Slap[Dash]!

Leandro’s head turned to the side.

‘Just now, what just happened?’

Leandro widened his eyes and touched his stinging cheek.

‘Did she hit me?’

Even from Estelle, not a hint of apology was felt.

“Why would you act like this…….”

Slap!

Without a word, Estelle slapped Leandro’s other cheek. This time it wasn’t a hard slap, but even more insulting.

“Lady Estelle!”

Leandro’s blue eyes flared intensely.

“What on earth are you doing!”

“Does it bring you to your senses since you were slapped?”

Leandro grabbed Estelle’s slender arm and glared at her.

“Have you really lost your mind? To act like this[Dash]”

“Why are you so surprised?”

Estelle’s lips curved into a smile.

“As if I’ve done something I can’t.”

“How could you…….”

With an empty laugh, Leandro clenched his teeth.

“To be so tainted by the devil.”

Leandro’s eyes twitched as he examined Estelle.

A highend auction house for the nobility.

Though masked as if in disguise, the atmosphere around Estelle could not be concealed.

Under a dazzling chandelier, her platinum blonde hair sparkled in pink light, and she wore a lilac dress embroidered with silver threads on expensive silk.

The more closely he examined, the more luxurious Estelle appeared than he had ever seen before.

‘Surely, the devil must have done this.’

Or she may have dressed up with the money stolen by entrapping the Count of Hetel. Not only that, but she also came to the auction to buy more jewelry.

Now, Leandro found Estelle’s beauty pitiful.

‘She doesn’t know what’s truly precious.’

Covering her hollow heart with expensive items, Estelle would soon discover the devil’s truth.

‘Perhaps coming to this auction house at my father’s request is…….’

Now might be the last chance to save Estelle. Leandro spoke calmly.

“To touch a person’s face casually is violence.”

“Then isn’t a knight grabbing a lady’s hand or arm just as violent?”

Estelle coolly retorted.

“Trying to force or drag a lady who has refused?”

Leandro’s lips hardened.

Estelle looked at him and chuckled.

“You wouldn’t think it’s violence. You would think it’s an act to save me.”

“I am[Dash]”

“Don’t be mistaken. I never asked you to save me.”

There was a cynical gleam in Estelle’s blue eyes.

“It’s time you woke from your delusion.”

“Who is…….”

But Leandro tightened his grip on Estelle. His chest felt ablaze.

His Estelle shouldn’t have treated him this way.

‘If she were the original her…….”

Before being caught by the devilish Duke Blanched, there had been hope for her.

“Who cares about a wicked woman like you?”

“Then why are you acting like this?”

“I don’t want to care for a wicked woman like you, who knows nothing of morality!”

Estelle answered Leandro’s angry words with a sighlike response.

“Then don’t care.”

“But you are my responsibility!”

“…….”

“I can’t stand to see you foolishly yearning for hell.”

Leandro pleaded with regretful eyes.

“If I had saved you then…….”

“…….”

“I could have stopped you.”

The guests arriving at the auction house were whispering about the two of them.

But in Leandro’s eyes, all he saw was the foolish Estelle, who wouldn’t recognize him.

“Wake up! Do you think that man truly loves a wicked woman like you?”

“……Wicked woman.”

“The only person in the world who will truly take responsibility for you is me.”

Leandro drew Estelle close and sincerely urged.

“Not Duke Blanched.”

The mask that had covered Estelle’s face fell, revealing her delicate beauty.

“Maybe you’re right.”
Estelle lowered her white eyelashes and wore a bitter smile, an enchanting, dreamlike aura emanating from her.

“You might be the only person who can save me.”

“Do you recognize that now?”

Leandro’s heart pounded wildly.

‘Finally!’

But the words from Estelle’s mouth thoroughly betrayed his expectations.

“Even so, I hate you.”

“……What?”

“I don’t want to be saved by your hands. I’m the foolish villainess, just like you said.”

Estelle sharply stomped on Leandro’s foot with her pointed shoe.

“……Ugh!”

Caught off guard, Leandro grimaced and let go of Estelle’s arm. Estelle spoke gracefully, looking at the arm Leandro had grabbed.

“Even if what you say is true, I’d rather die in Yohan’s arms than be saved by you.”

“……You now call him by his name?”

Leandro’s blue eyes flared with jealousy.

“Rather, I would die by his hand…….”

“My Lady!”

At that moment, Betty, who had gone to check the time for the auction, returned. Behind her appeared the auction house manager and security knights.

Estelle, who had been keeping her composure, was relieved.

‘Thank goodness.’

As the captain of the Royal Knights, Leandro couldn’t move rashly when more people were present.

“Customers, both of you.”

The auction house manager intervened, discreetly inquiring.

“What happened between you two?”

“What happened indeed.”

Estelle answered with a weary look.

“This man suddenly charged at me in anger. Thanks to him, my mask, meant to conceal my identity, fell off. Is this how you protect your guests?”

The manager’s face turned pale.