Only then did I understand what he was talking about. Was he asking me for an embroidered handkerchief? Giving one was similar to giving a good luck charm to a man heading off to war—it meant I wished Lord Elios a safe return. Usually, such a request was made to a family member, acquaintance, or someone you wished to get close to. In a way, it was like a confession.
Regardless, the intentions behind this request didn’t sound pure, and it didn’t make any sense to think that he had suddenly developed favorable feelings toward me after we had just argued. I tried to guess what he was thinking.
"That’s an absurd request,” I said, smiling.
"What makes you say so?” he retorted, unperturbed. I decided to attack back with an answer he couldn’t deny instead of an abstract one like saying there was no way he could like me.
"The fact that the criminals are on our land is clearly your family’s fault. You cannot ask for a reward when you are the cause of the work you find yourself responsible for.”
His eyes widened. Then, he began to laugh again, his hand concealing the amused curve of his lips. Incapable of comprehending why he reacted like this, I felt insulted. Nevertheless, I remained silent. He likely wouldn’t hear me anyway because he looked ready to die of laughter, snorting and shaking in his seat.
Displeased, I frowned.
When he finally managed to calm down, he gave me another weak apology. "I’m deeply sorry if I’ve offended you. I didn’t think that the negotiation would be easy, but to be cornered like this… Well, I’m thoroughly entertained.”
I was about to tell him that I wasn’t enjoying this exchange at all, but he continued before I could.
"Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve laughed like this,” he sighed, utterly delighted. "Thank you.”
"I feel rather offended,” I grumbled.
He simply snorted again at my response, making a sound similar to a balloon being deflated.
I glared at him indignantly and, without a hint of regret in his expression, he apologized again.
"Oh, I’m so sorry,” he said.
I scowled.
Stop laughing if you’re sorry, I silently groused.
Meanwhile, in Jubelian’s room, Max sat with a disapproving look on his face as he waited for her to return. He wondered who could be visiting her this late. His patience was running thin. However, he kept as still as he could manage, remembering what she had said.
"Max, you have to wait for me here, okay?”
Taking a deep breath, he tried to clear his cluttered mind. However, his delusions only grew as time passed. About an hour after Jubelian left, Max began to imagine that a nobleman was clinging to her, asking her to marry him. Thoroughly disgusted by something that hadn’t even happened, Max jumped from his seat. He told himself that it wasn’t because he didn’t trust her; rather, he didn’t trust the flies that constantly buzzed around her.
Therefore, he headed to a window that provided a view into the drawing room where Jubelian and the uninvited guest were. As he got closer to it, he could hear someone laughing. His expression hardened as he tried to gauge the owner of the idiotic laugh, and the moment he looked into the window, he spotted a familiar face.
"Pardon me, Your Highness, but I believe the first person that asks a lady for a dance has the claim over her.”
That damned fox.
His blood boiling, Max considered breaking into the room. Then, he heard a cold voice speak up.
"What’s so funny?” Jubelian asked.
She sounded angry and her expression was cold, unlike usual. This reassured Max. She never showed her cute side to anyone else but him. As her boyfriend, Max felt proud once he realized this.
However, Frederich didn’t give in. "Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just that… I’m more intrigued than I thought I would be. The hunting competition. It’s just around the corner. I want you to cheer me on.”
With fiery eyes, Max glared at the man. He would hunt him down for the competition if he could. A murderous impulse gradually overcame Max, but then he heard the lady say, "That’s an absurd request.”
"Why do you think so?”
"The fact that the criminals are on our land is clearly your family’s fault. You cannot ask for a reward when you are the cause of the work you find yourself responsible for.”
Releasing a sigh of relief, Max smiled and thanked the heavens that she hadn’t been swept away. At the same time, however, he was astonished by her unusually quick-witted behavior. Smirking, Max looked back at Frederich, only to find the man gluing his lustful eyes onto Jubelian. To make matters worse, he began spewing that irritating laugh of his once more.
Frowning, Max clenched his fists. That bastard. How dare he look at her with those eyes? Max wanted to give the nobleman a beating and warn him not to come near Jubelian ever again. Unfortunately, doing so would reveal their relationship, and that could make her upset.
Just imagining her angry frightened Max. However, he couldn’t just stand by when men like Frederich might continue approaching her. With a ferocious gaze, Max glared at the nobleman once more before turning around. He needed a plan for the hunting competition, he realized, smirking.
He hadn’t even thought of the handkerchief… He should thank Frederich for the idea.
Had I done the right thing? I didn’t want to regret what I had already done, but it was the first time I had made an important decision on my father’s behalf. Just the thought of it daunted me.
Sighing, I returned to my room and discovered Max sitting on the sofa. I had been worried that he would barge into the drawing room, but he had waited patiently for me in the end. Wearing a pleasant smile, I approached him.
Then, in the blink of an eye, he was in front of me.
Huh?
His eyes were fixed on me.
"What took you so long?” he asked. There was some resentment in his voice.
I sighed. "Lord Elios asked to cooperate with our family. Apparently, criminals who escaped from his father’s territory are in a village under my father’s authority. The discussion ended up drawing out.”
Gazing at me with suspicion, he began to interrogate me. "Was that all he came for?” he asked.
His question reminded me of what Lord Elios had said about the hunting competition.
I wondered how Max would react if I told him the truth. The sudden urge to play the mischievous girlfriend arose within me but I didn’t want to cause a misunderstanding, so I held my tongue. I had clearly set boundaries between Lord Elios and me, so I had no reason to feel guilty.
I nodded. "Yes, that’s all.”
His gaze had grown fiery.
"I waited patiently just like you told me to,” he reminded me.
If there was a medal I could give him at this moment, I would. However, the problem was that there was no such thing.
"Good job,” was all I could say.
Once I commended him, he hugged me.
"Then, could you do me a favor?” he asked.