She laughed while feeling like she wanted to cry inside. Being someone who had been hiding and living because she was scared of Sicar, how terrified must she be now that he knew about her existence.
She looked around with trembling eyes as if worried that Sicar might suddenly appear and point a knife at her throat.

Having experienced similar moments myself, I could empathize with her current behavior.

So, I firmly held her hand.

“It’s okay. Sicar has really become more human.”

She looked surprised again when I referred to him as Sicar and whispered, “Then, are you two not just in a show relationship?”

“That was almost the case, but Sicar genuinely started to like me…”

Seoyeon, rather than expressing admiration, stared at me with eyes that seemed to question whether that was really the case.

It seemed like she thought I had no choice but to give such an answer because Sicar was reading my memories.

But it was okay. After all, I said those words for Sicar to hear.

“But, Miss Seoyeon, even if you whisper, Sicar will see everything, right?”

Covering her mouth again, she looked worried.

“Then, Miss Seoyeon, do you plan to stay at the guesthouse continuously?”

“Yes. I have nowhere else to go, and I’ve been at the guesthouse for a long time, so now it feels like home. But why…?”

“If the guesthouse is uncomfortable for you, how about staying at our mansion?”

Seoyeon shook her head as if frightened by the idea.

“Oh, no! I appreciate the offer, but I find the guesthouse of the Marquis very comfortable and nice. I’ll gratefully accept the sentiment only.”

Why was Sicar so scary? Come to think of it, I was quite scared at first too.

Whether it was because I made such a suggestion or because Sicar thought he could see all my conversations, Seoyeon, who had been tense, put down the teacup she was holding and said,

“Madam, I think it would be better to leave now. I seem to have made a lot of mistakes today, so next time, I’ll come after learning more manners from the Marquis.”

“Oh. Are you leaving already?”

“I want to stay more, but…”

Seoyeon whispered to me again, “Madam, I’m afraid I keep making mistakes, so I’m too scared.”

It was like meeting a hometown friend, but what could I do?

Knowing that Sicar could read memories, we couldn’t have a relaxed conversation.

I was disappointed, but I had to let her go.

“Okay. Then let’s go together. I’ll escort you.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

At that moment, Seoyeon, who had already walked into the corridor, turned around with a face that seemed surprised and frightened by something.

Looking behind Seoyeon, I saw Sicar standing in the corridor.

“Why are you like this, Miss Seoyeon?”

Wiping the sweat flowing from her forehead and calming her startled heart, Seoyeon said, “Oh, the Marquis is standing in the corridor, so I was so surprised.”
Sicar was doing nothing other than standing with a stern face. However, even to me, that appearance seemed quite imposing.

Next time, I should teach him to smile when a guest arrives.

“Follow me, Miss Seoyeon.”

I held Seoyeon’s hand and walked down the corridor.

Then I felt Seoyeon’s slender hand trembling less.

‘She must be really scared.’

Sicar walked towards us as if he didn’t care whether she found him scary or not, and he spoke to Seoyeon.

“Leaving?”

“Yes? Yes, Marquis.”

“Then, before you go, how about a handshake?”

He was blatantly making sounds that showed he knew everything. Seoyeon looked at me as if seeking help.

So, I subtly glared at Sicar and said, “Sicar, that’s enough with the handshake.”

Seeing Sicar put down the hand he had extended, Seoyeon looked at me with a surprised face.

Until now, the words I had said were not deliberately meant because Sicar could read my memories, but it seemed as if Seoyeon was asking whether Sicar really liked me.

So, I just nodded quietly.

Seoyeon covered her mouth again. Her expression seemed to say that she couldn’t believe it even though she saw it with her own eyes.

Well, I was quite amazed that I could reform such a crazy guy… Well, it might be too early for reform.

“Is your name Han Seoyeon?”

Seoyeon lowered her head with a face that turned red as if she had been slapped by Sicar’s voice.

“Yes, yes.”

“In the future, make sure to visit often.”

“O-often?”

“Yes. I hope you can be a companion for my wife by coming often.”

Asking as if he would kill her if she refused. If I weren’t here, he would have asked again with a knife pointed at her.

Seoyeon politely answered while holding my trembling hand.

“Yes. Uh, understood. Marquis. I-I’ll respond to your call.”

“Since the Viscount is waiting outside, why don’t you go and see him?”

“Yes. M-Marquis.”

After Seoyeon left, Sicar and I sat facing each other in the living room, holding hands and having a conversation for the first time in a long while.

To others, it might have looked like we were affectionately holding hands, but I was still, once again, having my memories read.

“It seems like meeting a hometown friend made you feel good.”

It certainly did. Meeting someone from the same place was a pleasant experience, and Seoyeon was a polite person, so I enjoyed the conversation.

It seemed that my belief that there were more good people among romance novel readers was not betrayed.

“Oh, let’s call Hersia.”

“Why Hersia?”

“Since the Queen gave you a present, I should reciprocate.”

Judging by Sicar’s sinister expression, that gift didn’t seem like a good one.