"Arthur ..."
Lilian almost clicked her tongue loudly when she heard a voice disturb her. She had just managed to feel tiny bit pleasure of narrowing her distance with Arthur and this person came like a bug asking for smack.
Looked like Marianne settled things with Logan as soon as she could and ran back here. Lilian saw Arthur looking at Marianne emotionlessly, but he glanced at her. As if dare her to do this impolite thing in front of others.
Lilian smiled sheepishly and pulled back her hand which was around Arthur's neck. She had reached the first step, so despite being upset, Lilian had to hold back for a while.
Good thing Arthur didn't say anything and resumed tidying up the file again.
Lilian was curious about whether this man really has feelings or not.
Of course if with her, but she thought if it with his fiance, maybe he would be different. However seeing his behavior and expression, Arthur did not seem to love Marianne even though Marianne was a 'prospective fiance'.
As far as she knew, Arthur loved Marianne because even though Lilian accused her of playing dirty behind Arthur, Arthur did not believe it and instead pushed Lilian into a corner, making Lilian's determination increasingly burning to take over what Arthur had. She believed that men who were blinded by women could not lead rationally.
Lilian turned her gaze back to Marianne and examined her. For the villain, Marianne's visuals really stand out. Her eyes glittering lovingly beneath her long eyelashes. She had a face that could snatch whatever man she wants.
But unfortunately she was too obsessed with Arthur.
"Do you need my help?" Marianne graciously approached Arthur. Lilian felt even more annoyed because her mission was interrupted.
"Lady Marianne, what's that? Look at your appearance! Your lip's color faded." Lilian deliberately stood between them, smiling slyly.
"Oh my, I think the coloring a bit messy. Did you eat in a hurry or ..." at the hung sentence, Arthur turned around and stared at Marianne.
Marianne nervously pulled out a handkerchief, and covered half of her face. "W-what are you saying, Lady Lilian?" She tried to wipe her lips.
Lilian caught her hand to stop her. "Or did you fall? It's also a bit swollen." Lilian squinted as if she looked worried. "When I ran into you and Sir Logan up front, you looked fine."
"N-no ... this is ..." Marianne seemed panicked, her gaze fixed on Arthur.
"Yeah ..." Arthur commented, as if thinking of something but seemed to dropped saying it and turned around without continuing.
Lilian smiled gracely.
Serve you right!
Who told you to be in her way?
Marianne's gaze changed as Arthur turned. She turned her body so that her back faced Arthur. There was no longer a scaredy cat eyes in front of Lilian. Her eyes light up ready to launch a laser beam from there. Marianne brushed off her hand.
Lilian grinned silently.
'Oh my dear ... this little fox shows her fangs.'
Marianne needed to bite her tongue so as not to lose control around Arthur. She wiped her face roughly.
"Lady Lilian ..."
"Yes?" Lilian raised an eyebrow.
"You're one of the new interns in our division, aren't you?"
'shoot!'
Lilian forgot. If in real life the gap between seniors and juniors was huge, it seems like that also applies here, seeing Marianne smirking.
She reluctantly replied. "Yes."
"I think you should pack your thing like us. Your seniors ... Arthur and I will prepared for going back."
Lilian gritted her teeth.
This!
How she really hates about junior-senior relations like this! Here and there seemed just the same.
Lilian believed this woman will be more troublesome in the future.
Still grinding her teeth, Lilian tried to
smile. She circled around Marianne and stood beside Arthur, kissing his cheek and then running away.
-------
Marianne who almost fainted when Lilian expose her error, widened her eyes when she saw Lilian kissing Arthur.
How dare she kissed hers!
"Arthur?"
Marianne brought her handkerchief close to Arthur's face, wanting to sweep away Lilian's trace.
Even though the woman is his younger sister, Lilian was still a woman. She did not like any woman close to Arthur besides herself.
"Miss Epheryl?"
Arthur avoided the hand that came close to his face reflexively and stood up.
"Like you said, you should get ready to go back to the office as soon as possible."
Marianne had to swallow Arthur's bitter attitude. Only this time he openly refused her. Normally, Arthur let her act around him.
"I'll--"
"And please call Ian when you come out."
Arthur cut her off and Marianne was forced to bite her tongue before come out of there.
After Marianne gone, Arthur's mind back to Lilian. When something soft and delicate touched Arthur's cheek, just for a few moments, he could feel the warmth left behind from a brushed as soft as that feather.
Arthur blinked.
At the time he regained consciousness, that shameless person who kissing his cheek had already run out of the room.
Dumbfounded, he stared at Lilian's direction for a long time. Arthur blinked again when Marianne who was beside him called out to him.
Meanwhile Arthur saw Marianne reaching out, Arthur felt an urge to move away immediately, a feeling he had never felt for Marianne suddenly burst out, a disgust.
During the time Marianne come out of his office. He wondered why his body reacted that way.
Ah ... maybe when Lilian pointed out Marianne earlier, Arthur could have instinctively make a guess and he almost said not to act improperly in the academy.
Arthur returned to his seat. His mind still occupied to Lilian's attitude which astonished him.
He was sure Lilian had gotten along with the wrong people.
How could she be childish as a noblewoman who was about to have her coming-of-age ceremony?
But the surprising Lilian behavior did not leave unpleasant or angry feeling at him.
He thought he only needed to scold her so she wouldn't do it again in front of others.