Chapter 4: WHMSM

Chapter 4

A sharp spark flashed through my mind.

There was no clearer answer than this.

He's a scammer.

Unexpected strokes of luck that came out of nowhere usually ended in fraud.

And right now, romance wasn't my top priority.

In the end, I lifted one corner of my lips into an awkward smile and turned him down as gently as I could.

"I'm sorry, but my feelings changed in such a short time."

"...Pardon?"

"I... have a daughter to take responsibility for now. Considering how poorly our timing aligns, I don't think we're meant to be."

I smiled brightly, without a trace of regret, making my rejection perfectly clear.

For some reason, the Marquis of Rivandel's expression twisted ever so slightly.

He looked strangely defeated... and somehow sorrowful.

He remained silent for a long while, unable to speak.

Faced with that deep, drawn-out silence, I felt oddly guilty and kept my mouth shut as well.

Still, there was one upside.

Rejecting a confession from a man that handsome isn't something that happens often. It's kind of thrilling, but dating a scammer? Absolutely not.

This was basically the equivalent of turning down a confession from Park Bo-gum.

How could a mere villainous extra like me dare?

At last, the marquis seemed to organize his thoughts and lifted his gaze to meet mine.

His beautiful crimson eyes shimmered with sadness.

"You were the first person who ever expressed interest in me first. I wanted the chance to get to know you better, but now that we've met again..."

"You've lost interest?"

The moment I spoke, Carcel answered instead.

"Seeing you again has only strengthened my conviction. No matter how long it takes, I'll wait."

"What?!"

Why would he wait?

I shook my head, wanting to object, but the marquis's resolve was unwavering.

He pulled a business card from his inner pocket and held it out to me.

"If you ever need me, please contact me here."

"That won't be necessary—"

"The Delmore County's reputation isn't particularly good. If you ever wish to leave, you may contact me anytime."

His eyes were resolute.

"Missing an opportunity twice doesn't suit me. I've given this a great deal of thought."

"...Thank you."

Apparently, scammers these days were incredibly persistent.

Did he somehow find out I have two thousand gold?

Other than that, I couldn't begin to guess his motives.

* * *

The Marquis of Rivandel—

Or rather, the Duke of Lakan, who hid his true identity behind the title of marquis.

Carcel was...

A lifelong bachelor.

Not once in his life had he received genuine interest from a woman.

Whenever a young lady lingered around him, he would lazily narrow his eyes and ask,

—Did you need something?

He was simply curious.

Why did they keep hovering around him without saying anything?

If they wanted to talk to him, couldn't they just say so?

Yet whenever he asked politely, the women would break into cold sweats, grow visibly uncomfortable, and hurriedly flee.

Carcel always wondered,

I still don't understand what the problem is.

For the head of a ducal house to remain unmarried at twenty-four was highly unusual.

Carcel often imagined a future where he married and built a warm, loving family.

After returning from slaughtering monsters, he wanted someone waiting for him at home.

It was a small wish.

The problem was...

Not a single woman ever tried to speak with him.

Carcel Lakan assumed the reason was simple.

I must not be attractive.

Otherwise, how could every woman unanimously show no interest in me?

Even when he approached them first, asking for a dance or attempting conversation, their reactions were never favorable.

Most looked uncomfortable or actively avoided him.

By the time he had nearly given up all hope and quietly accepted the possibility of never marrying, he met Asha.

Ordinarily, a woman like her would have no reason to show interest in a man like him.

Yet Asha kept glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

Sometimes she would blush and let out a tiny sigh.

At first, he'd assumed she was subtly telling him he was standing too close.

But he soon realized that wasn't the case.

Whenever their eyes met, she would lightly bite her lip before quickly turning her head away.

She had even confessed to him.

Unlike every other woman, who fled in fear before even looking at him.

Of course, that didn't mean Carcel had developed any special feelings for her at the time.

I was simply grateful to the first woman who ever liked someone as unappealing as me.

The moment he learned she had a fiancé, he buried even that small attachment.

But then Asha's husband died for disgraceful reasons.

And fate brought them together once more.

Perhaps it was a sign from heaven.

He had invited her out with nothing more than that thought in mind.

Yet...

Something feels different.

It was as if his colorless life had suddenly been painted in vivid hues.

From the moment he first saw her retreating figure to the instant she finally looked up at him—

Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

The world around them blurred until Asha's smallest movements became the only thing he could perceive.

Her delicate, doe-like features.

Her elegant chestnut hair.

Her large hazelnut eyes, sparkling with life today in a way that made them impossible to look away from.

And those scarlet cheeks that couldn't be hidden even by the soft strands of hair framing her face.

So this was feminine charm.

For the first time in his life, Carcel found himself abandoning a gentleman's composure just to admire someone.

She was irresistibly lovely.

That was why, even though he knew his nervousness was making him sound unusually blunt, he couldn't help himself.

And then she looked at him with tearful eyes, almost as if she resented him, before lowering her gaze again.

That alone was enough to set his heart racing.

"I... have a daughter to take responsibility for now. Considering how poorly our timing aligns, I don't think we're meant to be."

The wistful smile she wore as she rejected him lingered in his mind.

Carcel thought,

Is it because she's no longer another man's fiancée or wife that she no longer feels guilty?

That was right.

Having never dated anyone in his life, Carcel had begun interpreting every one of Asha's actions entirely from his own perspective.

The responsibility she shoulders while raising a child alone. The thoughtfulness to consider another person's feelings even while rejecting them. And that bright, lively smile...

He became utterly convinced.

Asha Delmore was the person he'd been searching for.

In truth, all the reasons he listed in his mind were merely excuses.

He had simply fallen in love at first sight.

At that moment, Asha spoke.

"Um, I actually need to stop by somewhere on my way home..."

"Please, tell me."

Even now, her voice trembled softly as she spoke, her expression shy.

She seemed terribly embarrassed by how often she avoided his gaze.

"I wanted to buy some toys and snacks before heading back."

"For your daughter?"

"Yes."

Carcel studied her quietly.

The child wasn't even her biological daughter.

They had only lived together for a little over two months.

And yet she cared for the girl so devotedly.

Asha really was a kind person.

Carcel opened the small window connecting the carriage to the coachman and gave an order.

"Take us to the finest shop nearby that sells toys and sweets for children."

"Yes, sir!"

He closed the window.

The moment he turned back, he found Asha staring at him.

"Oh..."

Carcel smiled at her.

He'd heard that the first thing a man should do for the woman he likes is make her feel comfortable around him by smiling often.

So he offered her the warmest smile he could manage.

Yet even after they entered the shop, Asha only lowered her lashes more pitifully.

I can't let her slip away this time.

Desperate, Carcel came up with a very devious plan.

That plan was—

"Wrap up everything from here to there."

Money.

An absurd amount of money.

And thus, he officially began his "seduction."

Though he'd never dated anyone—never even held a proper conversation with a woman—he still knew the theory.

Fundamentals were important, after all.

Carcel faithfully followed the advice of his self-proclaimed romance expert aide, Matt.

—Whatever she wants, buy it for her. Show her that you're a man who can gladly spend this much for her, Your Grace!

—So I should make my wealth obvious?

—Yes, but it has to look natural! Absolutely natural!