ILTDAMH|CHAPTER 124

Chapter 124

Ruan’s Gift (1)

“A bodyguard? But Ruan, I already have more than ten of them.”

Ten wasn’t enough, and he was adding more?

“Starting today, I’m going to send them all away and have only Yani take care of you exclusively.”

“Ah… well, I’m grateful for that.”

Being followed by so many bodyguards whenever she went out had made Merican’s feel self-conscious, so Ruan’s decision was a relief.

“Grateful? Were the other bodyguards not to your liking?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just… having so many made me uncomfortable under everyone’s gaze. You said her name was Yani, right? I’ll be counting on her.”

“Please, don’t be so formal, my lady.”

Merican felt a strange familiarity with Yani’s face, as if she’d seen her somewhere before.

“Yani… have we met somewhere? No, that can’t be it. If I had seen such a beautiful and elegant woman like Yani before, I’d remember. Who is she? Her face looks so familiar… wait. Her deep brown eyes, sharp nose, and defined jawline—they resemble Lord Tablo, don’t they?”

Merican quickly avoided mentioning Tablo’s cross-dressing to Yani, instead vaguely continuing.

Deep brown eyes… sharp nose… She remembered Tablo’s face after seeing him only three or four times?

As Merican commented on Yani’s features and their resemblance to Tablo, Ruan’s expression twisted slightly.

But Tablo doesn’t have any siblings… does he?

Yani glanced at Ruan with a slightly startled look before carefully responding.

“I am the illegitimate child of the Heineve Marquess family. The young Marquess is my half-brother. Officially, though, the Heineve Marquess family recognizes no relation to me.”

Half-brother? Even as an illegitimate child, usually such things would be whispered among the nobility—but she’d never heard of Yani before. Could she have been a secret kept from the family?

In the Omoncourt Empire, some noble families hid illegitimate children to protect their family honor. But even then, raising such a girl as a bodyguard seemed unusual.

Merican realized she had been unnecessarily prying into Yani’s past.

She immediately brushed off the thought and apologized with a sincere expression.

“I truly apologize. I shouldn’t have brought it up. If I’ve touched on a sensitive topic, I’m very sorry.”

Yani was surprised by Merican’s unexpected apology, staring at her with wide eyes.

Ruan had suggested Yani take the position based on her observations of Tablo’s behavior toward Merican. Unlike other noblewomen, Merican treated everyone equally and possessed a warm personality, yet she was rumored to have completely softened Ruan’s otherwise emotionless heart. Curiosity had drawn Yani’s attention.

Yani had remained in the guild because, unlike her father and half-brother who accepted her, the Marquess had always treated her as insignificant. After the Marquess passed away, Yani was reluctant to enter the family, so when Ruan personally offered her the position as Merican’s bodyguard, she accepted without hesitation.

“It’s nothing, my lady. I was just a bit surprised to hear it from you for the first time.”

“First time? Do you mean this is the first time someone has called you an illegitimate child? I’m really sorry.”

“No, no. It’s just the first time someone has told me I resemble Tablo. No one ever said that before. And it doesn’t bother me. To others, he may seem frivolous and playful, but to me, he’s a wonderful older brother.”

That made sense—nobody had seen Tablo in his cross-dressing guise except Merican.

Merican smiled. “Yes, Yani, you really do resemble Lord Tablo—your eyes, nose, lips, even the overall impression. 

And I understand why he’s a good older brother to you. Please take care of me from now on, Yani.”

Yani blushed slightly, pleased.

“You’re welcome, my lady. I’m grateful for your kindness. Starting tomorrow, I will follow your lead. Now, I must take my leave, my lady.”

After Yani left the garden, Ruan took a sip of tea and began speaking.

“Yani is actually the daughter of a servant who served the late Marquess of Heineve. She was born from a single mistake, and the servant ran away fearing the Marquess’ wrath while carrying the child. When I later found out and sought the servant, Yani had already been sold into the guild by her husband. I first met her when she was fifteen. Lord Jenerd tried several times to bring her to the Marquess’ house, but the Marquess’ opposition prevented it, so she grew up within the guild.”

“So she grew up as a member of the guild, despite being a noble child?”

“Yes. Even later, Tablo tried multiple times to bring her back to the Marquess’ house, but the Marquess won every time.”

“Right, under Omoncourt law, illegitimate children require the noblewoman’s consent to be acknowledged in the family.”

Merican thought of Penelope, who had been exiled from the Empire. As an illegitimate child, she had been refused by her noble mother and had to marry hastily to avoid her father, Charles.

“And now?”

“The Marquess passed away three years ago. Tablo called Yani back to the Marquess’ house, but she refused, saying she wasn’t suited to be a noblewoman. When I sought a bodyguard for you, my lady, I thought of her, and she agreed without hesitation.”

“Ah, I see. She’s quite remarkable. If she had been raised as a noble, she’d be very popular in society.”

“Tablo also feels pity for her in that sense.”

Merican recalled being startled at Yani’s striking resemblance to Tablo—the deep brown eyes, the sharp nose, the chiseled jawline.

“I don’t understand.”

“What do you mean?”

“When did you get such a detailed view of his face?”

Ruan approached Merican and covered her eyes with his hand.

“Do you know the color of my eyes? The shape of my nose? The contour of my jaw? Tell me. I want to see how well you know me with your eyes closed.”

Suddenly?

Merican froze. “Ruan… are you… jealous?”

“Of course. How could you describe another man’s face so meticulously instead of mine?”

“Ruan, it’s because you spent a month with Lord Harmon and Tablo when you went on that mission to save Jemine. You ate together daily. It’s natural to know him. And remember, you’re describing Tablo’s cross-dressing face, not his true face.”

“That won’t do.”

“What?”

“I must ensure that my lady learns every detail of my face. Tomorrow morning, when we go to the villa by carriage, I’ll have all night to teach you everything, step by step.”

Ruan lifted Merican into his arms, and she struggled, exclaiming,

“Ruan, don’t! You don’t need to— I already know plenty about you!”

“Too late, my lady.”

In the carriage to the villa the next day, Ruan’s intense and desperate voice filled the air.

“My lady, please calm down. I only overdid it because I wanted you to know me completely.”

“Ruan, sit over there. Don’t come near me until we reach the villa. How could you torment me all night like that?”

“I apologize, but it’s all because of you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t resist your charm, my lady. I have no control around you. I promise I’ll try to restrain myself more next time.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“Do you dislike me for it?”

Seeing Ruan pout, Merican sighed. “No, but it’s exhausting.”

“I swear I will restrain myself as much as possible next time. So please, calm down.”

“I can’t trust you… how many times have you sworn already?”

“My lady… please…”

“Ha… Edward, the man in the carriage is really the Marquess, right?”

Yani, sitting by the driver, asked in disbelief, and Edward smiled knowingly.

“Yes. But today, he’s slightly less intense than usual. Normally… even more.”

“I see. I understand now why Lord Tablo didn’t want to ride in the same carriage as the Marquess. Next time, I’ll ride in the carriage carrying the supplies.”

Throughout the ride, Yani endured Ruan’s unaccustomed voice, filled with longing and fussing, all the way to the villa.

***

At the villa, Merican followed Ruan into a small room.

“Oh? Where is this?”

“I wanted to show you this room since last time, but we didn’t have the chance. I wanted you to see it on your next visit.”

Hidden between the couple’s room and the study on the first floor, the small eight-pyeong room was filled with countless paintings, including many portraits.

“This room was prepared by my father for my mother. These portraits depict my mother from childhood to shortly before her passing.”

“Oh… so this is Ruan’s mother. She was truly beautiful.”

Merican quietly admired the smiling Elena in the portraits, smiling herself.

“But there are portraits from her childhood too?”

“Yes, my father brought them from my mother’s family. Her late grandfather adored her so much that he painted many depictions of her from a very young age, which is why there are so many paintings here.”

Seeing the truly happy family in the portraits, Merican couldn’t help but smile.