Aiden: âI canât believe youâre trying to scam this lady. I canât just stand by and do nothing.â
It was an exceptionally beautiful voice. Keira looked up at the manâs face.
Keira: âAhâŚâ
He was handsome. Really, really handsome.
The combination of dark blond hair, green eyes, and dark and distinct features was breathtaking.
Keira could confidently say that he was the most handsome man sheâs ever seen. He was a man whose features could compete with that of a revered statue in a museum.
She felt as if fireworks were exploding in her head.
Aiden: âWhat are the guards doing? Why arenât they arresting this swindler!â
The man screamed with a grimace.
Keira stared in genuine admiration.
How could he look so handsome even when heâs angry?
Sensing the disturbance, the guards rushed to them and cuffed the Countâs arms.
Arthur: âHold on.â
Arthur couldnât help but intervene as the guards were about to lead the Count away.
The Count was a swindler who probably worked with the casino. It was obvious that even if the casinoâs management decided to punish him, he would be released unscathed.
Meanwhile, the blond stranger approached Keira and bended on one knee. He kissed Keira on the back of her hand and said,
Aiden: âWere you surprised, beautiful Lady?â
Arthur thought, âAfter the fraudster, this time a casanova[1]?â
How could she attract all these weirdos?
What kind of beginnerâs luck was this? It was not enough to call it a beginnerâs misfortune.
And the worst thing about this isâ
Keira: âI-Iâm okay.â
It was the fact that Keiraâs cheeks were flushed pink.
âOh, my God.â
Arthur wanted to scream.
Zeke: âJust what is up with that guy?â
Zicchardt also felt something strange, so his voice became sharp.
The same went for Raina and Raul.
While everyone looked suspiciously at the handsome man who suddenly appeared, Keira was the only one who had a hazy look in her eyes.
âH-heâs so coolâŚâ
Growing up, she was told she had to protect others for the rest of her life. It was understandable to be taught to protect the empire and the whole of humanity since she was the daughter of a family chosen by the goddess Beatrice.
No one told her they would protect her.
It was a breath of fresh air to be in a situation where she was protected instead.
Besides, the man was pretty handsome.
He looked tall and well-built. His voice sounded nice, too.
She suddenly thought of a scene from a romance novel.
Usually, the male and female protagonist would have their first meeting like thisâŚ
Aiden: âIâm glad youâre alright. I think youâre a brave person.â
Keira; âT-thank you for your help.â
Aiden: âDonât mention it. I just did what was right.â
He then closed his eyes and laughed.
At that moment, everyone in the group except Keira thought the same thing.
Thatâs a player! A womanâs enemy!
Zeke: âWell, noonim, itâs late. Donât you think we should head back?â
âOh! Weâve spent a lot of time here already. Iâll get the carriage ready.â
âThen, Iâll exchange the chips.â
They couldnât just wait and see an innocent chick handed over to a wolf like him.
Four people joined forces to stop it, but it wasnât enough.
Keira hesitated and said.
Keira: âBut I havenât even thanked him yetâŚâ
Aiden: âThank you for worrying about me. I just did what I was supposed to do.â
The words made her blush even more.
It was like a line of a male character who saved the heroine in the novel. Keira, who learned romance only through the books sheâs read, only saw it as a good line.
A slightly irritated Zeke came forward.
Zeke: âThank you for saving my sister today. Our family will repay your kindnessâŚâ
Aiden: âThereâs no need for that. If it bothers you, please treat me to a drink over there. While weâre waiting, we can get to know each other.â
The eyes of the four people spitted fire.
âWho are you to dare talk to our lady like that?â
âHow dare you talk to my sister?â
Keira: âOkay, but I wonât be able to stay long because my companions are waiting.â
The said companions started losing their battle, at a complete loss on what to do.
Aidenâs smile deepened at her acceptance.
âWhether itâs five minutes or an hour, itâs an honor to be with a beautiful lady.â
The line gave them goosebumps. It sounded creepy even to Raina, so it was obvious how others felt.
âŚ.But of course, the problem was that such lines worked for Keira.
With her cheeks stained red, it was obvious she had already been completely caught.
Keira: âJust a moment, please. Iâll be right back.â
âMilady⌠itâs only take a moment, right?â
Keira: âHuh? Of course.â
âI donât believe you at all when you say it with such a dazed look.â
However, regardless of the groupâs concerns, Keira smiled brightly â a very rare sight â and walked away.
ââŚâ
ââŚâ
ââŚâ
ââŚâ
They felt like they were watching a fluffy chick leave the nursery with a conniving wolf.
A deep silence fell between the four remaining people.
The first to speak was Zeke.
Zeke: ââŚwho was the person who thought of bringing noonim here?â
His voice was sharp and deadly.
Zeke: âNo, itâs obvious. Sir Arthur, itâs you, isnât it?â
Arthur: âNo, its⌠I was just⌠I just offered but I didnât know sheâd accept!â
âYou started it anyway!â
âOh, Iâm wrongedâack!â
Three fists hit him in the back.
It was unfair. He understood his anger. But what about those Reina and Raul?
Reina: âHeâs quite popular.â
All eyes were on Reina.
âDoes he have a surprisingly good reputation?â
Reina: âNo way. I heard heâs the third or fourth son of a noble. I think they said he doesnât have a high title but his family is quite wealthy. Did they say that he was living like a dog?â
âSo, to make it short, heâs a playboy from a well-off family.â
Reina: âYes. I donât often attend meetings for unmarried men and women, and Iâve never been directly involved, but Iâve heard things from my friends.â
âWhat did they say?â
âIf you donât want to be involved in a scandal before marriage, donât get tangled with him.â
Ultimately, it was instinct to judge a person by first impression.
Zeke gritted his teeth.
âI canât hand over my sister to that punk.â
It was common for a Saintess to remain unmarried to protect their image of a saint, but it wasnât mandatory.
It was possible to get married if they wanted.
They were worried Keira would be the exception.
Youâre going to fall for a playboy!
Such a future was horrible to imagine.
Arthur: âThe good thing is that his bad reputation precedes him. Itâs better than a guy who pretends to be nice on the outside. At least we can tell her the truth. So, go to her, Master. Iâm afraid itâll all go wrong. Sheâll take it easy when she finds out.â
Raul: âYou just saw your sisterâs face. Itâs rather counterproductive to gossip at a time like this.â
It made sense, so Reina had no choice but to nod her head.
But when one is wearing rose-colored glasses[2], they donât see or hear other peopleâs advice.
âThe best way is to get her out of the situation.â
They remembered Keiraâs face, flushed.
Would she ever come to her senses?
âIâm nervous.â
âAh, I really donât have a good feeling about this..â