Chapter 28: Confrontations and Wit
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Fine pressed further.
The young lady’s eyes filled with tears, her body trembling as she stammered, “I’m so sorry.”
“Be more careful with your words next time.”
Fine snapped her fan shut and strode back to Hawk.
“Pfft.”
Noticing Hawk’s odd demeanor, Fine glanced at him.
He was clutching his stomach, barely containing his laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
“I was about to step in to help, but you didn’t need me at all.
You were like a villainess.”
“Sorry for being a villainess.”
Fine pouted, cheeks puffing.
She didn’t usually act this way, but she’d played the villainess to deter further harassment.
“It’s a compliment.”
“I’ve never heard such a compliment.”
“Really?
Cheer up.”
Hawk was still chuckling.
“My, Lord Rosaider laughing like that?”
A surprised voice came from somewhere.
Glancing around, Fine saw several noblewomen staring at Hawk, enchanted.
‘Hawk-sama had that “Death” rumor, but he’d probably be popular in society.’
Young, handsome, and a margrave—an impeccable catch.
A vague unease stirred in Fine’s chest.
Then, a shadow fell before them.
“Hawk!
It’s been a while.
Since the Royal Academy, right?”
A vaguely familiar group of men approached Hawk.
He eyed them suspiciously.
“Too busy fooling around to remember?
We met at a salon six months ago.”
“What?!”
One man lunged at Hawk, but another stopped him.
“Calm down.
It’s Banaji’s big day.
Let’s raise a toast.”
The man signaled, and a waiter approached with a tray of wine glasses.
He took one, passed others to his group, and offered the last to Hawk.
Hawk stared at the glass.
‘What’s wrong?’
Fine wondered why he didn’t take it.
“Come on, drink to the celebration.”
“I’d drink, but why’s there a drug in this glass?”
The man’s face paled at Hawk’s accusation.
Fine realized it was true from his reaction.
“Planning to get me drunk and make a fool of me?”
“No, it’s a misunderstanding—”
“Misunderstanding?
Then drink it.”
Hawk took the glass.
“I forgot to mention, when I’m drunk, I get the urge to kill.
Comes from years on the battlefield.
Drinking was the only way to cope.”
His icy stare, as if marking prey, made the man yelp, “Eek!”
“Don’t drink!
Stop!”
“Why?
It’s just a toast, right?
Let’s celebrate.”
“I’ll be killed!”
Screaming, the man fled.
“Not drinking?
How boring.”
Hawk muttered, handing the glass to the ashen-faced waiter.
“Take this away.”
“How did you know it was drugged?”
Fine asked timidly.
“I didn’t.
Just a bluff.
I sensed malice from them, so I figured they were up to something.”
“Malice…”
‘Right, Hawk-sama’s Divine Blessing is the “Magic Eye.”’
Fine didn’t know the details, but she knew it let him see people’s malice.
“Those ladies you faced earlier, and now this—such childish harassment.”
“Truly.
Their mental age must be juvenile.
You handling them was like a reaper in action.
Oh, that’s a compliment.”
Returning his earlier jab, Fine teased.
Hawk looked momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing.
“Death and a villainess, huh?
Quite the pair.”
“Not good.
Sounds like a wicked couple.”
“A wicked couple?
Haha!”
Hawk laughed, shoulders shaking.
“We’ve fulfilled our duty.
Shall we go?”
“We haven’t greeted the happy couple.”
“You want to?”
Hawk raised an eyebrow deftly.