I pressured the priests at the temple a bit more and thoroughly inquired about their schedule.
“For the next three months, the priests are scheduled to visit the duchy daily, so it’s difficult to make time for the wedding.”
But it’s the wedding of the marquis… I wanted to wield my power, but unfortunately, the opponent was a duke. The priests had already shown reluctance, so it would be pointless to push further.
“What should we do?”
“We have no choice. A month should be enough time to urgently bring in a priest from another region.”
Lireania’s expression darkened. As the heroine, it seemed she had a bad premonition. “Maybe we were too hasty. Instead of rushing and ruining things, let’s postpone the wedding. We haven’t even sent out the invitations yet.”
Seeing Lireania’s sorrowful eyes made my heart sink.
In this R-rated tragic novel, the female lead’s life starts to fall apart when she has a fiancé. Isn’t this the same as Serhen’s life falling apart as the second male lead?
The irregular heartbeat made me feel like my soul was leaving my body. The surrounding sounds disappeared, and only the passages from the book kept coming to mind. Those terrible, painful passages. The scene where Serhen falls to Kasion’s sword. It was an absolutely unacceptable sight.
“Lady Lireania.”
“I don’t want Lady Ariel to go through the trouble of adjusting the schedule.”
“No. We’ll do it within a month. We will.” I declared resolutely.
After escorting Lireania home, looking somewhat melancholy, I decided my next destination would be Duke Pertelian’s residence. It was time for a direct confrontation.
* * *
“What is this? Keeping me waiting.”
It was clearly not a good idea to barge into someone’s house unannounced. But I had asked clearly if he wasn’t busy to give me a moment, or else I would come another time. I had received permission to meet, but Kasion did not appear.
I was already on my second cup of tea, sitting in the parlor. I have even already finished a plate of cookies. The chef at the duchy was annoyingly better than mine, which only added to my irritation.
“Female leads usually fall for things like this.” My wariness flared up again.
Of all things, Lireania particularly liked these types of cookies. I have to make these cookies taste better than the ones from this place. Determined, I called for the butler.
“Butler, could you bring me some more cookies if there are any?”
“Of course, Milady. Would you like the ones you used to have when you were younger? We have cookies prepared with dried cranberries and figs, just in case you visit.”
These were the cookies I used to eat when I visited the duchy with Serhen. While the two of them had serious conversations, I would sit in the corner, eating cookies because I had nothing else to do.
The duke’s household is really something. They always have these prepared, not knowing when I might come. I should learn from their preparedness and figure out their secret to the flavor.
“Yes, please.”
“Then I’ll also prepare some strong black tea to go with the cookies. Is there anything else you would like?”
“No, that’s all.”
“Very well. His Grace will be arriving shortly, so please wait a little longer.”
The old butler, who had served the duke’s family for three generations, was very polite to me. Unlike the cold and dark aura of the master of the house, he was like a warm fireplace. Thanks to the butler, my slightly sharp mood softened.
“By the way, the sun has set, and he still hasn’t come.”
While I was finishing off the cookies and tea, the red sunset outside the window faded, and now a dark blue twilight began to fill the window. The butler lit up the parlor brightly so that I wouldn’t be scared while waiting.
I finished off another plate of cookies. My stomach was full.
“I didn’t know you still liked cookies.”
As I was munching on the last cookie, Kasion entered the parlor. Ignoring the sarcastic tone in Kasion’s voice, I continued to chew the cookie in my mouth. Slightly rebellious, I delayed my greetings. Perhaps because of that, he approached me swiftly, dressed in comfortable indoor clothes.
“W-What is it? You invited a guest in and then showed up la… Gasp!”
I gasped as he suddenly thrust his large hand towards me. His face was quite close too. It was to the point I could smell the scent coming from Kasion’s body.
Lemon verbena? Bergamot? It mixed with a comforting woody scent, along with a hint of dampness. It seemed he had enjoyed a leisurely bath while I was waiting.
“Hmm…” He leaned in closer.
Through the loose clothes, I caught a glimpse of his chest. Thick, broad muscles crossed by a firm line, more defined than usual, as if he had been working out intensely before coming.
Embarrassed, I blushed and tried to turn my head away. But his large hand held my chin in place.
“W-W-What is it?” Stammering in fear, I spoke.
His yellow eyes narrowed ominously. The way he glanced down at me felt seductive, even though he was a man.
“Still as clumsy as ever,” he said, brushing his thumb across my lips. His rough hand was calloused. After wiping my lips, he put his thumb into his own mouth, like a mother bird caring for her chick.
“I have a handkerchief, you know?”
Why is he treating me like a child? Of course, I was going to wipe my mouth with a handkerchief after drinking tea.
“Sorry, it’s a habit.”
My temples twitched.
When I was young, I didn’t realize it because he was just my brother’s friend. I never imagined this man could be so dangerous.
Suddenly, I felt even more sorry for Serhen. A kind and wise gentleman vs. a bad boy with physical beauty and decadence.
My personal preference was the former. If there was a man like Serhen, I would be willing to get engaged. No matter how I looked at it, a prickly and cold man had no charm. Why do women always fall for bad boys? I bit my lip in bitterness.
“So, why did you come to see me?” he asked, bringing me back to reality.
Regaining my composure, I sighed deeply. “I have a favor to ask, Kasion.”
“You must need a priest.”
He knew. What a sly guy.
“Yes, you know well. You came yesterday, acting like you wouldn’t oppose the marriage anymore, but then you went ahead and monopolized all the priests,” I spoke with slightly exaggerated gestures and voice.
Kasion sat in the empty chair in front of me, crossing his legs slightly. His cold yellow eyes remained fixed on me. “Get your story straight. As soon as I returned to the empire, I demanded the priests heal and bless the knights. The marriage decision was made yesterday.”
“For three months?”
“Yes, three months. In fact, even three months isn’t enough. Compared to the hardships and trials they endured.”
A shadow fell over Kasion’s face as well. Reflecting on that, I adjusted my posture.
Well, war isn’t just a simple power struggle. If you can’t kill the enemy, you get killed. How hard must it have been for those who survived two years of tension and fear?
“Kasion… are you okay?” I asked cautiously
Thinking about it, I realized there was no need for someone like Duke to go to the battlefield personally. But he was used by the emperor’s greed because he was the strongest knight in the empire.
“Me? If I were going to go crazy just from that, I would have already gone mad at 14.”
…Really, he’s crazy. A guy who killed his 20-year-old friend over a woman is definitely crazy. And on top of that, he tried to imprison her and have his way with her. But it hasn’t happened yet. Perhaps the terrible memories from childhood and the scars from the war are overlapping, making his obsession worse…
“Kasion, you should consider receiving some healing and blessings…” I suggested it, just in case.
I didn’t believe that kind of thing could change a person’s nature. But if it could help even a little, wouldn’t that be good?
“I don’t think I need that.”
“Why?”
“Because I think I found the right remedy as soon as I returned from the battlefield.”
A remedy, he said. He must be talking about Lireania, the first person he met after returning from the war. My heart started pounding. Blood drained from my face.
I had to reflect on myself for momentarily feeling sympathy for Kasion. How could I feel pity for someone so immoral that he would covet his friend’s lover?
“Well, you’ve always been healthy in both body and mind since you were young, so you’ll overcome it well. So, about that…”
“Go on.”
“Could you lend me a priest for just 2 hours, one month from now?” I got to the point.
Of course, he smirked slyly as if I was saying something absurd.
“Ah, right, for Serhen’s wedding.”
“Yes.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Then you’d be known as a petty person who ruined a friend’s wedding.”
Kasion arched his eyebrows and then chuckled again. His smile had never felt warm, even from a young age.
“Well, if you don’t want to, there’s nothing I can do. Then I’ll just have to delay submitting the marriage vows to the temple. Lady Soler will come to marquisate and take bridal lessons with me,” I said it to imply that no matter how much he interfered, it would be useless.
His smile completely disappeared from his face as if he understood. “You’ll live with Lady Soler? Without moving out?”
“Well, since it wouldn’t be an official marriage, my independence would be postponed too, right?”
“Fine. I’ll grant your request.”
He suddenly agreed. Even a 4-year-old would be suspicious of this situation.
Narrowing my eyes, I saw Kasion smiling again. His deep-set eyes created a scene that suited the word ‘sensual.’ “…It seems you want something in return.”
He wore a victorious smile today, just like yesterday.
Hi, if you enjoy the story, please leave a review in the Novelupdates. Thank you~
