Daddy, I Don’t Want to Marry!

Act 7. I Will Protect You

Im sorry? D-did I by any chance offend you, my lady? Baron Gordon stuttered as if he was taken aback. But rather than sympathy, I felt anger rise inside me.Hes harsh towards the powerless but has the audacity to act pitifully in front of me.

Baron Gordon reminded me of my superiors in my past life, who frequently abused their authority. People like them only acted servile towards the powerful but freely raised their voices towards the weak. Although I wanted to berate him to my hearts content, I was aware that we were in the middle of Arcade Street, where many nobles milled around. I was bound to become the subject of more rumors if I blindly supported my fathers disciple, who seemed like a commoner.Theres no way around this but to put on a little act.

I pointed at my fathers disciple and straightened my expression. Werent you just mistreating my man? As soon as I finished speaking, my fathers disciple widened his eyes. He was probably taken aback, which was understandable.Im trying to save you, so keep your mouth shut. Okay?I tried to hint at him with my intense gaze. Although my question was directed towards the baron, an unexpected group of people replied.

What? What do you mean by that, my lady?

What do you mean by my man?

I became startled by their unusually gloomy voices.Yikes, I forgot about the knights behind me!It was a habit of mine to ignore the escort knights, who made me feel uncomfortable while I was shopping, so I accidentally forgot that they were following me.

I turned around. Hes a secret escort my father privately assigned to me, I calmly said. Hes a very skilled mercenary.

I was never told anything about this, my lady, Geraldine said stubbornly.

He seriously lacks the ability to adapt to these kinds of situations.I sighed and decided to explain the circumstances to them later, resorting to lying for the time being. I asked my father to keep it a secret from the escort knights because I thought it would displease you all.

But!

Im talking to someone right now, so Ill tell you the details later.

Geraldine bowed with a sigh. Yes, my lady. When he stepped back, I glared at Baron Gordon.

Now, do you really think Im going to let you go after messing with my escort, Baron Gordon?

The baron winced in response, then protested as if his pride was on the line. What do you mean by messing with him?! That man made me fall, then spoke to me informally! My question is, how are you going to compensate me for the damage done here?

In an aristocratic society, a subordinates mistake was only held accountable by their master if the conflict got out of hand. It was more common for both parties to let the issue slide so as to not offend each other.Now that he knows its hopeless for us to have friendly relations, hes trying to squeeze some money out of me at the very least.As expected of a self-made noble with common origins, he was servile but not the slightest bit agreeable, as indicated by how fast he had changed his attitude.

I really dislike this person,I thought and sighed. At first glance, I could tell that the baron had initiated the argument and unjustly demanded an apology. It was impossible for my fathers disciple, with his fierce personality, to degrade himself before someone who picked a fight with him. Even if he had been in the wrong, I doubted he would have apologized to the baron.It cant be helped. In a situation like this

My escort grew up in the countryside, so he isnt accustomed to social norms. Nevertheless, its my fault that I didnt teach him any manners, so I will take full responsibility as his lady, I said softly, giving a death stare at the baron. He met my gaze in response, bearing a bright expression.

Hes probably excited about how much I will compensate him, isnt he? But as they say, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.In this type of situation, it was common for the master to punish their subordinate or compensate the other party. But since I neither intended to discipline my fathers disciple nor waste my precious money, I suggested a method that would resolve this problem peacefully and frugally.

Why dont we call it even if you speak informally to me as my escort did to you, Lord Gordon? I asked. The barons smile immediately disappeared from his face.

* * *

Speak informally to her?After digesting the ladys words, the baron shivered and realized something.Ive made a faulty judgment.He was certain that the nobles he was acquainted with had babbled about the ladys lack of manners, as well as her dreadful and arrogant personality.

Go ahead and speak informally to me, the woman said with a haughty tone, staring at him with an angry and intimidating gaze. No matter how much he observed her, she was not a little child but a fiend that would threaten his life the moment he left his guard down.

This vile wench. She has the nerves to say that because she knows Im not able to speak informally to her.The baron had become a nobleman by being shrewd, so he knew that if he spoke informally to the lady for the sake of his pride, he would be punished for mutiny. This crime was serious enough to take away his hard-earned, insignificant status.

The baron hurriedly bowed. I have caused a great inconvenience to the lady. Please be generous and forgive me.

Even though he apologized, the lady shook her head with disapproval. I dont think you should seek forgiveness from me, but from my escort, she said coldly.

The baron gritted his teeth, livid by the prospect of bowing down to a commoner. Even so, he immediately lowered his head, knowing that he would enrage the lady if he didnt apologize. Im sorry about what happened. It seems like Ive misunderstood you, he forced out. Sensing the insincerity of his words, Max stared down at him instead of responding.