Chapter 62
“Ugh, aah! What are you doing?!”
I was whispering in a dangerous tone to Bern when someone grabbed the back of my neck.
“Ah, ahh! What is this? Let me go!”
By the time I barely regained my senses, I was being dragged toward Ethan, his hand still gripping my neck.
I tried to call out to Bern for help, but even that was impossible.
“Hang in there, miss!”
“Ah! Don’t run away!”
When I slightly turned my head toward Bern, he was already a step back, giving me an encouraging look.
Sigh… there really isn’t anyone in this world you can trust…
Giving up on seeking Bern’s help, I stole a glance at Ethan.
His relaxed demeanor from moments ago had completely vanished, replaced by a fierce, almost predatory expression.
“Don’t whisper together behind my back. It makes me feel bad.”
“Hah! We were just having a secret conversation with Bern! Why are you being so petty?!”
“I said, don’t talk behind my back. If you must talk, do it in front of me.”
…Talk in front of Ethan while he’s threatening me?
If I said that in front of him, I’d be nagged for days.
I shook my head firmly—there was no way I could say it.
Even if I had to lie, this was not something I could reveal.
Yet Ethan, unsatisfied for some reason, wore an even fiercer expression than before.
I could feel his cold aura slowly enveloping my body, and instinctively, I shivered.
This time, I flinched slightly, genuinely sensing Ethan’s anger.
When his red lips parted slightly, I shut my eyes tight.
Looking into those fierce eyes made me feel crushed under his presence.
But Ethan seemed to interpret my reaction differently.
“…You lost, didn’t you?”
“Eh?”
Surprisingly, Ethan’s voice was calm, utterly unlike the aggressive tone I expected.
I had assumed he was sulking and acting out his temper, but instead, he spoke to me in a rather gentle voice.
Blinking and turning my head, I peered at him cautiously.
Ethan still had his usual fierce, intimidating expression, but it wasn’t threatening.
It was just the typical bad-tempered Ethan I always knew.
Finally feeling a sense of relief, I asked again,
“So… what is it you mean?”
Tilting my head, Ethan’s red lips curved slightly into a smile.
It was the kind of expression that clearly hid some mischievous intent.
As if confirming my suspicion, Ethan leaned toward me, still gripping the back of my neck.
The sight was ridiculous, yet there was no one around to comment.
With a serious expression, Ethan leaned in and whispered in my ear, his voice chilling.
“Seeing my fiancée this close to another man makes me jealous.”
“……?”
“When did you get this close to Bern? You act like a sulky cat around me, but you’re surprisingly obedient to him.”
…What is this madman even saying?
At first, I thought he was teasing me, but the subtle disappointment in his voice was genuine.
I didn’t know where the feeling came from, but there it was.
Unable to contain the emotion Ethan showed me, I let out a short, breathy laugh.
Then, I grabbed his hand from my neck and pushed him away.
He seemed like he would stubbornly refuse to let go, yet he surprisingly released me.
Of course, he held onto my hand as I tried to pull away, so he didn’t retreat completely.
Ethan seemed content to quietly watch me struggle, like a predator observing its prey.
I stood in front of him boldly, glaring.
“Hah! Who’s being sharp now? Haven’t you forgotten the first time we met—you immediately threw a dagger at me?!”
“Oh… did I do that?”
Did you?! My heart nearly fell out that day!
“You could have killed me with just one wrong word! Of course I was nervous!”
I lifted my hand, still gripping Ethan’s, in defiance.
“Snatching my neck like that, threatening me, growling fiercely—it’s scary! Right?!”
“Yet you don’t seem scared at all.”
“I’m wild now, but later I’ll shrink back and run! I act first, think later!”
“You always fight back boldly, then run away as if nothing happened. So that’s why?”
“Y-Yes… I guess…”
“If that’s the case, you should’ve gone all out. Risked your life. Who knows? I might have let you live.”
“What kind of person are you, Ethan… completely lacking a conscience… No! That’s not the point now!”
I realized too late that I was falling into his pace, and my face betrayed a small ‘oops’.
Ethan, amused, laughed aloud—a rare occurrence.
Then, he lightly pressed my hand, which I had been dangling.
Startled, I was gently pulled toward him.
“You were thinking that alone? Why didn’t you say so?”
“Eh?”
“So… does my fiancée want me to be gentle?”
“Uh… well… you don’t really have to be so rough, right?”
“Hmm.”
“Then why…?”
“Is that so? I see…”
Ethan muttered thoughtfully, as if recalling something.
At that moment, I felt an unfamiliar fear, unsure of what crazy idea was forming in his head. Then, Ethan moved.
Specifically, his hand moved—his hand still holding mine.
Tap.
“Like this?”
“…!”
Without hesitation, he lightly kissed the back of my hand.
The heat of his lips against my skin made my body freeze instantly.
Thump.
It was a completely different sensation from before, yet familiar.
When was this… when exactly?
As I pondered, realization hit me, and I gasped.
It was the same feeling from when Ethan had gone berserk under the influence of demonic blood and suddenly kissed me.
Back then, I thought it was only fear of his rampage… but this felt slightly different.
This was…
“Hmm. Don’t you like it? Then…”
Before I could react, Ethan lightly grasped my hand again.
Without giving me a moment, he pressed his lips to the back of my left ring finger this time.
It landed briefly, on the finger that had felt unusually empty today.
A blatantly mischievous kiss.
The heat and softness brushed across my skin again, making me shiver involuntarily.
Thump, thump.
This time, the sensation was stronger, more intense.
If I let go of my mind even slightly, I could be swept away by the feeling.
But before I drifted too far, Ethan’s voice called me back.
“Why aren’t you answering? Speak, Eunice. I’m doing as you wish.”
“…!”
His annoying voice broke through my daze. Yet, for some reason, it was incredibly comforting.
“Ha… haa…”
I exhaled the breath I had been holding, trying to calm myself.
What was that just now?!
That handsome face, so teasing—it makes my heart race!
What trick is he planning now, pretending to be gentle?
I shook my head vigorously, trying to clear my mind.
I can’t be fooled by that angelic face! Inside is the devilish Ethan!
Even though my rational mind shouted that, my body, melted by Ethan’s terrifyingly gentle touch, refused to listen.
Sensing my state, Ethan took advantage, pressing closer.
“Sometimes this isn’t so bad. Would you like it if I did this at our engagement too?”
Ah, that damned engagement.
If I didn’t allow it, he’d probably haunt me even in my dreams.
Why is he so obsessed with this engagement?!
It was Ethan who had suggested the contract under the guise of a business relationship.
So I had simply followed his lead.
And yet… lately, Ethan’s constant crossing of the line between business and sincerity was driving me crazy.
I couldn’t understand how he could act so genuine while under the pretense of a contract.
“Answer me, Eunice. You were entranced by the Crown Prince because of this teasing voice, weren’t you?”
“……”
Already caught up in Ethan’s strange antics, I absentmindedly nodded.
“Ha… fine. I understand. Do as you please. Anything.”
“Do as I please?”
“Yes. You do as you please, Ethan. But—”
“But?”
“Don’t pretend to be gentle like just now. It was creepy.”
“You seemed to enjoy it?”
“…Ethan is best when he’s himself.”
A mad dog is most natural when acting like a mad dog.
“Yes, that’s it.”
“Glad to hear it. I thought I was the awkward one here.”
“Fine. Then we’re even. I do as I please, you do as you please.”
Even if Ethan crosses the line, as long as I stay firm, it’s fine.
So… for now, he could act as wild as he wanted.
“How should we hold the engagement? Should we make it widely known across the Empire? In a grand royal style?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Mm. A little. Who wouldn’t be, to think of this….”
Ethan’s brazen suggestion left me sighing.
“Ha… can’t we just make it simple?”
“No. Not at all.”
Ethan grinned mischievously, taking my dangling hand and holding it up for display.
“How can I make it widely known across the Empire that this woman is my fiancée? Hmm?”
…Truly shameless.
To say that openly in front of the person!
“Ah, yes. It would also be good to put the engagement ring on in front of the Crown Prince.”
“That seems… a bit too grand…”
“You said do as I please. You just watch. You’ll be surprised at the grand engagement.”
…The fire shouldn’t have been stoked so high.
I realized that too late.
The weather was perfect.
A perfect day to hold that damned engagement.
I smiled faintly under the clear sunlight, glancing at Ethan.
“The weather is wonderful, isn’t it?”
“…….”
“It’s perfect for an engagement. Right, Ethan?”
I asked with a cheerful smile, but he remained silent, radiating a cool, intimidating aura.
Normally, I would have been crushed under his presence, but today was different.
“Hm? Why the sour expression? Like someone being dragged unwillingly to the Mage Tower?”
“……”
“Like Claude, being pulled away after finally setting our engagement date? Hah.”
Ah… I shouldn’t be laughing here.
But I couldn’t help it and let out a small laugh.
Ethan frowned slightly, his delicate brows furrowing at my teasing.
Yet I didn’t shrink back, leaning toward him and speaking cheekily.
“You said you’d shock me with a grand engagement, right?”
“…Damn that Mage Tower master.”
Ethan muttered Theodore’s name in a low voice.
The reason Ethan was so angry wasn’t me.
Ah, Claude… if you enjoy your vacation like Eunice, what will happen?
Huh? What…?
Eunice won’t listen to me, so you bring her back. I’ll be lonely.
……
You’re not planning to abandon me too, are you?! Huh?!
…I’ll bring Eunice back to the Mage Tower.
I could ignore Ethan, but Claude… I couldn’t ignore.
It was the Mage Tower master’s summons, arriving conveniently on the same day Ethan set the engagement date.
Grinding his teeth, Ethan cursed silently.
“Damn. I should’ve dealt with her properly when I sent her to the Beast Forest.”
“Tsk. It’s already too late. Our engagement is long gone.”
“……”
“If you’re so disappointed, why not at least submit the engagement letter? Haha.”
Last time, I forced him to sign the engagement letter, but he hadn’t submitted it yet.
So far, he had been blatantly boasting about having a fiancée to everyone.
I found that infuriating, so today I decided to tease him.
“I wanted to hold the engagement exactly as Ethan wished, but now… what a pity, right?”
“……”
I said it playfully, and Ethan took it surprisingly seriously, making teasing him all the more fun.
Part of me wondered why he was being so serious, but I ignored it.
“…If you go back to the Mage Tower, I won’t let the master off easy.”
“Hmm. Our good Claude wouldn’t do something so bad, right?”
“……”
“Haha… enjoy the last day in Clovis.”
Eventually, we decided to submit only the engagement letter to the royal court and return to the Mage Tower the next day.
It was our last day at the Clovis estate.
