Chapter 3: RMTOP

Chapter 3

Julian unconsciously shifted his gaze to observe the woman.

An ill-fitting coat and skirt, and a frilly blouse that didn’t match them at all. She was completely out of place in Martnley, a town filled with trendsetters and young nobles who followed fashion. She was far from refined.

‘But I’ve definitely seen her somewhere…’

And this thought, for the record, was absolutely not him trying to justify flirting with some naïve country girl who seemed unaware of the world.

At that moment, the woman suddenly turned her head away.

“…Ah.”

I’ve been staring too much. A rare mistake on his part.

Julian quickly regained his composure and stepped back.

“Pardon me.”

If she really was someone he had seen before, it didn’t matter. It would be wiser to leave this noisy lobby immediately without hesitation.

Just as he was about to move again, his eyes once more drifted toward her without meaning to. Even he didn’t understand why.

“Captain Harber?”

A loud, sharp voice struck his ear. Julian froze in place.

“Julian. You are Captain Julian Harber, aren’t you?”

The voice belonged to a viscount’s wife—Lady Stroth, a woman notorious for her obsessive curiosity and exhausting questions that made everyone avoid her.

Of all people, here. At this moment.

Julian recalled a painful memory from his earlier days, when he had once politely endured Lady Stroth’s self-introduction—and ended up trapped for two hours.

His mind worked quickly, searching for escape routes, while his gaze still lingered on the strangely dressed woman.

…Even if she was someone he had seen before, so what? Behind him stood a presence that would ruin his entire afternoon.

Anyone was better than dealing with Lady Stroth.

So perhaps it was impulsive.

“…I would be very grateful if you could help me.”

At the same time, he was certain the woman with blue eyes would accept his request.

“Please, just for a moment, be my companion.”

After all, most women rarely refused his requests.

It was a somewhat shameless thought, but the life of a handsome man often worked this way. Being the most handsome man in the kingdom meant he could afford to be a little selfish.

As he leaned in close enough for their breaths to almost touch, the woman’s eyes widened.

Julian smiled lightly.

His usually cold expression melted like sunlight suddenly poured over it. Anyone would have thought he had just found a lover at a meeting point.

The woman froze completely—but that didn’t matter.

Julian casually pulled her closer by the waist and stood beside her, aligning their shoulders. The woman’s widened gaze never left his face.

Satisfied, Julian brightened his smile even more, ready to face the noblewoman who was quickly approaching.

Diane, suddenly having her waist grabbed by a stranger for the first time in her life, was completely shocked.

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind.

‘…Be my companion for a moment? Don’t tell me he’s someone sent to capture me?’

She had left Windbury after writing a letter saying she would “return soon,” but her departure was, by all accounts, a runaway.

The servants were surely searching for the missing young lady. The butler would have already sent people out. Martnley was only two hours by carriage from Windbury.

Her heart raced as if it had encountered its natural predator.

She wanted to shove the man away and run, but her body wouldn’t obey. All she could do was look up at him.

‘Am I really going to be dragged back to the estate like this?’

Dizziness rose, and her mouth went dry.

Should she scream?

Strike a vital point?

And then where would she even go after that…

At that moment, the man suddenly looked down at her.

White sunlight streaming through the curtains illuminated his mixed green-and-brown eyes like glass. It was a moment of beauty that would normally make people hold their breath—but Diane, consumed by fear, saw none of it.

The man parted his lips as if to speak—

“Captain!”

Startled by the loud voice, Diane flinched and turned her head.

A lavishly dressed noblewoman appeared to be someone of high status. Diane, who had not left the estate in nearly four years, quickly lowered her head, fearing she might be recognized.

The noblewoman, slightly out of breath from only a few quick steps, spoke excitedly.

“So it really was you, Captain. I am truly astonished! Everyone expected you to appear in Brit this social season, but who could have imagined you would be in Martnley right now!”

“Lady Stroth, it’s been a while.”

They clearly knew each other. Diane slowly lifted her gaze, sensing something strange.

The woman, however, paid no attention to Diane at all and kept her eyes fixed on the man beside her.

“I heard you achieved the remarkable feat of capturing two pirate ships. As expected of the officer who graduated top of the academy and was promoted faster than anyone else. I almost feel sad that your achievements are overshadowed by your dazzling appearance. So, I assume you’ve taken an early vacation here in Martnley after receiving recognition for your service?”

She continued praising and admiring him without pause.

Diane slowly turned her eyes toward the man who was still standing close to her, pretending to be familiar.

Just then, the man replied with a gentle smile.

“That is correct, madam. I was on leave, and I happened to receive help from this young lady.”

Then he looked at Diane without warning. She instinctively flinched.

He gave her a light, reassuring smile before turning back to Lady Stroth.

“Oh, I see. I wonder what help this young lady could possibly have offered…”

“I was just about to treat this lady to a meal. Unfortunately, I’m afraid I must take my leave from you for now, Lady Stroth. I hope we will have another opportunity to meet.”

So it seemed the man was simply using her as a temporary companion, not someone sent to bring her back to Windbury.

Diane slowly straightened her posture. A strange sense of relief loosened her tension.

Only then did she notice her surroundings again.

The hotel lobby was crowded. Perhaps because Lady Stroth’s voice had been too loud, many people were looking in their direction.

Just as relief settled in, Diane hesitated again.

It suddenly occurred to her that someone among those people might be looking for her.

Fear surged back uncontrollably.

“Then, Lady Stroth, I must escort this young lady, so if you’ll excuse me…”

Diane had to hide.

“No.”

No one remembered exactly how she managed to break free from the arm wrapped around her waist, or how she managed to speak without trembling.

“Madam, I am not this gentleman’s companion. Please take him with you.”

The man looked genuinely stunned, as if he had been struck.

“You know me?”

At that moment, she had neither the time nor the energy to understand his feelings.

That was her limit.

Diane turned and walked past him.

Cold sweat soaked her forehead and back.

Stares from all directions, whispers scraping against her skin like blades.

A suffocating pressure in her throat, a headache from lack of air, and occasional flashes of light in her vision.

And then old voices echoed in her mind.

“Please stop saying such frightening nonsense.”

“You’re just in shock. You’ll recover soon.”

“They say the young lady has gone mad.”

No. No.

Diane wiped her sweat-soaked forehead with her palm and covered her mouth, suppressing rising nausea. Her legs began to tremble.

The hotel lobby was overwhelming. After years of isolation, she could not handle the crowd. As she tried to avoid people, she bumped into a passing guest and staggered—

Someone grabbed her arm firmly.

“Miss?”

Hah.

Diane turned back in shock, unable even to scream.

It was Ellie.

“Miss, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you waiting in the dining area…?”

After a brief silence, Diane, barely regaining her senses, avoided Ellie’s gaze awkwardly.

“…Oh, you’re here.”

“What happened? You weren’t going to leave me behind, were you? You can’t do that! This is already strange enough as it is!”

“It’s nothing. There was just a strange man…”

“A strange man?”

“It’s nothing anymore… Anyway.”

Diane placed a silver coin into Ellie’s hand.

Though only a month had passed since she arrived, Ellie was still a servant of the Rockwood household. Normally she didn’t need to be paid every time, but Diane would occasionally press coins into her hand—like a black-market merchant bribing a patrol officer.

It was suspicious, but Ellie always quietly accepted it.

“So, what news did you bring?”

Because Diane was now in serious trouble.

“…Good news. A messenger from Lady Selden has arrived outside the hotel.”

About the late runaway of Miss Diane Rockwood.

Ellie sighed quietly, fiddling with the silver coin in her pocket, thinking that at least she should save up something in case she was fired when they eventually returned to the estate.