Christoph, who answered firmly, flinched. It was because he glimpsed the disappointment in Marianne’s eyes. Silently licking his lips, he realized his mistake.

He was not the most successful lawyer in the capital, Christoph Schneider. He was just a fool concerned with Marianne’s every move. He had forgotten that fact for a moment.

Christoph uncrossed his legs and straightened his back. Suddenly, a spark of interest flashed in his eyes.

“Marianne. Do you know how much my case fees are?”

“…….”

“They don’t look like they can afford it. You don’t mean for me to provide free service, do you?”

Marianne lowered her eyes in silence, without anything to say. She knew better than anyone that her request was impudent.

Christoph’s voice turned gentle, as if coaxing a child.

“What if I lose, after taking such a risk? What if the reputation I’ve built up so far crumbles due to a good intention? Even the highest reputation can fall in a moment, Marianne. This case is clearly a fight where the prosecutor has the upper hand. I’ll become a laughingstock.”

“……I’m sorry. Pretend you didn’t hear it.”

“So what will you do for me?”

“!”

At those unexpected words, Marianne slowly raised her head. Christoph was staring at her with deep eyes, like a predator eyeing its prey.

“If I take the risk and defend Paul, what will you do for me, Marianne?”

Ah!

A glimmer of hope flickered across Marianne’s face. But it soon turned to disappointment.

She stubbornly closed her mouth. Christoph didn’t speak either. A heavy silence flowed between them like a river.

Eventually, Marianne was the first to lick her lips. Christoph had won this silent battle. His mouth curled into a faint smile.

“As long as it’s not going back.”

“…….”

“As long as it’s not going back, I can do anything.”

“Okay.”

Christoph nodded readily. Marianne was surprised by his willingness. Then she realized she had fallen into Christoph’s trap.

He had hunted her down like fox hunting, leaving her only one escape route. And Marianne had walked right into the trap he had laid. He wasn’t going to ask her to come back. He had something else he wanted.

Christoph’s mouth curled faintly, realizing that she had discovered his intentions. If Marianne had been just a little more relaxed, she would never have fallen into his trap. She was clever and wise.

Compassion and sympathy.
Marianne, consumed by human emotion, failed to notice his ulterior motives and was beautifully deceived. Christoph looked at her with dark sunken eyes and whispered softly.

“Give me your day.”

“…….”

Marianne couldn’t answer rashly. That day. What would happen in the day he intended to take seemed somewhat terrifying.

Christoph knew why she was hesitating. He added a word, like a lawyer making his final argument.

“I don’t know if it will help you make your decision, but let me say that this isn’t an unfair deal. I’m a much more competent lawyer than you think, Marianne.”

At that moment.

“…….”

Unaware, Marianne burst into laughter at his confident attitude.

Her eyes crinkled, and her lips curled softly. A soft laugh rolled like a wave and shattered in his ear.

“!”

At the same time, Christoph’s face lost all expression. He looked at her laughter with unfamiliar, foreign eyes.

Had Marianne ever laughed like that? So dazzling that the surroundings disappeared.

Christoph, who had always seen her smile quietly, realized what he had taken from her then.

Marianne Clozé.

That was what he had taken from her.

In college, Marianne was a woman who laughed easily. She got angry easily, and she teared up easily too. She was always at the scene of any human events.

But at some point, he hadn’t seen her express her emotions. Like Christoph, she had grown accustomed to wearing a masked face.

Damn it.

Christoph clenched his jaw as though enduring a rising emotion. His face hardened. He slowly clenched his fist so hard the bones protruded.

Seeing Christoph’s expression, Marianne, realizing that she had laughed, bit her lip in confusion.

He barely licked his lips. Between them, an uncharacteristically small voice flowed out.

“Maybe this is the time we need.”

Her faint whisper barely reached Marianne’s ears. She threw him a questioning look, but Christoph answered by bringing the coffee to his mouth.

The bitter smile on his lips went down his throat with the bitter coffee.

“You were always wiser than me. You’re right again, Marianne.”

Just then, as Marianne was making an increasingly puzzled expression.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but excuse me, guests.”

The manager approached the two with an awkward face. Christoph’s eyes moved very slowly. As if extremely displeased to have their private time interrupted.

Every time that happened, Marianne thought of a predator. Not a small animal running fast, but a predator slowly driving its prey. He was a man at the top of the food chain.

The momentarily startled manager opened his mouth in the most polite tone possible.

“I’m sorry, but it seems our staff guided you to a reserved seat. We won’t charge for the coffee, so if you could leave now, we’d appreciate it.”

It was polite, but it was a clear expulsion. Marianne looked around. The hall was only half full. There were empty seats everywhere.