Chapter 07
“I can’t buy a noble title. No matter how insignificant the house is, it would only provoke the Emperor’s suspicion.”
The Emperor trusted no one but himself.
Even a minor noble house would be thoroughly investigated. If an unverified noblewoman suddenly became the Grand Duchess, he would naturally be wary.
“If I remain a commoner, there’ll be less immediate vigilance—but still suspicion. It’s a sudden marriage. And the other nobles will resent it too. A commoner becoming Grand Duchess.”
That was why they needed it—
a story that would make people swoon.
“I understand what you mean,” the Grand Duke said with a sigh.
“We’ll prepare the love story from our side. Your Highness, please focus on practicing your acting.”
Whether he could truly pull it off was uncertain. But he was usually so cold and indifferent that even a slight change would draw attention.
“No matter how you cover it with romance, the Emperor will investigate you thoroughly.”
“Don’t worry. Creating a commoner identity is nothing for Temno. We’ll fabricate everything perfectly—from birth onward.”
“Very well. I’ll leave that to you.”
“Then let’s meet again once preparations are complete.”
Melina rose and walked to the window.
“Cheroyan.”
The Grand Duke followed and opened it for her.
At the unfamiliar sound, she turned—and met his eyes.
“You said I should act like I’ve fallen in love. Call me by my name. No—‘Yan’ would be better. It’s my nickname.”
Leaning against the window, his rugged, masculine features were bathed in moonlight. With a faint smile softening his sharp face, he looked like something out of a painting.
His eyes, once cold and cutting, had deepened like a lake at night.
And in that lake, only Melina was reflected.
Thud.
Her heart betrayed her, pounding against her will. Startled, she quickly turned away.
“You’ll need more practice.”
With that, she leapt from the terrace.
After landing, she pressed a hand to her chest.
Her heart was still racing.
Forcing herself to ignore it, she called Shan.
“From now on, eliminate every assassin who comes here. But secretly capture one—without the Grand Duke knowing.”
Shan nodded.
She had her suspicions about who was behind the attempts, but confirmation was necessary. The Grand Duke’s affairs were now her own.
Back at the inn, she called Ran.
“The Grand Duke accepted the deal.”
“You succeeded.”
“This is only the beginning. Bring up the false identity we prepared.”
“Are you truly going to use that name?”
Ran rarely showed hesitation—but now he did.
The name she intended to use for her disguise was “Melina.”
“Don’t worry. No one will imagine our souls switched. I look nothing like her.”
“It could provoke the Emperor. Heighten his vigilance.”
“That’s the point. He may not know guilt, but I want him to feel uncomfortable every time he sees me. Otherwise, it’s too unfair.”
Ran’s face tightened slightly, but she continued lightly.
“Berta is older than I was. If anyone questions it, they’ll assume I was named after the Empress.”
Melina had been twenty-two. Berta was twenty-five. The false identity would match Berta’s age.
“Understood. Shall we begin spreading the love story?”
“Start in the Grand Duchy. Make sure there isn’t a single citizen in the Empire who hasn’t heard it.”
Her eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Cheroyan remained by the window long after she left.
“She’s a strange woman.”
He replayed her flustered expression in his mind.
He had teased her because she looked skeptical—yet she had turned crimson.
She probably thought she hid it well. She hadn’t.
Temno was a den of crime and bloodshed.
He had expected its leader to be ruthless—numb to emotion. Yet she blushed from a look.
And yet, when punishing subordinates or handling assassins, she never hesitated.
Still, something about her unsettled him.
Why had he sensed fear and guilt in her movements?
After stabbing her subordinate at the auction house, she had looked as if she were holding back tears.
Just earlier, she had avoided looking at the corpses she herself had created.
When he killed the assassin she had spared, her gaze had wavered.
Impossible.
“The leader of Temno fearing bloodshed? She would’ve erased guilt long ago.”
Yet his heart was uneasy.
Especially the way she had grown angry about his mother’s injustice—as if it were her own.
No one had ever been angry on his behalf before.
“You should feel wronged… you should be angry.”
She was the first to tell him that.
He had been too young to understand back then.
The sudden chill in the palace. The cold stares.
He hadn’t even dared cry for his mother.
“The tragic prince.”
He smiled bitterly.
Everything had changed after the fire incident—after Crown Prince Mesed was burned.
People pitied him. That was all.
“And it wasn’t even her affair.”
He didn’t understand why she had been angry.
But something had stirred in him.
She had done the same when speaking of the Empress’s death. She mourned and raged as if she had been the one killed.
“Someone she loved…”
If she ever loved him—would she cry and rage for him like that?
“Ridiculous.”
He raked a hand through his hair, dismissing the thought.
He had agreed to marry her for his mother’s sake.
He didn’t care about the throne. He was simply tired of constant assassination attempts.
That was all.
He repeated it to himself like a mantra.
Two days later, deep into the night, Cheroyan stood by the window, waiting.
A message from the Black Wolf had said she would come.
Waiting for someone other than an assassin felt strange.
He felt… anticipation.
The faintest sound made him tense, hand flying to his sword.
“Your Highness, you received the message, correct?”
Her familiar voice made him relax.
“Can’t you visit normally for once?”
Even accustomed to danger, this kind of tension was exhausting.
“I can’t reveal myself yet.”
He looked at her.
With her red hair uncovered, she wore black from head to toe—tight-fitting and unmistakably assassin’s attire.
It accentuated her slender, toned figure.
He had seen such clothes countless times—yet suddenly found himself unable to look.
He turned away and headed to the sofa.
“Sit.”
“Did any night guests come after I left? They shouldn’t have.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Was that your doing? I wondered why it’s been quiet. Unnecessary.”
He could handle assassins alone.
“I don’t doubt your skill. But you’re to be my husband. I don’t tolerate anyone touching what’s mine.”
For a moment, he was speechless.
No one had protected him since childhood.
He had always survived alone.
So why didn’t her words offend him?
Instead, warmth prickled in his chest.
‘She really is strange.’
He turned away to hide the heat in his face.
“Why did you want to meet?”
“To tell you the love story—and discuss our schedule.”
She handed him a paper outlining their fabricated romance.
“I drafted the outline. My strategists filled in the details.”
The story:
Melina, a commoner, is betrayed by her employer and sold to slave traders. The Grand Duke, arriving to dismantle the slave auction, rescues her. They fall in love at first sight.
“Will people truly believe this?”
“You’ve never read romance novels? A knight on a white horse. Love across class lines. Everyone will swoon—especially women.”
He felt oddly embarrassed being cast as a white knight.
“The slave auction did happen. And you were there. Even if the Emperor investigates, he’ll find nothing suspicious.”
“So truth mixed with lies.”
“That’s how you deceive properly. Pure lies unravel too easily.”
“Well done. We’ll use it. I have something for you as well.”
He retrieved a document from a drawer.
“Read it. Tell me if you want changes.”
“A contract?”
“I thought you’d prefer something formal.”
She smiled.
“Thank you.”
The contract read:
A = Cheroyan Caster
B = Berta Monmers
A and B mutually consent to marriage.
Within one week of the wedding, B will arrange for the promised maid to meet A.
B will cooperate in clearing A’s mother’s name; A will assist in B’s revenge.
B will actively support A’s ascension to the throne; A will guarantee B the position of Empress.
Neither may request divorce unless the other violates the contract.
A will protect B’s identity so long as she does not breach the contract.
Melina read it carefully.
When she looked up, her expression was thoughtful.
“Any additions?” he asked.
