Chapter 37

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: Chapter 133

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The capital was abuzz with all sorts of gossip today, as usual.

The hottest rumor by far was that Marquis Evantes had returned from the Northern Region with a new mistress in tow.

A woman of unknown origins.

Yet her glamorous beauty was said to captivate anyone at first glance.

"It's not the first time Marquis Evantes has kept a woman, but..."

They had always been fleeting flings, nothing more.

The cold Marquis Evantes never let his emotions get involved with anyone, so no one could ever become more than that.

For him to take a mistress was an extraordinary exception.

"And her background's a mystery, too."

"Yeah. He'll probably get bored soon and toss her aside. Who is Marquis Evantes? No one’s more aristocratic than him. As if he'd give his heart to a mistress."

"What was her name again? Katrin?"

That was their prediction.

But when Marquis Evantes commissioned hundreds of dresses from the most famous designers everyone raved about—for his mistress,

and bought up jewels worth astronomical sums,

and even purchased an entire resort on top of that, public opinion shifted a month later.

"Isn't that a bit much for just a passing fancy?"

"Maybe..."

Marquis Evantes might actually be serious about this mistress.

For a man as arrogant and aristocratic as him to fall for a mistress.

A woman of unknown origins, no less.

In noble society, a mistress without clear lineage was seen as lowborn.

The nobles began to think.

Perhaps that mistress could become the next Marquise Evantes.

Before I knew it, a full month had passed since I arrived in the capital.

Unlike the worries I had before coming here, my days had been surprisingly comfortable.

There were a few familiar faces around the estate, but Arjen had thoughtfully made arrangements so I wouldn't run into them.

There was no real need for that.

He wasn't joking when he said he'd turn me into a glamorous mistress—he treated me like a beloved lover.

"Still, the resort was too much."

I was genuinely shocked when he handed it over, insisting I take it.

This much is necessary to make you a glamorous mistress, right?

Arjen had looked at me pitifully as I trembled in front of the gift.

'No wonder the rumors are flying.'

I needed to become the most famous person in the capital.

Enough for that woman who killed me in the past—for the Savior to hear about me.

Who knows? If they knew about the 'flow' like I did, they might start questioning my existence.

Right now, I was at the capital's most famous café.

"Did you hear? There've been a lot of disappearances lately."

"It's getting scary these days. More people are being labeled Demon Worshippers than before."

"That's why the temple sent reinforcements to the capital..."

The place was noisy all around.

The capital was in an uproar, and the gossip never stopped.

"Camilla."

I was slicing my chocolate cake in half with a fork when someone called my name.

"Oh, you're here?"

As Arjen stepped into the café, subtle gazes turned our way.

People recognized him—one of the capital's celebrities—and glanced at me too, whispering among themselves.

Arjen and I were used to the attention, so he sat down across from me without a care.

"I told you to wait so we could come together. Why'd you come first?"

The reason I hadn't told Arjen and come alone was...

'He'd have rented out the whole café and the next building over, causing a huge fuss.'

I was the one who'd said I wanted to be a glamorous mistress, but if I'd known he'd go this overboard, I never would've said it.

"Just felt like it."

Arjen raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased with my answer.

I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

'Who would've thought we'd get this close?'

Our distance had shortened a bit during the nonstop journey from the north to the capital, but after a full month together here, any awkwardness had vanished.

A few years ago, his intimidating presence had made him hard to approach, but not anymore.

Coming to the capital and having no one but Arjen to rely on had helped, too.

Not that we were close friends or anything, but at least we could make it through the contract period without issues.

"Want me to hold your hand?"

When he went quiet, sulking, I waved my hand in front of him.

Arjen, who had been sitting with his arms crossed, uncrossed them to grab my hand—but I pulled it back.

His eyebrow twitched.

"What're you doing?"

"Ask me to hold your hand."

"..."

"If you don't want to, fine."

I teased him by waving my hand again.

In the past month, I'd learned that Arjen looked more at ease whenever he touched me.

So I'd tease him like this from time to time.

Of course, when he was in pain, I'd take care of him right away.

"You've gotten awfully bold, Rozhi."

Back then, that glare would've terrified me, but now it just made me grin.

Was this the fun of teasing him?

"Oh? Who's Rozhi? Did you mix me up with one of your side pieces?"

Arjen gave me a look like I'd spouted nonsense.

"Or an old flame?"

"..."

"I'm heartbroken now. No contact for the next month."

"What?"

Arjen had been playing along with my jokes indifferently, but he finally reacted.

His upper body leaned forward.

"Say 'please hold my hand' and I'll lift the no-contact rule."

"...Why'd an extra 'please' get added?"

"Time always works against you the longer it drags on."

"You're quite the merchant."

At this point, Arjen seemed afraid of what I'd say next if he didn't play along.

"...Hold my hand."

He said it with a defeated look.

"Missing one?"

"...Please."

"Say your lover's name sweetly."

"...Damn it."

A rough word slipped from Arjen's refined lips for the first time.

That was enough teasing.

"Just kidding."

I smiled brightly and took his hand.

Arjen still looked grumpy, but as I fiddled with his hand, his expression softened a bit.

With our hands overlapped like this, the size difference was obvious.

My hands weren't small, but they were completely enveloped in his.

Arjen seemed intrigued too, toying with my fingers.

"Small."

"Your hands are big, Marquis."

He rolled my fingers in his palm and looked at me.

"I have some info to share with you. Should I tell you, or not?"

"Info?"

"I got some intel on the Savior you've been dying to meet."

I stared at him in surprise.

"Why tell me now?"

"Is that my fault?"

"..."

He made it sound like he would've told me sooner if I hadn't been teasing him.

"So, what's the info?"

"Can't just tell you for free."

Why was he backing out now?

"Say you love me."

"..."

Totally out of left field.

Was this his way of getting back at me for teasing?

Childish ploy.

"I love you, Marquis."

I wasn't the type to get hung up on stuff like that.

Arjen stared at me blankly for a moment. He probably hadn't expected me to actually do it.

I grinned wide and opened my mouth again.

"Marquis, I love you."

"..."

"I love you."

"..."

"I love..."

"Stop."

Arjen sighed and rubbed his face.

His palm cupped my cheek.

"...You really wanted to hear about the Savior that badly."

"You promised to help me meet them from the start."

"True."

Arjen let out another sigh.

"This isn't the place for it. Let's move."

"Sure."

I put my hat back on from beside me and left the café with Arjen.

Gazes followed us the whole way out.

People pretending not to stare out of curiosity blushed openly when they saw Arjen.

'He really is handsome.'

I was ogling him too when a gust of wind blew.

The harsh wind stung my eyes, forcing them shut—and suddenly my head felt light.

"My hat..."

The hat was flying off in the wind.

"Marquis, wait..."

"I'll get it."

"No..."

Arjen moved before I could stop him.

'Why's he doing something so out of character?'

Fetching things for others didn't suit that man's temperament at all.

What a wind.

That was when I was watching Arjen go pick up my hat.

"Rozhi."

A voice calling me from the opposite direction.

My spine chilled at the familiar voice.

...Rihart?