Chapter 21
For a brief moment, Kainess had stopped breathing, then suddenly stepped forward.
“Did you call me knowing that?”
…No, she realized after calling him.
“Moreover, you placed yourself in such a conspicuous spot at the duke’s residence?”
It wasn’t just visible from the duke’s house—it was highly visible even from the count’s. No doubt, maids were glued to every window, keeping watch. He also confirmed that his father and two older brothers were among them.
“I didn’t expect you to see me.”
It was unexpected. He hadn’t even come near the walls recently, yet today he had crossed over. This was a kind of accident.
“If it bothered you, I’m sorry. Do you have a bad relationship with the young viscount?”
“…….”
That indifferent look again. He bit his lips as if wronged, leaving her unable to accuse him of anything.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Did I misunderstand?”
“It’s just surprising that it can be interpreted that way.”
“Everyone sees things differently.”
“Could you stop being so nonchalant?”
Kainess spoke with an unusually irritated tone. It was strange to hear such a reaction from someone normally so indifferent.
“The young viscount came because he thinks Esta will soon get a divorce.”
“Huh?”
The divorce rumors had already spread? She widened her eyes, surprised at how quickly gossip traveled.
“…He must have thought that if I divorced you, he’d have a chance.”
Still, she had no intention of getting involved with the young viscount. She definitely didn’t…
“What will you do?”
“What?”
“What will you say to the young viscount who thinks he has a chance?”
Kainess looked straight at her as he asked. He bit his lower lip slightly, even clenching his hands nervously.
Even though he was uncomfortable with someone eyeing his fiancée, he wasn’t showing it openly.
“Oh! Now I get it!”
She exaggeratedly raised her hands. She understood the situation completely.
But as soon as she met Kainess’s tender eyes, curious about what she would say, a mischievous thought struck her.
Ah, I want to tease him.
“But… you’re not going to marry me, right? Then it shouldn’t matter if I meet the young viscount?”
“…….”
As expected, Kainess’s face froze like ice.
“Whaaaat? Not true?”
Amused, she poked him gently in the side. Kainess grabbed her hand with a fierce glare.
“Does that mean your will to marry me can be broken so easily?”
“That’s not it. I still have to marry, right? No matter who it is.”
With a look of playful disappointment, she poked his cheek.
“You keep refusing proposals, you know.”
“…….”
Kainess frowned and glared. She couldn’t tell whether he was upset at her sarcasm or the situation itself.
“If you won’t, the young viscount wouldn’t be a bad match, right?”
“……Are you threatening me?”
“Threatening? I’m not doing that.”
“This is a threat.”
Threatened by the idea of marrying the young viscount? Well, maybe she could push it further.
“Kainess, don’t overthink it. If you want to, you do it. If not, refuse. You don’t want to marry me?”
She smiled softly.
“Then what will you do, Kainess? Should I try getting along with the young viscount?”
She stepped forward slightly, teasingly watching him. Kainess avoided her gaze stubbornly.
“Say no. That’s all, and I’ll handle everything.”
“…….”
Kainess remained silent for a while. She instinctively knew this would be the last confession she’d make to him today.
Eren had been guarding the garden alone.
“I thought they’d part soon…”
Eren’s voice sounded weak. From the moment Kainess, the young viscount, hurried toward the garden, his anxious look showed a lover’s worry about their partner meeting someone else. Years had passed, but Eren’s place still remained empty. He quietly sipped his tea, trying to soothe his bitter heart.
Then Esta came running out of the house, smiling like the sun.
What was she so happy about?
Her smile almost made him smile, until she shouted:
“Eren!! I’m going to marry Kainess!!”
Eren’s smile froze, and his spirits seemed to fall to the ground.
“Hehe.”
She couldn’t stop laughing.
“Stop laughing,” Kainess muttered, but the smile escaped anyway.
“It’s still good.”
“Even if it’s not a marriage for love, you still feel good?”
Kainess twisted his mouth in sarcasm.
“I wanted it.”
His short, clipped answer left Kainess dumbfounded.
“…What?”
Kainess stopped flipping through his book, genuinely curious. But she couldn’t give him an answer.
Ignoring his confused gaze, she spoke to Elly:
“Bring me something sweeter! I like it!”
As soon as Elly left, Kainess slammed the book onto the table.
“I won’t be responsible if you regret it later.”
“Me regret it?”
“You said you’d divorce me later.”
“Yeah.”
“Isn’t that answer a bit too quick?”
Kainess sounded oddly annoyed. But if the heroine appeared later, it would be her problem.
“You said this isn’t a marriage for love. We’re only benefiting from each other.”
“They call that a contract marriage, right?”
“…You know that too?”
Kainess directly referenced something she’d only read in novels. She blinked in surprise.
“When you’re grown, we’ll divorce. Then you’ll be free from your father, and by then, I should be able to control my magic.”
“And how can you be sure you can control that power Esta calls magic?”
Kainess raised an eyebrow.
“Seven years should be enough for some progress.”
By then, they’d realize the existence of magic and start researching. They’d learn to handle it safely.
“So this marriage is good for both of us.”
She smiled, relieved. The only issue left was Kainess’ lifeless stare, not her worry about dying.
“What’s so unpleasant?”
“……I don’t dislike it.”
“Your face says otherwise.”
“…I said I don’t.”
Even if she died, he insisted otherwise. Normally expressionless, today he had a mix of annoyance and stubborn denial.
“No need to overthink. It’s just a thirteen-year-old marriage. Even if we part later, everyone will understand.”
“Are you serious?”
Marriages between nobles symbolized family alliances. Breaking it wouldn’t be easy, and no other nobles would simply accept it.
“I am serious.”
Kainess sighed deeply. Despite his young age, his sighs were mature.
“Talking to someone who decides the end before it begins?”
Kainess seemed surprisingly sincere about the marriage. He blinked, as if hurt by the mention of divorce.
“Seven years. That’s how long I’ll maintain this ambiguous relationship.”
Kainess spoke firmly, hitting the table lightly with his fist, as if making a vow to himself.
‘So cute it’s dangerous…’
When she first met the male lead, he felt new—his adorable, mischievous side unseen in adult novels. Now he felt like a dear younger neighbor, cute but dangerous, needing help.
Even if they married, she knew Kainess belonged to her, so they promised to part in seven years.
“Yes. Seven years. I’ll remember.”
She smiled, extending her hand. Kainess frowned, looking at her hand with mild annoyance.
“Remember what I said? If you want to, you do it. If not, refuse.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Don’t hold back in daily life. Take what you want, eat what you like. You worry too much.”
Kainess looked at her with empty eyes, then life sparked in them when their gaze met.
“Let’s get along from now on.”
She reached out further, and Kainess carefully took her hand.
“Yes, Esta.”
The sharp, feisty young male lead finally softened, like a little kitten.
Esta smiled, feeling her goal was a little closer.
Kainess silently vowed to find the answer within seven years: why he got angry when seeing Esta, why his feelings intensified when she was with another man, and why he didn’t want to refuse her playful proposal.
Key lines as block quotes:
“Did you call me knowing that?”
“Say no. That’s all, and I’ll handle everything.”
“Eren!! I’m going to marry Kainess!!”
“Seven years. That’s how long I’ll maintain this ambiguous relationship.”
“Yes, Esta.”
