HBL 13

Chapter 13

Leobint added with an amused look on his face.

“Of course, I’m not actually going to go around doing that—it’s just for show, so people think that’s what’s going on.”

Saronne nodded. But soon after, she looked at him with eyes that showed a hint of confusion.

‘I understand the reasons behind Sir Hethrian’s decision to take this step.’

In the current situation, suddenly pretending to be in a relationship could easily lead to gossip.

People would inevitably question the nature of the relationship, especially given the rumours that Saronne had come between the Duke and his first love. If word got out that she was seeing someone new, her reputation would suffer further.

‘But still… just like earlier, the lengths he’s going to for me…’

Saronne still didn’t fully understand why he was helping her.

When Leobint had mentioned the wish token, she’d assumed it was simply because he didn’t want anything in particular at that moment.

But perhaps he did have a specific goal in mind after all.

‘No, that’s not the important part right now.’

What mattered was that his actions ultimately worked in her favour, even if they were motivated by his own agenda.

“Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m losing anything, either.”

Leobint suddenly spoke, as if he had read her thoughts.

“I already have a flashy reputation for being a womanizer anyway. Married women, widows, single mothers—there’ve been so many scandals that adding one more woman won’t make any difference.”

“……”

“Ah, saying it like that makes me sound like trash again… But they’re all baseless, malicious rumors with no solid evidence. People just love talking about others too much.”

Leobint furrowed his brows slightly, looking genuinely fed up.

Saronne, who had been quietly wary of his intentions, let out a small chuckle. At this, his expression relaxed visibly, too.

Propping his chin on his hand, which was resting on the armrest, he smiled brightly.

“I want to call you by your name. Rather than that surname you’re using now.”

“Would you like to? You can call me comfortably.”

“And I’d like to be called by my name too. I’m younger, after all, so you don’t need to speak so formally with me.”

“Then… you can speak casually with me too.”

Uncertain about the right moment to stop using honorifics and start calling him by his name, Saronne added.

“I’m not sure when it’s appropriate to start calling you by your name.”

Leobint was naturally warm and friendly, so speaking to him informally didn’t feel awkward.

Nevertheless, doing something like this for the first time was always difficult. As if thinking it over, Leobint gave another soft smile.

“Just being able to call you “Saronne” is enough for me. I’m worried I’ll make a mistake if I drop the honorifics.”

“What? What if I make a mistake?”

“That’s fine if you do.”

His clear, unapologetic response left Saronne at a loss for words. There was something oddly unfair about it.

‘Seriously… he’s so hard to figure out.’

His blue eyes, like the sea at dawn, observed her quietly. Sometimes playful, sometimes impenetrable, but always calm. Though his gaze was unpredictable, one consistent quality remained: he always studied her with quiet, patient attention.

“Leobint.”

“Yes.”

At the sound of his name, his eyes softened into a smiling arc. It was a look that said, You’re doing well.

“I’ll be looking forward to… the upcoming banquet.”

“Great. Then I’ll send a carriage for you that day.”

In contrast to her awkwardly strung-together sentence, Leobint smiled with satisfaction. There was a strange comfort in his smile that eased the mood of those around him.

Saronne found herself smiling along with him.

***

After leaving the boutique, Saronne stepped out of the carriage in front of the Duke of Lois’s estate. Her mood turned cold the moment she laid eyes on the distasteful view before her.

It emphasised just how at ease she had felt during her time with Leobint.

‘But soon… I’ll be leaving this place too.’

With her expression hardened, she stepped through the main gate and onto the garden path—

“Lady Saronne?”

A soft, airy voice from behind halted her steps. When she turned her head, she saw Vivian walking in the opposite garden.

Oddly enough, the woman—who was always accompanied by attendants was out alone this time.

Saronne smiled faintly. Instead of avoiding her, she stood still and waited for Vivian to approach.

“What’s the matter, Lady Benit?”

“It seems you’ve just returned from an outing, Lady Saronne.”

“Yes, I have. And?”

Vivian’s expression was darker than usual. She was the kind of woman who could smile without shame, even after pushing Saronne down the stairs and paying her a visit while she was confined to bed.

The words that soon left Vivian’s lips were exactly what Saronne had expected.

“Was it you who took away my attendants without permission, Lady Saronne?”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“The servants the Duke assigned to me suddenly left for somewhere else. They all said they were now to serve you.”

“Hm…”

“They were people I got along with very well… One of the younger maids even cried, saying she wanted to stay by my side. You could’ve been assigned other attendants—why take mine?”

At one point, tears welled up in Vivian’s eyes. Judging by her words and sorrowful expression alone, one might think that Saronne had committed a terrible offence.

‘To think the woman who once revealed her true colors and pushed me down the stairs now has the gall to act pitiful…’

Saronne let out a small, incredulous laugh and took a step toward Vivian. The sudden closing of distance made Vivian glance at her in alarm.

“‘Your people,’ you say?”

Leaning down slightly toward the shorter woman, Saronne gave her a faint smile. Her eyes, fixed on Vivian’s, held a hint of mockery behind their seemingly pleasant green. Then she spoke, her voice lowered.

“Lady Benit, you have nothing, and yet your greed is truly boundless.”

“Ex…cuse me?”

“Why are you so surprised? I haven’t said anything untrue. You covet my status, my husband and my rights, and now you’re taking them all away. Now you’ve even gone so far as to claim my people as your own!”

“……”

“Do the things I possess really look that valuable to you?”

Vivian’s eyebrows twitched slightly as her face began to tremble. She was barely holding back her fury.
Saronne let out a scoffing laugh.

“When he brought home a woman who resembled me, claiming she was his first love, I was shocked, truly… But seeing how you desire every last thing I have, I suppose I haven’t lived my life so poorly after all.”

“……”

“If your heart is that poor, filthy, and petty, then I suppose that’s how you’ll live forever, madam.”

Her voice, soft with feigned sympathy, dropped this parting advice. At last, Vivian’s brows contorted fully.

Saronne, wearing a warm smile once more, calmly stepped back.

“And I believe you’re under a bit of a misconception, Lady Benit. You are a guest here. To presume to manage a household staff as if you were the mistress of the estate… No matter how long you’ve lived in the provinces, it seems you’re sorely lacking in both refinement and etiquette.”

“…Are you looking down on me right now?”

“Looking down on you? Oh no, I would never be so rude to a guest. Please take it as a sincere piece of advice.”

Vivian clenched her teeth tightly. Her hands balled into trembling fists, and after a moment her eyes narrowed sharply as she suddenly raised her hand towards Saronne.

However, her movements were not quick, and her delicate frame slowed her down. Saronne easily caught her wrist.

Rather than looking surprised, though, Vivian lifted the corners of her lips.

“Ah… hic… sniff… Let go of me…!”

She cried out, pretending to be frightened, and tears filled her eyes. As Saronne narrowed her gaze at this sudden display, Vivian smirked wickedly but quickly hid it, then began to sob in earnest.

From the sound of footsteps and rustling nearby, it was clear that the gardeners and household staff had heard the commotion and were approaching.

Realising this, Saronne let out a quiet sigh.

“You really haven’t changed at all.”

The deceitful malice. The act of playing the victim. Her behavior was pathetically the same as ever.

Feeling more than willing to play along this time, Saronne yanked Vivian’s arm sharply toward herself.

;If you think you’re the only one who knows how to pull this off, you’re mistaken.’

Without hesitation, Saronne leaned her body backward, and just before Vivian could follow, she let go of her arm.

In the next instant, a loud crash echoed through the garden.

“Ah…?”

Vivian let out a stunned sound, forgetting for a moment to continue crying. Her outstretched arm was still frozen in place, pointing towards Saronne. Saronne had caught herself on a nearby garden table but had then fallen to the ground with it.

“What happened… Madam?!”

A voice called out suddenly from behind. It was the gardener.

Vivian’s face instantly turned pale as she turned around in a panic.

“…Vivian?”

And of all people, the gardener hadn’t come alone.