Episode 3
…Wha on earth is this lunatic thinking?
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, the term ‘groom residing with the bride’s family’ refers to a marital arrangement where a man lives with his wife’s family.”
“Yes, I am aware of that as well.”
The male lead said with a refreshing smile. As expected, he doesn’t seem sane.
I continued speaking.
“And as far as I know, Your Highness is currently the sole heir to His Majesty, the Emperor.”
“Oh, I do have a younger sister, but you’re not wrong.”
What is he trying to say?
“Surely you’re not implying that you’ll give up the throne and join House Acrux… I’ll take it as a joke.”
At that, Jackal’s eyes widened.
“Oh? Do you jest about something as serious as marriage?”
“Excuse me?”
His suddenly serious expression made me freeze. Did I offend him?
“I don’t.”
“…Pardon?”
I was dumbfounded, but only for a moment. The man then casually smiled.
“You looked so stiff that I thought I’d lighten the mood with a joke.”
This lunatic, born with a silver spoon in his mouth, clearly doesn’t understand how hard it is to laugh at a superior’s joke in a hierarchical society.
“But.”
Just as I was about to relax and lower my head, he took a step closer.
I flinched internally at his unexpectedly large build. I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.
My pupils rolled upward.
“But I was serious about falling for you at first sight.”
Our eyes met.
“You. Will you marry me?”
“….”
“Immediately.”
I stared coldly at him.
So it begins.
The man’s childish marriage proposal.
It’s the same line he used on the original female lead.
Everyone expected this.
I only had one response to give.
‘I already know how you manipulate people.’
When I opened my eyes again, I wore the face of a thorough businesswoman—or rather, a lord.
“That proposal.”
I slowly lifted my gaze.
“How much are you offering?”
“…What?”
From the moment I discovered the plot of this book, I decided to reconstruct it my way.
Jackal truly wants this marriage.
Even if I refuse, he’ll persistently propose again, just like he did with the original heroine.
That persistence might even end in imprisonment.
‘What he wants is to use this marriage to obtain the Acrux family heirloom, take revenge on the Emperor, and emerge victorious.’
There was a way to protect my wandering sister, our territory, and, finally, myself.
I planned to become a lunatic who would do anything for money.
“I asked how much you’re offering.”
At my cold question, the man tilted his head.
“…Are you suggesting I’m being rude by trying to buy a duchess with money?”
“Wasn’t that your intention?”
This time, I tilted my head.
Jackal furrowed his brows slightly, as if disappointed.
“…Do you not believe in love at first sight? How disheartening.”
Being a beauty certainly gave him an edge in capturing attention. I thought carefully and then nodded.
“Even after reconsidering, I don’t see it that way. Unless, of course, Your Highness needs something from me specifically.”
Jackal smiled. But for just a brief moment, I noticed a tiny crack in that smile.
‘Wow, he’s finding this amusing even now.’
His eyes seemed to sparkle with excitement, as if the situation had become more interesting.
Exactly what I wanted.
“I seek a mutually beneficial relationship. If I marry Your Highness, I won’t be able to properly manage the duchy. The responsibilities of a crown princess will take precedence.”
“Yes, you’re not wrong.”
Jackal didn’t deny it and let my words hang in the air. It felt like he was challenging me to continue.
I smiled slyly.
“So, Your Highness, if you’re truly sincere about this proposal…”
“….”
“How about entering into a contract marriage with me?”
Actually, before coming here, I seriously considered just getting married and becoming a wife.
But then, a better idea struck me.
Using this proposal attack to my advantage!
“Please tell me what you truly desire. This is an opportunity for my family to secure a place in the capital. If it’s something I can do, I will assist you.”
It was a lie. I would pretend to be acting for my family while buying time.
‘To safely escape from him, there’s something I absolutely must obtain in this capital.’
If I enter a contract marriage with this man for a short while, Jackal will think he’s obtained the treasure, which will, at least initially, prevent my sister’s imprisonment.
In the meantime, I could find a safe way to return. It was truly a win-win situation.
According to the original story, there’s an incident that would let me firmly seize Jackal’s leash.
‘It will even happen within the next three months.’
During that time, I planned to move faster than others, obtain an ‘item,’ and safely conclude this contract marriage.
‘No matter how I think about it, it’s perfect.’
Rodemin asked if a contract marriage was truly necessary. But among my many plans, this seemed the most appealing to him.
“I want to live as a duke whose name will go down in history. So, how about a relationship where we fulfill each other’s desires for a few years?”
Yes, I planned to annul the marriage in less than a year.
The man stared at me with an ambiguous expression. His face seemed composed yet weary.
But then, his face suddenly crumpled in distress.
“Oh my.”
Jackal’s eyes widened dramatically, as if he were a gentleman who had just been insulted.
“A contract marriage? How could you say something so cruel?”
…What?
“That’s… That’s a relationship doomed to end. I refuse!”
His voice was resolute and unyielding. At that moment, even I couldn’t help but be flustered.
“Did it never occur to you that my proposal might have come from love at first sight? This is heartbreaking…!”
Could anyone actually believe that?
‘Is it the time frame he doesn’t like?’
“The duration can be extended if you—”
“No matter how long it is, isn’t the end still clear?”
Well, he had a point.
Jackal took a step closer.
It wasn’t a significant distance, yet his disgustingly handsome face coming nearer made me tense.
A strange glint passed through his golden eyes. His sharp gaze was persistently locked onto me.
“I desire an eternal relationship, Duke. For that, I would do anything….”
I couldn’t hear the rest of his words, but they sent a chill down my spine. Did he mean eternal confinement?
“Well then, since it was love at first sight, will you marry me?”
“I refuse, Your Highness.”
He seemed to be trying hard not to come off as a lunatic, but to me, it was hopeless.
I wasn’t scared. Good. He was exactly like the male lead I knew from the book. The more he matched the original story, the better for me.
“This isn’t a bad deal for you either, is it? Why refuse?”
It’s an enormous loss, you lunatic.
Our estate would collapse without me!
I politely curved my lips into a smile.
“Apologies, but your face isn’t to my taste.”
I deliberately gazed at him with cold eyes. Eyes that practically begged his retainers to stop staring at me as if I were butcher’s meat.
He stared back at me blankly.
Oh yes, you didn’t expect that answer, did you?
“I don’t know what Your Highness truly wants from me.”
“Love.”
No, it’s not.
I cleanly pretended not to hear that.
“If it’s not marriage, there are other things I could offer you. Something I’m sure you’d like. Would you care to hear me out?”
“…”
I closed my mouth. Did I go too far?
Jackal’s eyes lingered on me.
“You didn’t come here expecting my proposal, yet you speak so smoothly, Duke.”
Even though he was just silently watching me, it felt suffocating, as though the air was tightening around my neck.
And yet, he was smiling so beautifully.
As the most formidable warrior in the empire, this might actually be his killing intent.
“It seems you’re confident there’s something I want.”
• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •