"Here, try this," she said, offering him some dessert.

"Mmm, this is yummy. It reminds me of when we first met," he said, smiling.

"Oh, stop it. The kids are watching," she joked.

But their lovey-dovey talk just made me feel even more single.

"Too sweet."

"Too creamy."

"Too chocolatey."

“I understand why the parents are here, but…” I started, trailing off as I glanced at Ethan and Lucian, who were busy sampling every dessert and cold drink on the table as if they were connoisseurs.

"Why are you two here?!" I finally burst out, annoyance creeping into my voice. It was frustrating to watch them enjoy themselves so freely while I felt like a fifth wheel.

"Parents, can you please spare a thought for us single folks? And Ethan, you said you just wanted to taste, not devour everything. And Lucian, why are you dressed like you're about to rob a bank? Aren't you hot? Fun fact, it’s still summer. Haven’t you received the memo?"

They both chuckled like a pair of mischievous schoolboys caught red-handed. It was exasperating how they could find amusement in everything.

Their eyes lingered on the cheesecake in front of me, untouched because I hadn't had a chance to take a bite. It felt like I was wrangling four unruly children on a field trip rather than enjoying a peaceful dessert.

I shot them a pointed glare, feeling protective over my food. Ethan seemed ready to scoop a spoonful and feed it to Lucian, as if he couldn't manage to eat by himself. It was absurd, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration at their antics.

"Don’t you dare!" I warned sternly, keeping my eyes glued to the cheesecake as I savored each bite.

They simply shrugged, as if my warning meant nothing, and Ethan continued to playfully feed Lucian under his hood with the array of food laid out in front of them.

What on earth am I doing with these people? I thought to myself, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement at their antics.

Eventually, they all agreed to meet Gareth outside the mansion. I had been craving sweets lately, partly because it seemed like the people in the manor had a knack for turning every sweet treat into something bitter.

"I told you this store is good. Look, they even got the Got8 boy group to be their ambassadors!" I overheard them chatting excitedly.

My ears perked up at the mention of the boy group, and I focused my full attention on their conversation.

"My husband is so handsome! I want to take him home!" one of them exclaimed dreamily.

"Kyahhhh," they squealed in excitement, their minds lost in fantasies about their favorite celebrities.

Their squeals abruptly turned into gasps of surprise when they suddenly realized my face was now nestled between them.

"They’re my husbands too," I interjected with mock seriousness, joining in their fan-like enthusiasm. After all, their success meant more money for all of us.

They exchanged puzzled looks, clearly taken aback by my unexpected declaration.

"Are you ladies going to the fan club meeting?" I asked, teasing them with a mischievous glint in my eye, knowing full well that they couldn't resist the chance to talk more about their favorite idols.

"Is there some sort?" she asked curiously, noting the new admirers of my ‘hubbies.’

"Yes, of course. I actually want to help you, but I have company. So why not let the store manager tell you ladies more about it?" I suggested, gesturing towards the store manager.

They smiled at me with hearts in their eyes, eagerly approaching the store manager to learn more about the subject.

Feeling a sense of accomplishment, I returned to our table and treated myself to a refreshing cold beverage, a welcome relief from the sweltering summer heat.

Despite the scorching sun beating down on us, there was a gentle breeze drifting in from the river, offering a hint of coolness.

As I sat there, taking in the picturesque scene around us, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of our surroundings. The gondolas gracefully gliding along the water, filled with tourists and locals alike, added to the enchantment of the moment. And the elegant attire of the people passing by only added to the charm.

"So beautiful," I whispered in awe, unable to contain my admiration.

"Beautiful indeed," a voice agreed.

Startled, I turned to see who had spoken. Was he talking to me?

The line felt straight out of a cheesy romantic movie, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as I slowly turned my head to meet the gaze of the speaker.

"Are you hitting on me?" I blurted out to Lucian, my expression a mixture of surprise and discomfort.

"What?" he said, looking utterly clueless.

"You just said I am beautiful! Did you just fall for me?" I exclaimed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement. Now the attention of the parents and my brother was focused on us.

"No, I did not," he replied confidently. I gave him a skeptical look, silently urging him to tell the truth.

"Aren’t you referring to the sight ahead of us?" he inquired calmly as he took a sip of his drink.

"Yes, I am. But you said 'beautiful indeed' while looking at me!" I retorted, mimicking the way he had said it.

The three people at our table exchanged glances as Lucian and I continued our conversation.

His expression turned incredulous. "Seriously?" he asked, his disbelief evident. "I was looking at the view too, but that person who’s walking in our direction caught my attention," he explained, pointing behind me.

I glanced behind me and saw an imposing figure approaching. He stood a towering 7 feet tall, with a massive build and an expression that could curdle milk.

As he spotted us, his already angry face seemed to darken even further.

Suddenly, our table began to tremble, catching me completely off guard.

I quickly assessed the situation and realized that both the Baron and the Baroness were shaking, tightly clinging to each other in fear.

Turning to my brother, I saw him preparing to draw his sword, while Lucian wore a smug expression as he observed the scene.

"Told you. I was looking behind you, not at you," he remarked, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Ugh. Whatever," I muttered, rolling my eyes in an attempt to conceal my embarrassment.

I couldn't help but acknowledge that, despite his irritating demeanor, Lucian was undeniably handsome. If he wasn't, I might have been tempted to wipe that smug smile off his face then and there.

As the commoner came closer to the baron and baroness at our table, he greeted them with a respectful bow that also seemed a bit scary. "Greetings, your Excellencies," he said.

Both the baron and the baroness were shaking. Even though the baron tried to stand like he was protecting his wife, he couldn't hide that he was also scared.

“W-who are you?” the baron asked in a shaky voice.

“I'm Gareth from the town of Veridian, my lord,” he said politely but with a hint of sharpness in his eyes.

I got a little too excited and stood up to give him a friendly pat on the back. He looked at me with a glare, but I just smiled because it seemed more like a nervous glare than a mean one. (I know because I look like that when I'm nervous. Hoho.)

"So, parents, this is Gareth," I said enthusiastically, introducing him to the baron and baroness.

"Please, have a seat!" I offered, gesturing to the vacant chair beside the baron. The other seat next to me was now taken by Lucian, though I hadn't even noticed him switch places from across the table. He shot me a glare and gestured as if to say not to bother. "Um, okay, you can just stand then," I quickly amended and returned to my seat.

The baron tried to compose himself, but his trembling was still noticeable. At least he was making an effort to appear dignified as the head of the household.

Most business meetings usually took place in the baron's office or in a formal setting, but they agreed to meet by the riverfront at my request for a change of scenery.

"Since this is our first meeting, let me ask you a few questions before we proceed to the sword fight assessment later on." the baron began, regaining some of his confidence.

"Would you be willing to die for my daughter?" he asked, his voice more assured, though it faltered slightly when Gareth emitted a more intimidating aura.

"I-I can see you're not afraid to kill," the baron murmured, taken aback by the intensity of Gareth's presence.

"No, I wouldn't die for your daughter," Gareth answered truthfully, causing the baron's eyebrows to meet in surprise.

"Then this job is not for you," the baron declared, speaking from a protective father's perspective. He must have expected an answer indicating that Gareth was not afraid to sacrifice himself for me.

I glanced at both of them, firm in my belief that Gareth was indeed the right person for the job.

He hailed from the humble background of the old woman who sold goods at the market. According to the background report compiled by Alex some time ago, Gareth was a pillar of strength for the people in his hometown. He fought against bandits who preyed on his community, defending them with unwavering dedication.

Despite his efforts to protect his neighborhood, Gareth ultimately found himself enslaved. While he could fend off bandits, he couldn't shield his people from the encroaching darkness that plagued their town. This darkness returned, wreaking havoc once more and plunging the livelihoods of the townsfolk into despair. As a result, children were being traded as slaves.

But Gareth didn't stand idly by. He managed to rescue these innocent children, who had been sold by their own parents in desperation. Sebastian, recognizing Gareth's skills and prowess, chose to exploit him for profit, knowing that Gareth's abilities far surpassed those of the weak and malnourished children he had rescued.

"Instead, I would do everything in my power to ensure to not let her die," Gareth declared in a menacing tone.

"She's alive, my bank account's alive too. If she's dead, we're dead too," he added, his voice taking on a more calculated edge.

I couldn't help but burst into laughter at his response, finding it both amusing and unexpectedly pragmatic. I reached out and playfully hit Ethan, who was seated on my right, while I laughed hysterically at Gareth's words.

It reminded me of a principle I had held onto back in my world. I had worked tirelessly to please my boss just so I could earn a living and survive.

The baron's expression softened as he grasped the meaning behind Gareth's words. He nodded at me, silently indicating his approval of Gareth as my bodyguard.