There was a knock at the door.
I sighed and glanced at Peter. "Tidy up," I ordered.
He raised his hand, muttering a spell, and the room straightened in an instant—furniture in place, dust gone, everything looking as if nothing had happened.
I walked over and opened the door. A maid bowed low."My Lady, the Head of the House requests your presence. Lord Percy is waiting."
I frowned. Of course. It had to be about the Marquis.
I turned back toward Peter. "This isn't over yet," I said firmly.
Then I followed the maid down the hall until we reached one of the family's meeting rooms. My father sat waiting, posture as straight as ever, eyes cold and calculating.
"Sit," he commanded.
I obeyed, lowering myself into the chair across from him. But I didn't meet his gaze. Not once.
His perceptive eyes noticed immediately, and though he looked fairly unamused, he didn't comment on it right away. Instead, his voice cut through the silence.
"Why have you not met with your fiancé these past months? The Marquis has sent several letters."
I clenched my hands on my lap.
Father's tone hardened. "Do you think ignoring him will gain my attention? Do you imagine these antics of yours will change anything? They won't."
Still, I kept my eyes low, refusing to meet his. "If the Marquis is so eager to speak with me, then he should have come himself. Not sent letters. Not sent servants."
My father's displeasure was evident. His lips thinned, his fingers tapped against the table, and his aura pressed against me like a weight. But he didn't waste more words.
"I don't have time for this," he said curtly. "You will talk to the Marquis."
With that, he rose and swept from the room, leaving me alone.
For a brief, hopeful second, I prayed the Marquis would just… not come.
But then the door opened again.
Ugh. Of course.
The man I didn't want to meet at all costs finally entered.
He moved with slow, deliberate steps, settling into the chair my father had vacated. Calm, composed, utterly self-assured. He reached for the tea set on the table, poured himself a cup, and drank leisurely.
I sat stiffly, sweat trailing down my back, my gaze fixed anywhere but on him.
But I could feel it. His eyes on me. Measuring me. Weighing me.
He was sizing me up like I was a pawn on a chessboard.
Fine. Two could play that game.
I whispered the command under my breath.
{Appraisal}
-
[Appraisal: Marquis Jhake Deren][Alias: Marquis of Wealth]
Strength (STR): B (++)
Vitality (VIT): B (+)
Dexterity (DEX): B (+)
Mana (MANA): B (++)
Intelligence (INT): A (+++)
Wisdom (WIS): A (++)
Charisma (CHA): EX (+++)
Luck (LUK): A (+++)
Titles:
[Marquis of Wealth]
[Golden Vulture]
[King of Merchants]
[Manipulator of Fortune]
[Shadow of the Court]
[Master of Debts]
[Political Predator]
Skills:
[Silver Tongue EX]
[Trade Empire A]
[Market Manipulation A]
[Appraisal EX]
[Hidden Blade B]
Unique Abilities:
[Golden Authority]
[Oath of Debt]
[Aura of Wealth]
-
The glowing window faded. My stomach turned. Of course. This wasn't just any noble. This was the kind of man who controls the underworld.
And now he was here, sipping tea like he owned the room.
"So," the Marquis finally said, his voice smooth, every syllable practiced. "Why have you ignored my letters?"
I swallowed, still refusing to look directly at him. "I've been occupied."
"Occupied?" he repeated, his smile sharpening. "Letters unanswered. Servants turned away. Entire months without so much as a polite reply. Occupied indeed."
I clenched my hands in my lap.
The Marquis leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on one hand, his golden eyes glinting. "Curious. You've never been this elusive before. The Lady Josephine I knew always chased for attention. Always tried to prove herself. So why the sudden change?"
My heart skipped. He noticed. He noticed the difference.
I forced myself to breathe evenly. "People change."
His lips curved into a knowing grin. "Indeed. But not without reason."
The weight of his gaze pressed down on me. He was dissecting me, peeling layers off my mask, probing for weakness.
He chuckled softly. "It is strange. Once, you clung to me with desperation. Now you look at me as if I am an inconvenience. Should I be offended, my Lady?"
I finally met his gaze, coldly. "If you wished to speak with me, you should have come yourself. Do you expect me to respect a fiancé who does not even appear before me?"
His smile widened. But it wasn't warmth—it was satisfaction.
"A sharp tongue," he mused. "In the past you would have begged to meet me."
I stayed silent.
The Marquis's eyes glittered as he leaned back in his chair.
He swirled his teacup lazily, as though this entire conversation amused him.
"You intrigue me, Lady Josephine. I came today expecting a timid girl. Instead, I find…" He paused, savoring the words. "…someone different. Someone interesting."
My skin prickled.
He placed his cup down with deliberate grace. "Tell me—what happened to you? What changed?"
I didn't answer. If I spoke too much, he'd see through me. If I said too little, he'd grow suspicious. Silence, then, was the safest shield.
The Marquis chuckled again. "Very well. Keep your secrets. But know this—I do not dislike this new side of you. On the contrary, I find it… refreshing."
I clenched my jaw, my fingers digging into my skirt.
He rose slowly, adjusting his coat, every movement dripping with control.
"I will not press further tonight. But understand, my Lady—our engagement is not a game. You may avoid me, but you ignore our engagement"
He stepped closer, bending slightly to meet my eyes. His smile was sharp enough to cut. "And because you've piqued my interest, I will personally visit you soon. Very soon."
A chill crawled down my spine.
He straightened, brushed invisible dust from his sleeves, and strode toward the door. "Until then, Lady Josephine. Or… should I call you, Nephi? Or Montgomery?"
A sweat trickled down my neck.
"Do not disappoint me."
The door closed behind him.
Only then did I realize how tightly I'd been gripping the armrests of my chair. My palms were sweaty, my shoulders tense.
This was bad. Very bad.