Raul, having composed his brief emotions, continued speaking.
"There is no regulation limiting guardianship to a certain age."
"Since you seemed uncomfortable looking at me, it's better not to get involved."
"It wasn't exactly like that..."
Raul couldn't help but trail off. Since he kept asking why she was here, Marion might think that way.
Then Marion slowly opened her mouth.
"It might sound ridiculous, but after my parents passed away, I needed someone to rely on. So, I always respected a guardian whose name and face I didn't even know."
"...Ah."
Only then was Raul able to understand Marion's unpredictable words and actions.
'So you are saying that for the past five years, everything you hated and everything you relied on was me. Is that why you stepped forward to help? Because you respected me?'
Raul, feeling a tightness in his chest, said as if joking.
"Are you saying you still respect me?"
He naturally expected Marion to get angry, but she showed an unexpected reaction.
"It’s my choice, so I don’t need permission."
"...Ha."
He felt it from the start, but Marion had a somewhat cheeky side to her.
Raul got angry as he suddenly recalled the scene he had seen earlier.
"You're being so mean to me like this, so why were you so stupidly letting yourself be taken advantage of earlier? Could it be that bastard's words are true?"
"Not at all. He is the young master of the family I tutor."
"So you say you don't want to, but that jerk is hitting on you?"
"There is no benefit in making a fuss."
At Marion's words that she had forced herself to endure the trick out of fear of losing her job, a vein bulged thickly on Raul's forehead.
“Pack your bags first.”
"... Yes?"
"You said you owed me a debt of gratitude you can never repay in a lifetime?"
Raul could not leave Marion alone in a moldy room where no light entered.
"But you told me to leave..."
"You said you respected me? Please listen to me."
When respect was brought up, Marion no longer rebutted. There was nothing to pack, so a small bag was all she had.
Raul, holding the carriage, took Marion's hand and helped her get in. As a result, the distinct handprint left on her exposed wrist could be seen.
'It must be because of that disgusting bastard from earlier.'
Raul vowed that he would absolutely not let that bastard get away with it. Suppressing his rising anger, he spoke.
"I am your guardian. So, make sure you don't do anything that would tarnish my reputation."
"... Yes."
With those words, only silence hung over the rattling carriage.
***
As Raul said, Marion did not do anything that would tarnish the reputation of the Marquis Calix's family.
She worked as a governess during the day and stayed at the mansion for the rest of the time. She sorted letters and taught the servants how to read and write.
And in the meantime, Marion became noticeably beautiful. With her luscious long silver hair and sparkling blue eyes, she became one of the popular ladies in District 8.
It was common for a young man who was smitten with Marion to visit the mansion, recite poems in person, or leave flowers.
Raul's dark eyes were filled with irritation upon returning to the mansion. Leaning back on the drawing-room sofa, he spoke to the butler.
"There was something messy in front of the door earlier; clean it up."
"It looks like gentlemen have arrived again. You have no idea how popular Miss Marion is these days."
When the butler answered with a smile, Raul made a face that said it was absurd.
"It's funny that she's popular; that child is still young."
"It is also the age when other young ladies have already had two or three children."
"..."
Raul was slightly shocked by the butler's words.
It was true, but he hadn't been aware of it until now.
In the Empire, one was recognized as an adult at the age of sixteen and could marry.
At that moment, the butler spoke in a worried voice.
"By the way, the young lady is running a bit late today."
"Didn't you send a carriage?"
“I definitely sent it.”
After seeing a man harassing Marion in the square a while ago, Raul sent a carriage to where she worked at her end time.
"I hope nothing goes to waste."
"I will send someone to check."
Left alone after the butler left, Raul stood by the window and quietly gazed out at the garden shrouded in darkness. A sudden downpour had created an eerie atmosphere.
"I'm telling you, it's bothering me for no reason."
Raul muttered irritably.
***
The butler, who had a horse prepared in front of the entrance, was about to give instructions to the employee when Raul appeared.
"I'll go check it out myself."
“What about you?”
At the question from the butler, who had opened his eyes in surprise, Raul pulled the hood of his cloak over his head.
"Yeah, I can't sleep anyway."
Raul mounted his horse immediately and galloped across the garden in one go. Not long after riding down the deserted street, he spotted a carriage bearing the seal of the Calix family.
As he approached the carriage, the coachman standing by the wheel immediately recognized Raul.
"Sir, have you arrived? I was completely stuck because one of the carriage wheels broke. I was just about to send someone to deliver the news."
Raul, having carefully examined the wheel, asked the coachman.
"Is Marion inside?"
"No. The young lady is over there."
The coachman pointed to a corner where wooden boxes were stacked haphazardly. It was a rainy night, and visibility was poor, so Marion could not be found.
Raul dismounted, handed the reins to the coachman, and strode into the darkness. It was only when he got close that he could see Marion crouching on the ground.
"What on earth are you doing here?"
“Your Excellency, the Marquis?”
Marion, who lifted her head at Raul's voice, had a face that was pale blue from the rain.
"...Ha."
As Raul looked at Marion, he felt conflicting emotions. The relief and anger he felt from finding her clashed simultaneously within him.
"The carriage wheel broke down, so I stopped for a moment, and then I heard a strange sound nearby..."
As if sensing Raul's anger, Marion stammered out what sounded like an excuse.
"It's raining, and you're getting all soaked like this—what are you doing!"
Raul frowned slightly as translucent skin showed through the soaking wet dress. He took off his cloak and put it on Marion. Marion, wearing Raul's cloak, which was large enough to cover her down to her toes, answered softly.
"I'm sorry for making you worry."
"If you understand, that's enough. We'll go back now."
As Raul was about to turn around first, Marion urgently grabbed his shirt.
"... Why?"
"May I take this one?'
It was only then that Raul noticed the scruffy kitten hiding in Marion's arms.
"Even if you take him, he might die soon."
“Still.”
Raul shook his head and reached out to lightly tap Marion's cloak.
"You're really high-maintenance."
The two people walked side by side in the heavy rain.
***
It had been a few weeks since the cat was rescued and brought home. Marion muttered to herself as she watched the cat rolling yarn on the carpet.
“It’s happening again.”
Lately, she has occasionally felt hot, and her heart has been racing.
"Meow."
"You can't eat yarn. Got it?"
The cat, having quickly lost interest in the yarn, darted around the room.
Just as the Marquis had said, the cat seemed likely to die soon. However, Marion cared for the cat, staying up all night to look after it.
She couldn't stay still because the kitten, left all alone after losing its mother, looked just like her.
She fed her milk and held her in her arms. When she had to go out, she made sure to keep her warm by placing a glass bottle filled with warm water underneath.
The cat, which had been running around for a while, came in front of Marion and blinked its eyes.
"Why did my face turn red?"
Marion, feeling a sudden pang of guilt, snapped her head away.
“It’s nothing.”
Actually, everything went smoothly.
She heard that the man who shouted at Marion in the square the other day was seriously injured after being attacked by an assailant who suddenly appeared. So she heard he went to a country villa to recuperate.
Since then, she has never met a man who tried such low-class tricks, and all the students she taught were kind.
Furthermore, the Marquis always sent a carriage, so she was able to return safely.
"So there’s no way I could have a complaint."
Compared to five years ago when she was nothing but lonely, these were days filled with happiness.
'Because everyone is so nice to me.'
Because she was the Marquis's ward, everyone always called her "Miss." Furthermore, there were many men who confessed their feelings to her.
"But why does my chest hurt so much?"
Marion pressed hard against her heart and let out a confused voice.
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