Chapter 52 - 51: Nothing to Do with Her

Chapter 52: Chapter 51: Nothing to Do with Her

The carriage wheels rumbled to a halt outside the Beaumont Earl Mansion. Lucian escorted Lilia out, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure until she disappeared behind the doors. Only then did he return to the carriage.

By now, the sky was pitch black. No lamps were lit inside the cabin. The dim yellow glow of the streetlights filtered through the windows, draping everything in a hazy, dreamlike veil.

Lucian stared at his left hand. Just moments ago, the girl’s soft palm had rested gently against it as she spoke the words that still made his heart race.

"Trust me..."

Leaning back against the cushions, a self-deprecating smirk tugged at the corners of Lucian’s lips. He wondered what exactly she was trusting him with. They had known each other for less than two weeks. Even if they had agreed to cooperate, they barely understood each other’s personalities. How could she place her complete trust in him without a moment’s hesitation?

How was this any different from a gamble?

She was clearly smart. She had seen right through his deliberate stalling—which was why he hadn’t immediately intervened in her conversation with Marquis Marlo—yet she still chose to trust him. She believed the promise he made afterward, a promise he didn’t even believe himself...

At that thought, Lucian let out a soft chuckle. Reason told him that a partner like this was too naive. Then again, naivety had its perks; at the very least, she would believe whatever he said. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, his already unruly heart beat faster and heavier, pounding so hard it threatened to drown out his entire world.

"Master Lucian."

A middle-aged man lifted the carriage curtains, his expression heavy with worry. He was the trusted confidant who had previously helped Lucian investigate Lilia, and he also served as the current butler of the Duke Williams Mansion.

"To think Declan Marlo has actually come to Lien. We must avoid any contact with him."

Snapped out of his thoughts, Lucian reined in his emotions and replied in a calm tone, "Excessive evasion will only arouse suspicion. Since he plans to stay in Lien permanently, we’re bound to cross paths eventually. I can’t hide from him forever."

The butler frowned slightly. "But..."

"Don’t worry," Lucian smiled. "He’s been in Lien for so long without making a single move. That alone proves I’m not his target. Furthermore, to return to Ovis, my current status is far from enough."

Not only did he lack the necessary background and strength, but he also had no legitimate reason to return to Ovis.

"Understood," the butler said, bowing his head. "I just feel it’s too early to make contact with the nobles from Ovis."

"Plans can’t always keep up with changes," Lucian said. "Things won’t always develop the way we want them to. At least for now, getting in touch with Marquis Marlo won’t do us any harm."

Exactly. This was simply the optimal choice made from a strategic standpoint. It had absolutely nothing to do with personal feelings or Lilia.

There were no secrets within noble circles. Furthermore, neither Lilia nor Lucian had ever intended to hide their relationship.

At the academy, Lucian would take the initiative to wait outside Class A’s door so they could eat together or head home after school. Although Caius would disrupt them most of the time, Lucian never tired of it. Undeterred by any setback, he showed up rain or shine, never missing a single day.

Among high society, the Beaumont couple never shied away from the topic either. Whenever someone tactfully inquired about Lilia and Lucian’s relationship, they wouldn’t admit to it directly, but anyone with half a brain could tell that the Beaumont family indeed intended to arrange a marriage with the Williams family.

Regardless of what the nobles truly thought, they all offered their outward blessings. Consequently, Lucian’s treatment within the noble circles drastically improved. In the past, as the heir to the Williams family, Lucian would be sidelined at noble banquets—either completely ignored or outright denied entry.

But things were entirely different now.

At the Beaumont family’s winery, several luxuriously dressed middle-aged men surrounded Lucian. The conversation revolved entirely around him.

"I heard you’ll be graduating from Lien Academy next year. Have you figured out where you want to work?"

"If you haven’t decided yet, I have a connection. They just so happen to be lacking a powerful Mage..."

"Actually, staying at Lien Academy isn’t a bad idea. However, since Lucian will inherit the Williams family, I doubt he’d be willing to settle for a lowly position as an academy instructor."

Lucian listened quietly, chiming in at the perfect moment. "I am quite interested in becoming a teacher. But just as you said, if I really became one, I’d probably have nightmares about my furious ancestors."

His joke immediately drew good-natured laughter from the crowd.

Not far away, Count Beaumont nodded in satisfaction as he observed the harmonious scene.

This banquet was hosted by the Beaumont family. Using the excuse of a newly produced batch of wine from their winery, the Count had invited all his friends and supporters within the noble circles. Officially, they were here for a wine tasting, but the real purpose was to introduce Lucian to them and evaluate his social skills.

From the looks of it, Lucian hadn’t disappointed him in the slightest.

During the latter half of the banquet, Second Prince Theodore Augustus suddenly arrived for a visit, having caught wind of the gathering from an unknown source. Accompanying him was Marquis Declan Marlo from Ovis.

The relationship between Lien and Ovis couldn’t be described as good, but they weren’t exactly at each other’s throats like Lien and the Light Kingdom, either. Therefore, the nobles, led by Count Beaumont, extended impeccable courtesy to Marquis Marlo, a guest from a foreign land.

"Mr. Beaumont!"

"Marquis Marlo."

Marlo shook Count Beaumont’s hand enthusiastically, but his gaze kept darting around the room, as if searching for someone.

The main activity in the front hall was wine tasting, which few of the ladies and young misses found interesting. Most of them had gathered in another area, sipping tea and gossiping about the Kingdom’s latest scandals. The two areas weren’t far apart, and with no folding screens to separate them, it was easy to see what was happening on the other side.

Right at that moment, Lady Beaumont called Lilia’s name, asking her to fetch some roasted venison and wine. Since there were no maids serving nearby, trivial tasks like this fell to the younger generation like Lilia.

Lilia voiced her compliance. Lifting the hem of her skirt, she walked over to the men’s section. Before she could even find the servant in charge of the roast, a figure blocked her path.

It was Declan Marlo.

"Miss Sifris!"

Marlo had clearly done his homework, or perhaps he had learned of Lilia’s identity from Theodore. He wore an apologetic smile. "I am truly sorry. I had no idea yesterday that you were the young lady of the Beaumont family. Please forgive me for my offense."