“How?”

Logan Redford glared as if questioning why she was asking something so obvious. Seeing his reproachful gaze, she retorted by asking why he thought she would ask if she knew.

The meaningless staring contest that started this way ended when one of the knights cleared his throat.

“Get in the carriage for now.”

Logan took Sidney’s hand and headed for the carriage. One of the knights opened the carriage door as if he had been waiting, and Logan lifted her by the waist and put her in the carriage before she could stop him.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. Flustered by the escort she had received for the first time in her life, she inadvertently let out an “Oh.” As she was about to ask what he was doing, Logan pointed to the seat with a serious look.

Over Logan’s shoulder, she could see the knights mounting their horses. It seemed that departing was the priority, as he had said.

Gathering the folds of her dress, she sat down on the seat. No sooner had she done so than Logan took the seat next to her and knocked on the carriage wall. With the sound of the coachman’s whip, the carriage lurched into motion.

Once the carriage reached a steady speed, Sidney looked straight at Logan and said:

“Commander.”

“Logan.”

“Then, as your fiancée, let me say something.”

It’s easier to confront a fiancé than a superior when making a complaint. Sidney poured out her grievances as if scolding him.

“Just now, the knights of House Redford may not have been able to maintain a vigilant posture against outsiders, but they were standing there blinking like a bunch of ragtag soldiers. I was going to restrain myself to just glaring politely since it was our first meeting, but Logan, why are you getting angry at me instead of those dispirited men?”

“Damn it! If that’s the case, you should have cursed or kicked as usual.”

“In this attire?”

When she retorted immediately, Logan grumbled and stared at her blankly. Whatever he was imagining, he frowned and complained irritably.

“Ah, this is driving me crazy. Just don’t do anything. When a beautiful woman like you glares fiercely, all the men misunderstand.”

Did she hear that wrong? Sidney doubted her ears and asked:

“What did you just say?”

“That they misunderstand.”

“No, not that. Did you just call me… a beautiful woman?”

Once she tried to say it, she felt embarrassed and shy. Logan seemed equally uncomfortable as he cleared his throat unnecessarily and turned his head away.

“Hmm! Well, you’re not a man.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Sidney quickly agreed and turned her gaze to the window. Seagulls were flying chaotically over the sea.

Despite having slept well the night before, it seemed she had dozed off. Sidney, who opened her eyes while resting her head on Logan’s shoulder, flinched. She immediately straightened her posture with drowsy eyes and apologized.

“I’m sorry. While I was asleep…”

“It’s fine.”

Logan Redford folded the documents he had been looking at and cast his gaze outside the carriage.

In front of the townhouse of House Redford, a white stone building with a blue-gray roof, servants were lined up waiting for Logan and Sidney to disembark.

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“You were sleeping soundly.”

His tone was curt as if it was no big deal, and his expression was indifferent. However, the touch of his hand as he tidied her disheveled hair was extremely delicate and careful.

As if handling a soap bubble that would fly away with a puff or burst if touched roughly.

He was so serious that she held her breath and waited, then their eyes met.

For a moment, as if the whole world had stopped, silence fell, and his eyes narrowed. Thump thump, her heartbeat pounded in her head and body, growing louder, when Logan’s fingertip lightly touched her cheekbone and then moved away.

“That’s better.”

Logan was smiling contentedly, as if pleased after personally tidying up something messy or disorganized.

It was just that. He had tidied her messy hair out of habit. Feeling embarrassed as if caught doing something shameful, she got irritated for no reason.

“Let’s get out.”

“Wait.”

Logan Redford stood up, opened the carriage door, and jumped out.

Squinting at the rush of cold air, she saw Logan extending his hand.

Her temper wanted to slap his hand away and jump out alone, but wearing a cumbersome dress instead of a uniform, it probably wouldn’t look good.

Having no choice, she took Logan’s hand, and he wrapped his other arm around her waist and lifted her lightly.

It would have been fine if it had stopped there, but Logan, with a serious face, personally tidied the disheveled folds of her dress.

Having experienced this once before, Sidney swept her gaze over the servants and knights who were gasping in shock. As a warning to manage their expressions appropriately.

“Marien?”

Sidney placed her hand on the arm Logan offered and began to walk.

An elderly butler followed, informing them that the Marquis of Redford was waiting in the study.

Although she was well aware of the power of House Redford, she couldn’t help but be amazed at the townhouse, which was the size of a decent fortress.

On the other hand, comparing it to Warden Castle, which had been sold off cheaply for lack of resources to maintain, let alone manage, left her feeling bitter.

“Hah, what a doting fool. This old man was waiting, but he didn’t move an inch until his woman woke up… Tsk tsk, tidying her dress like a servant while looking so pleased, like father, like son.”

Marquis Douglas Redford grumbled resentfully as he looked out the window.

His words were full of criticism, and his displeasure was evident. The head maid, Mrs. Lind, who was standing with her hands clasped, smiled slightly.

“Do you like her that much?”

“Hmm, we’ll see.”

Marquis Douglas Redford cleared his throat and walked with a limp, leaning on his cane. Following slowly behind him, Mrs. Lind spoke as if admonishing him.

“Don’t be grumpy for no reason. You might end up being disliked by your granddaughter-in-law.”

“If she doesn’t have that much capacity, what use is she?”

Thump, Marquis Redford struck the floor with his cane and snapped. Supporting the glaring Marquis, Mrs. Lind spoke softly as if trying to persuade him.

“Have some faith. How could Master Logan, with his high standards, not have chosen well?”

“Even the most accomplished man becomes useless when bewitched by a woman.”

“If you look at it that way, it seems Lady Marien has properly bewitched Master Logan. He accepted the title and marriage that he used to detest, just to catch one woman.”

At the Marquis of Redford’s snort, Mrs. Lind agreed that it was indeed so.

She then subtly emphasized that Logan had met a good woman and come to his senses.

Detesting titles and marriage? Since childhood, Logan Redford had always had an unusual obsession and desire for exclusive ownership of his possessions.

He had been indifferent because he had no siblings to compete with, and he didn’t show greed because he was affluent.

It was the same with marriage. Logan had been indifferent because he hadn’t liked any woman until now. But as soon as he found a woman, didn’t he pounce on her with fire in his eyes?

Marquis Douglas Redford clicked his tongue as if finding it pathetic.

“Mrs. Lind, even after raising him yourself, couldn’t you read Logan’s dark intentions and greed? He just ran away because it was bothersome, trying to use this old grandfather for his own benefit.”

“Indeed, like grandfather, like grandson.”

Though she was pretending to have just realized it, Mrs. Lind was implying that the Marquis of Redford was no different.

In other words, she was mocking him for trying to pass on troublesome matters to his grandson.

“Well, well, you’re becoming more and more of a sly fox.”

Despite the Marquis of Redford’s reproach, Mrs. Lind just smiled softly. Although he had aged, the Marquis was still a large man.

How much help could Mrs. Lind, with her small and diminutive frame that didn’t even reach his shoulder, really provide?

It was ‘support’ in name only, lightly holding the Marquis of Redford’s left arm. The Marquis grunted as he sat down in the armchair.

“What kind of tea should I prepare?”

“Of course, it should be tea that’s good for pregnant women.”

The corner of the Marquis of Redford’s mouth twitched sarcastically. He was reminded of Logan mentioning a great-grandchild to obtain the porcelain business rights not long ago.

“It’s not certain yet, and Lady Marien might feel embarrassed, so it might be better to pretend not to know…”

“You’re becoming more nagging as time goes by.”

“I apologize.”

As Mrs. Lind withdrew, Logan entered with the woman he had brought in such a fuss.

Sidney and Logan entered the room opened by the butler. One wall was a bookshelf, and on the red wallpapered wall with candle holders hung a painting depicting the scenery of Marseille.

There were two armchairs with a small table between them, and in front of that was a long reception table with a three-seater sofa.

As she slowly approached the table, she carefully observed the old man sitting in the armchair.

Marquis Douglas Redford.

He was stylishly dressed in a black suit and striped trousers, but Sidney could clearly feel the hostility directed at her from his sharp gaze and grumpy, distorted expression.

“Grandfather, this is my fiancée, Marien.”

“It’s an honor to meet you, Marquis Redford.”

“Hmph! It’s this old man’s honor to finally see your precious face.”

Marquis Redford snorted, gesturing towards the sofa with his eyes.

His tone was clearly mocking and sarcastic, but it sounded as if he was expressing his disappointment that they had only now come to visit.

That couldn’t be. The great Marquis Redford wasn’t a child, after all.

Sidney Warden sat down on the long sofa next to Logan. She gently pushed away Logan’s hand that was naturally approaching and tidied the disheveled folds of her dress herself.

“Where are you staying now?”

“You already know, so why ask?”

“I was asking Miss Marien.”

“I’m staying with him.”

The fierce glares and sarcastic tones of Douglas Redford and Logan Redford were as alike as their appearances.

Sidney cleared her throat to draw attention, then answered in a calm tone.

“I’m with Logan at two places: 12 Mayfield Avenue and the villa in Long Beach.”

“Hmm, I heard you were a commoner.”

“Yes, is that a problem?”

“That depends on how Miss Marien handles it.”

“There was no such condition…”

Sidney grabbed Logan’s hand as he was about to flare up and quietly called his name. Telling him to stop. Meaning to trust her and leave this to her.

After calming Logan down this way, Sidney Warden looked straight at Marquis Redford and asked.

“What do you want me to do?”