IBWMD 79

~Chapter 79~

“Are you seriously still trying to trick and tease her?”

The more Caillen thought about what Jeremy had said, the more irritated he became.

‘Sure, her reactions are adorable.’

He couldn’t deny he enjoyed teasing Elaine and watching her reactions.

He even once casually admitted as much to Jeremy.

Really, it was just bragging.

‘I wonder if Elaine knows…’

That she puffs out her cheeks a little when she’s annoyed.

That her green eyes, shaped like a leaf, go pointy when she’s mad—which only makes her look cuter, not scary.

Actually… everything about her always looks lovely.

‘Still…’

Caillen forced himself to stay on track.

‘It’s time. I have to tell her.’

If he delayed any longer, she might get seriously mad.

He had to reveal who he really was—for the sake of their marriage.

‘Yes… marriage.’

Since they’d shared a bed, marriage was a must. That’s how he took responsibility.

Well, no—it wasn’t just about responsibility.

That was just an excuse.

He simply wanted to be tied to Elaine as husband and wife.

He wanted nothing to ever separate them.

‘Because I…’

Because he liked her—no, even more than that.

‘…Because I love her.’

Up until now, everything he’d felt was more like curiosity and observation.

Even that time they’d nearly kissed—it was more of a magical impulse.

But the moment he lay in bed with her, and took in the scent that clung to her skin…

‘I knew I had to marry her.’

There was no turning back after that.

So now, he had to confess everything and ask for forgiveness.

Still, there was a reason he approached her as “Karl” and not as the Grand Duke.

If he was going to reveal the truth and propose, he wanted to do it like this.

Not as the cold man who ignored her and sent her cold letters…

But as the Karl she was familiar with—the one she might feel weak for.

And if the proposal succeeded, and they got married…

‘Should I suggest we go to the capital for the honeymoon?’

She might miss her hometown.

In Caillen’s mind, he was already planning a full itinerary for their honeymoon.

The fact that both the emperor and the pope lived there didn’t matter.

‘Strange…’

He used to see getting a mate as nothing but a painful, bloody burden.

‘But Elaine…’

The idea of marrying her didn’t feel awful at all.

In fact, it felt too good to be true.

‘It’s fine if we don’t have kids.’

But thinking of her becoming someone else’s partner—or himself being with someone else—was unthinkable.

‘I’ve lived my whole life with dragon power. What’s one fluffy squirrel added to it?’

Even if that squirrel was surprisingly bold, soft, and smelled sweet…

‘Yes. I want her scent clinging to me for the rest of my life…’

Caillen ignored the dryness in his throat.

There was another benefit to officially making her the Grand Duchess and tying her to the estate:

‘She’ll be safe.’

And she wouldn’t leave or run away.

She always zipped around so freely, he feared she’d suddenly slip away from his grasp.

And if there were shady predators out there after her…

That’s why he’d planned tonight’s “interrogation.”

Really, it was just a cover for a confession.

She had liked the Tower of the Bond, so this place seemed like a good next choice.

Thinking of her by his side, listening to stories together… didn’t feel bad at all.

But then his loyal knight had to go and say:

“So you’re someone who seduces married women, huh?”

“…”

“Do you have a thing for lying about who you are and tricking women into falling for you?”

It was an absurd idea—but apparently Jeremy was influenced by Clark’s muddled lectures too.

Jeremy started sweating and stammering.

“That’s… not what I meant…”

“Say it. Did you really think I’m that kind of person?”

“What I meant was—”

He was ready to launch into a long excuse—

But then a voice cut in.

“No, Jeremy. You actually said something good.”

“…”

“…”

Creeeeak—

The door creaked open.

And there she was—Elaine.

Her face colder than the harshest Saint Portou winter.

‘We’re doomed…’

Jeremy mentally screamed.

Even Caillen’s face turned pale.

* * *

“Elaine.”

I ignored the voice calling me and stepped inside slowly.

Even with Karl standing right there, I didn’t feel happy at all.

‘Just earlier I was so excited to see him…’

Now, I was in such a bad mood I couldn’t even think straight.

Well—except for one thought.

And I didn’t even try to filter it. I just said it.

“If you’re not someone who seduces married women, then what are you?”

“…”

“Are you joking, you trashy bastard?”

If he says he never tried to seduce me—then it means…

‘He had no interest in me at all. He was just playing with me.’

The moment I came to that conclusion, I hit rock bottom.

Honestly, this was me being mature.

The old me would’ve sprinted back to the Grand Duchess’s room, grabbed that musket he gave me, and—

‘Wait, no.’

My fists are faster than that.

I clenched my fists, and Karl’s face visibly tensed.

‘What, upset that I yelled at you?’

No—it looked more like he was… nervous?

Like a puppy getting scolded for knocking something over.

‘You think that look’s going to work on me?’

I had so much to say, but I didn’t know where to start.

Everything was just a mess in my head.

“Then what was all that until now?”

Why were you so nice? Why’d you give me hope? Why act jealous?

Why did you—

‘…There won’t be anything like that to worry about.’

That line flashed through my head.

What if he meant it?

Suddenly, I felt drained.

Right… he did draw the line that night. He said there wouldn’t be anything between us.

Was I the only one who misunderstood? Did I fall for him all by myself?

‘Yeah.’

From the beginning, Karl always teased me.

The only thing that changed was my reaction.

I felt like such a fool.

That “I’ll take responsibility” line—maybe it didn’t mean what I thought.

“…Elaine.”

“Go away.”

Still… I couldn’t help thinking he was the one who gave me hope first.

I bit down my anger.

If I exploded now, it would just make me look pitiful.

Like I was mad over a one-sided crush.

I was the one who decided to care. I was the one who got attached.

I was the one making plans to negotiate with the Grand Duke, worrying about Karl…

‘It’s because it was my first time.’

It was my first time really opening up and liking someone.

My first time choosing someone for me.

I stood there, trying to breathe.

‘Calm down. Don’t get angrier.’

Don’t make yourself look even more foolish.

That helped… not a lot, but enough.

I forced myself to remember my days in the knight order—tried to pretend I was working.

“Wake him up. We’re here to interrogate.”

“Um, Grand Duchess…”

“What are you waiting for?”

I pointed to the unconscious assassin and spoke coldly to a nervous Jeremy.

“Elaine.”

Whoosh.

That familiar scent rushed close—and suddenly, my cheeks were grabbed hard.

His big hands gripped my face like tree roots.

‘Even now, his touch feels warm and comforting. Ugh, so annoying.’

I was mad at myself for enjoying it.

I tried to shake him off, but Karl didn’t let go.

“You misunderstood.”

“I don’t need to understand. And why the hell did you say you’d take responsibility then?”

My anger finally boiled over.

“If you were going to act like this, why even say something like that?!”

“Because I meant it.”

Karl tilted my chin up with force.

His golden eyes locked onto mine.

They shimmered and trembled. His lips parted.

As if begging me to listen. Like clinging to the hem of my clothes.

‘What kind of excuse are you about to make?’

I didn’t want to hear it—but somehow I leaned in anyway.

“…I was going to ask you to be my wife.”

Something heavy slammed into my chest.

“What?”

I could feel my pupils shaking, but I couldn’t stop it.

Then came the second hit.

“Marry me.”

“Oh my god.”

That last voice wasn’t mine.

“Hic.”

Jeremy hiccupped.