Elias raised a brow, viewing her inquisitively. "Milady, have I offended you before? You seem rather adverse toward me."

"Please do not misunderstand, Sir d'Amboise. I am merely displaying proper etiquette."

"Is that right?" The corner of his mouth curled upward. "Then, is it not proper etiquette to show appreciation to your rescuer?"

"What kind of appreciation should I be showing?" Elaine had an awful premonition, feeling Elias was leading her toward a trap.

"Well, milady, there are many ways for a person to show her gratitude. But first, should we not get to know each other?"

I know you. I know a lot about you.

"My Lord, I think we both understand our current positions. Why must you force our association?" She spoke softly, though her candid tone was not pleasant. "Besides, if it is a temporary companionship you desire, then I'm sure there are plenty of noble ladies who would grovel at your feet." Elaine's head pointed him in a direction.

Close to them, a large group of noblewomen was chatting and giggling. Their conversation topics were arbitrary. However, those attentive would catch several younger ladies' furtive glances at the male protagonist. Unlike the weak noblemen crowding the capital, Elias' strong, dignified gait, unapologetic mannerisms, and decorated military career all exuded an exotic allure they rarely experienced. Apart from his battlefield reputation, Elias' mesmerizing features and elevated social status also demanded attention, capturing the hearts of many. Even Celeste, Elaine noticed, occasionally peeked in his direction between her pretty tears and sniffles. Like a highly sought-after treasure, everyone wondered who would ultimately win the race and obtain his affection.

Too bad this is a rigged game, and most would lose. The male protagonist only belongs to the female protagonist. Elaine mused.

"Is something amusing to you, Lady Estella?"

Elias's question snapped Elaine out of her reverie. "No, it is nothing." She coughed, then returned to her previous point. "As you can see, Sir d'Amboise, you have plenty of options. I appreciate your previous assistance, though your current attention would burden me more than benefit." Elaine knew her words sounded harsh, but she needed to cut all ties with the male protagonist before their paths intertwined. Allying with the Third Prince was already dangerous enough. She did not want to place herself in a more precarious situation.

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Elaine watched his expression while she spoke. Surprisingly, it never changed.

"Milady, I am curious. Why would the mighty Duke of Geris' daughter end up outside a destroyed bandit hideout? And who killed those Devil Beasts?" Elias' eyes pinned hers. His mysterious amethyst irises reflected Elaine's image while the fiery crimson pupils pierced her in place.

"I, I don't know. Was it not you?" Elaine stuttered, startled by his sudden change of subject. "Sir d'Amboise, let's not discuss this topic here." She lowered her voice to a whisper. Few knew about her special outing, and even less learned about her unfortunate encounter with the bandits and the Devil Beasts. And Elaine wanted it to remain that way.

"Did you not want me to stop approaching you, Lady Estella? If you can quell my curiosity, I will never engage with you again."

Elaine spewed expletives under her breath. He inquired about a sensitive subject, knowing she had no answer for him. Elaine was right. Elias led her toward the edge, giving her only two options: jump or follow him back. Both options were far from ideal.

"What is your purpose, My Lord?" Though seething inside, she lowered her eyes, keeping her glare hidden. Elias miscalculated if he planned to extract information concerning the Duke from her. Elaine only came to this world a month ago and knew little about Gerard. Even with Estella's memories, she still could not inform him much. The Duke was not in the habit of broadcasting his intentions to others, even if they were his family. However, Elaine also could not warn Elias about future events. Not only would it change the plot, but he might become even more suspicious of her.

"My motive is simple. I am intrigued and would like to know more about you, milady."

Intrigued? About what? His straightforward acknowledgment baffled Elaine, preventing her from formulating a response. "Why?" She finally uttered.

"Why not?" Elias leaned forward, his eyes locking on hers. "Milady, why should there be a reason?"

Lies. Elaine did not believe his words. Of course, other lovestruck young girls would fall for his deception, but Elaine had the book's knowledge. Besides the female protagonist, Elias was not the type to concern himself with others. Thus, he must want something from her.

She sighed. "Let's continue this conversation at another time, My Lord." Their exchange gathered too much attention, and she could no longer ignore the palpable silence surrounding them. Elaine could only hope words had not reached the Duke.

Elias glanced at the spectators and nodded. "Of course, milady. We can continue our conversation later in private." He then turned and walked toward his father's location.

"Who would have thought Lady Estella was such a vixen? She is already engaged to the Crown Prince but is now seducing the Lévis' heir." A young noblewoman whispered to her friends.

Not good. Elaine could hear the unflattering words. She needed to handle the situation before it became gossip and spiraled out of control.

She glided toward the comment's owner. "Can you repeat what you just said?" Her lips formed a sweet smile, though it did not reach her eyes.

"I, I..." The girl cowered. "But what I said was not wrong!" She spouted.

A loud sound rang inside the forest, alerting people of a nearby commotion.

"How dare you!" The girl shouted, holding her burning cheek. "My father will hear of this!"

"Your father?" Elaine chuckled. "Tell me. What will he hear? That a mere Count's daughter dared to smear my reputation? What would my father and the Crown Prince think of this? Your words sullied not only my character but also the house of Croix and the royal family." She inched closer, her eyes narrowed. "Can your father bear the responsibility? Can you?"