Chapter 61
Ethan spoke in a calm voice, as if teasing my anxious heart.
“Is that so? You thought it was nonsense? What a shame. I did come all this way just to say that nonsense, you know.”
“……?”
My expression gradually twisted into one of shock.
But Ethan, as if enjoying the sight, took a slow step closer.
Frozen, unable to move, I watched as he leaned down slightly toward me.
His sharp eyes softened, and an annoyingly charming smile spread across his face.
“We should get engaged. You said it yourself.”
The low, gentle tone of his voice was so captivating it made my heart flutter.
For a moment, I was mesmerized by his beautiful smile and soft voice.
‘…What is this crazy dog even saying right now!’
But that feeling didn’t last long. My instincts screamed danger, and I quickly snapped back to reality.
“I-I never said…!”
I rushed to deny Ethan’s words, but, just at that perfectly timed moment, a familiar voice popped into my head.
‘Where are you sneaking off to now?! We haven’t even had the engagement ceremony yet! There are proper formalities for these things!’
…Ah.
I think I might have said something like that before?
Flustered, I couldn’t even hide my expression.
I tried belatedly to mask it, but by then it was too late.
Ethan leisurely watched my embarrassment unfold, clearly enjoying it.
I wished he would just say something and break the tension.
But he seemed intent on waiting for me to respond, his eyes full of curiosity as he observed me.
“You took the engagement papers from me last time.”
“I wanted to officially submit them to the royal family after the ceremony.”
“…Are you really going to get engaged to me? With a ceremony?”
“Would you have just let it slide otherwise?”
“…….”
“You even showed that embarrassing side to the Crown Prince—if we don’t get engaged, wouldn’t that be stranger?”
“That’s true… but getting engaged just like this…”
“Very good.”
“Yes. Very good… huh?”
Caught off guard by Ethan’s pace, I repeated his words almost automatically.
He gave that sly, infuriating grin, clearly satisfied with himself.
Seeing him so unyielding, I sighed.
“Haah… let’s just go back to the Mage Tower, Ethan. We still have to find the magical stones.”
“No.”
“Excuse me?”
“Now that you want to go back, I suddenly don’t want to.”
“And what kind of logic is that…?”
“Well… you have this weird way of bringing out my competitive side. I don’t want to lose to you.”
Ha… I’m losing it.
Not only am I the fiancée of a crazy dog, but now a rival too?
I shook my head in exasperation, and he let out a rare laugh.
Just as I was about to be slightly intimidated by that smile, Ethan reached out his hand.
His cool fingers cupped my cheek, making it impossible for me to look away.
Then, shamelessly, he shoved his words toward me.
“You only treat me like a fiancée in words. I can’t have you looking elsewhere. I have to hold you so you can’t even think about running away.”
“…Hearing you say it like that makes me genuinely scared.”
“I’ve been serious from the beginning.”
Seeing Ethan smile as if nothing were wrong, I sighed again.
‘Ha, annoyingly handsome.’
Smiling that irritatingly cute smile, how could anyone resist?
Sensing my weakened resolve, Ethan seized the opportunity and delivered the final blow.
“Expect it. I’ll make it impossible for you to even think of running.”
“….”
“Oh, and of course, I’ll use this handsome face of mine to full effect.”
‘Oh my god… proposing in such a moodless way with that sparkling, handsome face—this is cheating!’
“…Don’t show your resolve in strange ways. It just makes you scarier.”
My heart inexplicably fluttered.
It was probably because I was genuinely afraid of Ethan’s antics.
At least, that’s what I told myself.
For once, Clovis Manor was filled with lively energy.
Compared to the usual quiet stillness, the recent bright atmosphere felt quite unfamiliar.
Yet, there was one person who couldn’t join in the cheerful mood…
“Where are you trying to run off to today, fiancée?”
“Ahhhh! Please leave me alone! Help me!”
…That was me.
“Ah, ahh! Please stop following me! You’re relentless!”
“You keep running, so I can’t help but chase you.”
“That’s a perverse hobby! You really have a strange personality!”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
I was once again sprinting through Clovis Manor, trying to escape Ethan’s creepy voice.
“You said you wanted an engagement ceremony. So why are you running?”
“You want to have the ceremony alone?! What am I supposed to do if you excitedly run off by yourself?!”
But this time, there was a slight difference from the usual chase…
“That’s right, Miss Eunice. One must always observe proper etiquette for such things, you know.”
Even Bern, the butler, was trailing behind Ethan, seemingly enjoying the spectacle.
I couldn’t understand why Bern would find this amusing, even if Ethan was clearly enjoying teasing me.
Knowing that I was the only one who could end this pointless chase, I reluctantly stopped.
“Whoa, whoa. If you keep glaring at me like that, I might hit you. No need to look so fierce, right?”
“You realize you’re in the wrong, don’t you?”
Of course, I didn’t completely relax—I stayed alert, ready to defend myself from Ethan’s next move.
Ethan watched my sharp glare with interest, which only made him more irritating.
Just as I clenched my fist, thinking I might hit his handsome face, Bern’s voice stopped me.
“Haah… what on earth did the Master do to Miss Eunice that she’s trembling and running like this?”
I had long since dropped the act of being his loving fiancée in front of Bern.
According to Ethan, there’s nothing a perceptive old man like Bern could be fooled by.
Thanks to that, Ethan could freely show his obnoxious side in the manor… only he benefited from this.
Annoyed, I glared at Ethan, but he merely shrugged as if clueless.
“You seem to misunderstand. I didn’t do anything. As you can see, I even offered to hold an engagement ceremony for Eunice.”
“Well, of course, she would be startled seeing the ceremony proposed so suddenly, especially with such a stern expression.”
Yes! Bern is on my side!
Relieved, I quickly turned to him. Even though my gaze might be a bit intense, Bern gave me a reassuring, friendly wink.
With that confidence in him…
“So, when is the engagement ceremony?”
…And just like that, I felt completely blindsided.
Standing there with a betrayed expression, I watched Ethan try to suppress his laughter, covering his mouth and giggling.
“See? I’m curious too. Why don’t you tell me? You get scared and run whenever I approach.”
His unusually soft voice clashed with his stunningly handsome face, creating an almost comedic synergy.
For a moment, I felt like I had done something wrong—but seeing Ethan’s infuriating smile, I regained my composure.
‘Ethan’s face saves him, really.’
A face that makes you want to let him get away after just one hit.
Keeping my guard up, I glared at him sharply.
“Look at that. Glaring so fiercely… how could anyone get close?”
“Indeed. I’ve never seen anyone glare at the Master so intensely in my life.”
“…Excuse me? What are you doing talking like that with the person right in front of you?”
When I pointed out the obvious, both of them finally realized their slip—and it was infuriatingly funny.
Bern seemed to realize too late that he had been caught up in Ethan’s antics and turned his gaze toward me.
I tensed slightly, wondering what he would say now that he had Ethan in tow.
Having just seen him follow Ethan’s lead, I didn’t entirely trust him.
“Miss Eunice. Even though I may seem like this, I’ve spent my entire life serving His Highness, Grand Duke Ethan Clovis. I know him better than anyone.”
“…!”
Oh no. Hearing that he had served this uncontrollable man his whole life immediately filled me with trust.
I forgot to doubt Bern and waited eagerly for his words.
Seeing my expression change, Bern pressed on without hesitation.
“Even though the Master acts so sharp and fierce, he is actually a very kind person.”
“…?”
Ah. I should have controlled my expression.
“You mustn’t judge by appearances alone. If the Master were truly as he seems, the Clovis family would have been ruined long ago.”
“…Excuse me? We’re not talking about someone else, are we?”
Bern was definitely speaking about the benevolent, kind Grand Duke from the neighboring empire.
I shook my head, trying to deny it, but Bern firmly pressed the reality on me.
“I’m talking about His Highness, Grand Duke Ethan Clovis. Ah, he’s still glaring at us even now.”
Bern’s words drove the point home, and I let out a long, resigned sigh.
Exhausted, I motioned slightly to Bern.
“Bern, come here for a moment.”
“Yes?”
“Oh, come on. Just come here a sec.”
Unable to wait for his hesitation, I tugged lightly at his tidy sleeve.
Bern, catching on, bent slightly toward me.
I whispered quietly into his ear.
“Be honest with me.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not being threatened by Ethan, are you?”
“…Yes?”
I asked seriously, but Bern froze, as if I’d said something incomprehensible.
However, the situation was urgent, so I quickly pressed him further.
“You can be honest with me. If Ethan is threatening you to make you compliment him, I can—”
But I couldn’t finish the sentence I had started so seriously.
