Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 2.11

Returning to retrieve her gloves, Mariadoll decided to take a shortcut through the garden rather than the path back to the ballroom, only to be unexpectedly detained.

Blocking her way were four men. One was a knight, while the other three appeared to be lower-ranking nobles based on their attire.

“I heard from a merchant that the ‘Demon Star’ is engaged to a bewitching seductress. She is indeed beautiful. Duke Stanley is handsome as well—they make a perfect pair.”

“I’m in a hurry. Would you mind stepping aside?”

The men, who had expected a foreign woman surrounded by four men to tremble and tear up, clicked their tongues lightly at Mariadoll’s sharp glare.

Though Mariadoll stood her ground confidently, her legs beneath her dress were trembling. Of course, she had no intention of showing it.

“Even if the seductress never returns, the hero would probably just think, ‘Again?'”

“My brother-in-law died in the war three years ago. He was killed by your country. If something were to happen to you, would that man grieve like my sister did?”

“Impossible. He’s the ‘Demon Star’—heartless and cold.”

“Besides, it must be an everyday occurrence for him. Look at that figure. He probably only made her his fiancée to enjoy that.”

Their rude eyes crawled over Mariadoll’s body. A vulgar smirk sent a chill down her spine, and she stepped back, only to find a man had circled behind her.

Surrounded on all sides with no escape, a cold sweat broke out on Mariadoll’s forehead.

(This might be bad.)

Though it was the garden, this area near the boundary with the detached palace was dimly lit.

It was far from the ballroom, and the patrolling knights didn’t come this far. Beyond, a dark thicket of trees sprawled.

“If the ‘Demon Star’ keeps her close as a plaything, she must be quite entertaining.”

“Please do not refer to Lord Jerf by that epithet.”

“Hah? You can say that because you don’t know what he did on the battlefield. What kind of hero is he? The word ‘hero’ you wrap around him is filled with the blood and sorrow of many Cortaus citizens!!”

The knight who had spoken of his brother-in-law’s death shoved Mariadoll’s shoulder with a thud.

Struck speechless by the anger in his gaze, Mariadoll could only stare.

“My brother-in-law was a knight I respected. And you, you killed him. Yet you praise him as a hero, and now a princess of Dunbargas is to become the queen mother of Cortaus? Don’t mock us!!”

“…I heard the marriage proposal came from Cortaus. Crown Prince Leonidas said the war is—”

“Silence!!”

A sharp pain shot through her cheek, and Mariadoll collapsed on the spot.

Dazed, she stared at the tips of several boots edging closer and closer toward her.

“You must have started that rumor yourselves. We know you’re manipulating the young Crown Prince Leonidas to take over this country. That’s why that murderer, the ‘Demon Star,’ is here too, right? I saw him putting silent pressure on the Crown Prince at the ball tonight.”

Touching her left cheek, she could feel it swollen and hot. Though the knight wasn’t as large as Jerf, being punched by him made not only her cheek but the core of her head throb. She must have cut the inside of her mouth, she tasted blood.

Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, Mariadoll stained her new gloves with blood.

Gazing at the red stain, she straightened up, brushed the dust from her dress with a pat, and raised her eyes as before.

Her light blue eyes held no fear, and the knight flinched at this.

“I’ll say it again: do not call him by that name. Dunbargas also shed blood in the war. That is the responsibility of the nation, not Lord Jerf alone. Your brother-in-law surely didn’t enjoy killing people either. He was forced into it, cornered, with no other choice. In that desperate situation, he tried to protect those within his reach. Is that so blameworthy…?”

“Don’t speak with that filthy mouth, seductress!!”

The knight drew his sword and pointed the tip at Mariadoll.

Confronted with the gleaming blade, Mariadoll gulped audibly.

The other three men seemed startled, muttering, “There’s no need to go that far,” “I only heard we were going to scare her,” “I just wanted some fun,” as they backed away.

“Quiet! She’s the plaything of a murderer. There’s no need to worry.”

“What are you doing to my fiancée?”

A low voice froze everyone in place.

Jerf appeared, dragging his feet with a frustrating rustle, and the men on the scene paled.

“I’ll ask again. What are you doing to my fiancée?”

“W-we don’t know anything.”

“W-we were just asked to talk to Mariadoll—I mean, Lady Mariadoll.”

“Excuse us.”

The three men dashed off. The one holding the sword pointed the tip toward the ground but glared at Jerf with hatred-filled eyes.

“My brother-in-law was on that front line. You couldn’t possibly understand our grief, suffering, or bitterness. They call you the tearless Demon Star, this woman must just be a pastime to stave off boredom.”

As the man tried to point the sword at Mariadoll again, Jerf grabbed his arm.

The wrinkles in the man’s knight uniform and Jerf’s digging fingertips showed his strength. With a pressure that seemed capable of making bones creak, the man grimaced but kept glaring at Jerf.

“I see. But that has nothing to do with Mariadoll. If you’re going to point your sword, it should be at me.”

Releasing the man’s arm, Jerf stood shielding Mariadoll with his back.

Faced with Jerf’s cold eyes and the angry aura emanating from him, the man took half a step back but raised his voice in fury.

“Don’t you have anything else to say?”

“Do you want me to say that judgment was wrong? Then I refuse. That would mean denying the comrades who trusted my judgment and entrusted me with their lives. If you must hate, hate me. I’ve done enough to deserve it, and I intend to bear it.”

(No one has been more wounded than Lord Jerf. He carries that regret. Enough to hurt himself, in his heart always. I know he usually acts composed, but he has no intention of letting go of that weight; he’s resolved to carry it until he dies.)

At those words, the man’s eyes widened. His lips moved faintly, forming the word “bear.”

It wasn’t the apology he wanted, but telling him to hate Jerf held the same meaning.

Jerf showed no sign of reaching for the sword at his waist, even as the man kept his grip on his own.

After staring at his own hand, the man muttered in a voice so soft it seemed to vanish.

“I thought you were more of a monster.”

Sheathing his sword, the man looked at Jerf as if wanting to say something, then averted his gaze and walked off toward the ballroom.

Mariadoll let out a relieved sigh, and a hand gently touched her cheek.

Following the rough, large hand upward, she found Jerf looking at her with worried, lowered brows.

“I’m sorry. I was late.”

“No, but how did you know I was here?”

She had taken a shortcut through the garden, so there was no way he could have known she’d be here.

“Warren told me some suspicious men were following you, so I went after you immediately. I went all the way to the detached palace via the path but didn’t find you, so I guessed you took a shortcut and came here. Their loud shouting made it easy to find you, but I was still too slow. I’m sorry.”

Jerf looked at his right leg with distaste. He seemed deeply frustrated that his injury kept him from running.

“It’s nothing serious. The swelling on my cheek will be gone by tomorrow.”

Mariadoll laughed bravely, but Jerf’s brows only lowered further.

Jerf embraced Mariadoll as if cradling something fragile.

“To me, Mariadoll is the one and only woman. I cannot forgive their insults and violence toward you, and thinking it arose from my own actions. I hate myself.”

“Please don’t blame yourself. More importantly, what should we do now? My gloves are dirty again, and with this face, I can’t return to the ball.”

“Crown Prince Leonidas returned shortly after you left. Let’s go back to the detached palace. Actually, should I swipe a bottle of wine first?”

“Hehe, I’d love to take you up on that, but I cut my mouth, so let’s save it for another time. Instead, I’d like to talk with you for a little while, if that’s alright. To be honest, I was quite frightened, and my legs are still shaking.”

Smiling ruefully, she lifted the hem of her dress slightly, revealing her legs trembling in tiny shudders.

Jerf’s brows furrowed sadly before he closed the distance between them, placed a hand on her back and behind her knees, and lifted her into his arms.

“W-wait, Lord Jerf! I’m not so injured I can’t walk. Please put me down.”

“Hm? Didn’t your earlier statement mean you wanted this?”

“No, it didn’t. And you know that, don’t you? I’m fine, so please put me down.”

“I refuse. Besides, my leg is bad, so it might be a bit unsteady. Hold on tight.”

While Mariadoll flustered about the rumors this would start, Jerf calmly began walking toward the detached palace.

After a few steps, Mariadoll gave up, realizing he wouldn’t let her go.

Resigned, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He smiled at her from up close, and in her embarrassment, she buried her face in his chest.

Jerf gazed tenderly at Mariadoll, whispered “I’m sorry” softly, and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head.