CH 7

“We hereby announce that the marriage has been consummated.”

More could not be said.

Except for the Grand Duke and I, there were only knights standing guard and a priest who came out of the temple to officiate.

“Please take good care of me.”

A new bride without even a bouquet.

At a wedding that no one celebrated, the moment the officiant approved the marriage, the grand duke held out his hand to me.

“Aren’t you an ally now?”

To be precise, I’m not an ally, but just an obedient hire.

I was reminded of my situation again by the hand that just wanted a firm handshake, not a man’s hand that was sweetly extended.

“I won’t say thank you for saving me.”

“It’s too late to say thank you like that.”

“Instead, I will exterminate all the insects that Your Excellency wants to catch. Instead of saying thank you.”

I held the hand of the man in front of me.

This is where it really started.

To help Grand Duke Noctis by approaching people who have nothing to do with me and figuring out their intentions.

“Our marriage should look good in the eyes of others.”

“… Can I ask what you mean?”

“It means sharing a room together and pretending to be friendly in all formal settings.”

The Grand Duke twisted the direction of the hand that was shaking his hand and dug between my fingers as if he were holding his beloved.

As soon as we got into the pod, he smiled contentedly and pulled me closer.

“From the moment we leave this banquet hall, you love me.”

The priest looked at us like this and smiled happily. He prayed wholeheartedly, saying that he would bestow blessings on our future.

‘He never mentioned in the first place that such acting was necessary.’

Didn’t nobles do things like arranged marriages?

Marriage without love. Even in real life, arranged marriages among conglomerates are common.

“Do you understand?”

I never dreamed that I would have to act in Perus Castle, which is full of servants and knights.

“If you don’t want to hear harsh words from others with that hair color and eyes, listen to me.”

“… Do you care? Or is this just to increase the success rate of the plan?”

Was it because he was considerate of me, who would soon enter the social world as the one and only Grand Duchess of the Olan Empire?

No one knew Flotty’s face, but there was no one who didn’t know that her dark purple hair and dull mouse-colored eyes belongs to ‘the disgrace of Bevenia’.

“Think whatever you like.”

Having been given a meaningless answer, we left the banquet hall holding hands like very affectionate lovers.

The white dress she wore matched the assortment of flower petals on the floor.

“Your Excellency, will I pretend to love you too?”

“Then I guess I’ll just make it look like you love me.”

In a voice devoid of the slightest hint of affection, the Grand Duke replied that he would try to look like a man in love.

In the face of the man who glanced at me, there was an expression of blunt coldness, as if there was no room for trivial things like emotions.

“I will do my best.”

To survive.

***

‘He never said anything like this before!’

For some reason, the odd scents came from the red scented candles left lit by the ladies-in-waiting.

Even when I opened and closed my eyes, nothing changed.

A man brushing his wet hair.

Muscles and numerous scars nestled between the gaping collar of his gown.

Intermittent breathing sounds.

Long white fingers pour wine into a glass.

And,

“Have a drink.”

My eyes were blinking white because of the man who smiled so sternly as if there was no one else in the world.

***

Serving the newlyweds on their first night as husband and wife, the servants displayed their sincerity. There were red petals scattered on the bed, candles, and even wine.

There was even a man soaked in water in the room that was all red.

‘Really… We’ll have our first night?’

The atmosphere, regardless of who sees it, seems to indicate that this will be the case.

In particular, when Grand Duke Noctis came in out of the blue with only a barely-there gown on, saying that we should have a drink.

And now I’ve been drinking so much that the bottle of wine is nearly empty.

“Are we sleeping together today?”

It was after the words had already left my mouth that I thought that it might sound strange to say this in such an atmosphere.

The grand duke, who had been drinking red wine without saying anything, glanced at me with a languid gaze at my words.

“Do you want to?”

No way.

If you’re a human, even if you just brush his collar, you will feel terrible.

It reminds me of my f***ing dad. It’s funny how he changes easily after whispering that he loves me.

“Because you said we had to share a bedroom. That’s what I meant by asking.”

Maybe it’s because I never drank alcohol even as an adult. I couldn’t figure out what my capacity was.

Except for my blurred vision, my mind seemed to be fine.

“I have no interest in touching a woman who has been taken hostage.”

I was still sane enough that I understood that the Grand Duke’s words meant that he would not touch me, even if he spent every night with me.

“That’s fortunate. You don’t have any hobbies like that.”

“That’s because I’m not hungry for women.”

Judging by the strange curl of his mouth, the grand duke seemed to be as normal as I was. The bedroom, carefully decorated by the ladies-in-waiting, was useless.

The newlyweds staying here had no intention of spending a hot night.

“I’m tired, so I’ll sleep first.”

[Eh? Why are you going to sleep all of a sudden, you bastard!]

“Kyaaak!”

My heart almost fell out.

As I got up from my seat, a loud voice rang in my head. It’s not just moderately loud, but a very loud voice.

“What?”

The Grand Duke stood up and looked at me with surprised eyes as I screamed. His eyes were more startled than surprised.

“Uh… . I think I saw a bug over there.”

“Here?”

“Did I see it wrong… … .?”

There were not even bugs to be seen in the clean and spacious bedroom, but this was the only excuse I have for my reaction.

[Hey, why are you screaming? It was such a good mood… … .]

Even the topic of conversation, let alone the atmosphere, had never been romantic.

What kind of bullshit is this old woman, who just appeared out of the blue, spouting?

I gently waved my hand so that the Grand Duke wouldn’t notice.

‘Please get out of here, please.’

Aside from observing everything from one to ten, what if she intervenes without hesitation?

When I gave the Grand Duke an awkward smile so as not to be noticed, he withdrew his gaze with a single word, ‘You are so weird.’

[Come.]

“What.”

Damn it.

The Grand Duke’s gaze, which had turned back out the window, returned to me. It was because I reflexively responded to the old lady’s outrageous words.

“You don’t seem to want to go to bed alone.”

He immediately put down his wine glass, stood up, and came closer to me. I wonder if he’s too close.

“That is… … .”

I had a drink, so my face was hot.

The Grand Duke’s lips curled up playfully to the point of making me feel uncomfortable since I could see him from a very close distance.

“Are you going to be satisfied if I go with you?”

Should I push away or retreat?

The moment I was just thinking about that kind of thing,

[Avoid!]

I immediately reacted reflexively to the old lady’s voice.

In a blink of an eye, I was inside the Grand Duke’s embrace, his arms wrapped around my waits.

Bang!

Simultaneous sounds were heard.

It was the sound of friction made by me and the Grand Duke falling over, and the sound of an arrow breaking through the window and hitting the opposite wall.

‘F**k… . What is that all of a sudden?’

Seeing the arrow suddenly fly by, I gritted my teeth. To think that Perus Castle, which I thought was safe, would be attacked by assassins.

“Catch it.”

Unlike me, who was staring blankly at the arrow stuck in the wall, the Grand Duke, who raised himself up halfway, gave an order in a cold voice.

“I will obey.”

I heard the voice of a strange man I couldn’t even see.

“Are you okay?”

It felt like my heart would stop.

This was the second time I had faced death directly. Once when Grand Duke Noctis pointed his sword at me, and now.

Looking at the arrow penetrating the white wall and standing upright, a chill ran down my spine.

If everything had gone according to plan, that arrow would have gone through my head, not the wall.

“Calm down and answer me. Where are you hurt?”

“… … I am not.”

My voice, which had not come out easily, cracked at the end and made a grating sound.

If I hadn’t been warned by the old woman, I would have gone to the afterlife.

I let out a breath I had been holding back and leaned my sweaty forehead on the Grand Duke’s shoulder.

“Your Highness… Are you all right?”

“Now is not the time for you to worry about me.”

It was only one day. It’s only been a day since I arrived at the Perus estate, got married, and became Flotty Noctis instead of Bevenia.

The fear that I would be killed before I could fight the Empress properly gripped me.

“Ha, I’ll make sure to catch him, so don’t worry and rest.”

“… Is this also the work of the empress?”

The Grand Duke was speechless. Silence means affirmation.

“ha ha ha… … .”

Laughter came out of my mouth. It wasn’t something to be taken lightly. It is clear that even if the Grand Duke spared me, I did not survive perfectly.

“It’s the empress.”

“You look surprised, so take a break.”

Surprised. I didn’t know that the empress would send someone to Perus, the domain of Grand Duke Noctis, to kill me.

She was so meticulous, why did she not give orders to the Duke of Bevenia?

If she had ordered me killed right away, she wouldn’t have bothered me so much.

“Your Excellency the Grand Duke.”

What happened today made my heart firm.

How easy it was for the empress to treat me like this.

‘A sly person.’

Hiding behind the scenes and acting like this?

Does it bother her that Flotty Bevenia, whom she didn’t care about at all, keeps surviving?

I will not let the Empress’ plan unravel as she wishes. Never.

“It would be better to move your residence to the capital city. Sooner or later.”

I will put my life and soul into the hunt for the empress.