Deborah doesn’t remember her name before she became ‘Deborah’.

Though Deborah can’t remember even that short name, she vaguely recalled what kind of life she had lived, the useful knowledge gained from that world, and the wisdom that could only be realized through direct experience.

Therefore, the ‘story where Zen is the male protagonist’ that Deborah remembered was part of the knowledge she possessed.

It seemed that Deborah had read many stories before becoming ‘Deborah’.

‘I don’t remember exactly.’

Anyway, among the stories she had read, the most intense and unsettling one was “Now No One Can Leave My Side”.

Dia Blaise, the only daughter of a fallen noble family. Before her appears Zen Baker, a foreign bourgeois. For some reason, he harbors a terrible hatred for Duke Buin and makes a threatening proposal to Dia.

“Become my wife. And become the flower of this damned social circle. So that I can spread my wings. Then I’ll pay off all your family’s debts.”

For Zen, a foreigner, to set foot in the conservative Groussian social circle, he needed a wife of ‘noble’ birth. Moreover, to rise to a higher position, he also needed a title.

To him, Dia was a suitable match. Dia was pretty, and though lacking in capital, she was a member of the long-established Blaise Count family.

Moreover, since Dia was an only child, if Zen married her and had a child, according to the kingdom’s laws, Zen would become Count Blaise.

Dia was afraid of the arrogant and fierce Zen, but her mother, desperate to escape their crushing poverty, urged Dia, and Dia resigned herself to her fate.

The always-busy Zen holds the wedding ceremony as soon as Dia arrives in Dover, the capital.

The splendid but uncomfortable wedding dress, the beautiful but heavy wedding ring she would rarely wear otherwise. All these things seemed to foretell Dia’s future.

As soon as the wedding was over, Dia had to undergo various trainings.

“You can’t attend formal dinners or parties looking like that. One word and your ignorance will be exposed.”

“……”

“I don’t have time. Learn how to be a proper lady as quickly as possible. If you can’t, at least pretend.”

While Dia was struggling through her overwhelming education, Duke Buin was set to attend a ball. Unwilling to miss this opportunity, Zen attends the party with Dia. And from that moment, Dia’s misfortunes accelerate.

The nobles cornered Dia. Not just them, but even the tutor teaching Dia and the maid helping with her appearance began to mentally corner her.

Thus, the country bumpkin Dia was hurt both outside and inside the Baker household. However, far from comforting Dia, Zen only treated her coldly.

Then one day, Dia discovers Zen’s secret. To think that he was actually Duke Buin’s illegitimate child.

Dia sees in Zen the image of an abandoned child. How could she hate a child glaring at people while covered in wounds?

‘This person is just too hurt and in pain. That’s why, that’s why he’s crying out like this.’

Dia hoped that even if she couldn’t save Zen, she could at least be a small comfort to him.

It didn’t take long for Dia’s sympathy to turn into love. Love kept giving birth to greed.

‘If I try harder than I am now, will he smile at me? Even if it’s in the distant future. Even if it’s just a little, won’t he love me?’

But Zen only made ‘efforts’ to see his descendants in Dia in order to become Count Blaise, without giving his heart to her.

And no child came from those loveless, terrible acts. Was that fortunate or unfortunate?

As Dia’s anxiety deepened, one day a woman appears claiming to be pregnant with Zen’s child.

Dia falls into deep despair and finally decides to run away, abandoning both her love for Zen and her sense of debt to her family.

But Zen was not the type to let what was his escape. Searching for Dia as if he would scour the ends of the earth, Zen finally manages to find her.

At that time, Zen grabs Dia’s wrist and, glaring at her with bloodshot eyes, says:

“I don’t care if you’ve been with another man, or even if you’re pregnant with his child. I bought you. You’re mine, and I won’t let anyone else take what’s mine, ever.”

Thus, Dia spends terrible days locked in a room of the Baker mansion where not even light enters.

To the gradually withering Dia, Zen says that if she cannot bear his child, he will make that woman’s child Dia’s.

“What are you saying? What about the child’s mother?”

“I’ll just get rid of that woman.”

“Ah, you mean to separate the child from its mother?!”

“Are you worrying about that woman at a time like this? What an angel you are.”

With an expression as cold as ice, and hands even colder than that expression, Zen grabs Dia’s thin face and says:

“All I have left is revenge. What wouldn’t I do for that?”

As Dia despairs at that moment, the story ends with the implication that Zen’s revenge will continue.

Deborah stared silently at the book with only blank pages left. Though the story had ended like that, their misfortune surely hadn’t ended. Probably until they died. Perhaps even after death.

Deborah swallowed a sigh. The emotions she felt then weren’t important. What mattered was the fact that this man standing before Deborah now was the protagonist of that story.

Arrogant, and a scumbag who deserved all the curses in the world and more. A man who seemed to have no idea how to love someone.

Yet, ironically, because Zen was such a man, Deborah couldn’t even imagine that the interviewer might be Zen.

‘His tone was arrogant, but he maintained formal speech.’

Also, in the story, though Zen’s words were harsh, his actions were at least dignified. So as not to be caught by anyone, that is. But just now, Zen had gulped down water in a manner completely devoid of dignity.

‘So I thought there was no way it could be Zen.’

Yet he was conducting the interview himself.

Moreover, what was that expression directed at Deborah? He was still looking at Deborah desperately with an expression of disbelief.

“…Did the Heathers return to their home country 8 years ago? Were you also in the capital until 8 years ago?”

Zen’s trembling voice was like a pleading gesture. It was Deborah’s surprised voice that firmly grasped his voice floating in the air.

“No. I left the capital first due to some business. That was already 10 years ago.”

At those words, Zen’s eyes reddened as if his hand had been firmly grasped.

“That-”

Zen, approaching Deborah, knocked over the partition, not considering his own size.

Bang! At the noise that occurred again, Deborah clutched her chest area and flinched. Why was he bumping into things like that in this spacious place?

“…Ah.”

Zen examined Deborah with anxious eyes, then quickly checked his surroundings. The broken cup, the overturned table and partition, it couldn’t have been more of a mess.

“Damn it.”

After muttering softly, he irritably ruffled his hair, then hurriedly lowered his hand.

“I’ll be out for a moment, so please wait here.”

As he said this, Zen’s beautiful golden eyes trembled terribly, and his Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. Beads of sweat even formed on his beautiful forehead.

“Pardon?”

“It’ll be quick, really quick. So just stay here for a moment.”

“Um…”

“You must absolutely not leave. Until I return. Absolutely not.”

Zen stared intently at Deborah as he spoke. It was quite a persistent and forceful tone, but strangely, Deborah felt as if he was pleading with her. So Deborah unconsciously nodded her head.

“Yes.”

At that brief answer, some of Zen’s urgency evaporated along with his cold sweat.

“Then… excuse me.”

Zen left in a hurry. Left alone in the room that had suddenly become a mess, Deborah opened her mouth slightly.

“Huh?”

What on earth is happening? Deborah was sufficiently confused just by meeting the male protagonist of this terrible story. But what about that incomprehensible behavior Zen had just shown?

‘It’s as if a storm has swept through.’

Did storms usually block the path of those about to leave? Thanks to this, her schedule had been disrupted.

‘I wanted to go back right away.’

Though it had become a mess, in the quiet room, Deborah closed her eyes tightly and thought.

Why was the male protagonist holding Deborah back? Why on earth?

But no matter how much she thought about it, no plausible answer came. As a result, Deborah’s mind only became more unsettled.

* * *

Bang! Crash! After the repeated noises, the footman was already in a state of shock.

What’s going on? Is his ill-tempered employer causing some kind of accident? If so, what should he do? Should he go in and stop it? Or should he stay here and keep the confused interviewees quiet?

The footman couldn’t choose either option. Even if he had been given more time, he probably wouldn’t have made a plausible choice.

In front of such a footman, his employer appeared. Whatever had happened inside, his hair was slightly disheveled and his clothes were wrinkled. This was his master who always maintained an elegant demeanor, even if somewhat irritable.

“You there.”

Zen, breathing heavily, called out to the footman. The footman, tense enough for his shoulder muscles to cramp, quickly responded.

“Yes.”

“Send everyone here away.”

“Do you mean you’re ending the interviews?”

“Yes. So move right now…”

Zen stopped mid-sentence and covered his mouth with his large hand. After frowning for a moment, he lowered his hand and said,

“No, never mind that. Stand here and don’t let the lady inside leave. Don’t let her take even one step out. Understand?”

The footman found it difficult to understand this situation. But understanding was a luxury for him. After all, there was only one answer available to him.

“Yes. I understand.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

Zen, who had been rubbing his face with his hands, was about to move when he turned back to the footman and added,

“Except for leaving this place, grant anything the lady wishes. I won’t allow even a hint of rudeness. Understand?”

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

The footman answered without showing any sign of tension. Zen stared into the footman’s eyes for a moment before using his long legs to move urgently.

The footman watched Zen’s rapidly retreating back and thought,

‘Why is he giving such an order? The person inside is clearly a commoner.’

Although the bourgeoisie are also commoners, there’s a huge gap between ordinary commoners and the bourgeoisie. Just as there’s still a huge wall between the bourgeoisie and the nobility.

For someone who isn’t even kind to be so concerned about someone like this.

‘What on earth is going on?’

He wanted to scratch the back of his head, but at that moment, one of the interviewees approached the footman and spoke to him.

“Excuse me.”

‘Yikes.’

The footman thought the interviewee was about to complain about the recent commotion and the long waiting time.

‘How should I answer?’

It was too late to simply tell them to wait, as the interviews had been suspended. As he was pondering how to answer without causing trouble, the interviewee, as if mocking his concerns, asked with a reddened face covered by her hands,

“Was that gentleman who just left Mr. Baker?”

“Ah. Yes.”

“Oh my, I see. Thank you for answering.”

The woman smiled shyly, bowed politely to the footman, and returned to her seat. Then she started chattering quietly with the interviewee next to her.

Judging from their flushed cheeks carefully hidden and happy faces as they talked, they were undoubtedly discussing Zen.

The footman, observing the groups gathered here and there whispering, swallowed a sigh.

‘The influence of the master’s beauty is extraordinary. Well, even I’m surprised every time, so how much more so for those seeing him for the first time.’

With a face like that and on top of that, so much money, how happy must he be.

He probably has never longed for anything in his life.

‘I’m envious, so envious.’