HBM 5

chapter 5

The quiet atmosphere turned into a frozen battlefield in an instant. Grace clenched her teeth and tried to steady her breathing.

“Grace, is that really you standing there?”

“…Yes, Father. It’s me, Grace.”

Suppressing her panic, Grace quickly freed herself from the Duke’s arms.

Seeing her in a slightly disheveled state, her eyes reddened and her clothes askew, Marquis Capren Oelin’s gaze sharpened with a deadly intensity.

“W-what in the world is this outrageous…!”

Grace bit her tongue, struggling to keep her expression neutral.

“Actually….”

Before she could speak, the Marquis’s booming voice cut her off.

“What kind of woman walks around in pajamas! Twenty years of etiquette lessons wasted just like this?”

“Father…”

“Silence! You should be ashamed enough to keep your mouth shut, yet you dare to make some pitiful excuse!”

Grace lowered her head, pale as a ghost, as if drained of life.

Lucas’s brow creased ever so slightly at the sight, but the subtle expression went unnoticed by everyone.

She bit her tongue in silence. This was entirely her fault.

She had rushed out foolishly, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and now she regretted it.

Earlier, she had wanted to plunge her nose into the cold water and die; now, she felt she could just bite her tongue and vanish.

‘…What now?’

Sighing, she tried to think of a way to salvage the situation. But the old Marquis wasn’t about to let her think.

“Did I raise you like this? How dare you stain your father’s honor! Hah! The daughter of a noble family acting like a street woman! How vulgar!”

Capren Oelin was a rigid old man. He held fast to the outdated notion that women should quietly support men and strengthen family ties.

The one person he judged most strictly was his own daughter, Grace. He had little patience for any deviation from his standards.

To him, Grace was always the obedient daughter who somehow managed to make a mess of things.

Her face was passable, but her weak body made it difficult for her to secure a good marriage.

He despised it when a woman acted proud or claimed some achievement, as if she were superior to her station. Women were meant to serve the men of their family and strengthen alliances, nothing more. Grace’s boldness irritated him.

Then, by what he considered divine fortune, the Oelins happened to intersect with the Black family again, and he resolved not to miss the opportunity.

Capren’s sharp eyes flicked toward Lucas Black. Lucas’s calm expression was difficult to read, and the young man’s ability to hide his emotions impressed the Marquis.

‘Hmph, but he’s just a hidden power. I’ll just use this ridiculous mistake as an excuse to push the marriage forward even more.’

He concealed his bitter intentions under his stern face, pointing accusatorily at Grace and Lucas.

Although his rank as a noble was lower, the Oelin family was just as old and prestigious as the Black family.

True, the Black family had been one of the founding families of the nation, but they were now a toothless tiger, relying on past glory.

Lucas had inherited the dukedom just a year ago and had yet to make any political waves.

Capren felt a rising disgust as he looked at Lucas’s handsome face. None of the attractive features were meaningful—just pretty shells wielded as weapons.

Moreover, the fact that Lucas had Grace in his arms made him even angrier. Memories from the past stirred within him.

In a cold, measured voice, the Marquis said:

“Duke Black, no matter how much talk there has been of a match with my daughter, to show such behavior before her father’s study is a direct insult to my daughter and my house!”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed as he stared back at the Marquis. Grace tried to intervene, but it was futile.

“Father, it’s not like that—!”

“How dare you interrupt, Grace!”

The Marquis snapped at her, his pale face showing barely contained fury.

“You call yourself a sword that protects the nation, yet you act like an unashamed stallion!”

Grace was taken aback. Her father’s words were excessive. Of course, her appearance could be misinterpreted, but there was no need for such hostility toward Lucas.

“You are a rogue who casually defames the reputation of a noblewoman! I feel deeply insulted!”

Grace noticed the air around Lucas change—it had grown dark and heavy, wrapping around them.

This was serious.

Her father’s words had undoubtedly provoked him. It seemed her father had no idea just how dangerous this man could be.

When Lucas finally broke the tense silence, his voice was chilling enough to make her spine tingle.

“Marquis, I see now that you are a lowly, shameless noble, quick to wag your tongue without checking the facts.”

His tone toward the Marquis was as cold as ice. He showed no effort to hide his contempt.

“What did you just say? Lowly?”

Lucas let out a small, dismissive chuckle, muttering with bored disdain.

“I expected more from the head of such a prestigious family and the father of such an accomplished lady. Yet all I see is foolishness.”

“Hah! You insult me? You were the one at fault! Clearly, you hold our family in contempt!”

Lucas clicked his tongue in a low laugh.

“Let’s consider today’s discussion null and void. I have no desire to speak with you further, Marquis.”

He turned without hesitation.

“Stop! Do you dare ignore me?”

The Marquis’s face flushed as he spoke with fury. This was unexpected. Usually, young nobles would shrink at such a roar.

But Lucas did neither; he didn’t respond to the Marquis, instead glancing briefly at Grace. Her gem-like eyes, reminiscent of a topaz, flickered with complex emotions.

Yes. He had to admit it honestly.

Lucas felt a strong attraction toward Grace—a feeling so intense it was unfamiliar to him.

But he would not tolerate anyone with a black heart insulting her. It was infuriating that the person in question was her father…

Her deep blue eyes met his clear violet ones, a strange sense of turmoil stirring within him. Those clear, unwavering eyes were infuriatingly beautiful.

It was a pity they had never exchanged more than a few words.

‘…Damn it.’

Lucas muttered under his breath, swallowing the thought, and turned away.

His steps down the Oelin mansion’s stairs felt impossibly heavy.

Grace, staring at his broad back descending the stairs, snapped back to reality as if struck by lightning.

‘If I let him go like this… who knows what disaster could follow!’

The lethal intensity of his gaze still burned in her mind.

And the weight in his last sigh!

‘No, no.’

She could easily imagine Lucas Black cutting down her father without hesitation. Even if she wasn’t close to her father, she couldn’t stand by and watch.

‘That look was clearly meant to kill someone.’

And that someone would undoubtedly be from her own household.

‘I have to stop him.’

Gathering her wits, Grace ran down the stairs.

“Where are you going, Grace!”

“Just a moment, Father.”

She sprinted down the circular staircase Lucas had descended. Within a few steps, she was already gasping for air.

Her lungs felt ready to burst, and a metallic taste rose in her throat.

‘Damn this weak body!’

Determined to manage her health this year, she ran full speed toward the carriage Lucas was about to board.

“Your Grace! Wait!”

Perhaps hearing her urgent voice, Lucas halted mid-step.

He slowly turned to look at her as she approached, and his sharp eyes widened in surprise.

Ignoring him, Grace panted, rushing forward:

“J-just a moment! Gasp! Your… your steps are so fast!”

She had never exerted herself like this before. She was desperate.

Dizziness unlike anything she had ever experienced overwhelmed her. The faint metallic smell of blood filled her senses.

“Gasp… breath slowly. Inhale, exhale,” Lucas coached, steadying her as she staggered.

“Don’t speak. Just focus on breathing. That’s right.”

“Huff… haah… huff… haah…”

Gradually catching her breath, Grace glanced at Lucas. He didn’t look as angry as she had feared.

Once she could speak again, Grace straightened her bent back. Lucas patiently waited without urging her.

‘Huff.’

She drew a deep breath, steadying her trembling chest.

Looking up at him, she couldn’t read his expression. That blank face was terrifying—but she couldn’t retreat.

‘I have to handle this and let him go safely. I can’t let him leave angry.’

Gathering her courage, she addressed him with a tense expression.

“First, allow me to apologize, Your Grace.”

Lucas tilted his head slightly at her words. One eyebrow lifted as he spoke:

“I’m not sure what you have to apologize for.”

“This situation all occurred because of my reckless actions. I take full responsibility.”

Her polite tone made Lucas’s expression soften into something like a smile.