Chapter 76 - My Secret Escort

‘How dare a commoner act so arrogant toward me just because he’s backed by the lady!’ The baron stared back at Max, then reeled back when he saw the man’s red eyes clouded with bloodlust. ‘I didn’t realize it until now, but how are his 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 is dangerous.’ Rather than the lady, the baron who was now frightened by this mere commoner. He gulped out of nervousness and felt the urge to leave this place as soon as possible. 

“Now that I have apologized, I’ll be leaving.” When he disappeared, almost as if fleeing from the scene, Max scrutinized the baron and raised a corner of his lips deviously. ‘Baron Gordon… huh. I should kill this fool soon.’ 

At that moment, he heard a voice that tickled his ears. “Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?

When the face he had been searching for came into view, his bloodthirsty eyes became docile right away. ‘Did she think I was going to get hurt by an idiot like him?’ Max was about to respond in his usual manner, then stopped upon remembering what she had once told him. “I’m still in a situation where I’m being ignored by people in high society. How will they take me seriously if you disrespect me as well?”  

Max held her small, slender, and warm hands tightly and replied, “I’m fine, my lady.” 

Jubelian’s eyes quivered in response.

* * *

‘I can’t believe he just left like that.’ It was odd to see the baron leave so quietly after causing a commotion and insisting on receiving an apology, but it wasn’t so strange when I thought about it. ‘Well… It wasn’t my intention to make him feel uncomfortable about speaking informally to me, but he probably felt that way, considering my social status.’ There was no telling what he would’ve done to my father’s disciple if I hadn’t intervened and unintentionally demeaned him. ‘No matter how skilled he is at swordsmanship, he won’t be able to avoid getting punished for going against a nobleman.’

I cast a furtive glance at my father’s disciple, but it didn’t look like he was injured anywhere. ‘Hm, seeing as he’s so stiff, is he shocked by what happened?’  I extended my hand towards him out of concern.

“Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?” I asked. He turned towards me in response. It didn’t seem like he was frightened because his eyes weren’t any different from usual. ‘That’s 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. ‘I’m really glad. After what happened today, I was worried that he might become intimidated and keep his distance from me…’ 

At that moment, he held my hands. ‘Um, why is he holding them very tightly?’ His firm grasp reminded me of a lost child who had finally found his parents. I felt amused that I could sense such innocence from his big hands. ‘I guess he’s relieved to see someone he knows.’ It seemed like letting him stay in my room and feeding him hadn’t been in vain because he was finally opening up towards me. At that moment, I heard him speak formally, which was something I thought I would never hear in my life.

“I’m fine, my lady,” he said. I never thought I would hear him speak like that in my life, so I became skeptical of him, rather than doubtful of my perfectly working ears. ‘Wait a minute… what’s gotten into him?’ I didn’t understand why someone who frequently got into trouble for being stubborn and speaking informally was now giving me the opposite treatment.

“Hey, are you okay?” His dispute with the baron had been ongoing for some time before I intervened, so it was possible someone hit him near his head. With this suspicion, I stared attentively at his face but couldn’t see much because of his tall stature. ‘At least he has the height going for him.’ Not only did he tower over me, but he was also handsome as well. Even though the commotion had passed, many people continued to stop and look at him.

“Who is that gentleman over there?”

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

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

No matter how big the plaza was, it was still located at the very center of the capital. It wasn’t surprising that people recognized me as the infamous lady in high society.

“Hey, we can stop—”

I was about to tell him to let go of my hands so we could move somewhere else, but he interrupted me. “There’s something I have to let you know, my lady. The contract you mentioned…”

Goosebumps had risen on my skin from his politeness, but that was now a separate issue. I became startled at what he was about to say and covered his mouth with my hands. “You’re talking about the payment you need from my father, right?” I asked. This was a bluff; there was only one thing that he wanted to tell me right now, and that was his answer to my proposal to start a contractual relationship. ‘I can’t have such an important conversation in such a crowded place, where people might be listening.’ 

“Follow me.” I continued to hold his hands and dragged him towards the carriage. “Here, get in.”

Instead of getting in like I directed, however, he looked at me gently. “Why don’t you get in first, my lady?” His unexpected offer made me feel strange. ‘It seems like he’s become a little kinder?’

“So why did you leave that day without saying anything?” I asked when the carriage door closed. I had been secretly bothered by his angry expression and wondered if he hated the idea of being in a contractual relationship with me that much. ‘He should’ve rejected me if that’s the case. Then I could’ve started brainstorming ideas on how to run away…’

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

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