” I said.

He stared at me for a while. “Yeah,” he finally said.

I thought he was going to look away from me again like he did before, but he continued to hold my gaze with his red, sunset-hued eyes. I felt strange for some reason, so I decided to change the subject.

“Hey, about—”

He interrupted me. “Didn’t we just decide to call each other by our names?”

I smiled awkwardly because he had caught me off guard. “We did, Max,” I conceded. A soft smile appeared on his face after I said his name.

I watched him for a while before deciding to get down to business. “Why don’t we write out an official contract?” I suggested.

At the word ‘contract,’ he pulled a face and glared at me. “A contract? Would writing such a thing be necessary? I clearly remember telling you that I didn’t want to be compensated for this,” he said.

I sighed. What did Father teach him, if not common sense? What if he got scammed by someone? I decided to assume the position of an instructor to help this pure, innocent man in front of me. “Every deal you make must be officially written out,” I began. “If you don’t do that, people will think you’re a pushover and take advantage of you. I mean, they could refuse to compensate you or they could do bad things in your name.”

Although I could tell he was listening to me, he still looked clueless. Ugh, should I explain it all to him again? I sighed, contemplating whether or not I should use simpler words so he could understand me.

“But you won’t do that to me,” he said sincerely. He spoke with such conviction it made me feel strange.

Until now, no one had ever trusted me... I had been living my role as a villainess, so the hatred I accrued had been a natural thing. A given. No one had ever confided in me before, either—not even Father. In the novel, Jubelian had pleaded for him to trust her, but he ignored her and threw her in prison anyway. However, Max’s red eyes were focused on me, wholly doubtless. An odd feeling arose within me, tugging at the depths of my heart.

Ah, but this wasn’t the right time to be zoning out. I barely managed to compose myself. “Scams are so effective because they’re usually done by people you trust!” I insisted.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, that’s why no matter how close you are with someone, you shouldn’t just hold them accountable. Don’t just take their word for it. Make them write an official contract, okay?”

He nodded, sighing at my continued nagging. “Alright.”

His obedient response only made me more worried, though. This guy was really naive and ignorant of worldly affairs… would he be able to handle this unkind reality?

I was originally concerned about his fearsome personability, but now I was worried about his carelessness and ignorance. After mulling over my concerns for a while, I made a promise to myself: while in a contractual relationship with him, I should teach him about a lot of things. In truth, I felt bad that he had refused payment, so I could repay the favor by teaching him life lessons.

“Before we write the contract, let’s come to terms about the most important thing.”

“And what’s that?” he asked.

I had been thinking about this for a while. “Geraldine is the leader of the escort knights. So, judging from his personality, he’s definitely going to interrogate us on how we met. We can’t tell him the truth, so we should make up a story we can both agree on.”

“Ah… I see.”

Even he couldn’t deny my reasoning. After all, our first meeting involved trespassing, threats, and a sword.

“So, I was thinking… how about this story?” I told him a scenario I had been concocting for a while, but he quickly raised his voice against it.

“What? No, I absolutely hate it!”

I could tell he loathed my scheme just by looking at him. “Could you come up with anything better, then?” I asked sternly.

“Can’t we switch roles? What if I’m the one who—”

I cut him off. “No, that wouldn’t make any sense. You know I’m always surrounded by knights.” I studied him as I fell into deep thought. Then, I took his hands and held them tightly. “It might be daunting now, but it won’t mean anything later,” I insisted, coaxing. “If it’s still too difficult for you, you can just stand beside me and let me take the lead.”

He nodded with a blank expression. “Alright.”

Opening the carriage door, I walked out with him. “Make your hand on my shoulder more obvious,” I whispered quietly. His hand, which had rested awkwardly atop my shoulder, promptly covered its entirety. “Good job,” I praised him.

He remained silent. Although I hadn’t expected him to put on a convincing act in the first place, I felt a little frustrated. I guess I had no choice but to bear the bulk of this task.

The escort knights waiting for me seemed to be taken aback by the sight of us posing as a couple as we came out of the carriage. Geraldine, in particular, observed me as he pressed his fingers against his temples.

“Could you please explain what in the world is happening here, my lady?” he asked. As expected, he immediately began interrogating me about our relationship.

“What I said earlier was actually a lie, Sir Geraldine,” I confessed.

He nodded as if he had already known. “Ah, yes. Of course. His Grace would never assign an outsider a task without letting me know.” He studied me with a probing gaze before continuing. “So, who is that man and why is he allowed to treat you so intimately?” he asked coldly.

“He’s my boyfriend,” I announced confidently.

 

✤ ✤ ✤

 

Max’s hand felt hot as it rested upon her small shoulder.

“Good job,” she muttered.

Although he was aware of the fact that she had spoken, he was too preoccupied with worrying over whether or not she could hear the rapid beat of his heart to truly listen. She wouldn’t notice it, would she? To ensure her ignorance, he tried to restrain himself with focused intensity.

At that moment, a disobliging voice met his ears.

“So, who is that man and why is he allowed to treat you so intimately?”

“He’s my boyfriend.”

As soon as Jubelian finished the sentence, angry protests erupted around them.

“What? How could you say that, my lady?!”

“We have always escorted you closely, but we’ve never seen a man like him.”

Max removed his trembling hand from Jubelian’s shoulder and clenched his fists. How annoying. He thought of her guards as eyesores and resented how they were permitted to be around her in the first place. Furthermore, it was ridiculous that these men dared to show such blatant hostility toward him.

Suddenly, Jubelian placed her hand atop his.

“It will be alright,” she whispered, bearing a light smile. The moment he saw her face, his sizzling anger gradually subsided. His heart tingled, seeming to swell.

She turned back to the knights. “It’s a given none of you know about him. I met him at Count Meissen’s banquet, which was held quite a while ago.” The knights stared at Max with disbelief in their eyes.

No way. Was Max a nobleman? Geraldine could tell he was well-off despite being dressed in shabby clothes...

Count Meissen was known for holding banquets with guests who only came from reputable, aristocratic families. If the man in front of them had attended such an event, he was probably an esteemed son from a renowned house. What family was he from? Geraldine had never seen him in the capital before.

Geraldine observed Max with sharp eyes.

“He’s no noble; he’s a mercenary that had been hired to compensate for the lack of guards,” Jubelian said. The knights narrowed their eyes at the word mercenary.

“I wonder why a mere mercenary would approach our lady,” Geraldine said. The other knights’ eyes were filled with condescension.

Max scowled. How dare a few lowly knights regard him in such a way. The immediate urge to draw his sword, displaying his strength and superiority, soared within him. Nevertheless, the hand that held him, anchoring him in place, was so warm that his irritation couldn’t help but disappear. Jubelian’s touch stopped him. How did he end up like this?

Max blazed with heat. Oblivious to this, Jubelian began to counter Geraldine’s accusation.

“We met each other during a critical situation,” she said.

When the knights heard the phrase critical situation, their aggression calmed somewhat. Ah, so this man saved their lady during a serious encounter...

However, Jubelian’s next explanation had the knights doubting their hearing.

“I saved him from being surrounded and cornered by a hoard of noblewomen.”

“I’m sorry? You saved him, my lady?”

“Yes. They all ran away when I asked them about Mikhail’s whereabouts.” The women probably ran away because Jubelian was infamous for committing wicked acts toward people who approached Mikhail. “Afterwards, he told me he wanted to return the favor, saying that he owed me his life. Although I declined his offer and continued to search for Mikhail, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. He was the reason I broke up with Mikhail in the end.”

The knights looked simply astonished.

“When we met again here at Arcade Street today, it was as if we had met by destiny. I was certain that he was the person for me,” Jubelian continued. “None of you understand how moved I was when I found out that he had been looking for me as well.”

Her story flustered the knights for a while. Then, they gave Max a sinister look. How dare a commoner do such a thing. It was understandable that Jubelian thought and acted this way since she was someone who exhibited no awareness when she was blindly in love, but they couldn’t help but think that it was absurd for a commoner to attempt to court the daughter of a duke. He didn’t know his place.

Max realized that the knights were trying to intimidate him by giving him menacing looks. It was irritating. Baron Gordon had already drained him of patience not long ago, so it wasn’t an exaggeration to say his current composure ought to be considered a miracle. He had never bothered to endure people who treated him with blatant belligerence before.

Right. He should just stomp on these bugs for thinking they could intimidate him.

After coming to this decision, he conveyed his antagonism through a glare. The knights, receiving his sharp, vicious energy head-on, flinched and instinctively reached for their swords.

Who... was this man?

Through the sheer force he had emitted, they could tell he was someone who walked the path of swordsmanship rather than knightship. He was strong. Where did a man like him suddenly come from? His gaze was so dangerous that it ignited the knights’ impulse to draw their swords and prepare themselves for an opponent’s attack. However, they couldn’t act rashly because Jubelian stood right next to him.

A cold voice broke the silence.

“Excuse me,” Jubelian said. “Are you guys threatening my boyfriend?”

We’re the ones being threatened! the knights lamented silently in response. Feeling as if he was being treated unfairly, one knight tried to confess the truth. “That’s not it, my lady…”

He trailed off when Jubelian narrowed her eyes at him. “What do you mean by that? Did you think I couldn’t see the frightening expressions you all were making at him?”

“That’s a misunderstanding, Jubelian. What happened just now—” Geraldine tried to tell her that there was someone even more frightening behind her, but Jubelian continued to rattle on without giving him any more time to explain himself.

“He’s so terrified that his hands are shaking!” she exclaimed.

Max, who was standing behind Jubelian, smirked at her defense of him. The sight appalled the knights. They desperately wanted to implore her to look behind her, but Jubelian’s gaze remained steadfastly fixed upon them.

“As a group of people daring to intimidate a single person, you’re the same as the noblewomen back then. You all should be ashamed!”

The knights tried to suppress their dissatisfaction as she spoke sternly, recalling the duke’s orders. “Please protect my daughter,” he had said. Until now, the knights had guarded Jubelian wordlessly due to their loyalty to the duke. It was part of their job to frighten others, so they truly believed that this situation was unjust. They hadn’t done anything wrong.

“My lady, we really…” Todd began, but he trailed off when Jubelian turned around as if she couldn't even bear to spare the knights another glance.

“Are you okay?” she asked Max.

He nodded slowly. “Yes, my lady.”

The man who had been bombarding the knights with a bloodthirsty gaze suddenly hid his hostility, feigning innocence before the lady.

Seriously, what kind of person did that? The knights gaped in astonishment and couldn’t help but wonder if the man had deliberately set up that banquet just to get close to Jubelian.

“My lady, that man—”

Geraldine tried to warn her, but Jubelian held Max’s hand tightly and glared at the knights. “Just know that we’ll be going back to the mansion for now,” she said coldly. Then, she turned to Max, lowering her voice to whisper. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you no matter what.”

Max furrowed his brows. Then, he let out a sigh. A weakling like her… protecting him? Everything she was saying sounded preposterous, but for some reason, he didn’t mind it or the warmth of her hands around his, no matter how nonsensical.

 

✤ ✤ ✤

 

When we arrived at the mansion, the butler looked at Max with surprise. “My lady, how did you come back with…?”

Perhaps it was because he knew Max was Father’s disciple, but Derrick was unable to continue his sentence. Well, if I’m going to tell everyone anyway, I should make it clear at the start.

“He’s my guest,” I said.

I couldn’t tell what Derrick was thinking after hearing me say that, but he sighed. “Ah, I see. Then I’ll take him to the drawing room—”

I interrupted him. “He’s also my boyfriend.”

Clang!

At the sound of something falling to the ground, I turned around and saw Father looking at us with an astounded expression.

“Jubelian, what did you just…” He trailed off.

On one hand, I felt nervous since the very situation I had been planning for had finally arrived. On the other hand, I felt hopeful because I could finally get rid of a problem that had been bothering me this entire time.

I wore a satisfied smile. “Max, say hello. This is Father.”

Father’s expression hardened. “Jubelian, what did you just say?” he asked. I had never seen his eyes look so ferocious before. He almost looked barbaric, which was unlike someone who usually seemed indifferent about everything.

A person who never cared about anything I ever did, no matter how much trouble I caused, was suddenly getting all upset like this… it inspired something in me: a small urge to rebel. He was probably furious that I refused to be his puppet and comply with the arranged marriage he set up for me, straying from him to tempt his disciple instead.

I proudly locked arms with Max. “I said we’re officially starting a relationship.”

Father glared at me in response. “Come inside first, then we’ll talk,” he then said quietly.

Geraldine and the knights believed my lies because they were rather naive, but if I tried the same with Father, I was bound to get caught. Because of this, I needed to mix some truth into my story.

Would I be able to pull it off? I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I didn’t want to have any doubts at the moment. “It'll be okay. I can do it,” I promised, trying to encourage myself.

Suddenly, the arm locked around mine loosened. Max had unfastened his hold on me. Didn’t I ask for his cooperation? I tried to give him a look to convey this, but he ended up surprising me instead. He had removed his arm so he could hold my hand.

“Let’s go… my lady,” he said. Although he sounded a bit awkward, I didn’t mind because he had addressed me formally.

Was it because he was with me? For some reason, the thought of being scolded today didn’t frighten me.

 

✤ ✤ ✤

 

How did it end up like this? Regis clenched his fists, realizing that he should have exercised more vigilance in keeping his sly disciple away from his daughter. What on earth are you scheming, Maximilian? Regis seethed silently.

He was certain that Max had planned this situation with wicked intentions, knowing full well the depths to which his disciple’s inhumane and evil nature reached. The reason he wanted to get close to Jubelian was probably…

Does he want to get me involved in the rebellion by using Jubel? Regis questioned to himself. As his uncertain guesses grew clearer and clearer, a smug smile slowly began to appear on his face.

“Master, you need to know the right time to let your pawns go,” his disciple had once told him. “It’s common sense to make some sacrifices during a revolution.”

Max was someone who saw people as pieces upon a chessboard, so it was possible he harbored intentions even more wicked than Regis had originally predicted. How dare that man consider his daughter a pawn… although his speculations weren’t confirmed, Regis couldn’t help but feel enraged. His disciple had already made a move.

That scoundrel. This was how Max pay him back after all he’d done by becoming his enemy? Although their relationship hadn’t been built on pure intentions, he had never hesitated to give his disciple advice because he valued Max at heart. Regis had even protected him from the assassins sent by the empress when he was young, but it seemed like all those supportive efforts had gone to waste.

I can’t let a monster like you take my daughter away from me, Regis swore, gritting his teeth in disgust. Although he really wanted to punish his ungrateful disciple, he knew that Jubelian would be unhappy if he did so, considering how she seemed to cherish the people and things she valued.

How irritating.

Regis felt as if his head was going to burst, but he carefully masked his feelings and offered his daughter and disciple a seat. “Sit down,” he said.

Right as Jubelian was about to sit, Max pulled a chair out for her. “Here.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

If he had been the disciple that Regis had come to know, he wouldn’t have been affected by her words at all. Nonetheless, the despicable man replied meekly. “Sure,” he murmured.

That spiteful rogue. He tricked Jubelian by putting on an act. Regis clenched his fists, embittered. Having observed Max for a long time, he knew that things rarely affected him. Once, he had even once said: “You want me to show compassion to the weak? That will only get me beheaded.”

Regis had tried to soften his disciple’s personality on numerous occasions, but he only became more perverse with time. There was no way a guy like him could change so suddenly.

“How did you two meet?” Regis asked coldly, speaking as if to interrogate. An aura of aggression emanated from his eyes.

“During the last few days you’ve been gone, he came to visit you,” Jubelian began. “Since you weren’t here and there was no place else for him to go, I let him stay in my room for a while.”

Unable to suppress his anger, Regis’ face twisted. So that was why that vile snake lured him to the imperial palace!

Although she seemed mostly expressionless, his daughter had possessed a soft heart from a young age.

“I don’t want these birds anymore, so don’t catch them, okay?” she had once told Derrick, mourning the death of her pet bird. She had only been seven years old.

She was the type of kid who could never ignore abandoned dogs and cats she spotted on the streets. She was lenient toward the weak and pitiable, and Regis knew it. Bearing in mind that truth, Max’s crimes grew even more infuriating. Regis could never forgive his disciple for taking advantage of his daughter’s kindness.

“Why didn’t you ask Derrick? He could’ve taken you to a guest room,” Regis said, leveling Max with a murderous gaze. Although his question was clearly directed toward his disciple, Jubelian responded instead.

“It had been very late at night, so I felt awkward alerting anyone since the knights had already come by,” she said. “Also, I assumed he wouldn’t hurt me because he was your disciple, Father.”

Regis sighed softly in response. In truth, Max was the most dangerous man she could have met… he used whatever means necessary to accomplish his own ends. In Regis’ eyes, he was no different from an outrageous tyrant. With that atrocious mentality of his, he wouldn’t think twice before inflicting danger upon her as soon as she displeased him or as soon as he had drained her of her worth.

Jubelian probably didn’t know that her life was now at risk.

Nevertheless, Regis couldn’t blame his precious daughter. The reason she had presented him for letting Max into her room—the fact that Max was his disciple—was a valid one. After all, it was probably his fault from the start. He never should have taken Max under his wing…

He sipped his well-brewed tea. Its fragrance was pleasant and mellow, but he could only taste bitterness in his mouth.

“That was inappropriate of you, considering her reputation,” he said coldly, criticizing Max for treating Jubelian inconsiderately.

Once again, she replied in Max’s stead. “You probably know this already, Father, but I don’t care that much about my reputation,” she said. Although Regis’ heart ached at the things the exaggerated rumors said about his daughter, he didn’t care much about them, either. No matter what others thought, he knew that his daughter was a kind and lovely person.

Jubelian straightened up and looked straight at Regis, continuing her speech. “Still, I took extreme care because I was afraid of causing you any trouble. Nothing had actually happened between us,” she said. Regis was taken aback by the look of vigor in her eyes. “I’m embarrassed to say this, but up until now, I’ve only been in a one-sided relationship. I honestly think it’s a miracle that someone I like now likes me back.” She sighed, voice suddenly soft. “Father, you might not trust me because of all the problems I’ve caused up until now, but I swear I’ll never disgrace our family’s prestigious name. So, please allow us to date.”

Regis had originally planned to declare their relationship thoroughly impossible to permit, but as he listened to his daughter’s desperate pleas, a soft spot began to arise within him.

How could… how could she manage to weaken him like this?

She was the apple of his eye. Regis truly wanted to do everything he could for her, but the terrible existence she had become attached to forbade him.

He gathered his wits about him. “I can’t allow this,” he said resolutely. “End the relationship.”

 

✤ ✤ ✤

 

I understood. He had already made up his mind on my marriage with the crown prince.

I sighed. An arranged marriage between a crazy, tyrannical crown prince and a duke’s only daughter. Other nobles might’ve considered having the prince as their son-in-law as well, but they would never go as far as to make it a reality. Father was a transcendent being, however, so he looked much younger than his actual age. He could probably marry again and bear another successor in the near future if he so wished. He could start over whenever he wanted.

It made sense that he would prefer to trade with the royal family rather than give his foolish daughter a fresh start. After all, it was simply the most advantageous choice available to him. What should I do now, though? If I opposed him, he would certainly push the marriage all the sooner. I sighed in frustration, hanging my head low, when someone suddenly grasped my hand tightly….