However, the rough sound was no longer heard.
It was because I stepped in between the two of them.
“Stop! Stop!”
Still, it seemed that at least a modicum of reason remained.
As I came into his line of sight, the Baron paused and lowered his hand.
However, the Baron's gaze still wandered aimlessly in the air, appearing confused.
He seemed to realize belatedly what he had been trying to do.
It seems even he didn't expect to go this far.
Carcel's words came to mind.
- I recently received testimony from a former servant that Baron Belmont grew up suffering severe abuse from his father during his childhood.
Perhaps the Baron's reaction right now is... PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).
I calmly raised my palm before the Baron caused any more trouble.
"Now, Baron, please let go of this person's collar first."
Upon hearing those words, the strength slowly released from the Baron's grip. However, as if dissatisfied with something, he frowned.
The Baron soon let go of the collar with a light tap and raised both hands to indicate that he had no intention of attacking.
As soon as that happened, the man hurriedly twisted his body to break free and shouted.
"Damn it. How unlucky!"
Nevertheless, as if he didn't want to lose to the very end, the man straightened his crumpled collar and pretended to straighten his shoulders.
In an instant, the Baron's gaze met the boastful man again, carrying a subtle threat.
"..."
As the silent Baron's brow furrowed quietly, the man cautiously glanced around and took a step back.
I issued a strong warning to the man who was trying to stealthily back away.
"Which family's son are you?"
"Yes?"
"I think I need to know your identity. Just a moment ago, you even raised your hand while getting angry at your partner, didn't you?"
Although it was an attempt, I was worried that he might go back to see the woman again, thinking that the conflict from earlier hadn't been resolved.
"You are being investigated for intimidation or attempted assault, so please stay as far away from the woman as possible."
"No, I didn't mean to hit her..."
"Both the Baron and I witnessed you speaking threateningly and raising your hand as if to hit."
The man's ex-girlfriend standing behind also nodded as if to say it was true.
The man kept grumbling.
"Ultimately, I'm the one who got hit. If you look closely, I'm the victim."
"You know that even though the Baron himself wasn't threatened, he clearly tried to stop you, so it is a situation where he can claim self-defense, right?"
"My cheek is stinging right now! I can taste blood too! Is this really self-defense?!"
I shook my head.
"The Baron only hit you once and did not overreact. Your former lover and I are witnesses."
Upon hearing those words, the man urgently shouted pathetically at the woman who had now become his ex-lover.
"No, honey. Just now, I was momentarily upset because I thought you were making fun of my weakness!"
"Whose honey are you talking about?"
Fortunately, the woman seemed to have already lost interest.
"Hey, if you show up near me one more time, you're dead. Stop whining and get lost."
Saying that, the woman cast a look of disdain toward the man.
As I watched him, I asked the man.
"What do you want to do? Should I complicate things further? Or do you never want to show up in front of her again?"
"Just go! This is so disgusting, I swear!"
The man hurriedly ran into the dark garden and shouted pathetically.
"Still, I'm the one who dumped you first!"
Da. Da. Da...
The last words the man left behind rang out like an echo.
Everyone was left speechless by the petty sight of him trying to protect the last shred of his pride until the very end.
I offered the woman some sincere words of comfort.
"...It seems like you did well to break up."
"Thank you for your help."
The woman elegantly thanked me.
Do you think your ex-partner might threaten you again?"
"You don't need to worry about me. That loser isn't bold enough to dare mess with me anyway."
Then she introduced herself to me.
"I know you. You are the Marchioness of Rivandel. I am the Marchioness of Ardenfel."
"Ah, so you are the wife of the Marquis of Ardenfel?"
The reason I knew the Ardenfel family was that I was looking for an unmarried Marquis to remarry.
Except for Carcel, the other two Marquises are both guarding the border.
Unlike Carcel, who was granted a territory on the defense line around the capital and was responsible for the capital's safety, they said they could not easily leave their territory even during the social season.
Marchioness Ardenfel shook her head.
"Yeah. My husband couldn't leave the border, so I came alone. I was bored, so I picked out a decent-looking guy to meet up with. I really stepped in shit."
"Shall I ask my husband to assign a security officer to you?"
"It's alright. He knows my bodyguards are always by my side, so he'll value his life."
"That's a relief. Please make sure to let me know if you think there might be a problem."
She smiled sweetly at me.
The Marchioness de Ardenfel, with her strangely tomboyish face, also greeted the Baron.
"Thank you, Baron."
"It's no big deal. Helping someone in danger is nothing."
The Baron bowed to her and smiled, pulling up the corners of his mouth.
However, his face was still pale. Moreover, his fingertips were trembling.
"Then, see you both later."
Marchioness Ardenfel, looking relieved, soon greeted us and hurried back to the palace.
Only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.
"Phew, that's a relief; nothing happened."
"..."
The man, who would normally have been so articulate, was unusually silent today.
"Carcel is coming soon, so could you please leave now?"
Of course, Carcel wouldn't suspect the Baron and me being together, and I didn't do anything either.
Feeling uneasy for no reason, I asked, and the Baron's answer was this.
"I know you don't like me that much, but would you still accept my escort?"
The Baron's gaze was fixed on my feet.
It was only then that I could feel the texture of the pebbles and sand that had gotten on the soles of my feet because I had run out barefoot.
"It's okay. It's not like I need help."
Rejecting only his words to the very end, I sat back down on the bench.
I wanted to brush off the gritty sand stuck to the soles of my feet right away, but because of the Baron, I couldn't bring myself to lift my feet.
It was then.
A handkerchief slid into my field of vision.
I glanced up, and the Baron asked me, wearing a faint smile that looked as if it might disappear at any moment.
"Even if you decline the escort, I could at least offer you a handkerchief."
"No, not at all. I carry a handkerchief too, so it is just that I shouldn't carelessly lift my bare feet in front of a gentleman..."
When I signaled that I couldn't do it because of him, the Baron nodded once and withdrew his hand.
However, in that moment, I saw the hand gripping the handkerchief tighten up.
And even that ambiguously okay-looking expression, as if forcing a smile.
The Baron had the face of someone who was somehow wounded.
'Did I keep refusing and make him feel awkward?'
I felt sorry.
He stood before me, his lips twitching in the daylight, still pale and drenched in moonlight.
As if he had something to say.
I cast my gaze toward the Baron.
"...I’m sorry for constantly refusing. It’s just that we aren’t close enough to trust each other yet, you know?"
The Baron chuckled softly at those words.
"I am not hurt by that level of rejection. However, while you may have been suspicious of my words and actions, I would like you to know that I did not intend to make a move on you."
"I know. You said you wanted to survive, didn't you, Baron? You must have thought that if you made a good impression on me, my husband would suspect you even the slightest."
"It’s not that I wanted to make a good impression with that intention."
For some reason, he was more resolute than usual.
Wondering, I tilted my head to the side.
"..."
However, from then on, the Baron kept his mouth shut tight. Though he didn't leave.
So, I decided to take this opportunity to just pretend I didn't know anything and test the waters.
"Anyway... You looked like someone used to situations like that."
"Yes?"
"You instinctively tried to protect the woman from that man."
I refused any contact that could lead to a scandal, but having a conversation was my acceptable limit.
And maybe we can find at least a small clue.
Above all, I also understand why the Baron acted that way.
Before I was possessed, I would flinch whenever Dad raised his voice even just a little.
Even though they are smiling now, I have absolutely no idea when they might start yelling profanities the moment their mood sours.
'Just the mere presence of you always made my whole body tense and anxious.'
Furthermore, from a certain day on, whenever someone else shouted and got angry, my body would freeze up instantly.
Wounds of the past inevitably leave traces in one way or another.
The Baron's reaction was also similar to mine.
"I've been through similar things, too. So..."
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