Chapter 43

Feeling Liv’s gaze, Corida put down the fork she was holding and awkwardly stood up.

“Ah, I’ll go with you.”

Letting Corida meet the Marquis directly was probably not a good idea. The Marquis was known for being cold and unsociable. If Corida, who was not well-versed in worldly affairs, learned that such a man had suddenly shown favor by introducing a doctor, she would definitely find it strange.

Besides, from the Marquis’s perspective, there was no reason to meet Corida in person. Liv shook her head without hesitation.

“No, you don’t need to. Can you be alright on your own while I’m gone?”

“Are you sure I don’t need to greet him?”

“It’s alright, Miss Corida.”

Philip gently intervened from beside them, trying to dissuade Corida. Adolf also gestured reassuringly, telling her not to feel burdened.

Corida, hesitating, spoke carefully, “I can be alone, but…”

“It won’t take long. If you are worried, I can stay with you,” Adolf said, trying to reassure Liv.

Liv hesitated for a moment. She didn’t think Philip or Adolf would harm Corida. They had just finished Thierry’s examination, so there was no reason for them to behave badly now. Moreover, all of this was being carried out under the Marquis’s orders.

So, if they harmed Corida, they would also be defying the Marquis’s commands.

“I’ll be back soon, Corida.”

“Yes, don’t worry and go.”

Alright, let’s make this quick.

With that decision, Liv stood up. Fortunately, Adolf assigned a servant to accompany her, allowing her to find the Marquis without getting lost. The Marquis was in his private lounge, on the top floor of the mansion.

He stood by the window, a cigar between his lips, with wisps of smoke drifting out through the open window.

“Your sister were examined?”

“Yes, thanks to your kindness, it went well.”

“Dr. Gertrude may be a bit particular, but her skills are reliable. I heard she didn’t acknowledge your greeting properly?”

It seemed that someone had reported this to him in real time. Considering that he had personally introduced his doctor, it was natural for him to be interested, even if he hadn’t been present.

Liv wasn’t surprised. She nodded and spoke in a low voice, “It’s alright. As long as Corida received proper care.”

Thierry had been very serious during the examination, as if to prove her own boast. She hadn’t made a hasty diagnosis of Corida’s condition, and she noted even the smallest symptoms.

Although some blood was drawn, it was nothing like the excessive bloodletting in the past. She had simply pricked Corida’s fingertip to collect what was needed. Whenever she used a stethoscope or touched Corida, she always sought her consent first.

This approach had significantly eased Corida’s anxiety. Though she had been tense at the beginning of the examination, by the end, she had visibly relaxed.

“Did you hear the results of the examination?”

“Not yet. She said it would take some time to confirm a few things.”

“I see. I’ll make sure they inform you as soon as the results are ready.”

Just as Liv began to feel relieved that the examination had gone smoothly, the Marquis’s words brought a new wave of unease.

What if the diagnosis was bad? What if the medication Corida had been taking was useless, or her condition had worsened over the years, or there was an issue with Liv’s care…?

Liv pushed away the dark thoughts that threatened to overwhelm her. At least, these weren’t concerns to be dwelling on here and now. She wasn’t alone.

With her hands clasped tightly together, Liv finally expressed her gratitude.

“Thank you. You’ve really helped me so much…”

“Sit.”

Before Liv could finish her words, the Marquis gestured toward the sofa.

As she sat, her legs gave way slightly, causing the sofa cushion to make a louder sound than expected.

“Anyone would think you were the patient.”

Blushing slightly, Liv retorted, “That was just a mistake.”

“If I didn’t know how pale you looked, I’d have shown you a mirror.”

Liv, who had been sitting quietly, raised her head at his words. The Marquis, who had been leaning against the window, began to move slowly.

He casually flicked the half-burnt cigar into the ashtray and picked up a cigar case that lay beside it. With deliberate slowness, he drew out a cigar, cut the cap, and approached Liv.

Just as he had handed her a handkerchief before, his gesture toward her was casual and nonchalant.

“The scent can sometimes help calm you down.”

Liv, taken aback, took the cigar, looking up at him in surprise. The moment their eyes met, she flinched, quickly looking away as though she’d been burned. She fumbled with the thick cigar for a moment before cautiously placing it between her lips.

She had often smelled cigars, but this was her first time holding one in her mouth. The unfamiliar texture and taste left her bewildered, and the Marquis lit the end of the cigar with a match.

Liv stared, almost entranced, at the small flickering flame before abruptly pulling the cigar away from her lips at the sharp, hot sensation that stung her nose.

“Cough, cough!”

Without realizing it, Liv inhaled the smoke awkwardly, causing her to quickly cover her mouth, but she couldn’t stop the harsh coughing that followed. She coughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes, and only after regaining her breath did she lift her head.

Despite her struggle, the cigar remained lit in her hand, its end glowing red.

“Ah, I suppose it was too much for you.”

The Marquis had expected her reaction from the start. How else could he be so composed?

He looked down at Liv, her cheeks flushed and eyes wet from coughing, and took the cigar from her hand.

“Then you’ll need to learn first.”

He drew the cigar that Liv had just been holding into his mouth, skillfully inhaling the smoke before exhaling. His free hand reached out, lightly grasping Liv’s chin. The gentle pressure lifted her chin, and their eyes met.

The cigar’s smoke stung her nose, blurring her vision, but Liv’s focus was elsewhere.

On the rough, moist sensation pressing against her lips.

“……!”

Heat unlike anything she’d felt before pressed between her parted lips. The saliva tasted of cigar smoke, with a bitterness and dryness that reminded her of parched leaves.

Shocked and bewildered, Liv squeezed her eyes shut. Seeing the Marquis’s face up close only heightened the stimulation.

Yet shutting her eyes only made her sense of touch more vivid.

The tongue that had invaded her mouth gently curled around her own, brushing against her inner cheeks. The slow, languid movements focused her attention entirely on him. She could distinctly feel where and how his tongue pressed and rubbed against hers.

A shiver ran down her spine, as if someone had trailed a finger along her back.

“Mm…”

A faint, moaning breath escaped her parted lips. As if that were a signal, the gentle kiss became more forceful.

The pressure pushed Liv backward, her upper body tipping further until it seemed she might fall. Instinctively, she clutched the Marquis’s shirt to steady herself. The fabric crumpled in her hand, and only then did the overpowering force of the kiss relent.

The hand that had been firmly gripping her chin withdrew. Liv, trembling, struggled to open her eyes. She saw the Marquis slowly straighten, putting distance between them.

If not for the saliva glistening on her lips, one might not have known what had just transpired. He was as poised and composed as ever. The only trace left was the slightly wrinkled fabric of his shirt where she had clung to him.

Breathless, Liv stared blankly at the Marquis. He casually stubbed out the mostly smoked cigar on the table.

“I wonder if you’ve learned properly.”

A round, black mark marred the expensive table. He tossed the still-smoking cigar onto it and completely turned his back to Liv.

Only then did Liv begin to gather her scattered thoughts.

“…Learn, you say?”

“How to move smoke around in your mouth.”

The Marquis wiped the saliva from his lips with a handkerchief. When he noticed the crumpled fabric of his shirt, he frowned briefly and smoothed it out with a swipe of his hand. He then opened a drawer in the table and pulled something out.

It was a small, individually wrapped candy.

“I’ve never taught anyone before, so I can’t speak to how effective this lesson was.”

He placed the round candy in Liv’s hand, tilting his head slightly as he looked at her.

“But you’re diligent, so I’m sure you’ll practice.”

His lopsided smile was filled with arrogance, yet so beautiful that she couldn’t look away.

Liv clenched the candy in her hand, as if it were her lifeline.

As if holding onto the candy could somehow help her escape this swamp.