‘Damn it, why does that crazy pervert keep catching my eye?’

Gavis Palong, who struggled to get out of the carriage with the help of a servant, looked noticeably more haggard than when I saw him a few days ago.

As he took an unsteady step forward, our eyes met.

His face immediately contorted upon seeing me, and he laughed incredulously at the back of Cal’s head sitting in front of me.

Then he immediately made his way towards the restaurant. However, his movements were extremely slow, as if the cut wound had not yet fully healed.

“Ugh…”

When I shuddered, Cal raised an eyebrow as if to ask what was wrong.

“What are you looking at?”

Cal turned his head following my gaze. Gavis Palong, who had already entered the restaurant, was approaching with an angry face, huffing and puffing.

Cal watched the scene languidly with his chin resting on his hand in a crooked posture and asked.

“Why is he walking like that?”

“They say that part was cut off.”

Needless to say, Gavis Palong’s face, which had just arrived right in front of us, became even fiercer.

“Ha! A woman who can’t resist a real man. Meeting a man in broad daylight even with such rumors going around. Ah, or is this the bastard who secretly slept with you then?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I immediately shot back coldly at his rude scolding. Well, it’s not entirely wrong.

“You’re not even denying it now. Fine, let’s see how great this bastard is.”

Gavis, who turned his head while exhaling through his nose, paused when he saw Cal’s face.

Well, even though his personality is a bit unpleasant, he’s a man with perfect looks that have captured everyone’s attention in the restaurant since earlier.

Gavis, whose already ugly face had turned dark red, huffed.

“Ha, where did you pick up this pretty boy to sit with?”

“Isn’t it better to at least have a pretty face?”

“What? Wait. But he looks familiar… You! Aren’t you the bastard who spilled soup on me at the restaurant that time?”

Gavis burst out, pointing fingers at me and Cal alternately.

“So you two have been together since then! Making a fool out of only me! Right?”

Gavis, who was hurling insults at me while looking at me, unable to say anything to Cal, raised his hand as if he couldn’t control his anger.

“You cheap woman…!”

I reflexively closed my eyes as his hand came down towards me. But the groan of pain that erupted wasn’t from my side.

“Aagh!”

When I opened my eyes at Gavis’s scream, Cal was blocking in front of me. The veins on the back of Cal’s hand that gripped Gavis’s wrist were clearly visible.

“You have quite a foul mouth.”

Cal’s voice was no different from usual. But Gavis’s eyes, looking up at him while writhing in pain, were filled with fear.

“You should behave courteously towards a lady.”

When Cal lightly released his wrist, Gavis staggered greatly before barely regaining his balance.

Gavis’s face turned red and blue with humiliation, but he only rubbed his grabbed wrist, unable to even look at the man in front of him.

Cal tilted his head as he watched the awkward posture.

“Looks like you have no trouble walking.”

The gazes of people watching the commotion were fixed on some part of Gavis’s body. Gavis, whose face was contorted beyond measure, trembled all over.

“How, how dare you… Do you think I’ll just let this humiliation slide?”

Gavis shouted threateningly, but Cal didn’t budge. With a face that seemed to say ‘Is that a dog barking?’, he pulled on his earlobe, and Gavis’s expression became even more entertaining.

“You filthy wench. I won’t let this go. I’ll report everything to His Highness Bi, just you wait and see!”

Gavis, who shouted as if throwing a tantrum, visibly flinched when Cal took a step forward and hurriedly turned his back.

People’s contemptuous and sympathetic gazes poured towards him as he crossed the restaurant, supported by a servant.

After Gavis left the restaurant, Cal sat down nonchalantly as if nothing had happened. Looking at his face, it seemed like nothing had happened just moments ago.

“I’ve lost my appetite.”

The man’s plate had already been empty for a long time, but I didn’t bother to point it out. Cal, who was looking at me sideways while drinking water, asked.

“Want me to order something else for you?”

“It’s okay. I’m done eating.”

I shook my head while wiping my mouth with a napkin.

“You have no eye for men.”

“What?”

“Were you going to marry someone like that?”

Cal pointed his chin towards the window. Gavis, who was glaring this way while getting into the carriage, could be seen slipping and falling flat on the ground.

As he gasped for breath in pain, he punched the servant. I flinched, wondering if I should go and stop him, when a grumpy voice intervened.

“Do you still have lingering feelings? He’s a eunuch with that part cut off.”

Cal’s expression was very displeased. But aside from his expression, I couldn’t let such an absurd misunderstanding slide.

“Don’t say such nonsense. It’s not like I wanted to marry that man! Who would want to be involved with such a pervert?”

Having already felt disgusted just seeing that face again, and now hearing such abusive language, the back of my head throbbed.

“I misspoke.”

Cal apologized readily when I huffed. His expression seemed somewhat relaxed.

As I put down the water glass I had emptied in one gulp, the heat subsided a bit. By then, Gavis Palong’s figure had already disappeared.

“But that man still doesn’t know you’re the attendant of the Second Prince, does he?”

“I hardly stayed at the palace.”

“What name do you use at the palace?”

Cal, who had been staring at me blankly, rested his chin on his hand and smiled faintly. That face made me strangely uneasy, and the nape of my neck tingled.

‘What is this ominous feeling?’

As I tilted my head, unable to understand, Cal said.

“I’ll tell you when we get a bit closer.”

What could there be for us to get any closer from here? But I was grateful that he had taught Gavis Palong a lesson instead of me, and I was also worried that he might suffer some disadvantage because of it, so I didn’t argue back.

“I think that day won’t be far off.”

Cal uttered another meaningful statement. I frowned, feeling strangely uneasy.

‘Well, that’s beside the point for now.’

Anyway, I should thank him for the help. Feeling somewhat awkward, I cleared my throat unnecessarily.

“Thank you for helping me. Thanks to you, I avoided getting slapped.”

“How unusual for you to accept thanks so readily.”

I narrowed my eyes at his clearly teasing tone, and Cal chuckled. Then, as if he had read my thoughts, he continued.

“Don’t worry about me.”

“I wasn’t worried about you? We’re done eating, so let’s get up now.”

“Already? The desserts here are quite good too.”

“We already had dessert earlier.”

You mean that strawberry cake with that indescribable taste. When I smiled with a hint of resentment, Cal laughed briefly. Then he nodded.

“Alright then. I just got something to do anyway.”

“All of a sudden?”

“Yes. Suddenly.”

Cal smiled faintly. I tilted my head at the smile that gave off a somewhat chilling feeling.

Cal, who was walking ahead, suddenly exclaimed “Ah” and turned to look at me.

“Since I pretended not to notice your attempted theft last time, you’re paying today.”

“I told you I wasn’t trying to steal anything!”

No, I was trying to steal, but it was originally mine! My heart!

But Cal just smiled slyly and left the restaurant.

“Ugh, that hateful person. Just when I try to see him in a better light, he makes it impossible.”

I grumbled as I took out my wallet, watching Cal leisurely standing beyond the glass door with a grin.

‘Damn it, he planned this from the start and brought me to such an expensive place!’

Cahirun looked down with his chin tilted crookedly.

“What should I do with this?”

His voice was devoid of emotion, as if looking at an inanimate object. Gavis, sprawled below, desperately wriggled his entire body.

“Mmph, mmph!”

Cahirun, who had been looking expressionlessly at Gavis, who was streaming tears, nodded to Randolph. Randolph, understanding his master’s instruction, untied the cloth covering Gavis’s mouth.

“Wh-what is this all about!”

As soon as the cloth was removed, Gavis screamed out loud. But his voice, full of terror, lost its strength and trembled.

In fact, he still hadn’t properly grasped the situation.

While pondering how to deal with the two lowlifes who had insulted him as he was heading to the mansion in his carriage, he was suddenly attacked.

When he came to his senses, he found that man from the restaurant looking down at him coldly.

“I-if you let me go now, I’ll pretend this never happened. Do you know who I am? I’m the viscount of the Palong family and a close associate of the Second Prince. Do you think you’ll be safe after doing this to me?!”

“How noisy. Perhaps I should have crushed your mouth back then too.”

Gavis’s eyes widened in shock at Cahirun’s casual words. Come to think of it, the build and atmosphere weren’t unfamiliar. After a moment of silence, he asked with an expression that seemed to say ‘It can’t be’.

“D-don’t tell me you’re that crazy bastard who attacked me that time…”

“You remember?”

Cahirun made an interesting expression, as if it was unexpected.

“Huk!”

Gavis gasped in shock. The events of that unforgettable night began to unfold before his eyes.