The proposal was her idea, but an unsettling sense of crisis crept over her. Something felt off. But she couldn’t back down now.
Ruining the upcoming wedding in a few days was her priority. With her life on the line, there was no time to weigh other concerns.
Determined, she met the man’s gaze with a battle-ready expression.
“Marry me. I’ll take responsibility, annul the marriage contract in a year, and even bring you dirt on Duke Calion.”
“Alright.”
“Wait… are you seriously agreeing?”
“Yes, it’s still a terribly unromantic proposal, but I’ll accept it.”
She needed him for her plan, but his easy acceptance made her suspicious. She had to ask.
“Why?”
Lexion tilted his head slightly, watching Milena as if she might bolt at any moment.
Their faces were so close that their breaths mingled.
Scanning her like a prized gem, he murmured in a low voice, “Because it sounds like fun to have you as my wife.”
His deep, grounded tone was surprisingly seductive. The shift in atmosphere was intoxicating, pressing them closer together.
“I’d even double the price for that kiss. If you do it again, that is.”
All she had to do was tilt her head slightly, and their lips would meet.
If she weren’t caught in this mess, she might have helplessly fallen for this absurdly beautiful man.
“And if I kiss you again, would you be able to stop there?”
“…Hmm. That, I can’t promise.”
The heat in his gaze had cooled, but now her head throbbed from the rush of emotions.
Fortunately, she had no time to be flustered by his blatant seduction. She leaned her forehead against his shoulder instead.
“Well, that’s a relief.”
Lexion flinched at her unexpected movement and asked, “What is?”
“I’m just glad my proposal interests you.”
If he had refused or dismissed her entirely, she would have had to take a much harder path.
Having an ally made all the difference.
He seemed experienced with women and had a sly side, but she could handle that much.
“Thanks to you, things will go smoothly.”
Even if he hadn’t been here, she had planned to burn this place to the ground. She would leave the ruined Duke Calion behind and walk away from the duchy without a care.
Her tears had long since dried, and her emotions were still.
Resting her pounding head for a moment, she lifted her gaze and met Lexion’s striking red eyes.
“Thank you.”
Her words were calm and devoid of emotion, but Lexion seemed displeased.
“But are you really okay with this?” he asked.
“With what?”
Taking two steps back, he reached up and touched his red earring.
His form shifted, returning to that of “Hubert.”
“You don’t even know my real identity or age. I’ve disguised myself as a knight, but I’m not actually one.”
His speech became polite again, likely due to the transformation.
He really was unpredictable, changing his tone and behavior on a whim. She was starting to get used to it.
“You’re a count’s daughter. What if I told you I’m a commoner with neither wealth nor power…?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Milena’s response was firm, cutting off his hesitance.
If she had remained the cruel villainess she once was, she might have been repulsed by the idea of being with a commoner.
In this society, for a noblewoman to marry a knight of common birth was considered a disgrace.
But she truly didn’t care.
She had no wealth or power either. As long as she could escape safely, what did it matter if he was a commoner?
Having a husband figure at all was something to be grateful for.
“Who cares about money and power? If I have a handsome husband to look at, I’ll be content.”
At her teasing remark, his disheveled ash-gray hair shifted slightly as his smile deepened.
Apparently, he liked that answer. He closed the distance between them once again.
“And what about you? Even if we’re only temporary spouses, I’m technically just a noblewoman in name. My family is useless.”
“I don’t mind.”
He approached without hesitation, absentmindedly playing with a lock of her soft blonde hair.
“Uh… Sir?”
“Lexion. We’re going to be married, aren’t we? No need for formalities. Call me by my name.”
“Alright, Lexion.”
But why did his tone shift again?
He kept switching between formal and informal speech. It was starting to get on her nerves.
“Why do you keep switching between polite and casual speech? You seem younger than me.”
Most nobles married in their early twenties, and unmarried women like her in their late twenties were rare.
She assumed he was younger.
After all, his appearance made it impossible to guess his age.
Since he wasn’t married, he was probably in his early twenties.
“Haha. I may not look it, but I’m older than you.”
Her age was widely known—being 28 and unmarried made her an anomaly.
Older than her?
“Oh… You have a baby face, then?”
Feeling awkward about her assumption, she responded halfheartedly.
His fingers continued twisting strands of her golden hair as his eyes narrowed slightly.
“I’m the same age as the duke, unfortunately.”
The mood around him darkened as he spoke.
She didn’t know his story, but it was clear he had no fondness for the duke.
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Do you prefer older men?”
“Wait… what?”
“Let’s just stick to ‘darling’ as a term of address. Or should I say ‘honey’ instead?”
Just moments ago, he had been brooding, but now he was grinning again, completely changing the mood.
He had a talent for shifting atmospheres at will.
And he was so fast.
They had kissed, and only minutes had passed since she had asked him to sign the marriage contract, yet he was already talking about pet names?
“Just use my name, Lexion.”
“Alright, Milena…”
Lowering his head, he whispered into her ear.
“Darling.”
A shiver ran through her at the breath that tickled her ear.
She quickly covered her ears and scowled at him.
“Lexion, I want revenge on the duke. This deal benefits you too, so…”
“So?”
“Stop getting so close.”
She had no resistance to men.
Though their kiss had been passionate, it was an accident—something she decided to ignore entirely.
“That’s too harsh. We’re married now.”
“Not legally. And we’re only pretending.”
“How heartless, my dear.”
“We’ve spent too much time here. Let’s talk more tomorrow.”
She had no time for distractions. Her situation was dire.
But the way he smirked was still affecting her.
Even now, the sensation of their kiss lingered on her lips.
She quickened her steps, her face a mask of anger, though her heart pounded inside her chest.
She was grateful for her villainous reputation—at least it meant Lexion wouldn’t notice how flustered she was.
“Hmm.”
However, Lexion easily saw through her.
“She’s adorable.”
And so tempting.
He whispered the words with an unmistakable hunger in his voice.
Leisurely, he lifted the secretive barrier around them and followed after her.
“Milena, I’m curious about something.”
Lexion had caught up, walking beside her.
She glanced at him, signaling him to ask.
“Just having me sign the marriage contract instead of the duke doesn’t seem like enough. Will that really count as revenge?”
Even if it disrupted the wedding, it didn’t feel like a major blow.
If the duke wanted to kill her, he still could, no matter who she married.
Milena smirked meaningfully.
“Trust me. I plan to go big.”
Seeing her confidence, Lexion shrugged.
He had his own plans.
“Then, goodnight, Sir Hubert.”
They had reached Milena’s door.
His gray hair tousled slightly as he looked at her with disappointment.
“Can’t I get a goodnight kiss?”
“Do you think that’s going to happen?”
“So cruel. We shared such passion earlier. Am I the only one who regrets it?”
“Just go to bed already!”
Milena shut the door in his face without hesitation.
Outside, Lexion chuckled softly.
She was fun to tease.
