It was none other than Duke Sihon Blair, my fiancée whom I never thought I’ll meet in private.
‘Why he is here?’
That was Lydia’s first thought after seeing the Duke of Sihon Blair.
They were not that close to have contact with each other without reason.
They were engaged to each other because of the imperial order not because they wanted to.
There was no way that he wanted to see her or had any affection for her.
At first place, it was considered rude to go at your fiancée’s door without prior notice and ignoring the marquis servants.
Even so, it was highly likely that the reason he suddenly came in this way was probably something bad.
But there was nothing to point out.
As she just made her social debut, Lydia hasn’t had time to speak and act on someone yet.
I haven’t heard of any bad rumours spreading as well……
In that situation, she should be proud and act normal, but the anxiety couldn’t be subsidised easily.
Lydia, bewildered by the appearance of an unexpected person, moved backwards more and more as he came closer to her.
Her emerald-coloured eyes trembling, the two tightly clasped hands, and the shoulders slightly curled.
Sihon looked at Lydia, who was trying to hide it, but showed signs of anxiety with a curious look. Then, he realised that his expressions were not very good, and loosened his stiff face.
As Sihon’s mood softened, the two maids who were in charge of Lydia hesitated and entered.
They pretended to take care of the young lady’s appearance and tried to cover up the scar on her cheek.
But the attempt was blocked.
“Stop moving.”
“Yes?”
“I have told you not to disturb us, but why do you keep coming again and again? Are you kidding me?”
“Oh, no! Then if you need anything, call us anytime.”
The maids hurriedly left them as if they were running away at the duke’s response and were afraid of him.
The maids left, and they locked the door of the room.
Lydia was left alone with Sihon.
Seeing that he did not even want to receive refreshments, it seemed that he had no intention of staying for a long time.
He was just going to talk about the business and leave soon.
Indeed, it can be seen that Duke Blair was unwilling.
But, unexpectedly, Sihon didn’t say anything right away.
He just kept looking at the ‘marquess’ room’ and Lydia alternately.
Surprisingly, the man’s purple eyes were looking all over the room and stayed in each spot for quite a while.
As it was the first time he came to his fiancée’s room, and was looking around the room out of curiosity.
For some reason, she had a feeling that Sihon was checking something.
As the silence grew longer, Lydia was feeling awkward.
It was like if I open my mouth, I will get caught so I was silent.
After a while, Sihon spoke first.
“Why is your face like that?”
“Yes?”
Lydia, responding to an unexpected question, laughed unconsciously.
The man’s neat brows narrowed.
Regardless of the absurdity, it was right that it was a rude act.
Lydia, with a dishevelled expression on her face, answered casually.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a second. It’s nothing, I just fell down earlier.”
He wouldn’t have asked that because he was worried about it in the first place.
It must be just a formality.
Having heard a moderately insincere reply that it was nothing, he wouldn’t care about it.
Who would dare to harm the young marquess? Perhaps it was not a serious assault.
An immature noblewoman must have been beaten up by her parents.
Thinking it would be a minor family problem, a third party wouldn’t worry about it.
Also in his eyes, I’m just an immature girl from a wealthy aristocratic family.
But his reply was entirely unexpected.
“How can a fall cause your cheeks to swell and bruise and your lips to burst? Lady Arwen seems to have some unusual rolling talent.”
“… … !”
Caught off guard, Lydia’s eyes widened.
No way, she never thought Sihon would dare to dig into this matter. It was totally unexpected.
She didn’t think he would point out an error in the first place, so she didn’t even think about what to do next.
How the hell am I supposed to react to this?
My mind, which had become as white as a blank sheet of paper, was rushing around.
In the end, what Lydia chose was ‘to answer the question with another question’.
“What if it’s a wound from being hit?”.
Then what are you going to do?
I didn’t bother to say the words behind it, but the intention must have been fully conveyed.
Perhaps, the noble Duke of Blair may be even offended by the arrogant question of his fiancée, three years younger than him.
Dare you test me?
Maybe honestly, I didn’t know if it was right to test.
The beginning was just an answer to avoid an awkward question.
It is purely an idealism that the ‘victim’ is not at fault.
Maybe a gaze looking for the fault in victim, saying that she did something so she deserved to be hit.
Or, looking with cheap sympathy as if he was treating someone with some flaws because she had an unhappy life.
Either way, from the victim’s point of view, what had already happened couldn’t be helped.
Whether it was the unfair treatment Lydia suffered in the Marquis, or the fact that she hadn’t been properly treated even after being slapped by the Earl’s daughter of Kensington yesterday.
But what is reliable about a fiancé who doesn’t have the slightest amount of affection or interest in me?
Lydia wanted to make sure whose side Sihon would take.
If you’re going to help, do it right now, and if you’re going to turn away, don’t dig into this problem anymore.
She’s the only one who will be in trouble if they are caught.
Of course, Lydia guessed, that this time too, Sihon would pull himself out of the troublesome affair.
I can’t quite understand what happened a while ago, but let’s say it was just a whim for a while.
However, the earlier actions of her fiancée were not the end.
“Of course, we have to protect the victims and separate them from the perpetrators. It’s been a while, but if the witness is the victim’s fiancée, it’s not impossible to try. Even if the incident was domestic violence within the Marquis of Amaranth. In such a case, I am very fortunate to be able to conveniently use the relationship of a ‘nominal fiancé’. However, it must be supported by the active cooperation of the victim.”
In other words, if Lydia wants, he can protect her from the marquis as much she wants to.
Even at the risk of creating a gritty conflict with the Marquis Amaranth.
Of course, the relationship between the Marquis Amaranth and the Duke of Blair was not good at first place.
But apart from that, it wouldn’t be any good to him if he dared to pick the hive?
Helping Lydia wouldn’t bring any benefit to Sihon.
If he liked her, there is a chance that he will do it. Even if he has to suffer from losses.
It was difficult for Lydia to understand his sudden change of attitude.
But Sihon didn’t persuaded Lydia. He just made suggestions and pushed it to her to choose.
“So, if you’re going to hold my hand, tell me straight away. Who touched you?”
It was clear that he was trying to do me an unexpected favour. Far from warm concern or sincere concern.
But there are no such thing as unpaid favours in the world.
By any chance, you don’t know if the other person will give you a genuine favour and then can ask for conditions that you can’t afford?
Even though she was not in a position to choose, Lydia had a hard time trusting him.
They say ‘fiancé’, but in reality, the Duke of Sihon Blair has nothing to do with her.
Lydia hesitated, then took a careful look.
“Is there anything you want from me?”
“What can you give me?”
In an instant, the cold purple eyes were interested. It was the first positive reaction he had seen since they met today.
But it’s a little strange his head was slightly tilted as if puzzled…… he did it.
How can he put it? It was not a mean satisfaction that the opponent fell for his temptation, but a feeling of luck by chance, thought Sihon.
Rather, Lydia, who said it was intending to suggest it as a ‘deal’, as she would accept it as much as possible under realistic conditions, was very embarrassed by his reaction like this.
“That…….”
Sihon was one of the wealthiest people in the Ilios Empire.
The vast estates owned by the Duke of Blair, mines, castles and mansions, works of art, and liquid funds worth hundreds of millions of golds that can be used right now… ….
Rumour has it that the Duke of Blair has all kinds of rare items, such as an hourglass with the power to turn back time, a cloak that hides a person, and a phoenix feather that is said to bring back youth when rubbed on the body.
There are so many nonsensical stories.
On the other hand, Lydia was superficially in the status of a ‘young marquess Amaranth’, but she had nothing.
All the clothes and accessories Lydia wore while pretending to be Arwen were the property of the Marquis Amaranth, not hers.
If even one necklace was lost, the marquis would argue that Lydia must have stolen it.
‘I have nothing, so I can’t give anything.’
That was Lydia’s conclusion. At least, as far as ‘wealth’ is concerned.
If so, is there anything that is not material that it might tempt him by?
She was groaning in her heart, but she wondered if the long silence was boring?
Sihon broke the silence with a bored face.
“Done. I didn’t expect that in the first place.”
There was even a bit of pity in the man’s voice, which seemed to be a bit subsided. But Lydia had no time to care about him.
“Are you trying to do me a favour when you didn’t really expect to get anything?”
“Yes.”
It was too unrealistic that the ‘real’ he was trying to do a favour without payment.
Sihon’s attitude was plain, without particular earnestness to gain the trust of the other person. He seemed willing to reject the proposal without regret if she didn’t hold his hand. In fact, he has nothing to lose.
Lydia now understood that he had offered to help without any trickery.
Yes, she can understand it by ‘mind’… … but it didn’t make sense in ‘heart’.
Gracias por el capítulo!
I am now in tears…. She is truly in near despair