The attendant’s face hardened at those words. He swallowed dryly.
“I’m going to pull her out of the abyss of sorrow. Just like in a novel.”
His expression was dreamy and dazed. But his gaze was as sharp as a finely honed blade.
“How fortunate. Sometimes that damned father of mine can be of help.”
He thanked his long-dead father and commanded the attendant.
“Bring me some stationery. I need to send a letter to the royal family.”
His kind green eyes darkened.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
After that, I shared the room with Carlothian again. The servants seemed to think that Carlothian and I had a brief fight and made up, as they all sighed in relief, but I felt uncomfortable to the point of death.
“No, what should I do?”
I sprang up from bed. Carlothian had gone to his office, leaving me alone in the room.
“Are you serious about getting married?”
Marriage is no joke. You bastard.
I ruffled my hair and attempted headbanging on the bed. My head spun. Everything in front of my eyes was spinning too.
Ah, I really feel like I’m going to go crazy.
I suddenly stopped and stared at the ceiling. No, to say he would make me fall in love? Where does that confidence even come from?
Of course, there’s that face, that body. The perfect physique with the background of a duke! There’s every reason to be confident!
Even that strangely coercive relationship from before.
“…….”
Yeah.
Honestly.
To be honest.
It was my preference.
I hit my head in frustration. No wonder Carlothian is going crazy. I know I’m hopeless.
“And I need to send a rejection letter to Seth Dolorante…”
Ugh. First, I should call a maid. Surely Carlothian won’t say anything to me just because I sent a rejection letter? I lazily got out of bed and rang the bell.
The maid knocked softly and came in, and I told her to write the letter…
“Write that I’m declining the escort proposal and that I feel sorry about it.”
I ended up having her write it for me. Ugh, so annoying. I heard other nobles have someone else write for them.
‘This way, Carlothian might feel a little less upset.’
For now, the most important thing to me was to match Carlothian’s mood, which was currently in turmoil.
Whenever I tried to reject him even a little, he would growl, like I was raising a really disobedient large dog.
I approached the terrace and felt the breeze. The gentle wind brushed through my hair.
‘Hmm, marrying Carlothian, huh.’
Oh, this is really absurd.
The idea of marriage felt so distant to me. It was the same in modern times and now.
I didn’t think I liked him enough to make such a significant decision as marriage. I was well aware of the power and responsibilities that came with the position of a duchess.
Ariadeline handled it wonderfully. I could probably manage it too, given my shared memories.
‘But, is it really okay to marry with this mindset?’
It seemed Carlothian had made up his mind to marry me. I should say it’s more like an attitude of ‘I’ll reject you if you reject me’.
Ugh.
I came back inside after getting some fresh air on the terrace. I put on indoor slippers and slowly stepped out of my room.
“Hmm?”
“Rodi!”
As soon as I opened the door, I saw a child. Rodi seemed to be about to knock on the door, raising his hand. I greeted Rodi warmly.
“What’s going on?”
“Ah, Miss Ariadeline and the Duke’s outfits are ready, so I came to get you to see them.”
“Oh, really?”
It seemed that work was progressing steadily even amidst everything. I followed Rodi to the room to see the dresses.
As I entered the room, I saw dresses and suits displayed on wooden mannequins. The sparkling blue dress was truly a masterpiece.
‘They put a lot of effort into this.’
And.
Carlothian’s suit seemed tailored to match my dress. It was made of a dark blue material, adorned with white lace and embellished with transparent diamonds on the cuffs.
I stood for a moment, admiring the two outfits. They looked like a pair, yet somehow felt mismatched.
It probably wasn’t the outfits’ fault. It was likely my issue. I glanced between the two distinctly different outfits, wearing a subtle expression.
“Um, do you not like the dress?”
“No, no. It’s beautiful. So beautiful.”
The dress had a neckpiece attached, resembling the blue flowers on Carlothian’s suit.
“Oh, the neckpiece is so pretty, right?”
The maid who said that reached out to adjust the shape of the flower. But then…
Thud.
“Ah, oh no! I’m so sorry!”
As soon as the necklace was touched, it fell off.
“It’s fine. It’s okay. We can just reattach it.”
What’s going on? Was it attached a bit loosely? That madam wouldn’t do such a sloppy job.
I felt an ominous sensation as I watched the maid hurriedly pick up the flower that had fallen to the floor.
Perhaps it was just the pressure of an impending event, but strangely, I had a feeling that something else was about to happen.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Yermondi sneaked back into the underground where the black magician was the night before the banquet.
The old black magician rose to greet her as if he had been waiting.
“Everything is ready.”
“Really?”
She looked at the pentagram drawn on the floor. In the center of the pentagram lay a finely sharpened dagger. She leisurely walked over and touched the edge of the pentagram with her toes.
“Infuse it with magic.”
A purple light began to emanate from Yermondi’s toes. The light gradually stained the pentagram and soon engulfed the dagger.
“Ruhutsuduhunhanouoiryanomisruis.”
The black magician murmured something. Yermondi watched as the purple light surged into the dagger in an instant. The light which turned the blade a deep blue soon faded, leaving only an ordinary-looking dagger behind.
“Is this the cursed dagger?”
“Yes. It is known as the evil breed.”
“It is a dagger that can maintain the curse even if the caster disappears. Anyone who is cut by that dagger will fall into hell.”
“I see.”
Yermondi slowly tucked the dagger into her bosom. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
She quietly exited the basement. With each step up the stairs, the white moonlight poured down onto her face.
Now, everything is ready. She had no doubt that the long-anticipated event would finally come to fruition.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
And so the long-awaited day dawned. The mansion was bustling from the morning. I was led by the maids to be polished and dressed up beautifully, literally from the dawn breeze.
By the time I finished all my preparations, it was already late afternoon. Having eaten nothing until then, I was feeling weak and lethargic.
“I’m so, so hungry…!”
“You have to endure it. The noble ladies usually go all day without eating before a banquet.”
“But I’m not a noble lady.”
“Still, you’re going out into society after such a long time!”
The maids were in an uproar. No, more than that, this was indeed a strange situation. A sinner who was getting beautifully dressed up for the princess’s birthday while starving all day.
I couldn’t tell if this was truly a grand treatment or not. I had learned that starving people was not right. Even Ariadeline was only skipping one meal today; other noble ladies had been starving since the day before.
Knock knock—
“Oh, come in!”
Then, a knock came at the door. Carlothian, with his servant, entered the room.
With neatly styled black hair, broad shoulders, and a sharply tailored suit. His piercing gaze and tightly closed lips were striking.
Carlothian was so beautiful that it was almost breathtaking. In other words, it was beyond just being handsome.
I opened my mouth and stared at him blankly for a moment. Then, Carlothian also stopped in his tracks and met my gaze.
Ah, wow. I think I’m drooling.
I quickly closed my mouth.
“You look really amazing today.”
“……”
Carlothian didn’t respond but soon approached me with quick steps. He suddenly grabbed my waist and leaned down to bring his face closer.
What’s going on?
“If we kiss now, your lipstick will get all smudged.”
“Ah, I guess so?”
“Please hold back, Duke!”
“How much effort I put into this!”
The maids, who usually wouldn’t dare to look at the Duke, were begging him because they were so flustered. Carlothian grunted and released my waist. Then, with that cold face, he smiled faintly and said.
“You look pretty.”
“Ah, th-thank you.”
It’s hard to adjust to someone with such a face calling me pretty.
At that moment, my stomach let out a loud growl. I instinctively wrapped my arms around my belly, feeling embarrassed.
“I haven’t eaten anything all day.”
“You’ve been starving?”
“Yes, well… I guess it’s customary to fast before a banquet…”
Carlothian frowned and then spoke to his attendant.
“Go to the kitchen and bring back some simple dessert.”
“B-but, Duke! It’s been such a long time since we had a banquet!”
The maids protested vehemently, but he spoke authoritatively, crossing his arms as if to say not to argue.
“Why should someone who is already this thin be made to starve?”
Wow, Carlothian is doing something I actually like for a change.
