chapter 12

After few day Lilic attended the marriage market

The marriage market was as overwhelming as Lilic had expected

It was grand, extravagant, and filled with noble ladies adorned in their finest gowns, each vying for the attention of potential suitors. Conversations hummed in the air like restless bees, and the scent of expensive perfumes mingled with the delicate aroma of fresh roses that decorated the grand hall. Lilic had known this was coming, had prepared herself for it, but standing in the midst of it all made her skin itch with discomfort

ahe had gone through the initial introductions with practiced ease, exchanging pleasantries with various noblemen while carefully maintaining the image of a proper lady. However, she quickly grew tired of the suffocating atmosphere. The calculated smiles, the veiled words—she needed a moment of fresh air away from the crowd

Of course, fate had other plans.

Excusing herself, she slipped past the clusters of people, seeking refuge in the more open corridors of the palace garden. The cool breeze was a welcome relief, carrying with it the scent of blooming lilacs. She exhaled softly, allowing herself a moment to simply exist without the pressure of expectation weighing on her shoulders. Distracted by her thoughts, Lilic wasn't paying attention to where she was walking. One moment, she was gracefully navigating the stone path. The next, her foot caught on the hem of her dress. She lurched forward with all the grace of a startled deer—straight into someone's very solid chest.

There was a sharp intake of breath.

Lilic barely had time to react before she felt herself tipping, her balance completely lost. "Ah—!"

Before she could hit the ground, a firm arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her upright. The sudden force sent her spinning slightly, and when she finally steadied herself, her nose was practically pressed against the embroidered lapel of a midnight-black coat.

The scent of leather and something sharp—like winter frost—filled her senses. Slowly, she tilted her head up, meeting the gaze of a man she instantly recognized.

Laxus Helion.

The Duke of the Southern Plains. A man notorious for his icy demeanor and rumored ruthlessness. A man she had only just read about in the newspapers days ago. And he was currently staring at her as if she were a particularly irritating bug that had just flown into his face.

His cold, ocean-blue eyes narrowed. "Are you incapable of walking properly, or do you simply enjoy throwing yourself at strangers?"

Lilic bristled, embarrassment flaring into indignation. "Excuse me? I hardly threw myself at you! You just happened to be standing in the way of my very unfortunate fall."

"So now I'm at fault?" His voice full of condescension.

She looked at him and said, "Well, if you weren't built like an immovable wall, maybe I could have recovered instead of bouncing off of you like a poorly thrown ball."

Laxus blinked, clearly unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a manner. For a moment, he said nothing, simply studying her. Then, much to Lilic's shock, the corner of his mouth twitched—just barely.

Before either of them could say another word, a sharp voice called out from the distance. "Your Grace! There you are."

Lilic turned to see an older nobleman rushing toward them. Immediately, Laxus's expression turned back to pure indifference.

He released his hold on her and took a step back, adjusting the cuffs of his coat as if their entire interaction had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience. "Try not to get lost again, Lady "

And with that, he turned and strode away without a second glance.

Lilic stood there for a moment, stunned. Then, she let out a slow breath, muttering under her breath, "What a completely insufferable man."

Lilic stormed back into the grand hall, her frustration bubbling beneath her carefully composed expression. The nerve of that man! Laxus Helion had looked at her like she was a particularly dull piece of furniture—one that had the audacity to exist in his presence. If she had expected any kind of charming encounter, she had clearly been mistaken.

Still fuming, she barely had time to compose herself before disaster struck.

"Lady Lilic!" A young nobleman with floppy golden hair rushed toward her, nearly tripping over his own feet in his enthusiasm. "I must say, your presence here is like the first bloom of spring!"

Before she could react, another nobleman—this one dark-haired with an unfortunately large cravat—appeared at her other side. "Spring? Nonsense! Lady Lilic is the summer sun, warming all those lucky enough to bask in her radiance!"

Lilic blinked, feeling an impending headache.

A third nobleman, who had been hovering nearby, clearly didn't want to be left out. "The sun? Too common! Lady Lilic is the rarest of moonflowers, blooming only in the most exquisite of nights!"

Lilic took a step back, but they all mirrored her movement, closing in.

Then, like a beacon of doom, another one appeared, dramatically flipping his coat. "Moonflowers are delicate, but Lady Lilic is strong! A warrior goddess of—"

"No, no," someone interjected. "A gentle dove! A symbol of purity!"

"A swan! Elegant and untouchable!"

"A phoenix, rising from the ashes!"

Lilic was beginning to regret ever leaving her estate.

Somewhere in the midst of this absurd battle of metaphors, two of the young men elbowed each other in their excitement, causing one to stumble forward—directly into Lilic's personal space. Out of sheer instinct, she stepped sideways to avoid him… only for him to lose his balance entirely, his arms flailing wildly before he crashed into another nobleman, who, in turn, tripped over the third.

In a matter of seconds, three young noblemen were sprawled on the floor in a tangled heap, groaning in embarrassment.

A stunned silence fell over the room.

Lilic stared.

The bystanders stared.

Someone in the back coughed.

Then, Lady Rosaline Velmont, who had been watching from the refreshment table, let out an undignified snort before quickly covering it with a delicate cough.

Lilic, deciding this was her chance, cleared her throat. "Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me." She swept past them with as much dignity as she could muster, stepping over a fallen cravat and a pair of misplaced shoes.

As she made her escape, she heard one of the noblemen mutter from the floor, "She moves like a goddess..."

Another groaned. "I think I sprained something."

A third sighed wistfully. "Totally worth it."

Lilic, finally reaching a safe distance, pinched the bridge of her nose. "I need more tea."