This kind of courtship is complicated - chapter 5
#005 The Light-hearted Love of That Woman
His eyes narrowed, and his forehead furrowed.
"She asked me if I could propose," he said.
"Huh?"
It was utterly audacious. As if to regain his composure, the man swept his hair, which covered his forehead, back with his hand and chuckled, as if he found it amusing. Bella, who followed suit with a chuckle, was simply radiant.
It took a while for him to speak again.
"So, what should I do? I don't want to."
"In that case, how about being lovers?"
With unchanging, mischievous eyes, she directed her words towards the somewhat disgruntled man.
"Where on earth did Mother gone...?"
As the absurdity of the situation became apparent, Bella's earlier chuckle turned into a giggling laugh. Just as she heard a voice searching for Bella, Evan sped up his leisurely pace when he saw the tall figure ahead.
Bella had been staring at the marquis with her eyes wide open, but it was only when Evan approached closely that she noticed him. In the dim darkness, she extended her hand toward him without knowing who the man in front of her was. With his pocket watch chain hanging down, the only thing that acknowledged Evan's turmoil swayed in tandem with his hurried steps.
"Marquis Arzen, it's been a while."
Swallowing his disordered breath, Evan offered a calm greeting to Helios. He purposefully recited Helios's name clearly and rhythmically, reminding Bella of the request she had made to him earlier that afternoon.
But the atmosphere between them was a bit strange. No, it was quite unusual.
"It's been a while," Helios replied, wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes with a smile that had faded.
Half-naked as he was, Evan hastily stood in front of Bella, blocking the path between the marquis and her.
What on earth had happened? Who had instigated this ridiculous situation was unknown, but it seemed like quite a big deal.
For now, they needed to get away from this place. That was Evan's first thought. Staying by the man who was causing a commotion and spreading rumors wouldn't do any good for Bella.
"Bella, let's go. We'll leave now."
"Just a moment!"
Unaware of Evan's anxious circumstances, Bella pushed away the hand that was pulling her and stepped forward. Helios looked at the small, outspoken woman who had led an absurdly audacious proposal with an intrigued gaze.
A proposal at their first meeting. Moreover, if that didn't work out, she suggested becoming lovers.
In her mother's mind and the tasteless script, she had never imagined such lines.
Her amber eyes, which had been shining brightly since a while ago, were now fixed on him.
"What are you doing? Let's go."
"No, Evan... Is this handsome man really Marquis Arzen?"
Bella's slightly surprised words raised the pitch of her voice. Her face, which had blushed with embarrassment just earlier, now turned noticeably pale.
"Did you not know who I was?"
"No."
It wasn't his mother's doing.
"If that's the case, why the proposal?"
"Well, I fell in love with Count Arzen at first sight."
"Wait, wait. A proposal?"
Evan, feeling dizzy from Bellia's bold yet shy words, closed his eyes tightly. His face, which had turned red from embarrassment just moments ago, now appeared noticeably pale.
"So, Count..."
"I'm sorry. I'll leave first."
Evan cut the conversation short with a polite greeting to Helios before Bellia could share more details.
The strange proposal from a woman he had just met was nothing more than an absurd joke. There was no reason to linger here. Evan was confident that it wouldn't be good for Bellia to stay with the man who had caused such a commotion.
Bellia seemed to have a lot more to say, but Evan, determined to take her away before she could share more, was firm as if he were handling a horse-drawn carriage.
In the corridor, the fast-paced footsteps of one person and the reluctant footsteps of another trying to follow echoed.
"Count, let's discuss this another time!"
Bellia's cheerful shout echoed just before they turned the corner.
What on earth had happened?
As they followed the long corridor they had disappeared into, the window sills were now piled with snow.
The place where the storm-like disturbance had occurred was now silent. Of course, this silence didn't last long.
"Helios!"
"Why did you bring this?"
Deon, who appeared just around the corner after they left, handed over the shirt and jacket he had been carrying and demanded an explanation.
"That's not important right now! Why were the three of you together, and why are you the only one undressed like this?"
"Why would it be like that?"
After entering the room, Helios, who had been in a perfect position in front of the mirror, straightened the buttons on his shirt from his neck.
His hands moved calmly as he tied his tie and picked up the cufflinks he had placed on the mantelpiece. The series of commotions that had swept him away earlier seemed insignificant compared to his composed demeanor.
"It was a proposal, wasn't it? In any case, both of them were saying similar things."
Deon's casual comment, which he had been following Helios with, hinted at an interesting word he had heard from the two of them.
"Could it be that you received a proposal? From Evan Arkas?"
Without any response, Helios turned slowly in Deon's direction.
"You... you really don't have any prejudices."
"No, how could a woman I've just met, and Debierre's illegitimate daughter at that, propose to me out of the blue? Moreover, with such a bold proposal. It's much more likely to be Evan Arkas."
"Wait."
"Why?"
"Debierre's daughter? Is that woman?"
Helios raised an eyebrow lightly. The woman who had casually thrown around the word 'proposal' was Debierre's illegitimate daughter. She looked nothing like Debierre with her excessively cheerful and somewhat odd demeanor. Well, she might not resemble anyone he knew.
"You didn't know? Oh, come to think of it, you've never met her. But isn't it right? Really, Bellia proposed?"
Deon's nonchalant attitude without a response made him more convinced of his speculation.
"Could this be? Isn't it absurd for a woman you've never met, especially Debierre's illegitimate daughter, to propose like this? And to you, who is well-known for your impeccable reputation. Evan Arkas might have a slightly higher chance."
"Wait."
"Why?"
"Is it possible? Is that woman...?"
Helios raised an eyebrow lightly. The woman who had casually thrown around the word 'proposal' was Debierre's illegitimate daughter. She looked nothing like Debierre with her excessively cheerful and somewhat odd demeanor. Well, she might not resemble anyone he knew.
"You didn't know? Oh, come to think of it, you've never met her. But isn't it right? Really, Bellia proposed?"
Deon's nonchalant attitude without a response made him more convinced of his speculation.
"Could this be? Isn't it absurd for a woman you've never met, especially Debierre's illegitimate daughter, to propose like this? And to you, who is well-known for your impeccable reputation. Evan Arkas might have a slightly higher chance."
"Wait."
"Why?"
"Debierre's daughter? Is that woman?"
Helios lightly furrowed his brow. A woman he had never met before casually proposing like this was an absurd idea. Moreover, she claimed to be Debierre's illegitimate daughter. She didn't resemble the strict and upright Debierre at all.
"You didn't know? Oh, now that I think about it, you've never met her. But is it true? Did Bellia really propose?"
Deon's lack of response and his nonchalant attitude seemed to confirm Helios's suspicions.
"Could it be? Is it possible for a woman, especially Debierre's daughter, whom you've never met, to propose like this? And to you, who has such a well-known reputation. Evan Arkas might have a slightly higher chance."
"Wait."
"Why?"
"Debierre's daughter? Is that woman?"
Helios lightly furrowed his brow. A woman he had never met before casually proposing like this was an absurd idea. Moreover, she claimed to be Debierre's illegitimate daughter. She didn't resemble the strict and upright Debierre at all.
"You didn't know? Oh, now that I think about it, you've never met her. But is it true? Did Bellia really propose?"
Deon's lack of response and his nonchalant attitude seemed to confirm Helios's suspicions.
"Could it be? Is it possible for a woman, especially Debierre's daughter, whom you've never met, to propose like this? And to you, who has such a well-known reputation. Evan Arkas might have a slightly higher chance."
"Wait."
"Why?"
"Is that woman...?" Helios lightly furrowed his brow. A woman he had never met before casually proposing like this was an absurd idea. Moreover, she claimed to be Debierre's illegitimate daughter. She didn't resemble the strict and upright Debierre at all.
"You didn't know? Oh, now that I think about it, you've never met her. But is it true? Did Bellia really propose?"
Deon's lack of response and his nonchalant attitude seemed to confirm Helios's suspicions.
"Could it be? Is it possible for a woman, especially Debierre's daughter, whom you've never met, to propose like this? And to you, who has such a well-known reputation. Evan Arkas might have a slightly higher chance."
Helios, who had been pondering his thoughts amidst the ongoing commotion, suddenly stopped his train of thought and opened his eyes.
Deon, who was sitting across from him and had been pouring out admiration until now, also stopped in his tracks.
"By the way, you received a proposal without any clothes?"
***