Chapter 51
His gaze, deep and sticky like a lick, slowly moved from my eyelids down my jaw, neck, and chest, before rising again to meet my eyes.
“We’re not breaking off the engagement. I’m not that irresponsible.”
His low, husky voice made a soft, fluttering breeze stir deep in my chest.
I wanted to say something—anything—but my lips wouldn’t move, as if frozen.
Seeing how stiff I was, he let out a small, amused breath through his nose.
Then he leaned in, close enough for his lips to nearly touch my ear.
“But something has changed. I’ve found a role that suits you better.”
As he said that, he gently tilted my chin upward with his fingers.
His eyes locked onto mine with the intensity of a hunter who had caught its prey.
That intense gaze made me shut my eyes tightly.
Then, I felt a soft, marshmallow-like touch on my lips—it brushed lightly, then pulled away.
Startled, I opened my eyes and saw Prince Claude smiling slightly with those perfect lips.
“That’s my promise. A mark that I’ll make sure you sit in that seat.”
Thump. Thump. My heart pounded loudly.
Did… did he just kiss me…?
What does he mean by “mark”? And what’s this “seat” he’s talking about?
So many mysteries—my head was spinning.
But one thing was clear:
Though he’d teased many times before, this was the first time he had truly kissed me on the lips.
…That wasn’t in the contract. So then… why…?
I felt breathless from the strange atmosphere, my face burning as my heart raced.
I quickly opened the window, and the strong wind blew against my cheeks and hair.
As I stared blankly into the wind, his large hand gently touched my cheek.
Claude let out a soft laugh as he brushed my loose hair behind my ear.
Then, in a smooth voice that flowed like water, he said something that snapped me out of my daze.
Bright light came in through the curtains and pierced my eyes.
I stretched and got up as usual.
Rubbing my eyes, I stepped down from the bed, and the floor was so cold it made me flinch.
On tiptoes, I walked quickly over and drew the curtains.
Most of the trees had shed their leaves, their bare branches exposed, and the ground was thick with red and yellow fallen leaves.
Rubbing my cold nose, I stared out the window.
Knock knock.
The door opened.
“Oh, miss! You’re already up? I just went to get some firewood since the fireplace had gone out.”
Dana came in with her arms full of firewood, then quickly set it down and picked up my slippers and robe.
“You must be cold. I’m so sorry—I should’ve kept the fire going.”
Dana helped me into my slippers and wrapped the robe over my thin linen pajamas.
Worried I was still cold, she began buttoning the robe up carefully. Her fingers were red and frozen.
“I’m fine. You wear this.”
I took off the robe and placed it over her shoulders. Her kind brown eyes widened.
“M-Miss, I’m not cold at all! Please wear it—you’ll get sick.”
As she jumped back in protest, I took her cold hands in mine.
Looking at her quietly, Dana finally nodded.
“…Okay. Just wait a moment. I’ll get the fire going.”
She ran off to the fireplace and, with skillful hands, stacked the firewood.
Soon, the fire roared to life.
The warm glow from the fire slowly filled the room with heat.
“Phew, this is much better, right, miss?”
The orange glow lit up Dana’s face. Her red hands and nose slowly regained their color.
“Yes. It’s warm and cozy.”
Dana smiled brightly and then turned her gaze to the fireplace.
She poked the logs with a poker, stirring the fire.
“I’m so clumsy… Today’s your last day at the duke’s mansion, and I almost ruined it. What am I going to do with myself…”
Though her voice tried to sound cheerful, it trembled.
Her shoulders began to shake as she bowed her head.
“Don’t say that. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve run away from this cursed house long ago.”
Sniffle.
Dana broke down crying.
I placed my hand on her shoulder and waited silently.
Honestly, the fireplace going out wasn’t her fault.
It was just old—it needed more wood more often.
And I knew the reason everything in my room always looked so clean and new was because Dana worked so hard, scrubbing and polishing until her hands were raw.
“…It’s such a happy thing, but I don’t know why I’m crying so much… I must be getting old.”
Hmm… She’s only eighteen, though…
I scratched my chin and looked at her. Dana put the poker down and stood up suddenly.
“This is a happy day! No more crying! Forget the duke’s house that treated you poorly, and live happily ever after with His Highness the First Prince! You’ll show them all—you’ll be more than fine!”
Dana put her hands on her hips and nodded fiercely.
“…Yeah. It’s… a happy ending.”
I forced a smile and took a sip of water from the table to ease my dry throat.
“The wedding date will be decided soon. Once it’s over, we’ll start acting like real husband and wife. For example, sharing a room.”
Claude’s voice, which I had forgotten for a while, echoed in my head again.
That wedding he mentioned—was scheduled for tomorrow.
And today… was the day I would leave the duke’s house and move into the prince’s palace, beginning the so-called “married life.”
Claude had told me to pack and come to the palace a day early to avoid chaos on the wedding day.
While I was lost in thought, I heard a thud behind me.
Turning around, I saw Dana—now fully recovered—carrying a large bag and setting it down on the carpet.
“If you want to arrive on time, we need to hurry! Let me know if there’s anything special you want to bring!”
Before she even finished her sentence, she was already darting around, packing things into the bag.
Even though there were still ten hours until the meeting time, Dana was moving like a machine.
Before I came to the mansion, she had told me her indecisiveness had led to her younger sibling going missing.
Maybe because of that, she was now extremely decisive and efficient.
“Dana, you take care of packing. I’ll go to the lab.”
“Yes, miss. I’ll prepare breakfast, so come down when you’re done.”
I waved and opened the door.
The hallway was still quiet.
There were only a few servants left, and they continued to avoid me.
Pierre, who had briefly taken over the mansion, was kicked out the day I returned from the old woman’s house.
“How could you do this to me? This is my house! Where am I supposed to go?”
“Did you forget the insults and threats you made to Asceline? You may stay until the wedding. But if you dare enter this house again before then—or even show your face in front of her—this sword will be your end.”
The sharp tip of Claude’s sword had stopped right in front of Pierre’s nose.
Terrified, Pierre had run away so fast I could barely see his feet.
Since then, just as Claude said, Pierre hadn’t shown his face again.
I knew he was a coward, but I didn’t expect him to stay hidden so obediently.
Anyway, thanks to that, I had enjoyed a few peaceful months.
Even Brefni, who I thought would attack Claude the moment he became emperor, had stayed oddly quiet.
Well… not really.
Turns out, he had secretly planted a spy to watch me.
When that was discovered, the spy’s tongue was cut off and he was thrown to the wolves.
Right after that, Claude stormed the imperial palace with his army.
I didn’t know what happened between him and Brefni, but when Claude returned, he came to the mansion and said only one thing:
“Every ant that walks on this land—everything—will be beneath your feet. No one but me will be allowed to touch you.”
His low voice was so cold, it froze me to the core.
Since then, Claude’s deep, dark eyes had haunted my thoughts.
They weren’t the eyes of the broken man I had seen in the hidden room, but intense, overflowing with emotion.
My heart pounded just remembering it.
I touched my chest and smiled faintly.
The prince, who once seemed to wait only for death, had clearly changed.
It felt good to see him want to live again. I became even more determined to heal him fully.
Before summer arrived—the end of our contract—I would cure his illness.
And while I was at it, I’d continue my revenge too.
I tightened my grip on the stair rail and walked down determinedly.
Not long ago, I’d heard that Claude found Monte’s body and built a grave near the old woman’s home.
Now that we knew Rachel, Petro, and even the Second Prince were connected to Monte’s death, I had begun gathering evidence.
Lately, I’d heard Alex and Pierre were frequently visiting the emperor’s audience room.
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Garbage really does stick together.
Alex and Pierre were small fry, but Brefni was different.
In my past life, he always slithered away like a snake and caused endless trouble.
There was only one way to destroy him completely.
As I pictured it in my mind, a sly smile crept across my face.
Unlock soon!~