“What?”

“Or, do you like me?”

Her questions were beyond absurd; he found them to be bold, amusing.

Demus, looking back at Liv with a raised eyebrow, gave her a sour look. Liv stared at him, silently waiting for an answer. He wondered if she was trying to beg for affection, but the look in her eyes was rational and calm.

That was new. It meant that she knew better than anyone else how ridiculous the questions she had uttered.

“I cherish you.”

Thus, Demus decided to be generous and give his answer.

“If I had to define it, I’d say I cherish you, Teacher.”

It was like choosing his favorite thing in his collection and giving it first place. Not the only thing, but he didn’t put it in the same place like his other collections. He only valued her that much.

“Should there be more emotions?”

“Surely not.”

Liv lowered her gaze and turned around. With the other earring in her hand, she walked over to the mirror. It looked like she was going to pierce her ear herself, just as Demus had told her.

No matter how many times he saw it, her movements were uncannily serene.

Standing in front of the mirror, silent as if she weren’t there, Liv touched her earlobe, then cautiously raised her hand. Her shoulders heaved, as if she were nervous.

Before long, a crystal-clear diamond sparkled in her other earlobe as well.

There was a little blood on the tip of the gold pin she had stabbed in without much thought, but it didn’t matter because it couldn’t be seen from the front.

***

Liv laughed mockingly at herself.

The Marquis didn’t ask about her feelings. He was just taking care of her like he would a favorite pet dog.

In retrospect, it had always been that way. From the beginning, it was clear that she was going to be the only one suffering.

She had already known it well.

Dear me, this is why people need to know their places.

Liv stifled a sigh. The red velvet box she ended up bringing home entered her eyes. She thought the ruby necklace she rejected last time was very expensive, but when she put this diamond necklace in front of her, it made that necklace look bland and like something for a child’s play. Seeing the diamond necklace and earrings left her speechless, unable to dare herself to pick them up.

Nevertheless, Liv accepted them. The Marquis would be angry if she refused. She didn’t want to incur his wrath.

“Why don’t you be honest, Teacher?”

No, actually,

“You don’t want anyone to see you standing next to me?”

For all her caution, her greed grew. That greed pushed her to accept the box.

As the Marquis had pointed out, Liv didn’t want her relationship with him to go on forever in secret. She knew that her relationship with the Marquis would do her no good if it came to the surface, and that it would probably cause a huge storm that would sweep her life away.

Nevertheless, Liv wanted to confirm that she was special to him. There existed no surer means of affirmation than the Marquis publicly placing her at his side for all to see.

He was a man who drew the public attention merely from visiting a mansion for a deal, so if she stood by his side as his partner, it would surely generate even more rumors. Many would question his relationship with Liv and scrutinize them. Perhaps, someone would try to pry…

Whether it was the nude paintings acting as the catalyst for their involvement or his tendency to treat her as if she were a collectible… The fact remained that without these elements, she wouldn’t have encountered him or piqued his interest.

The Marquis was a man Liv would never have dreamed of knowing if it weren’t for these special circumstances.

“I cherish you, Teacher.”

The Marquis didn’t like gossip behind his back, so wouldn’t he give her at least some protection? Up until now, he had been benevolent to Liv. Wouldn’t it be a waste of his devotion if he changed now?

Liv ran her fingers down the box. The texture felt soft on her fingertips.

Liv, who had been stroking the box lid as she couldn’t bring herself to open it, averted her gaze. Half of her face was reflected in the small mirror atop of the table. There was a red scab on the pale woman’s ear.