LIEWB 63

Chapter : 63

“You—you’re being rude! How dare you touch me without permission!”

“Hehe, Lady Ulmer. Actually, I’ve heard a little something, you see?”

“…What?”

“I frequent the same gambling den as Marquis Vente. I heard he’s planning to take you as his wife.”

Paula’s face turned deathly pale.

Sensing he’d gained the upper hand, the second son lowered his voice in a sleazy tone and threatened her.

“Coming to this gathering even though your betrothal’s already been decided—could it mean you have other intentions? What if I told Marquis Vente about this? Wouldn’t that put House Ulmer in a difficult position? Kuhuhu.”

“……!”

“Of course, I totally understand. Who’d want to marry some old perverted creep like him? So really, aren’t I a better option than the Marquis?”

…Honestly, it was six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Never thought I’d end up saying something positive about Marquis Vente, but at least he’s rich, right?

Maybe Paula thought the same—or maybe she just really didn’t want to be manhandled by this pig of a man—because she suddenly shook his hand off.

“Let go of me!”

She firmly rejected him and shoved the pig away.

Looking flustered and desperate for help, Paula looked around and locked eyes with me.

And just then, a translucent message window filled my vision.

[SYSTEM] The effect of ‘Guardian Angel Platinum Earrings’ worn by ‘Paula Ulmer’ has been activated! Whoever meets her eyes will protect her for 10 minutes!

…What?

Whoever meets her eyes? That’s me!

By the time I realized it, my mouth was already speaking in a sharp tone.

“Back away. Now.”

So… I’m being forced into a bodyguard role? For ten whole minutes?

Ridiculous, but I quickly resigned myself to it.

I hadn’t really planned on helping Paula—she didn’t seem like she wanted it—but I wasn’t too fond of the pig’s antics either.

‘Actually, this might be perfect.’

I’d been wondering how to break into the established circle of young ladies here, but now Countess Muller and even Alisa were glancing our way.

Judging by their rapidly moving lips, they seemed to be discussing what just happened.

‘Shared experiences and gossip are the ultimate icebreakers.’

That’s an eternal truth. So I decided to look at this forced situation in a positive light.

Meanwhile, the second son was rolling his eyes and snapping at me.

“And who are you to butt in? Ah, now I see. You’re just another lowborn wench.”

He was either mad because he was getting rejected twice in a row, or embarrassed that others were watching.

Either way, his frustration intensified with every word.

“You think you belong in high society just because you were allowed in? Pathetic. I, for one, treat people according to their place.”

I wanted to roll my eyes. Such dedicated nonsense.

But whatever—no need to get angry. There’s an optimal response for situations like this.

I nodded dispassionately.

“Oh, right.”

“I’m normally a gentleman, but I lose control when trash like you act above your station.”

“Sure. Got it.”

The more he spoke, the more pathetic he sounded, and I couldn’t even hide my disgust.

Maybe he sensed it, because suddenly, he lost it.

“You looking down on me?! Ha! I’ve tried not to hit a woman, but—!”

I guess he felt I was disrespecting him, because rage blazed in his eyes.

When he raised his hand as if to slap me, I knew this was going to escalate.

‘Is he out of his damn mind?’

Trying to hit a girl in a corset and heels, wobbling just to stay upright?

Especially one as massive as he is? That was beyond disgusting.

There were limits to what I’d tolerate.

“Where do you think you’re raising that hand, you nasty pig?! Have you lost your damn mind?!”

With those words—

Smack!
I slapped him clean across the face.

Thanks to all the rigorous training I’d done for a daily quest, my swing was full and fierce, and his bulky body toppled over like a sack of potatoes.

“Ugh!”

If he hadn’t been standing with one leg crooked, he might’ve stayed upright, but the moment he lost balance, his weight took him down hard.

“U-Urrgh… Th-this wench…!”

At first, he looked stunned by the fact that I had actually hit him. But the rage soon took over, and he started screaming, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Lady Ulmer shoved me and hit me! What is the world coming to?! How could you do this to an innocent man, my lady?!”

“Innocent? Please…”

“Hah! Let’s see how long you keep up that shameless act!”

Initially outraged, he soon seemed to believe the crowd would take his side and became smug.

Ugh, what a vile man. There really are jerks like him everywhere.

Looking at his pathetic display, I couldn’t help but laugh. He thought being slapped by me worked in his favor, but…

‘Oh, you poor thing. I have a plan.’

As I’d said before, the Three Little Pigs were meme-fodder in the Ark community. Even someone like me, new to the social circuit, knew all about them.

“Excuse me, you over there—the handsome one.”

Time to deploy a tactic that had become rather famous online.

“Eh? M-me? You mean me?”

A chubby man who’d been watching us looked confused and pointed at himself.

I gave him a soft smile and nodded.

“Yes, I mean you, my lord.”

The man giggled and awkwardly squirmed, asking shyly,

“O-oh, y-yes, what is it?”

“Nothing much… You saw what happened, didn’t you? He raised his hand at me first. I only defended myself, didn’t I?”

I trailed off, feigning tears and looking pitiful.

He immediately nodded.

“Of course! That brute nearly assaulted two innocent ladies! That was clearly self-defense!”

“You think so too?”

“Absolutely! Are you all right? That man’s got a bad reputation even in high society. How awful to be targeted by someone like that…”

With his flawless support, the second pig’s face turned bright red and then deathly pale.

He clutched the back of his neck, practically shouting with rage.

“Karl! How could you do this to me?!”

“…Who?”

That’s right.

The person who had just defended Paula and me—and dragged the second pig into the mud—was none other than…

“You traitor!”

…the third pig, famously known online as the “Yeo-mi-sae.”

“You’re betraying me for a woman?! Seriously?!”

“Brother, you were being abusive toward these fair ladies! I merely spoke the truth!”

“You called me a brute?! A thug?!”

“Well, that’s what people say about you, isn’t it?”

Tsk. I told you—I had a plan.

In the Ark community, everyone knew that if you got into trouble with the pig brothers, the solution was to use the third pig against them.

“You think you’ll get away with this?! You wanna go all the way?!”

“Let’s go, then! Hmph!”

The second pig had completely forgotten I’d slapped him. Now he was busy bickering with his own brother.

Seeing that, I figured it was a good time to bow out.

Apparently, Paula thought the same, and as I stepped away, she quietly followed.

Her expression as she looked at me had clearly changed, but I pretended not to notice.

After all, if it weren’t for those earrings activating, I wouldn’t have stepped in either.

No point taking credit for something I hadn’t truly intended to do.

“Hey!”

But Paula clearly felt differently.

She stopped me just as I was trying to slip away now that the crisis had passed.