Starting from the handsome forehead visible through the fallen bangs, past the tall nose bridge to the straight philtrum and lips of moderate thickness, and then to the sleek chin, the curves were so smooth and delicate that they were almost frightening.

And then, past the chin, skipping over the collarbone, and gradually going down, you could see the chest through the open shirt…

‘What, what am I doing?’

Liz shook herself to dispel the mischievous thought that had entered her mind unconsciously.

Then, she quietly lifted her body to put her leg outside the bed…

Thump[Dash].

Before her foot even touched the ground, she was laid back down on the bed. When she came to her senses, she was facing the Lorain nobleman. She felt his soft yet strong grip on her wrist.

“Where are you going?”

The man dominating her above asked, his golden eyes shining.

“What, what’s wrong? Weren’t you asleep?”

Liz asked with a trembling voice of confusion.

“I wasn’t asleep.”

“……Why?”

The man narrowed his eyes as he spoke.

“Why would I sleep in this situation?”

Ah…….

Well, it is quite difficult for a man and a woman to share a room and a bed without anything happening. Especially for a man… Wait, that’s not it?

“Why don’t you stay outside then? Why are you here?”

Annoyed that she was almost convinced, Liz frowned and asked.

Then the man released Liz’s trapped arms and flopped down beside her, saying,

“In case you escape again.”

Escape? Who? No, before that, ‘again’?

“I just can’t feel at ease.”

What can’t he feel at ease about? They’ve only met twice.

Liz was curious but decided not to ask, as it seemed too persistent and trivial. It didn’t seem important. Besides.

What time could it be now?

“What time is it now?”

Liz asked cautiously.

“It’s five in the morning.”

“Five…… what time did you say?”

When Liz exclaimed, the man shushed her, telling her to lower her voice.

Then Liz whispered desperately,

“I’ll die. If I stay out all night……!”

Suffering at Mirabel’s hands.

“Don’t worry. I left a message at your house.”

“What? Who? You?”

“Yes, me.”

“What did you say?”

“That I would be with you tonight.”

“What…… hup!”

The man covered her mouth with his hand, preventing her voice from getting louder.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s not that. I just told them you came to the nobles’ allnight party. That’s common, isn’t it? I don’t know why it’s fun to stay up all night.”

Liz nodded her head vigorously in understanding, and the man’s large hand fell away from her face.

His hand was large enough to cover her entire face.

“But why do we have to talk so quietly?”

Liz, suddenly curious, asked cautiously.

“The owner of this house is a bit sensitive.”

“Ah…… yes.”

Liz nodded her head in understanding.
He looked a little irritable at a glance.

Silver hair, pale white skin, upturned eyes. But above all, Liz could not think well of the sharp glare that hardened the moment he discovered himself.

‘What on earth did I do to deserve this?’

As she was pondering the landlord’s impression and the strange hostility towards herself, the man suddenly asked,

“May I ask you a few things?”

Lost in thought, Liz consented without care.

“Go ahead.”

“Do you have someone you like?”

“…….”

It was the moment when the discomfort towards the landlord completely disappeared from Liz’s mind.

At the sudden question, Liz couldn’t find words to say.

Then the Lorein nobleman blinked his eyes slowly and continued,

“If not, I’m thinking of formally asking you to date me.”

Liz’s eyes widened.

What an unexpected situation this was.

At night. And in one bed, no less.

Though during the banquet the other day, when he was fixated on her, Liz briefly entertained the thought, ‘Perhaps this man likes me?’

But there were no afterparty invitations, and he hadn’t come looking for her or sent a letter, so she assumed it was just his nature.

There were many men like that. Men who make onetime offers to others without any real intent.

‘But what if he was serious?’

A few hours earlier, the man who had appeared in a moment of crisis to save her came to mind, and she could no longer deny his sincerity.

Unexpectedly receiving a proposal, Liz was undeniably flustered.

Of course, he was an unobjectionable man.

A handsome man of a wealthy noble family in a prosperous kingdom.

Plus, his dignified attitude of not flirting around, surely protecting his woman, added to his reliability.

If she rejected this man, Liz might not have another opportunity.

Rejecting this man would surely be madness.

But still.

‘Maybe I’m the crazy one?’

She felt an inexplicable repulsion.

A definite repulsion that was a bit awkward to attribute to his being too perfect.

Consistent from the beginning until now.

Therefore,

“I….”

Liz made up her mind.

“I have someone I like.”

She decided to lie.