Chapter: 2
In the silence, the sound of Derbel’s fingers tapping rhythmically against the tabletop echoed sharply.
“Where did you get the funds for the construction?”
“Well, it wouldn’t do if the House of Christian were bankrupt by the time you returned. So I used my personal assets to try various things to revive this place—Aster. I supported research projects, made investments, things like that. Fortunately, things went smoothly. And with that—”
“What scheme are you plotting, Princess?”
Derbel cut her off immediately.
The man who had been pretending gentleness now wore an expression so cold it was almost chilling.
Yet Lynette did not avert her gaze from his piercing blue eyes that looked as though they might stab straight through her. Instead, she met them head-on, almost defiantly.
“A scheme? It was pure goodwill. You are my fiancé, after all.”
“That logic only works when the word ‘contract’ isn’t attached to our engagement.”
Derbel let out a scoffing laugh.
“A person who’s leaving in a year made major decisions about the family without even consulting me. What fool would accept that at face value? Anyone would think it’s just smoke to hide some other agenda.”
“Hey, Duke Christian.”
Since pushing things further would do no good, she had tried to accommodate him—but with his continued hostility, Lynette finally tossed courtesy aside.
After all, a month-long battle of subtle nerves had already left her patience razor-thin.
“You certainly have a pretty mouth when talking to someone who did you a favor—whether you approve of it or not. What I did helped, didn’t it? It didn’t cause harm, at least. Can’t you just let it go? And consult you?”
She openly sharpened her tone toward the fiancé rumored to be unfailingly gentle.
It was truly infuriating that the world had no idea what kind of man he really was.
“How exactly was I supposed to consult someone who was off subjugating monsters? Action had to be taken quickly, and there was no way to contact you. It was beyond my control.”
“What did you do with the magic communication stone?”
“The communication stone?”
Lynette tilted her head slightly, smiling brightly.
“How could I sell something I never received?”
Her sulky tone made Derbel’s eyebrows twitch. He studied the woman before him carefully.
True to her reputation for rich expressions and abysmal acting skills, Lynette’s lips were pursed in a small pout.
He was certain he had ordered that the stone be given to her—so if she hadn’t received it…
Then someone must have siphoned it off.
Derbel’s gaze grew icy.
Unaware of his thoughts, Lynette frowned and brushed her arm once. Somehow, the air felt colder than before.
After tilting her head a few times, she brought up another topic.
“By the way.”
Her elegantly curved eyebrows lifted slightly.
“Why is your tone like that with me? I’m a princess of a nation, and you’re a duke.”
Her sunset-colored eyes sparkled. The voice flowing from her softly curved lips was almost melodic.
“Oh, my tone?”
Derbel chuckled lightly, as if it were nothing.
“If I recall correctly, Her Highness told me to speak comfortably. Out of respect for my age.”
“I said you could be comfortable as my fiancé, not that you could speak rudely.”
“Fighting monsters that don’t even understand words has roughened my personality. More than that, after all that hellish work finishing the subjugation, your honored mother tried to cut the payment in half. Nearly bit my tongue off.”
Lynette had nothing to say to that and quietly closed her mouth.
“……”
“……”
Blue-sky eyes and brilliant sunset eyes met in midair.
Neither backed down as they stared each other down.
Then—
Knock, knock.
A voice followed the knock.
“It’s Evan, my lord. I’m coming in.”
The tension dissipated instantly.
Derbel turned his attention to his aide, who entered carrying an armful of documents, his expression neat as ever.
Lynette, too, returned to her usual elegant and composed demeanor.
“I organized the materials as you requested—oh, Princess, you’re here as well?”
Realizing her presence late, Evan bowed deeply.
The way he managed to greet them without dropping a single document was impressive.
“Oh, I was just about to leave.”
“Then I’ll see you later, Derbel.”
“Lynette.”
Derbel called out to her as she was about to leave the office.
In front of others, they were to act like inseparable lovers.
In accordance with the first principle of their contract, they instantly filled their gazes with affection, as though no power struggle had ever taken place.
Watching his face soften so effortlessly, Lynette clicked her tongue inwardly. What a fox.
When she looked at him as if to ask why he had called her, Derbel’s lips curved into a pleasant smile.
“Shall we have tea for a bit before tomorrow’s banquet?”
“Before the banquet?”
“I’d like to speak with you privately beforehand.”
What kind of scheme was this now? When he acted this gentle, it only made him more suspicious.
Lynette smiled sweetly and tilted her head.
“Sure. I’d also love to hear the heroic tales of the Christian knights who worked so hard subjugating monsters with you for two years—especially your stories.”
She beamed at Derbel, her face full of anticipation.
“You’ll be surprised.”
“Oh, I have plenty of things that will surprise you as well.”
“……”
“I’ll look forward to tea time, darling.”
Seeing Derbel’s expression crumple instantly, Lynette left the duke’s office wearing a genuinely radiant smile.
It was a very satisfying ending.
* * *
After leaving Derbel’s office, Lynette walked faster than usual.
“Why is he so eager to bite someone’s head off?”
What felt even more unfair was that Derbel Christian never showed this side of himself to anyone else.
Even his own aide believed the two had fallen in love at first sight and become engaged.
“Two-faced. Petty.”
Muttering under her breath, Lynette loosened the ribbon tying her hair.
Her coral-colored hair spilled down in soft waves—a lush color that naturally drew the eye.
As the tightly bound hair fluttered freely in the breeze, her mood seemed to lighten a little.
I did it because it was necessary—but it’s true that it helped the ducal house.
When she first arrived at the House of Christian, not everyone had welcomed her.
—
‘He proposed because it was love at first sight.’
—
She still remembered the stunned expressions on the faces of the ducal household when Derbel said that so smugly.
Even now, thinking back on it made her laugh.
No one truly believed it—even if they didn’t say it out loud.
The Empire’s distrust toward people of the Holy Kingdom ran deep. Who would like those who selfishly acted only for their own benefit?
That was why, when Derbel left for the Holy Kingdom to subjugate monsters, the dissatisfaction inevitably turned toward Lynette.
It was a bit scary back then.
Still, perhaps it was fortunate that she was naturally optimistic.
Accepting that there was no helping it, Lynette did her best to live as a member of the ducal house.
That effort aligned well with her personal goals and left a good impression on the household.
Pleased at being acknowledged, she sometimes forgot her original objectives and worked for the sake of the family itself.
As a result, many people came to recognize her worth—so it wasn’t a loss.
“He’s really unbelievable. Do you know how hard I worked while he was gone?”
[You’re absolutely right. The one who revived the Aster territory is Your Highness!]
“Gregorian!”
Out of nowhere, a gray mouse appeared in front of Lynette.
Standing on two legs, the mouse bowed deeply to her, as if greeting her formally.
“Did you enjoy your walk?”
A bright smile spread across Lynette’s face.
[Yes. Thanks to your concern, I returned safely. Were you coming from the duke’s office?]
“Mm-hm.”
When Lynette bent down and held out her hand, Gregorian climbed onto it and scurried up to her shoulder.
She pulled an almond from her dress pocket and offered it to him. The mouse eagerly stuffed it into his mouth.
Watching him chew happily, Lynette gently stroked his head with her finger.
Then, as if nothing were amiss, she straightened and resumed walking.
[So what did the duke say?]
“He asked why I went ahead with things without informing him.”
[That’s absurd. He’s the one who gave you the authority. He even assigned his own aide to you and told you to do your best.]
The gray mouse clenched his tiny front paws and trembled with indignation.
