Chapter 10
“I’ve been wanting to talk to an investor, but I kept getting turned down. I never thought we’d connect like this!”
“Oh my, you wanted to talk to me? I don’t think I could’ve been of much help.”
“Still, as the sole investor, I really wanted to have a conversation with you.”
Elnesss and Beloni continued their conversation quite naturally.
Meanwhile, Shanur was glaring at their clasped hands, which neither of them seemed to notice as they chatted away.
Their seamless conversation came to an abrupt halt when Shanur cleared his throat.
“Oh, it’s already this late. The first issue of the newspaper will be ready soon, and I’ll bring it to you.”
“That sounds great! I’m looking forward to it.”
Beloni couldn’t take her eyes off Elness as he left. It was only natural—she had felt stuck and unsure about how to connect with someone she desperately needed to help, and now they had met by chance.
On top of that, Elness seemed to have taken a strong liking to her, given she was the sole investor. This made her feel like she was a step closer to preventing his death.
‘But how exactly did the crown prince die again?’ she pondered.
She recalled it being a carriage accident—a snowy winter day when icy roads made accidents common. The heir to the vast empire had died so suddenly and senselessly. Though it was later revealed not to be an accident, but murder.
‘Alright, I’ll maintain this connection and get closer to the crown prince, and then…’
“Beloni.”
Lost in her planning, Beloni flinched at the sound of someone calling her name. She turned to find Shanur looking down at her with a crooked expression.
“I called you, but you didn’t answer.”
Shanur frowned at Beloni’s blank stare.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re calling me by my name properly now.”
It took Shanur a moment to realize what she meant.
“Well, we’re about to pull a scam on the empire together, so you’d better get used to it.”
“A scam?”
Beloni asked, startled by the unfamiliar term.
“We’re going to pose as a fated couple deeply in love,” Shanur explained.
Though confused, Beloni nodded.
“You’re Beloni Jerem, a woman subjected to family abuse and Ian’s violence. On the day of your wedding, your secret lover, Grand Duke Reinhardt, sweeps you away. Two months later, you both have a wedding of your own.”
Beloni went over Shanur’s explanation in her head and nodded again.
“Not a bad story.”
“I’ll play a man blinded by love, and you’ll play the protagonist of a fairytale,” Shanur said.
As he spoke the word “love,” his expression stiffened, making it clear that this was not a natural role for him. Beloni, noticing his discomfort, rubbed her arms to chase away a sudden chill.
“This is to catch someone off guard, isn’t it? You pretending to be a man in love?” she asked.
Shanur gave her a slow, scrutinizing once-over, his gaze lingering as if he were assessing prey. Beloni shuddered reflexively under his piercing look.
“Exactly.”
Shanur leaned back into the sofa, nodding.
“The crown prince and I are at odds with the third prince. The third prince tried to sway me to his side, but I withdrew five years ago. Since then, he’s been suspicious of my relationship with the crown prince.”
“Is your connection to the crown prince a secret known only to close confidants?” Beloni asked.
“For now. But it won’t stay hidden forever, so I’m planning to reveal it on my terms. We suspect someone from the empress’s side cast the curse on me. They’ll likely try to use it as leverage to win me over again.”
As Beloni absorbed this new information, it struck her: everything Shanur had shared was highly confidential.
“Your Highness, are you sure you should be telling me this? I’m just a subordinate for a year.”
Shanur smirked crookedly, then grabbed Beloni’s chin and tilted her face toward his.
“Are you a spy for the third prince?” he asked, his deep voice sending a shiver down her spine.
Startled by the proximity of Shanur’s flawless face, Beloni jerked back.
“No!”
“I know. I already investigated you.”
Shanur released her chin and casually confirmed what she suspected—that he had thoroughly vetted her. Beloni pressed a hand to her chest to calm her racing heart.
“You scared me…”
She realized that his willingness to share sensitive information meant he had already confirmed she wasn’t a spy.
“I did suspect you at first,” Shanur admitted. “I thought the third prince might have sent someone in his stead. But no matter how deeply I dug, I found no connection between you and him.”
Then Shanur declared, “I’ve decided to trust you from now on.”
Beloni blinked in surprise. She had thought it would take much longer and many trials to earn his trust.
“Then I’ll trust you too, Your Highness.”
“…You didn’t trust me before?”
Shanur looked genuinely baffled. It was clear that he thought he was the one who had the right to decide trustworthiness, not her. Beloni grinned awkwardly.
“Well, I did trust you as the Grand Duke. But now I’ll trust you as Shanur Reinhardt too.”
From this day forward, she resolved to believe in him not as a superior, but as a fellow human being.
“Good. Since I’ve decided to trust you, it’s only fair you do the same for me. Deal?” Shanur said, extending a hand.
“Of course!” Beloni eagerly took his hand.
“I’ll be in your care, Your Highness.”
Watching Beloni smile brightly, Shanur offered a faint smile of his own.
“This is strange.”
I couldn’t hold back my thoughts and muttered to myself.
“Really strange…”
A deep sigh escaped me.
“Why is it so strange…”
“Do you want me to ask why you keep muttering to yourself?”
“Your Highness.”
I immediately looked up, pleased to have his attention. Shanur, bathed in sunlight streaming through the window, was a sight to behold.
“Why is there no reaction at all?”
“From whom?”
“Both the Marquis and Count’s families. They’re not the type to stay silent.”
A week had passed since news of my engagement to Shanur had been announced. Yet, to my surprise, both the Jerem Marquisate and Beckham County had been eerily quiet.
“Beloni.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
By now, I was used to him calling my name.
“Do you know about my reputation?” Shanur asked suddenly.
I blinked in confusion before recalling the infamous titles associated with him:
The Beast Duke, the Murderer, the War Hero.
“A beast who enjoys human flesh. A murderer who bathes in blood. A war hero more feared by allies than enemies.”
“Who among them has the guts to confront me?” Shanur asked.
“Oh.”
It dawned on me, and I nodded.
“You’re the exception, Beloni,” he added with a shake of his head.
“Well, back then, I was cornered with no choice,” I said. “Besides, rumors tend to get exaggerated over time.”
“Most of my rumors are true.”
That left me speechless. I fidgeted uncomfortably as Shanur handed me a portrait.
“Do you recognize this person?”
“Yes, he’s the marquis’ butler’s son.”
“He’s been lurking around the estate since the day after the invitations were sent. Seems to be scouting the area, but hasn’t dared to approach.”
“So, no one dares to come directly?”
“As I said, you’re the unusual one.”
“What should we do? At this rate, they might not show up until next year.”
“True.”
I paused to think, then an idea struck me.
“How about this?”
