Chapter 17 (2/2)

He held out his hand towards me.

Instilled with genteelness, the modest well-mannered gesture exuded natural elegance and ease.

Lea stared as this situation unfolded with boiling jealousy.

And she shouted as if she was challenging me.

“Fine. From now on, I’ll have bigger ambitions.

I’ll find a spouse who’s going to be better than your husband, so just join that aristocratic society and wait!”

“Wait, Lea! Lea!”

I called for Lea, but without even turning around once, she stormed away.

She made her point in a peculiar way…

I didn’t have any ill feelings for Lea, so I hoped that her misunderstanding would clear up.

“Was there an issue with your friend?”

Rüdiger leaned towards me and whispered.

Because of the difference in height, his breath tickled my ear.

His cologne-infused voice hitched my breath without my knowing.

Uh, Mr. Rüdiger. Can I please have some space…

The distance between us grew smaller; unable to mask my fluster, I unintentionally let out a yelp.

“A-Ah, no. There was no problem at all. We can leave now. Let us hurry.”

I quickly got on the carriage as if I was running away from Rüidger.

When I boarded the carriage, I was finally able to let out my breath.

Whew, geez.

Outside the carriage, Rüdiger vacantly gazed at his palm.

He opened and closed his hand several times before letting out a small sigh.

I finally realized then that I completely disregarded his gesture of kindness.

Oh, no… It wasn’t on purpose.

I awkwardly scratched the back of my head.

What if Rüdiger misunderstood it as that I didn’t like him?

I wanted to stay on good terms with Rüdiger, so I was trying to explain what happened.

But before I opened my mouth, Luca, who was already in the carriage, suddenly interrupted.

“Hey mister, what are you still doing out there and not coming in.”