Chapter 44
“It’s been a while since the trial. I’m sorry I didn’t get to greet you properly back then.”
“No, it’s fine. We were all out of sorts that day.”
“But still, your appearance in court was a huge help to His Grace. None of us expected Viscount Bouvier to react so aggressively. If things had gotten any messier, it would’ve been a real headache for—”
“Hendrik Foy. Shut up and eat.”
Marriott cut him off without even glancing in Hera’s direction.
The words were harsh, but Hendrik didn’t seem fazed. In fact, he seemed rather used to it.
“One cannot eat while keeping their mouth shut, Your Grace.”
Marriott jabbed his elbow sharply into Hendrik’s side.
Hendrik doubled over dramatically in mock pain, lowering his head. When Hera let out a quiet giggle at his antics, Hendrik smiled in satisfaction, having accomplished his goal.
“…Ah!”
Just then, Jeff, who had cleared every last bit of his main dish, suddenly let out a short exclamation as if something had dawned on him. He set down his cutlery and looked back and forth between Hera and Marriott.
“Wait… the Duke and that Lady?”
Realizing that the two people in front of him were the central figures in the most famous scandal in Central, Jeff’s eyes widened to twice their size.
“You’re that Emilia Tolin?!”
Hera hadn’t expected someone from the slums like Jeff to know about the scandal, and her cheeks instantly flushed red.
“Miss Emilia, I’ve been meaning to ask—what is all this about?”
She was too focused on Jeff’s reaction to notice that Marriott’s gaze was now fixed squarely on her.
Was it Hera’s reddened face that irked him? Or was it Jeff’s overly familiar tone with the Duke that crossed the line?
Either way, Marriott’s face was contorted in visible displeasure.
Referring to Jeff as “this” didn’t sit well with Jeff either—his expression immediately soured.
“He’s a boy from Underbridge. I got lost, and he helped me.”
Hera gave a brief explanation about how they’d met, but couldn’t finish because a chef arrived with appetizers for Marriott and Hendrik.
The chef opened his mouth to describe the dish, but Marriott simply waved him off with a dismissive gesture, sending the poor man scurrying away without a word.
The tangy, delicious aroma from the plate was tantalizing, yet Marriott didn’t even bother picking up his fork.
Instead, he narrowed his eyes further and spoke to Hera with a biting tone.
“You’re really something, Miss Emilia. Asking for help from a boy from the slums, bringing him to a place like this for a meal—do you really not care at all about what others might think?”
“What are you…?”
Using the honorific “Miss” was a common courtesy for a lady, but the way Marriott said it was laced with sarcasm. It felt more like defiance—a protest against Hera’s earlier request that he treat her kindly.
He shifted slightly to the side, as if to signal her to look behind him.
Naturally, Hera’s gaze followed, turning toward the center of the dining hall.
‘All those eyes…’
Up until now, she hadn’t paid any attention to how others might be looking at them. She had assumed that, just like she ignored them, they would pay her no special mind.
But inside the dining hall, a dozen or more people were openly staring at her and Jeff, whispering among themselves.
Some weren’t even trying to hide it, having stopped eating entirely to gawk as though they were seeing a strange animal in the wild.
‘Have they been looking at us like that this whole time?’
If the scrutiny was due to the scandal with Marriott, their expressions would have been friendlier. But the bitter, uncomfortable stares were clearly directed at Jeff.
Their faces revealed everything—they were displeased by a slum child invading their territory.
If Marriott hadn’t pointed it out, Hera might have left Jeff to endure all of this until the end of the meal without noticing.
Flustered and embarrassed, she began to panic. Her eyes betrayed the worry that Jeff might’ve been hurt by all this.
“Jeff… I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize—”
“You don’t need to apologize. I’m not the kind of idiot who takes offense at someone’s kindness.”
Jeff shook his head firmly, as if he had no use for her apology.
And he meant it.
He had sensed the chill in the air from the moment he stepped inside the restaurant, but it hadn’t bothered him.
The ones who should be uncomfortable were the nobles—he was just here for a good meal.
Picking up a cookie from the dessert plate with his hand, Jeff said calmly,
“I care more about intent than outcomes.”
With his stomach full, Jeff saw no reason to linger at the table any longer. He wiped the cookie crumbs from his hands using a napkin and stood up.
“Thanks for the meal.”
Deliberately turning his head toward Marriott, Jeff smirked.
“I’m sure the gentleman who cares so deeply about appearances will pick up the tab.”
That was his final parting shot.
He strode confidently across the dining hall and exited, just as boldly as he had entered.
Hera called after him, but he didn’t look back.
Marriott, who hadn’t even touched his appetizer, silently mulled over the boy’s cheeky words.
It was absurd.
Next to him, Hendrik chuckled in amusement, as if he could read Marriott’s thoughts.
“Got burned, didn’t you, Your Grace?”
“Shut up.”
Whether a slum kid ate in a restaurant or not—whether he had a name or not—it should’ve meant nothing to Marriott.
If only the boy hadn’t sat across from Emilia Tolin.
If only he hadn’t smiled flirtatiously like he didn’t know his place.
If only Emilia hadn’t looked so flustered and smiled shyly…
If not for all that, Marriott wouldn’t have paid the boy any mind.
“Your Grace…”
As he scolded Hendrik, Marriott finally picked up his appetizer fork, ready to begin eating now that the nuisance had left.
Just then, the chair beside him scraped loudly.
He looked up toward the sound—Hera’s expression was anything but calm.
She stood, glaring at him with fire in her eyes and a tight, furious mouth.
In her mind, she scrambled to find the worst insult she could think of.
But nothing came.
The fact that no fitting curse or insult sprang to mind—despite how upset she was—proved just how sheltered and isolated her life had been.
She felt helplessly frustrated with herself as she finally blurted out the only word she could muster.
“You’re… mean.”
“…What?”
It was such a pitiful excuse for an insult, barely even qualifying as one. But the raw emotion on Hera’s face made her true feelings abundantly clear.
Her eyes, full of resentment and disappointment, quickly disappeared from Marriott’s sight.
She had spun on her heel and stormed out of the restaurant.
‘Hmm… this might be more serious than I thought.’
Hendrik shoved an appetizer into his mouth and pondered.
The Marriott he knew had a shield stronger than steel against criticism. Yet here he was, visibly wounded by the weakest of rebukes—so childish, it wouldn’t even count as scolding.
It was definitely serious.
✧✧✧
“Miss! You have to see this!”
Two days had passed since Hera’s visit to Underbridge.
Now that she knew a treasure might lie hidden there, she couldn’t pretend she didn’t. She had begun to seriously consider making another visit.
But before she could act, early that morning—only minutes after making her decision—Cecilia burst into her room, shrieking.
“What in the world is going on?!”
Cecilia held out a pamphlet, spreading it wide right in front of Hera’s face.
It was so close that Hera had to lean back just to read it.
The tri-fold paper featured various upcoming events in Central’s social scene, along with bits of gossip—but in the center, in large bold letters, was written:
[Exclusive] Central’s Most Beloved Couple—Engagement Imminent?!
The smaller text below was just as scandalous.
Even Hera, the supposed subject of the article, had never heard anything about it.
The upcoming Imperial Ball is being held to welcome the visit of Duke Marriott Laurent to Central.
What might’ve been another dull annual event is now expected to feature a thrilling surprise announcement—according to an anonymous tip.
What is the announcement, you ask?
No need for wild guesses—we’ll tell you everything, because this is something we should all be celebrating.
According to a very reliable source, the scandalous couple shaking up Central—Duke Laurent and Lady Emilia—are expected to announce their engagement!
You won’t want to miss it!
“…What the hell is this…?”
Hera muttered in a dazed voice after reading the entire pamphlet.
