Olivier Dampierre Proposed to the Maid!

Spend the night…

Amelie’s body stiffened. She could hear the blood-curdling cries of countless maids who had trusted the noble master and then been betrayed.

Did he really come all this way to try to do something about me? When he holds my hand, I’d suddenly feel moved? Wasn’t the Duke the one who wanted a clean ending more than anyone else?

Clearly, Olivier Dampierre had no intention of ending this relationship.

And the fact that he gave up on a gentlemanly ending…

It was a sign of bad things to come for Amélie’s reputation.

…Should I run away?

Amelie looked around with fear in her eyes, but her luggage was in the hotel. Even if she ran, she wouldn’t get far…

What should she do now?

If Duke Dampierre had come this far on a mission, he would have spent time and money chasing her wherever she went.

Remembering the sapphire ring that had been slipped so haphazardly onto her hand, Amelie clenched her fist. The blood dried up.

She returned the ring as soon as she was done, but the eerie sensation of being shackled still lingered on her finger.

“D, Duke…”

Georges groaned and staggered to his feet, his insides burning with tension.

“I, I have to go…”

“Go?”

Olivier snickered. The way one would do when they hear something so ridiculous they can’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it. It was a clear laugh.

“Leaving Amelie Garnier here? Again?”

Again…? Amélie looked back and forth between the Duke and Georges in confusion. She couldn’t quite make sense of the situation.

All the while, there was a strange tension between the two men. Georges cowered, as if he couldn’t bear to meet the Duke’s intense gaze.

“It’s, it’s, it’s too late for that…”

“You gutless bastard.”

The Duke’s steely gaze swept coldly over Georges.

“I am most disgusted with the likes of you.”

The pointed end of the sleek cane sank straight into Georges’ heart. It was the same cane that had lifted Amélie Gagnier’s chin in the alley.

A shallow groan escaped Georges’ lips as he staggered backwards, and Olivier, who had just pushed him up against the wall, muttered through clenched teeth.

“Is this the love you’re talking about, huh?”

“…I, I…”

“You’re a dirty animal in heat. Don’t pretend.”

A cold sneer escaped him. Trapped between the filthy wall and the cobbler, Georges shuddered pitifully. Tears could be seen dripping from his pale face.

“Consider it fortunate that I didn’t kill you.”

The fiery green eyes bore into Georges with an accusing glare. Amelie, who had been watching uneasily, stepped forward.

“That’s enough, Duke.”

She tightly grabbed onto Olivier’s clothing in her desperate state, but quickly withdrew her hand before he turned around to look.

“Stop?”

The Duke looked back at Amélie. His cold gaze made her whole body shiver, but Amélie summoned her courage.

“Let the valet go. I want to speak with you.”

“Amelie. You do realise that this bastard sold you out for the money I gave him?”

Olivier’s eyes narrowed in displeasure.

“Georges, you can’t possibly…”

Amélie’s bewildered gaze fell on Georges. Georges avoided her eyes as if he hadn’t heard a word.

Only then did she remember Georges’ wallet, which seemed to spit out money like a fountain. The reason why he kept spending money all evening was him trying to atone for something…

“Leaving early just to spend dinner with that little bastard. Leavig your room just like that1its actually more like ‘Just leave the rice cake in the room.’ “떡하니” or “like ddeok (rice cake)”is a Korean idiom that means doing something carelessly or recklessly..”

“…”

Olivier spat out coldly at Amélie, who was at a loss for words. He quickly drew his cane and glared at Georges as if to kill him.

“Get the fuck out of here.”

Startled by the sudden order, Georges quickly took off. He stumbled around and kept stealing glances with his dirty cuffs over his eyes.

“I’m disappointed, Amélie Gagnier.”

Amelie’s face immediately heated up. Something stirred in her chest.

Why the hell do I have to listen to this? You come in here like some kind of big saviour, and you seem to want the same thing in the end…?

Amelie took a slow, deep breath.

“Duke.”

The word barely escaped her clenched teeth. Her heart felt like it was going to burst. Barely controlling her rising anger, Amelie forced each word out.

“I’ll be very careful in the future, to make sure this secret doesn’t get out. So please, for now… just let me go.”

“…What?”

“I… I’m going to Nantes tomorrow morning and won’t be back in Ezon for a very long time. I’m not coming back for good, if I can help it.”

He made no reply, only watched Amelie’s face intently.

“As the Duke said…”

Amelie managed to say.

“That it’s a secret pleasure to hold a maid, but it is a disgrace to love one.”

The words became thorns in her heart just by repeating them. Fighting back hot tears, Amelie pleaded.

“I have no experience, and I don’t think I can give you the secret pleasure you want, Duke, so please…”

“I came to apologise, Amelie.”

He interrupted in a monotone voice.

“…Yes?”

Amelie, who was trembling with nervousness, looked up in surprise.

“I’m sorry.”

He thrust the wad of newspaper he’d been clutching in one hand the entire time in front of her nose. The scent of fresh flowers hit her before the smell of ink.

“Take it.”

Suddenly, there was a bunch of roses tucked inside the curled newspaper. The bunch of red roses were as fresh as if they had just been plucked. At first glance, they were of the highest quality, hard to come by for ordinary people.

“Anyway.”

Amélie was speechless for a moment, staring down at the flowers in front of her, and then she took them. It was still warm where Olivier’s hand had touched it.

“I was worried about you, but I heard you were out with the valet.”

His face was red enough to be clearly visible even under the light of a street lamp. Looking up at the little duke, who seemed clumsy with apologies, Amelie felt dizzy.

It felt like the absinthe she’d had earlier was coming back up. She managed to keep her stomach under control and asked quietly.

“Is that what brought you all the way here?”

“Yes, and also…”

Olivier paused for a moment, then caught Amélie’s eye and smiled weakly. Her eyes were deep with a hint of heat.

“To spend a little more time together?”

“But, Duke, I’m…”

Amelie stammered. She was sure she would be intimidated, but an apology was the last thing she expected, and she didn’t know what to say. She felt crushed under the pressure.

“For the apology… thank you. But…”

Amelie finally breathed out, no longer feeling stuck. This confusion was bad enough yesterday. Why would it happen again today…

She didn’t want to let Olivier Dampierre intervene in her world anymore. He had to go back to his shiny world, and Amélie had to go back to being Amélie.

“Go back. Duke. You could be mugged in this part of the city dressed like that. I’m going to get some rest and leave for Nantes early tomorrow.”

“Your lodging is over there, right?”

Olivier pointed to the hotel with a grimace.

“…Yes.”

“How do you expect to sleep in a place like that?”

“…”

Amelie saw the hotel out of the corner of her eye and bit her lip. It looked like a haunted house with its dingy windows. She didn’t like it in the daytime, but now she felt like she was going to get killed if she stepped foot in it…

“Why not?”

Amelie’s reply came out a little pouty, but Olivier took it gently.

“I’ll check you in another place. I can’t see you going in there alone.”

“I…”

“Let’s go get your luggage. And you haven’t eaten yet, right? Let’s grab a quick bite here too.”

Without answering, he turned on his heel and started walking ahead.

“That’s not it…”

It seemed that the Duke had not come to see her out of malice, and for that, Amelie was deeply relieved. His eyes and actions conveyed a sincere apology.

But…

Amelie glanced down at the pool of water between her and Olivier. What if the Duke comes again? What if this isn’t just one instance?

Not only the bad lord but also the excessive kindness of the good lord is fatal poison to her.

Amélie Gagnier knew herself all too well.

Wouldn’t it be miserable if someone of high rank offered her a moment’s sympathy, and she had to spend years dwelling on it for nothing?

She had already experienced enough of that in her relationship with Katarina Biché…

“Duke.”

Steeling herself, Amelie took a deep breath. This was the moment for a strong refusal.

“I, I refuse your attention and sympathy.”

In front of the Duke, the bunch of roses in Amelie’s hand crashed to the pavement.