Chapter 45

It turned out that getting a chance to talk to Camille was harder than expected. The Baron and Baroness were not letting him out of their sight. Meanwhile, Million had dragged Liv out to the garden.

“Our garden is beautiful even at night, isn’t it? It’s so pretty!”

Million urged Liv along, saying that the lights had been arranged to make it look especially beautiful tonight.

It was the time after dinner when people either gathered in the parlor for casual conversation or took leisurely walks. Even without Million’s urging, several of the teachers had already wandered out to explore the garden.

“Yes, it really is beautiful.”

Just as Million said, the garden was well lit, making it pleasant to look around, and the night air wasn’t too cold, making it perfect for a walk. With this much light, Liv thought she wouldn’t be scared by the darkness.

“Million! Million?”

Million, who had linked arms with Liv and was about to lead her deeper into the garden, paused at the sound of her name being called from behind. It was Baroness Pendence’s voice.

“Million!”

“Go on in.”

“Ah… I wanted to guide you through the garden myself.”

Million pouted in disappointment, but she couldn’t ignore her mother’s repeated calls any longer and reluctantly let go of Liv’s arm.

“I’ll be back soon, so please wait for me, alright?”

“Yes, I will. Go on, the Baroness is waiting for you.”

Smiling as she watched Million reluctantly leave, Liv turned her attention back to the garden.

Seeing the other teachers gathered in small groups and chatting made Liv realize just how unsociable she’d been. Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like the other teachers had already gotten to know each other before this dinner.

Unlike them, Liv didn’t visit the Pendence estate or meet with the other teachers except during lessons.

This dinner could have been a good opportunity to build new connections, but Liv chose instead to quietly explore the garden. In the past, she would have done anything to be introduced to even one more student, but she no longer felt that same urgency or anxiety.

‘It’s probably because of him.’

With a soft sigh, Liv slowly made her way deeper into the garden. She wasn’t sure whether this change was a good thing, but at least she no longer felt the need to reject or be wary of it.

The Marquis was unpredictable, but he was someone she could rely on, and, admittedly, someone very attractive.

‘And I kissed him.’

Moreover, it had been her first kiss.

Liv had never placed much significance on the idea of a first kiss. Such fantasies had always seemed like a luxury she couldn’t afford. Ever since becoming the head of her household, she hadn’t had the time or interest for such things.

Yet, perhaps because of her circumstances, the intensity of that first kiss lingered with her.

The sensation of his tongue exploring her mouth had been strange and thrilling, and the sound of their mingled saliva had been strangely provocative. The longer the kiss lasted, the faster her heart beat, and she had felt an urge to press herself closer to him. It was the first time Liv had ever experienced such raw, carnal desire.

‘If he hadn’t pulled away first, I might have wrapped my arms around his neck, swept up in the moment.’

Liv absentmindedly touched her lips, only to quickly drop her hand when she realized what she was doing. Her face felt hot, and she hurried her steps deeper into the garden, hoping no one would see her and guess her inappropriate thoughts.

While there were quite a few people near the entrance to the garden, it became much quieter the further in she went. Even though the lights were bright, the atmosphere felt somewhat eerie without any people around.

It took Liv a moment to realize how quiet it had gotten, as she was too busy trying to cool her flushed face.

“Should I head back now?”

She had walked further than she had intended, and now the noise from the mansion seemed distant. Just as she turned to head back, she heard a rustling noise from behind one of the garden shrubs.

“Million, is that you?”

Maybe she had come back to fetch her.

Liv called out hopefully, but instead of Million, a large shadow emerged from behind the shrub.

“Oh, I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

The man scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he stepped out, and Liv murmured without thinking.

“Teacher Marcel.”

“I heard Million was out here, so I came to check. You wandered in further than I expected, and it took me a while to find you.”

Camille, with a sheepish smile, approached her cheerfully.

“Did you need something from me?”

“I always do, though I doubt it’s the same for you, Teacher Rodaise.”

Liv had also wanted to speak with Camille tonight, but she didn’t feel the need to tell him that. Besides, their reasons for wanting to talk were likely very different.

Camille’s candid display of affection made Liv give him an awkward smile. She had hoped that by keeping her distance, his feelings would fade, but that didn’t seem to be the case.

“The garden is even more beautiful than I expected, isn’t it? Are you enjoying your walk? There’s a lovely flowerbed over that way—have you seen it?”

Camille pointed toward the garden entrance. He seemed intent on guiding her to the flowerbed, so Liv began to follow him at a slow pace. She needed to head that way to leave the garden anyway.

Camille kept up a steady stream of cheerful conversation as they walked, keeping a respectful distance.

“The gardeners at the Pendence estate are very talented.”

“You seem to know a lot about this place. Have you visited often?”

“Recently, yes. I’ve had more reasons to come to the Pendence estate, so I’ve picked up enough knowledge to give a basic tour, even if I’m not the owner.”

He flashed a bright smile, readily acknowledging his familiarity with the Baron.

“I’ve also got some interesting stories to share while admiring the lovely garden—would you like to hear?”

“Are they like the stories you’ve mentioned before?”

Camille had once told her he knew all sorts of gossip, from trivial rumors to stories about prominent figures like the Marquis.

Recalling this, Camille nodded without hesitation. “Yes. Though I wonder if such topics might not be to your liking.”

Normally, that would have been the case. But tonight, Liv was interested in what he had to say, so she decided not to dismiss the offer.

“No, it’s fine. Stories that are hard to come by are naturally intriguing.”

Camille raised an eyebrow, surprised at Liv’s response. “I always thought you had little interest in the world, Teacher Rodaise.”

“That’s true. But I also know there are some things in this world you simply can’t ignore.”

Did Camille sense something in her words? His expression shifted subtly, and he tilted his head, studying her face before asking in a lively tone, “What would you like to know?”

Camille was perceptive, as always.

Even though she worried her question might sound strange, Liv spoke bluntly, “The Marquis Dietrion—what kind of rumors are there about him?”

Camille wasn’t particularly surprised by her question, probably because she had shown interest in the Marquis before. He just pursed his lips slightly, as if in regret.

“What kind of rumors?”

“Anything. There’s nowhere else for me to learn about him, so I thought I’d take the opportunity to ask… Though, since it’s all gossip, the truth probably hasn’t been verified.”

“True. Especially when it comes to the Marquis—his rumors are especially unconfirmed.”

Camille rubbed his chin, letting out a thoughtful sigh.

“You’ve probably heard that the Marquis is equally unfriendly and irritable to everyone, regardless of gender or age.”

By now, they had reached the flowerbed. The entrance to the garden was also close by, and they could once again hear the sounds from the mansion.

Camille glanced toward the entrance, where shadows of people moved back and forth, before continuing, “To start with the simplest rumor, no one knows which country Marquis Dietrion’s family is from. So, naturally, we don’t even know if he’s really a marquis.”

Liv’s eyes widened at this. “But everyone calls him ‘Marquis.'”

“Yes, he was already Marquis Dietrion when he first appeared. But surely he wasn’t born with that title, right?”

Well, that made sense.

Liv nodded absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting to the Marquis.

There was nothing strange about him being called ‘Marquis’ when she considered his cold and arrogant demeanor. It seemed almost natural that he would be born with such a title. It was as if he was destined to look down on others and give orders.

“No one knows where his family is from, so naturally, his past is also shrouded in mystery. That makes him a prime target for all sorts of speculation. And, well, you’ve seen him—his appearance alone is enough to spark rumors.”

“That’s true.”

If a face alone could bring down a country, the Marquis would have already burned half the continent. If his personality were even a bit kinder, the continent would likely have been torn apart by endless love affairs.

“Does he realize that staying away from social gatherings only fuels people’s curiosity? It means there are many who are eager to dig into his past.”

“What would they gain by doing that?”

“Who knows? It depends on what they find. It could be something trivial, like being used in a petty love game, or something much bigger…”