As I returned to the banquet hall with Ayla, I saw Noah leaving with Olivia. A pang of doubt clawed at my stomach, but I tried to remain calm.
“Ayla, I think I should go now.”
“Yes. Thank you, ma’am.”
I grimaced, feeling uncomfortable with the narrow skirt, and quietly climbed the stairs they had passed. When I reached the upper hallway, I saw Noah and Olivia entering the terrace at the corner of the hallway.
Something felt off. A slight suspicion, rather than a fainting sensation, shook my mind and tightened my lungs. I felt like I was being consumed by a wave of anxiety. I grabbed the hem of my skirt and quickly headed toward the terrace.
All I could see was Olivia, suspended in the air, her neck held by Noah's hand in the darkness. It looked as if she might be thrown off the terrace at any moment. Not to scare her, but to be honest.
I tried to grasp the situation. Why was he strangling that woman? With the sound of fireworks exploding in the sky, Olivia's terrified face, illuminated by the red light, seemed as if she was about to fall into hell, before quickly fading into darkness.
“What are you doing?”
Even after stepping onto the terrace and fully grasping the situation, I felt confused for a few seconds, as if time had stopped. My mind began to cool, and I felt calmer.
A flash of blue light appeared with a loud noise.
Noah's face, looking back beneath the flames that adorned the sky, was similar to that day, the day he came to rescue me, yet different. He smiled beautifully amidst the fleeting interplay of light and darkness. It sent chills down my spine, as if I'd been drenched in a cold winter rain.
“I didn’t want to show you. It’s not gentlemanly.”
My eyes, which had widened at Noah's words, suddenly narrowed. I realized what he meant. Olivia's body, which had been lifted high and hung askew on the railing, slammed to the terrace floor.
Noah shook his hands and straightened his clothes with an utterly expressionless face, like a wild beast casually grooming itself after a hunt.
Olivia, lying face down, reached out toward me. Her eyes were bloodshot, tears welling up, and her cheeks were pale. She coughed and clutched her long, slender neck.
“Have you been doing it this way until now?”
I asked again. Noah didn't answer.
Obviously, since the men who approached me had been treated badly, I assumed the women who approached him had been treated the same way.
Witnessing it firsthand is disorienting. She didn't try to kill me; she just provoked me. It was Ayla who struck.
“Please save me. This is the real face of this man, madam.”
Olivia asked me for help. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly lifted my eyelids. Noah's gaze passed over Olivia and then over to me.
“Why did you do that?”
I asked Noah in a calm tone. Olivia, who had been sitting there in a daze, began to groan and speak in an old woman's voice.
"This, this is why he was called the Mad Duke. That creepy duplicity, ugh."
Her rising voice cracked and gave way to a painful cough.
“Hmm. Yeah, I don’t want to do something so uncivilized either.”
Noah, buttoning his shirt sleeves, leaned toward Olivia and made a regretful face. He turned his head toward me and spoke to me in a gentle, almost condescending tone.
“That woman said she wanted to be my lover.”
“When did I ever do that! Ugh, ugh.”
Olivia's words were harshly ripped from her lips. Noah shook his head weakly, his hand resting on his face. Soon, cloudy blue eyes appeared between his fingers.
“How dare you call me out here and say such frivolous things?”
“I’m sure the Countess was disappointed to see the Count like this.”
“I can’t help it since she's already seen it.”
He chuckled. Only then did Olivia seem to grasp the situation and slowly back away.
“...What are you talking about?”
“If you keep talking nonsense.”
Noah's eyes shot up fiercely. The man, who was looking down at her with his eerie, piercing eyes, his mouth curled up gracefully, added dryly.
“I’m going to cut out your tongue.”
Olivia quickly bit her lip. I recalled Noah's disposition and personality, as well as the disappearance of the maid who had tried to frame Dr. Rugen for stealing the wedding ring. I remember that same expression on her face as she denied it.
Despite my inner turmoil, I stood motionless, like a stone. I felt like I was facing a butcher, the smell of blood and raw flesh. I couldn't tell if it was because I was shocked by the lunar-like madness or because I didn't understand his methods.
“Stop it.”
I quickly came to my senses and desperately stopped him. I didn't want to be implicated in the incident and draw public attention, and I wanted to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
I already knew he was that kind of person, and he didn't understand why he shouldn't kill people. He might not have shown it outwardly because I told him not to, but I don't know what he's doing behind the scenes.
Noah had been extremely hostile to anything that interfered with or disrupted our relationship. He had his hand in his coat pocket, but he turned to look at me. I grabbed his hand and whispered something only he could hear.
“Noah, I told you we wouldn’t be able to stay here if you did that.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
He spoke in a gentle tone, as if soothing a child.
The frozen corners of my lips relaxed, and warmth filled my expression. I hesitated slightly. All I could do was spout out illogical, emotional words.
“I don’t like this method.”
He tilted his head leisurely at the word "no."
"Well, if you don't like it, then there's nothing I can do. Then I'll handle it like a gentleman. It's my job."
"Everything you do is weird, so I'll do it. Isn't that what that woman is after? To disappoint you."
"Disappointment?"
The smile twisted, his upper lip slightly raised, revealing a hint of his white fangs. One corner of his mouth lifted, giving him the appearance of a snarling wolf. Olivia's face was so pale that saying it was pale wouldn't be an understatement. The reason for her behavior was obvious, and it was undoubtedly something I'd encountered many times. Otherwise, there's no way a daughter of a Count would resort to violence in public, call him out, and provoke him with a handshake.
“How much did you get paid?”
“What, that is...”
Olivia stuttered at my direct question, glancing at Noah. She was sobbing. I questioned her, completely disregarding her terrified expression.
"Your family is on the verge of ruin due to gambling. Even if you're a noble and prestigious family, isn't bankruptcy the same as ruin?"
“Please do not insult or disrespect my family.”
I held Olivia's necklace and examined it leisurely. It was a high-grade diamond, almost free of impurities. The fabric of her dress was also imported from the finest materials, and the brocade top was adorned with intricate gold embroidery.
"Listen carefully. The clothes and accessories you're wearing now are difficult to purchase, given your family's financial circumstances. If you reveal who ordered it, I can protect your identity. That person didn't care what happened to you and ordered you to do this."
Olivia's shoulders shook. Having been on the brink of death, she seemed to understand it, but she denied it clearly, without hesitation.
"No, that's a stretch. This much is affordable, and the Daywood family didn't fall. We didn't even go bankrupt."
I straightened my back and turned my head towards Noah. Noah, who had been watching with his arms crossed, looked at me and smiled silently.
I let out a shaky sigh and roughly ripped off the collar of my dress. The crystals and beads that adorned my neck fell and splashed to the floor like small hail.
"I'll tell the royal family that the Princess instigated you to throw me off the railing in exchange for your family's revival. Based on your testimony, of course. You'll also need to prove the source of funds, including the purchase of your clothes and accessories, and your family's dramatic escape from bankruptcy. And if you're convicted of attempted murder, and if your testimony is a false accusation, even lese majeste. Can you handle it?"
“That... when did I ever say something like that? Why is it like that?”
She was terrified, stunned by the thought of being accused of all sorts of things, and muttered under her breath. I spoke leisurely.
"Whether it's true or not doesn't matter. You're the only one who's in trouble. It'll be your own words. And with no witnesses or witnesses, what's the point? And with the circumstance of violence in front of so many people, it's bound to be a disadvantage. The moment the truth-finding battle begins, regardless of the outcome, the families your father borrowed money from will immediately begin collecting, unwilling to displease the royal family. The outcome is set in stone."
"No, I'm not! You misunderstood. I wanted to drive a wedge between you and him. I was just jealous."
A gurgling sound mingled with the coughing and phlegm. Olivia's bloodshot eyes, which had suddenly changed to politeness, were dry.
“Isn’t this your first time meeting Noah?”
"No."
"Of course, your jealousy and emotions don't matter in this situation. It would have been better if you hadn't provoked me in the first place."
If you hadn't provoked me first, I would have stayed still. I didn't want to harm those around me, nor did I want to be harmed. Olivia's eyes, finally grasping reality, grew increasingly gloomy. I poked my head out into the quiet hallway and shouted with all my might.
"Is anyone there? Someone, please help me! Miss Daywood..."
I lowered my voice sharply, turned to her, and continued speaking in a whisper.
"Miss Daywood got angry and tried to push me off the terrace. She said the Princess told her to do it. I'll say this."
Soon, the sound of the guards' boots sprinting toward us could be heard. Olivia's eyes flickered in confusion, glancing from me to the source of the footsteps.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. The Princess asked me to create a situation that would cause the lady to misunderstand. Please, please stop. It's true that we, the Count Daywood, don't even have the money to throw a social season party, let alone a dress. So, please, take pity on us and forgive us just this once."
The sound of footsteps walking down the hallway grew closer, counting down the seconds. She was trembling, clutching her entire body, as if about to be thrown into the abyss. I looked at Olivia's desperate plea and asked.
“Olivia. What will you choose?”
"Yes?"
“Are you going to stick with me or stick with the Princess who throws people away without any proper guarantees?”
“I will stand with the Countess.”
"You're unusually clever. Just change your words. I'll tell them what I said before, and let them know that I only took pity on you, forgave you, and gave you a chance."
“...I understand. Please do not harm my family.”
"You don't have to show off that you're on my side. I know you're hesitant because of the rumors about my origins. I'll pay for the social gatherings and your makeup. You're supposed to get married, aren't you? I feel sorry for you. How difficult must it have been for you to make that decision?"
Like a carrot dangling after a harsh whipping, tears welled up in Olivia's olive eyes, which had dried up as she was gently coaxed and soothed with the clear water.
“Really? I did something so terrible...”
“Well then. I take good care of my own person.”
Of course, that's a lie. Just looking at the clothes she bought without a second thought, they're extravagant. Her efforts to stave off bankruptcy weren't for the sake of her family, but to avoid being ignored and to avoid blocking her marriage prospects. People obsessed with money and vanity are quick to turn away from such material favors.
“You’d better not even think about telling the Princess.”
I took off one of her shoes and tossed it behind her, offering her one last piece of advice. Seeing the guards arrive, I pretended to support her and called for help.
“I slipped and fell hard. I’m fine, but I think Miss Daywood hurt her leg.”
“Ayla, I think I should go now.”
“Yes. Thank you, ma’am.”
I grimaced, feeling uncomfortable with the narrow skirt, and quietly climbed the stairs they had passed. When I reached the upper hallway, I saw Noah and Olivia entering the terrace at the corner of the hallway.
Something felt off. A slight suspicion, rather than a fainting sensation, shook my mind and tightened my lungs. I felt like I was being consumed by a wave of anxiety. I grabbed the hem of my skirt and quickly headed toward the terrace.
All I could see was Olivia, suspended in the air, her neck held by Noah's hand in the darkness. It looked as if she might be thrown off the terrace at any moment. Not to scare her, but to be honest.
I tried to grasp the situation. Why was he strangling that woman? With the sound of fireworks exploding in the sky, Olivia's terrified face, illuminated by the red light, seemed as if she was about to fall into hell, before quickly fading into darkness.
“What are you doing?”
Even after stepping onto the terrace and fully grasping the situation, I felt confused for a few seconds, as if time had stopped. My mind began to cool, and I felt calmer.
A flash of blue light appeared with a loud noise.
Noah's face, looking back beneath the flames that adorned the sky, was similar to that day, the day he came to rescue me, yet different. He smiled beautifully amidst the fleeting interplay of light and darkness. It sent chills down my spine, as if I'd been drenched in a cold winter rain.
“I didn’t want to show you. It’s not gentlemanly.”
My eyes, which had widened at Noah's words, suddenly narrowed. I realized what he meant. Olivia's body, which had been lifted high and hung askew on the railing, slammed to the terrace floor.
Noah shook his hands and straightened his clothes with an utterly expressionless face, like a wild beast casually grooming itself after a hunt.
Olivia, lying face down, reached out toward me. Her eyes were bloodshot, tears welling up, and her cheeks were pale. She coughed and clutched her long, slender neck.
“Have you been doing it this way until now?”
I asked again. Noah didn't answer.
Obviously, since the men who approached me had been treated badly, I assumed the women who approached him had been treated the same way.
Witnessing it firsthand is disorienting. She didn't try to kill me; she just provoked me. It was Ayla who struck.
“Please save me. This is the real face of this man, madam.”
Olivia asked me for help. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly lifted my eyelids. Noah's gaze passed over Olivia and then over to me.
“Why did you do that?”
I asked Noah in a calm tone. Olivia, who had been sitting there in a daze, began to groan and speak in an old woman's voice.
"This, this is why he was called the Mad Duke. That creepy duplicity, ugh."
Her rising voice cracked and gave way to a painful cough.
“Hmm. Yeah, I don’t want to do something so uncivilized either.”
Noah, buttoning his shirt sleeves, leaned toward Olivia and made a regretful face. He turned his head toward me and spoke to me in a gentle, almost condescending tone.
“That woman said she wanted to be my lover.”
“When did I ever do that! Ugh, ugh.”
Olivia's words were harshly ripped from her lips. Noah shook his head weakly, his hand resting on his face. Soon, cloudy blue eyes appeared between his fingers.
“How dare you call me out here and say such frivolous things?”
“I’m sure the Countess was disappointed to see the Count like this.”
“I can’t help it since she's already seen it.”
He chuckled. Only then did Olivia seem to grasp the situation and slowly back away.
“...What are you talking about?”
“If you keep talking nonsense.”
Noah's eyes shot up fiercely. The man, who was looking down at her with his eerie, piercing eyes, his mouth curled up gracefully, added dryly.
“I’m going to cut out your tongue.”
Olivia quickly bit her lip. I recalled Noah's disposition and personality, as well as the disappearance of the maid who had tried to frame Dr. Rugen for stealing the wedding ring. I remember that same expression on her face as she denied it.
Despite my inner turmoil, I stood motionless, like a stone. I felt like I was facing a butcher, the smell of blood and raw flesh. I couldn't tell if it was because I was shocked by the lunar-like madness or because I didn't understand his methods.
“Stop it.”
I quickly came to my senses and desperately stopped him. I didn't want to be implicated in the incident and draw public attention, and I wanted to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
I already knew he was that kind of person, and he didn't understand why he shouldn't kill people. He might not have shown it outwardly because I told him not to, but I don't know what he's doing behind the scenes.
Noah had been extremely hostile to anything that interfered with or disrupted our relationship. He had his hand in his coat pocket, but he turned to look at me. I grabbed his hand and whispered something only he could hear.
“Noah, I told you we wouldn’t be able to stay here if you did that.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
He spoke in a gentle tone, as if soothing a child.
The frozen corners of my lips relaxed, and warmth filled my expression. I hesitated slightly. All I could do was spout out illogical, emotional words.
“I don’t like this method.”
He tilted his head leisurely at the word "no."
"Well, if you don't like it, then there's nothing I can do. Then I'll handle it like a gentleman. It's my job."
"Everything you do is weird, so I'll do it. Isn't that what that woman is after? To disappoint you."
"Disappointment?"
The smile twisted, his upper lip slightly raised, revealing a hint of his white fangs. One corner of his mouth lifted, giving him the appearance of a snarling wolf. Olivia's face was so pale that saying it was pale wouldn't be an understatement. The reason for her behavior was obvious, and it was undoubtedly something I'd encountered many times. Otherwise, there's no way a daughter of a Count would resort to violence in public, call him out, and provoke him with a handshake.
“How much did you get paid?”
“What, that is...”
Olivia stuttered at my direct question, glancing at Noah. She was sobbing. I questioned her, completely disregarding her terrified expression.
"Your family is on the verge of ruin due to gambling. Even if you're a noble and prestigious family, isn't bankruptcy the same as ruin?"
“Please do not insult or disrespect my family.”
I held Olivia's necklace and examined it leisurely. It was a high-grade diamond, almost free of impurities. The fabric of her dress was also imported from the finest materials, and the brocade top was adorned with intricate gold embroidery.
"Listen carefully. The clothes and accessories you're wearing now are difficult to purchase, given your family's financial circumstances. If you reveal who ordered it, I can protect your identity. That person didn't care what happened to you and ordered you to do this."
Olivia's shoulders shook. Having been on the brink of death, she seemed to understand it, but she denied it clearly, without hesitation.
"No, that's a stretch. This much is affordable, and the Daywood family didn't fall. We didn't even go bankrupt."
I straightened my back and turned my head towards Noah. Noah, who had been watching with his arms crossed, looked at me and smiled silently.
I let out a shaky sigh and roughly ripped off the collar of my dress. The crystals and beads that adorned my neck fell and splashed to the floor like small hail.
"I'll tell the royal family that the Princess instigated you to throw me off the railing in exchange for your family's revival. Based on your testimony, of course. You'll also need to prove the source of funds, including the purchase of your clothes and accessories, and your family's dramatic escape from bankruptcy. And if you're convicted of attempted murder, and if your testimony is a false accusation, even lese majeste. Can you handle it?"
“That... when did I ever say something like that? Why is it like that?”
She was terrified, stunned by the thought of being accused of all sorts of things, and muttered under her breath. I spoke leisurely.
"Whether it's true or not doesn't matter. You're the only one who's in trouble. It'll be your own words. And with no witnesses or witnesses, what's the point? And with the circumstance of violence in front of so many people, it's bound to be a disadvantage. The moment the truth-finding battle begins, regardless of the outcome, the families your father borrowed money from will immediately begin collecting, unwilling to displease the royal family. The outcome is set in stone."
"No, I'm not! You misunderstood. I wanted to drive a wedge between you and him. I was just jealous."
A gurgling sound mingled with the coughing and phlegm. Olivia's bloodshot eyes, which had suddenly changed to politeness, were dry.
“Isn’t this your first time meeting Noah?”
"No."
"Of course, your jealousy and emotions don't matter in this situation. It would have been better if you hadn't provoked me in the first place."
If you hadn't provoked me first, I would have stayed still. I didn't want to harm those around me, nor did I want to be harmed. Olivia's eyes, finally grasping reality, grew increasingly gloomy. I poked my head out into the quiet hallway and shouted with all my might.
"Is anyone there? Someone, please help me! Miss Daywood..."
I lowered my voice sharply, turned to her, and continued speaking in a whisper.
"Miss Daywood got angry and tried to push me off the terrace. She said the Princess told her to do it. I'll say this."
Soon, the sound of the guards' boots sprinting toward us could be heard. Olivia's eyes flickered in confusion, glancing from me to the source of the footsteps.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. The Princess asked me to create a situation that would cause the lady to misunderstand. Please, please stop. It's true that we, the Count Daywood, don't even have the money to throw a social season party, let alone a dress. So, please, take pity on us and forgive us just this once."
The sound of footsteps walking down the hallway grew closer, counting down the seconds. She was trembling, clutching her entire body, as if about to be thrown into the abyss. I looked at Olivia's desperate plea and asked.
“Olivia. What will you choose?”
"Yes?"
“Are you going to stick with me or stick with the Princess who throws people away without any proper guarantees?”
“I will stand with the Countess.”
"You're unusually clever. Just change your words. I'll tell them what I said before, and let them know that I only took pity on you, forgave you, and gave you a chance."
“...I understand. Please do not harm my family.”
"You don't have to show off that you're on my side. I know you're hesitant because of the rumors about my origins. I'll pay for the social gatherings and your makeup. You're supposed to get married, aren't you? I feel sorry for you. How difficult must it have been for you to make that decision?"
Like a carrot dangling after a harsh whipping, tears welled up in Olivia's olive eyes, which had dried up as she was gently coaxed and soothed with the clear water.
“Really? I did something so terrible...”
“Well then. I take good care of my own person.”
Of course, that's a lie. Just looking at the clothes she bought without a second thought, they're extravagant. Her efforts to stave off bankruptcy weren't for the sake of her family, but to avoid being ignored and to avoid blocking her marriage prospects. People obsessed with money and vanity are quick to turn away from such material favors.
“You’d better not even think about telling the Princess.”
I took off one of her shoes and tossed it behind her, offering her one last piece of advice. Seeing the guards arrive, I pretended to support her and called for help.
“I slipped and fell hard. I’m fine, but I think Miss Daywood hurt her leg.”
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