Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 1.1

“Oh, look. Mariadoll is here.”

“She must be here husband-hunting. She probably ensnares only widowed men and becomes their mistress for exorbitant sums of money.”

“And I hear she changes partners regularly, too.”

Ignoring the hushed whispers with ease, her moonlight-silver hair swept across the venue. Paying no mind to the lips twisted in disdain behind fans, she accepted a glass of wine from a waiter and took a sip.

Her well-shaped lips touched the glass, and her slender throat moved with a gulp.

The gazes of the men in the room gathered on her expression, her light-blue eyes narrowed slightly.

The gentle music that had been playing stopped once, then changed to a waltz. The time for conversation was over, and the dancing had begun.

The men averted their eyes from Mariadoll, and the young ladies closed their fans, stepping out under the sparkling chandeliers with their chosen partners.

Only men with vulgar smirks approached Mariadoll, who was rumored to be a wicked woman, a femme fatale. She couldn’t help but down her glass of wine in one go.

(I can’t stand this.)

She picked up a plate from the long table near the entrance, piled it high with sweets, and snatched a wine bottle and a glass with her other hand before heading to the garden.

(Ah, there’s still an hour until my carriage arrives. I have to drink to get through this.)

She sat on a bench in the corner of the spacious garden, placed the plate and wine bottle beside her, and let out a sigh.

She stretched her arms up toward the sky and looked up.

Stars twinkled in the summer night sky.

She wouldn’t have come if it weren’t for this mandatory ball for all nobles, marking the start of the social season.

Mariadoll was an eighteen-year-old baroness.

She had lost her parents at fifteen and, with the help of her butler, began managing her tiny territory. Aside from the territory’s income, she had engaged in trade, but she had long since sold the trading company, leaving only a gallery. She was a poor baroness.

To make matters worse, she had given up her mansion last year and now lived on the second floor of the gallery with her butler’s family. Even preparing outfits for balls like this was a painful expense for Mariadoll.

(I had hoped to hear something about compensating for the flood damage in my territory, but it was a disappointment.)

The wheat fields stretching along the foothills suffered flood damage every few years.

Last year and the year before, natural disasters had struck, and each time she had poured her personal fortune into protecting her people’s livelihoods, but even that had its limits. The kingdom wouldn’t lend money to an eighteen-year-old girl who had even given up her mansion.

(It’s not that there’s no one willing to lend me money, but I feel uneasy relying on them.)

She stuck her legs out like a child and took off her ill-fitting shoes.

As she stared at her slightly reddened toes, a shadow suddenly fell over her. Flustered, she put her shoes back on and looked up to see a middle-aged gentleman with a troubled expression, his brows furrowed as he looked at her. With his romantically gray hair swept back, he was also one of Mariadoll’s clients.

“Were you here all along?”

“I grew tired of the unfamiliar ball, so I came out to cool off a little. What brings you here, Lord Haren?”

Lord Haren, the Marquis, gave a small smile and pulled a check from his breast pocket.

“How much do you need? Tell me.”

At his natural gesture and words, Mariadoll sprang to her feet, waving her hands in front of her chest as if to say, “No way!”

“Goodness! There’s no reason for you to go that far.”

“No, no. You gave me an unforgettable night. That alone is worth it.”

“Even if that night meant that much to you, Lord Haren, your children wouldn’t approve of you lending me money. Please, cherish your family.”

Mariadoll shook her head and gently pushed back Lord Haren’s hand, still holding the check. Lord Haren shrugged his shoulders slightly in resignation and reluctantly put the check away.

“But are you really all right?”

“Yes, I have a plan in place.”

Of course, it was a lie, and Lord Haren probably knew it. His brows furrowed further, and his mouth opened and closed repeatedly as if he wanted to say something.

But realizing that Mariadoll had no intention of accepting, he gave up, knowing it would only lead to further back-and-forth.

Even so, Lord Haren repeatedly urged, “If you’re really in trouble, tell me,” and patted her shoulder as if to encourage her.

Grateful for his genuine concern, Mariadoll replied, “I understand,” and Lord Haren finally seemed satisfied and left.

Mariadoll watched his figure merge with the darkness of the night before leaning back against the bench.

“Sigh, he really is a good person. That’s exactly why I can’t borrow money from him.”

But she needed money. As she pondered how to raise funds, she picked up the wine bottle beside her and checked the label in the moonlight.

“Hehe, it’s good wine. I’d like to wait and take it home, but that’s not possible. So, let’s drink it.”

Since she had gone to the trouble of coming, it wouldn’t be worth it if she didn’t at least fill her stomach with delicious food and fine wine. But then, Mariadoll’s hand stopped.

“Oh no, I forgot to bring a corkscrew.”

Now she couldn’t drink it.

The delicious-looking liquid was shimmering so temptingly—it was torture.

As she glared resentfully at the wine bottle, another shadow fell over her.

“Let me see that.”

At the unfamiliar voice, she looked up with a start, but before she could reply, the wine bottle was snatched from her hands.

The owner of the shadow pulled a knife from his breast pocket, stabbed it into the cork, and twisted it skillfully, opening the bottle with a deft turn.

Pop—a satisfying sound echoed, and a rich aroma tickled her nostrils.

“Where’s the glass?”

“Only one. I’m sorry, there isn’t one for you.”

“Then, may I drink directly from the bottle?”

“……”

No, that wouldn’t do.

If he did that, Mariadoll would only get one glass’s worth.

(Still, he’s a handsome man. Hair as black as if it were wet, and crimson eyes. Does he always pick up women like this?)

If so, she needed to leave quickly.

Mariadoll was clueless about such things.

As she started to rise, the man picked up the glass placed on the bench, filled it generously with wine, and offered it to her.

Hesitantly, she alternated her gaze between the wineglass and the man before accepting it. To her surprise, the man dropped to one knee.

(Huh? What? What’s happening?)

Even Mariadoll, with no romantic experience, knew this pose was what knights used when proposing. And the man was wearing a knight’s uniform.

“Baroness Mariadoll Zealand, will you become my contractual fiancée, Jerf Stanley?”

“……Yes?”

After a long pause, Mariadoll’s dumbfounded voice echoed through the night garden.