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Mari’s eyes shot open.
But her red irises were still closed.
Moreover, with the black mask gone, his face looked completely unfamiliar.
“······.”
She felt herself connect with him as if they were one.
The intimacy was almost unbelievable, and she closed her eyes again.
A soft breath began to pass between them.
Suddenly, everything felt natural, as if it could melt away comfortably.
It was dizzying yet gentle, and her strength seemed to drain from her as if she might faint.
“······!”
For a moment, surprise flashed in his red eyes.
It seemed he realized that she had responded to his kiss.
“······!”
At the same time, his lips froze.
‘With Calix…!’
Mari’s thoughts kicked in.
I’m kissing my investor right now.
And out here, on a beach exposed on all sides.
‘I must be insane!’
Mari shouted out in frustration.
“Let go!”
Then she felt Calix flinch in surprise.
The moment her feet touched the ground, she pushed him away with all her strength.
“Wh-what are you doing!”
She covered her lips with both hands.
His lips were glistening with moisture.
No.
That was just from the seawater.
Embarrassed, she squeezed her eyes shut.
‘I’m crazy! What am I doing with my investor!’
“Ah… what a mistake.”
Calix covered her lips with one hand.
For a moment, it seemed like she had responded to his kiss—but that was just an illusion.
Her eyes were filled with panic and embarrassment.
“I… must have been mistaken… for a moment.”
“Mistaken? You mistook me for someone else?”
Mari’s face flared red as fire.
She was asking if he had mistaken her for Princess Laila, but Calix didn’t understand.
“No, I mean… just now…”
Calix didn’t know how to explain.
Intoxicated by the heat of the moment, he had mistaken her for an apparition—but he had made a huge mistake.
“F-forget it!”
Mari snapped, then strode ahead.
She suddenly spun around, her face blazing red.
Her cheeks were still flushed.
“Don’t follow me!”
“What?”
“Thanks for bringing the blinds! But do you realize how rude you were just now?”
Seeing her place her hands on her hips and scold him, it was clear she was seriously angry.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Forget it! Don’t apologize! Since you did bring the blinds, let’s pretend this didn’t happen. But don’t attend the banquet tonight!”
Calix let out a quiet sigh.
After acting so impulsively and rudely, he had nothing to say.
Yet the herbal scent that lingered only from her stayed near his lips.
It smelled of fresh spearmint and sweet rose candy.
Though he had made a mistake he must never repeat, some mistakes are meant to happen.
Kissing her was one of those.
The unfamiliar air brushing past his eyes was now bearable.
Even the mask floating somewhere behind him on the waves no longer seemed regrettable.
A few days later, a royal ball was held at the palace.
Smiling faces, lively music, dancing couples.
A celebration for the success of the Weatherwood villa.
But Mari’s anger had yet to subside.
‘Why did he suddenly take off the mask!’
It was said that a princess from the Arcen Empire would be arriving soon.
She would stay at Leongrad’s royal villa for about a month.
The villa had been decorated by the Ferridan Viscount family.
Though the viscount boasted about the luxurious interior, Mari remained indifferent.
‘So that’s why he took it off when the princess was coming!’
It was natural for a man to love a woman.
But if that’s the case, why offer her such a contract?
‘What a terrible man.’
She hadn’t seen Calix since that day.
Not that she wanted to see his handsome face.
But to have someone steal your first kiss and then vanish without a trace…
“The King of Leongrad, in all his glory, has arrived. Everyone, step forward and pay your respects!”
The steward announced the king’s arrival.
The king, wearing a red cape, entered with his attendants and knights.
Everyone bowed toward the king.
He received the greetings of the nobles and sat on the throne at the front.
After the ceremonial greetings and well-wishes, the king’s deep voice sought Mari.
“Is the deputy of Count Whitehouse present?”
All eyes turned to Mari.
‘Me…?’
Mari felt her blood drain from her body in tension.
Yet her leather-shod feet walked calmly forward.
“I pay my respects to His Majesty, the glorious King of Leongrad. I am Marianne of Whitehouse.”
“Raise your head.”
On the platform sat the young king and a queen who seemed almost invisible.
“It is regrettable that the ship Henry boarded sank.”
“Thank you for your condolences, Your Majesty.”
Offering condolences for Henry Whitehouse’s death was slightly late.
So he must have another matter to discuss with her.
“But you personally went to the Royal Court to obtain authorization as the deputy count, correct?”
“Yes. My objection was accepted, and I am now temporarily serving as deputy count.”
The king’s gaze looking down at her was not cheerful.
“In such cases, isn’t it customary to omit the six-month grace period even if the body hasn’t been found?”
“…My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“Even Nathan Barrett has filed an objection.”
The king gestured, and Nathan Barrett appeared.
Dressed meticulously, Nathan shot a spiteful glare at Mari.
“Nathan…?”
Unexpected.
Had he come to retaliate for the paint incident?
“I pay my respects to His Majesty, the noble King of Leongrad! Your eternal loyal servant, Nathan Barrett!”
“···Welcome.”
The king looked alternately at Nathan and Mari, clearly displeased.
“Barrett, you objected because applying the six-month law for a maritime sinking is against custom.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty!”
Nathan bowed again, wearing a sorrowful expression.
“The Whitehouse family is currently bankrupt! This is due to the reckless management of the late Count Henry Whitehouse and the extravagance of Marianne Whitehouse.”
“…I heard as much.”
“Furthermore, Marianne Whitehouse has been a recluse at home for seven years! How can one entrust such a woman with a noble countship for six months?”
“Hmm…”
“There is concern that the Whitehouse house may never recover. I beg Your Majesty to consider this carefully!”
“Hmm, there is some merit in that argument.”
The king nodded.
Mari’s face went pale as paper.
She had thought the royal ball would just involve taking interior orders and returning.
What a sudden calamity.
“I do not like trouble.”
“…My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“Listening to Barrett, I see his argument has merit. Can you truly serve as deputy head of a noble family?”
Beside him, Nathan narrowed his eyes and smirked at Mari.
Mari responded calmly.
“Your Majesty, it is true that I have not attended social events since my parents’ passing, nor have I led a noble house.”
“You admit your shortcomings?”
“However, I believe I am more capable than Baron Nathan, who knows nothing of the family’s affairs. I am currently striving to restore the family through interior work and business.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
The king folded his arms, deep in thought.
He seemed easily swayed.
Mari seized the opportunity to present evidence.
“Why do laws exist even when Your Majesty rules Leongrad personally? It is to prevent harm to the weak where Your Majesty’s hand cannot reach, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
“Baron Nathan tried to conclude the sale of the Whitehouse estate before Your Majesty approved the title transfer. Is that not a disregard for Your Majesty’s authority?”
“How dare Barrett…?”
The king fixed Nathan with a serious gaze.
Nathan looked as if struck and exclaimed:
“Your Majesty, I beg your understanding! Marianne Whitehouse is merely protesting against the succession law of Leongrad!”
“Your Majesty, I am simply a younger sister unwilling to accept my brother’s death.”
Mari pretended to wipe tears, steeped in sorrow.
The king’s expression softened immediately.
“It is natural for a sister to not accept her brother’s death.”
“Your Majesty, I know well that Henry Whitehouse is unlikely to return alive. Yet one never knows what may happen.”
“Hmm…”
“If Baron Nathan had not tried to sell Whitehouse so hastily, I would not have objected. I too respect Leongrad’s customs and the succession law.”
The king nodded.
Yet he seemed deeply impressed by Mari’s words.
“Barrett, your problem was trying to sell Whitehouse too hastily. Tsk tsk tsk.”
“Huh? Th-that’s…”
The king clicked his tongue at Nathan.
Nathan couldn’t respond immediately and fidgeted.
He was on the brink of bankruptcy for failing to secure payment from the Whitehouse sale.
“Your Majesty!”
Nathan protested theatrically.
“Marianne Whitehouse is living alone in a dangerous, empty house without proper furniture. Recently, it was even attacked by thieves!”
“What? Is that true, Whitehouse?”
Mari lifted her head with a strange sense of unease.
‘What’s his real intention in saying that?’
