Chapter 34
Even though his tone was dripping with mischief, I kept my expression serious.
“Herens, I have a favor to ask.”
“Mm. Go on.”
Hereis nodded, as if he already knew.
“Can you get me something?”
“What kind of thing?”
I rose onto my toes and whispered into his ear so no one else could hear.
His expression shifted in an odd way at my unexpected answer.
“And what are you going to use that for?”
“As a gift for Her Highness, the princess. There are only two days left—can you get it by then?”
“Sisi, there’s nothing I can’t do. Two days? I can get it for you in one.”
“Really? Thank you!”
Thank goodness. Even if she didn’t forgive me, with this I could at least make a fair trade for the Tears of the Star.
While I was smiling in relief, Hereis, smiling along with me, placed his hands on my shoulders.
“Hold on, Sisi. If I’m giving you something, I should get something in return, shouldn’t I?”
Right. He wouldn’t hand over something valuable for free.
“I’ll pay you, of course. How much?”
“Forget money. Instead… tell me about this guy called Leo Maze.”
I froze, as if struck in the back of the head, having expected something material.
And he saw my reaction all too clearly—my discomfort, my awkwardness, even my displeasure.
“What was he to you?”
“Why…?”
“Because it bothers me. Everywhere we go, I hear his name—small dukes, café ladies, Oel—they all bring him up. You think I can just ignore that?”
His voice was edged with irritation.
Well, since I brushed it off before, his curiosity must’ve doubled.
But I really didn’t want to say it myself.
Sensing my reluctance, Hereis turned his head away like someone sulking.
“If you won’t say it yourself, fine. I’ll just ask Oel.”
“He… was my former fiancé.”
He didn’t need to go to Oel for that. Anyone in the household staff could tell him exactly who Leo Maze was.
What was the point of hiding it? I laid it all out.
“He was only my fiancé in name—it was an empty relationship. He cheated on me with another woman, so I dumped him. That’s all.”
No way was I admitting that I’d chased after Leo. My pride wouldn’t allow it.
“Wait, fiancé?”
“No. Former fiancé.”
Let’s be clear. I emphasized the “former,” frowning.
But Hereis didn’t seem to think that was the important part—he launched straight into nonsense.
“How could you… I only have you, and you… had another man…”
“Stop right there. You’re making it sound like I’m the bad one here. We’re in a contract relationship, remember? It’s not like we were anything else.”
“What are you talking about? We’re bound for eternity. That’s deeper than any fiancé.”
“…Now that you put it that way, you’re right.”
“See?”
“Yeah. Right for a beating.”
I gritted my teeth and smacked him on the back.
“Eternity, my ass—it’s a scam contract! And I got engaged to that bastard before I met you!”
“No. I came first.”
“There’s no way you came first.”
I’d been engaged to Leo five years ago—what was he even talking about?
I was ready to dismiss it as more of his nonsense, when—
“Cheater.”
“…?”
His blue eyes trembled with betrayal… or maybe I should say they boiled. Either way, he didn’t look happy.
Knowing it was ridiculous, but still with a flicker of worry, I asked,
“You’re not… jealous, are you?”
“You’re asking when you already know? Don’t cheat on me again. My heart’s delicate—I get hurt easily.”
Was that serious or not?
His playful act, drooping his eyes like he was weak, made it impossible to tell.
Wait—cheating? Did he just say cheating…?
Like someone reliving trauma, I glared at him.
“Say it properly. He was the one who cheated!”
“…Right. I’d forgotten that part. He dared to cheat on you? Should I kill him?”
His voice sank low, and my jaw went slack before a murmur of admiration slipped out.
“That’s actually a very tempting offer. I’d love to bury him somewhere.”
“Just say the word. I’ll make him disappear without a trace.”
“As tempting as that is, I’m a civilized person, so I’ll restrain myself.”
Hereis gave me a look like I was a child who didn’t understand the world, then let out a short laugh and curled his lips.
“Sienna, life is short. In the little time we have, it’s not enough just to see beautiful things. Why waste it on something useless? Instead of hesitating, you should just kill him.”
“And you’re one to say that? You’re going to live forever.”
He had nothing but time. Shaking my head, I pulled away from him.
I thought that was the end of it, but he followed close behind, clearly with more to say.
“…Did you like him?”
“Who? Leo?”
I snorted and waved my hand.
“Like him? Not a chance. We got engaged naturally because we were childhood friends, that’s all.”
In today’s noble society, opposite-sex childhood friends usually ended up engaged.
Better to marry someone you know than a total stranger, as they say.
Whether you actually liked each other wasn’t important—noble marriages were about family alliances.
“For the record, he didn’t like me either. He didn’t need me as ‘Sienna’ the sickly girl, but as ‘Winter’—the daughter of the ducal family.”
Which is why he dropped me the moment he became a marquis and ran straight to Daphne.
“So don’t say I ever liked him. Just the sight of him makes my skin crawl.”
I clenched my fists and trembled.
“I haven’t even had my first love yet!”
Hereis blinked at my sudden outburst, then a smile slowly spread across his face—bright as a flower in full bloom.
“Really? You’ve never liked anyone?”
“…Are you making fun of me right now?”
I glared, wondering if he was mocking me for never having dated, but he just laughed softly and took my hand.
“Then you don’t have a partner to take to this ball, do you?”
“You really are making fun of me? Fine! I’ll go with you, happy?”
I stomped my foot, and his face lit up.
“Why else would I ask? I want to be your partner that day.”
“…What?”
“Come on, let me be your honorary self.”
“…Honorary self? You’ve lost your mind…”
The cheesy words made me cringe.
“Lost my mind? I’m saying it all for your sake.”
Yeah, right—for my sake. I looked at him with open suspicion, wondering what nonsense he’d spout next.
“People still think you’re hung up on that guy. Isn’t that why you used me at the café?”
“That’s true.”
“Think of it as an extension of that performance. If I’m by your side, all that talk about you pining for your ex will vanish.”
Well… considering I’d already leaked a rumor about having a new lover back then, having Hereis show up as my partner at the ball would probably make the strange rumors die down.
For once, he’s making sense. That actually sounds plausible.
Catching on to my wavering, he coaxed me with honeyed words.
“Do you think you can pull it off?”
“Of course. I’ll be the perfect self for you.”
His sly, almost wicked smile bothered me, but in the end, I agreed.
