Marianne walked alone down the dim-lit street. While eating, the sun had completely set, and the gaslights gradually brightened.

Liam ran his fingers through his fine brown hair and began walking in the opposite direction. Without even a greeting to Christoph. As if the previous affection had been but a mask.

Christoph was equally disinterested in him. If it weren’t for Marianne, he wouldn’t have had a conversation with him.

Christoph stood still, watching Marianne’s receding figure.

―I don’t like clingy people.

Her words echoed in his ears. At the same time.

―You said the same that day. The sun has set, you said. It was the first time I realized you were worried about me.

The words of her drunken self also came to mind. Eventually, Christoph took a step forward.

Marianne moved her steps in silence. She passed a noisy tavern, a swiftly disappearing stray cat, and an empty park, one by one.

Suddenly, she stopped. Then slowly turned around. She stared intently at the person standing a few steps behind her.

“You said you’d go back alone, Christoph.”

“But.”

Christoph silently stared at her and finally opened his mouth after a long pause. His voice was hesitantly indecisive.

“The sun has set.”

“…….”

Marianne remained silent with a pricked expression. Christoph, making eye contact with her, wore a bitter smile before lowering his gaze to the ground. He looked as pitiable as a rain-soaked puppy.

Marianne chuckled at the thought she just had. Christoph Schneider, a rain-soaked puppy? Even a passing dog would find it amusing.

In the end, she turned her back without saying anything. The sound of her tired footsteps followed like a shadow.

Marianne’s pace slowed down, and soon Christoph was walking beside her.

And Christoph slightly raised the corners of his mouth. The tricks he’d learned from Duke Schneider had worked.

Marianne was a righteous person, and she was weak to those who lacked more than those who had everything. The problem was Christoph lacked nothing.

He was not immature enough to miss the opportunity before him. Christoph kept his expression and stayed by her side.

“Aren’t you busy? The busiest man in the capital, running after me like this?”

“If I take my eyes off for a moment, you’d be surrounded by mangy scoundrels. How could I possibly attend to my duties, Marianne?”

At his assertive retort, Marianne slightly furrowed her brows. She stared at Christoph intently.

He quirked an eyebrow and continued.

“Including that guy just now, and Michael Hindenburg.”

Marianne’s gaze extended. Christoph narrowed his eyes at the significant silence. He tilted his head. He looked terribly arrogant.

“What’s that look for, Marianne?”

Marianne swallowed the words that one of those mangy scoundrels was him and moved her steps.

“It’s nothing.”

The footsteps of the two echoed solemnly. The shadows stretching behind them were peaceful. It was a calm and perfect night.

Christoph, who had been walking in silence, suddenly opened his mouth. His voice of discontent filled the gaps.

“Marianne, seriously, Dr. Kluck. Not him. A man knows a man. There’s something foul about him. No doubt.”

At that, Marianne furrowed her brows faintly.

“Liam is a kind and gentle person.”

“All the kind guys must have frozen to death, then.”

Marianne sighed at the immediate counter. She cast an inquiring gaze at him.

“Do you have a man who meets your standards?”
Christoph stopped walking. Sensing his halt, Marianne also stopped and turned to look back. He was staring intently at her from a few steps away.

“Marianne, I’m saying this for your sake.”

As if prompting him to continue, Marianne nodded. Each time, her bobbed hair swayed, capturing Christoph’s gaze.

“Objectively speaking, there’s no man as good as me. The heir to the Schneider dukedom and the most successful lawyer in the capital. Plus, I’m handsome and fit.”

“…Do people usually say that about themselves?”

Marianne questioned with a skeptical expression. What was even more shocking was that he wasn’t wrong. Christoph lightly raised his eyebrows and resumed walking.

They walked side by side again. As they approached the dim gaslights, his face became clearer, only to be engulfed in deep shadows as the lights grew distant.

“I simply stated the facts. No matter how I think about it, no one is better than me.”

“You’re right. You’re perfect.”

Upon Marianne’s affirmation, he faintly lifted the corner of his mouth. His dark eyes arrogantly gleamed for a moment.

“So you don’t need me. You’re perfect just as you are.”

“….”

“What you need is not me, but Mrs. Schneider.”

As if hearing something unexpected, Christoph stopped walking. He looked piercingly at Marianne. His eyes were disturbingly serious. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

“That’s not true, Marianne.”

“….”

“I need you.”

At Christoph’s denial, Marianne maintained a placid expression as if she hadn’t heard his words. Yet, his admission washed over her like a wave, soaking her from her toes upwards.