Chapter 6
To be honest, she had come half in doubt—but to think the Grand Duke of Bavaria would truly be here.
With just a few words, he had already revealed that he was in the same situation as she was.
After being shown to her room by an attendant, evening came.
As a guest, Ibel sat at the same table as Victor.
“I assumed that if I returned, you might have returned as well. If not, I would have made other plans—but I needed you.”
“Why me?”
“Because it has to be someone I can trust.”
The sight of the Grand Duke pouring a drink while wearing nothing but a white shirt was unfamiliar—strangely sensual, even.
The shirt draped naturally over his solid shoulders, hanging loosely at the waist, while the sleeves were roughly rolled up.
Freed from the neat, cold composure of a commander she had always seen, he seemed far more at ease.
It was a side of him she had never imagined, but Ibel didn’t let it show.
She still didn’t know how to process all the memories from the battlefield.
“Isn’t it possible that others besides you and me have returned as well?”
“It is. But if they had, they would have come to me. The fact that no one has made contact means that, for now, it’s just the two of us.”
“Ah.”
That made sense.
Among the others, there were those of sufficient status to contact the Grand Duke immediately.
Even if someone lacked the rank to write to him directly, they could have reached him through Lucas or Heinrich… there were many ways.
“It may be best to wait. Memories could return over time. Still, I intend to bring the twelve who remained until the end into my territory.”
“Understood.”
Just as those final twelve were special to her, they must be to him as well.
Still… it would be nice if at least one more person remembered.
But wishing wouldn’t make it so.
And for that person, perhaps it was better not to remember.
“After understanding the situation, the reason I sought you out first is…”
Victor Bayern was not a man who rushed.
Even when speaking, he always took his time.
Knowing that, she waited without urging him.
“I once told you about my nieces and nephews. I need someone who can properly take care of them. Someone who won’t reveal what they see and hear to anyone.”
The veins stood out clearly on the back of his hand as he set down the bottle.
Watching his fingers slowly turn the glass as if revisiting an old concern, Ibel swallowed quietly and asked, feigning nonchalance,
“Are you ill?”
“In a manner of speaking. Whether in mind or body.”
A self-deprecating smile flickered across his unrealistically handsome face before fading just as quickly.
His deep blue eyes met hers directly.
“I intend to live differently.”
“Yes.”
“I would like your help.”
“…Yes.”
A request, not an आदेश—how unfamiliar.
To think she had the right to refuse. What a luxurious kind of freedom.
“This is a contract. Read it carefully. If you agree, stamp it. If not, I’ll buy you a house wherever you wish. You deserve that much.”
Ibel silently examined the document handed to her.
It was quite detailed.
“Separate bedrooms before marriage, but after the official ceremony, we are to share one. Of course, there will also be private bedrooms for individual use…”
“Though we’ve met like this, I plan to frame it as love at first sight.”
He spoke calmly, but Ibel nearly spat out the wine she was drinking.
Love at first sight?
Victor Bayern?
“…So although it’s a contract marriage, it has to appear like a love marriage?”
“Exactly. You’ll also have to act as a high-ranking noble. At the very least, you’ll need proper etiquette. Here.”
Ibel decided not to probe too deeply.
She needed money. And she needed to keep it from being siphoned off by her twin brother.
Even if I only take the house, Abel might come looking for me. But if I enter the Grand Duke’s household, he won’t be able to threaten me.
He was perceptive enough to connect her disappearance with the Bayern ducal house.
But that would be all.
What could he possibly do?
If I secure safe funds, I could go abroad—continue my research, even live as a doctor.
In some countries, it wasn’t unusual for a woman to be a doctor.
Time and money to prepare for exile. And freedom from her suffocating family.
It was an irresistibly tempting offer.
“…You will take control of the internal affairs of the house and perform the duties of a true Grand Duchess…”
As she skimmed through the document, she realized something was missing.
There was no mention of an heir.
“Do I not have to bear a child?”
Was that too direct?
She blinked at the slight pause in the Grand Duke, then felt relieved at his answer.
“There is no need for an heir. I intend to pass everything to one of my nephews.”
“That’s a relief. I have no desire to bear children.”
“You don’t need to try to love me. Just act as though you do. You seem like you’d be good at acting.”
“Because I’ve been pretending to be a man?”
The Grand Duke silently affirmed it. Ibel took a short breath.
“When did you realize I was a woman?”
“From the beginning.”
“…Excuse me?”
Had she heard that right?
She thought she had concealed it well.
Perhaps she looked too stunned, because he raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t understand how one could fail to notice.”
“…You’re quite perceptive. Then did others know as well?”
“Half and half. The bone structure is different.”
That stung her pride a little.
She had even cut her hair short and deliberately worn oversized clothes.
Grumbling inwardly, she returned her gaze to the contract.
“I have one condition.”
“Anything.”
“My twin brother knows my identity. Send him somewhere… he won’t be able to return from.”
“What else do you need?”
She hadn’t expected that to be granted so easily—but apparently, it was.
The Grand Duke tilted his head as if willing to grant nearly anything she asked.
“Then… when the contract ends, please arrange passage for me. So I can safely travel abroad. Preferably somewhere that won’t fall into war.”
“That will be easy.”
They shared knowledge of the future.
They knew which countries would go to war and which would remain at peace.
The difference between them was that Ibel lacked the money and power to change the future.
But my own life… with this, I can definitely change it.
As long as her leech-like family didn’t track her down.
“One more thing. Please make sure my face doesn’t appear in the newspapers.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
Just as she began to relax, thinking everything was settled—
“Now that the contract is agreed upon, shall we speak more comfortably?”
“…Pardon?”
“This isn’t the battlefield. I’m not your superior anymore. It would look more natural if we addressed each other by name.”
For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
He wasn’t wrong—but how could she dare?
They had agreed to marry, yes—but to her, he was still a distant superior.
“You can take your time getting used to it during the engagement. I’ll make the effort first.”
“Ah, um… Your Grace.”
“If it’s difficult for you to speak casually, wouldn’t it be better if we both use polite speech?”
For some reason, her heart dropped, as if she had done something wrong.
Even the way he addressed her had changed—from “you” to something more intimate, more equal.
Not how one spoke to a subordinate, but to an equal… or a lady.
“…Understood.”
“Then allow me to escort you to your room.”
