Chapter 53: Chapter 50: A Poisonous Woman (15)

Letting a Duke's fiancée become a Knight? It was unheard of.

While there are female knights, and even women who have become the head of their Family, a Duke's wife was different. A Duchess was responsible for the management of the household, arranging social gatherings and charities, attending banquets with her husband, and other events that the Duke isn't able to make.

But Lucius didn't reject her request right away.

In the first place, he wasn't one who usually cared for formalities and normal high society manners unless he wanted to. Like his engagement with Aurora.

But she probably didn't know this.

"I don't just want to be your fiancée." Aurora continued explaining. "I refuse to sit in the mansion all day and attend social gatherings all the time or go shopping." The ordinary life of dressing up and waiting for him to return to bed at night was not suitable for Aurora. That sort of life, she lost sight of long ago.

The only reason she purposed the idea of the contract in the first place was so she can help him suppress and break the curse while keeping her identity as a familiar a secret. She thought if she could stay by his side as his fiancée, it wouldn't cause more trouble than necessary.

Lucius didn’t understand.

She was certainly different from the other women he slept with. They all desired the title of ‘Duchess’ or even begged to be his mistress so they can gain a good reputation in high society and access to his wealth. But she actually wanted to become a Knight?

"Do you know what being a Knight means?"

Seeing her eyes sparkle in resolution, Lucius realized she was thinking the same as him.

Knights are not flower decorations. They are soldiers.

"What will you do about your familiar title?"

While she wasn't a spirit beast or his official familiar, she has the title of a familiar. Her goal wasn't to summon a familiar but to make a temporary contract with a spirit beast. Still, her title as a familiar will hinder her.

"I'll find a way!" She quickly responded with enthusiasm.

"...Fine, but if you gain acceptable results in summoning spirit beasts, I will personally test how useful it is in front of all my Knights."

"Yes!" Aurora happily agreed with him. Her face brightened. She was glad. Before she died, she would be the vanguard to stand in front of him and cut down his enemies.

It was the first time he saw her genuinely interested in something. Lucius heard she read a lot of the books Halon provided for her, but she was simply searching for information. This time, she was clearly excited.

"Second, you're not allowed to share your research with others without my permission. And you must not use your power to harm the Empire. Instead, you will use it to help me protect the Rizar Dukedom."

"Ugh..."

Aurora didn't like the sound of that. Protect the Dukedom that's part of the Epheria Empire that labeled her mother as the 'Black Witch' and abandoned her? It's true what her Mother did caused many innocent people to lose their lives, but she was still her Mother. She hated the fact that her Father chose the Empire over his family.

Once in a while, all she thought about was killing off all the aristocrats in the Empire. But what use would that be? They were only the descendants of the people who killed her and caused her Mother to despair. They didn't have anything to do with the past. Still...protect them?

"Does that include the Imperial City?"

"You don't have to go out of your way to protect everyone. Only promise to help me in keeping the Dukedom safe and not hurt anyone using your power in the Empire."

Lowering her head, with the light in her eyes dimming, she replied to the Duke with a low voice. "...Yes, I'll do my best." Since she was the one who purposed being a Knight, the least she could do is that. A Knight, after all, fought to protect others and their master.

Lucius' eyebrows twitched. 

Where did all her cheerfulness go? She looked like an abandoned puppy...Was she so reluctant to accept his condition?

The Duke had a sort of mischievous smile on his face as he examined her. While it made him more charming than before, it gave her a bad feeling. “I have another condition as well."

“Yes?” Aurora gulped nervously. She wondered what he'd ask for this time. “Oh. Go ahead.”

“The condition that our engagement will last until I confirm your identity needs a deadline. I’ll wait until you turn 20 years old. If by then I’m unable to find any evidence of what you told me is the truth then we’ll get married.”

“What?!” She blurted out as she nearly jumped. "Why marriage??"

Lucius raised his eyebrows. "Engagement naturally leads to marriage."

T-that's true...but... "I mentioned this being a temporary engagement."

"I know. That's why I'm adding this condition. The engagement will last until you turn 20. If I'm unable to confirm your identity before then, we will get married."

Aurora didn't know what to think. Just why was he going so far to marry her?!

"What if you find out after we get married and you end up wanting to kill me?? Wouldn't it cause problems if people talk about how you tried to kill your wife?”

The corner of Lucius' mouth lifted into a smirk. “Either way, won’t people talk if they find out I killed my fiancée?”

She couldn't refute that...

“Besides, if I do end up wanting to kill you, not only will I not fail to, I will make sure not to leave any evidence behind."

Aurora shuddered at the cold glint in his eyes. It was what she expected, but for him to say it so clearly scared her. 

"And even if I do confirm your identity, I won't kill you unless you become my enemy. However, I’m not one to just believe in anything without proof.”

That was a lie. Lucius mostly believed she was telling the truth.

The fact that the status rune confirmed she’s a Witch.

The fact that the status rune hid her full name and other titles.

The fact that she was summoned as his Familiar.

And the fact that she had no idea she was summoned as his Familiar at first.

Or that she didn’t know a lot about this world.

Spirit beasts were summoned from the Spirit Realm. Although they couldn’t come and go from the human and spirit realm without a summoner, they were aware of the current world's common sense. That included rune magic. And yet, she didn’t know anything about it.

That’s why she probably wasn’t lying about her identity.

You are reading story Fallen Princess: The Duke’s Familiar is A Witch at novel35.com

But he wouldn’t tell her that.

“While magic was much more advanced one thousand years ago, there are no records of humans being able to cast the type of magic that sent you here. Thus, I have concluded that it’s only possible if it was done by the Supreme God of Space and Time, Ashur, or someone who has his blessing. It’s said that the God Ashur has never blessed a human, in fear that they will destroy the balance of the timeline. That means, there’s no way for you to prove that you’re the daughter of the Black Witch, Helena Grannis Vankreift.”

Aurora bit her lower lip.

He actually thought that far.

The Duke made sense. Even she found out that much as well. There was probably no way to ever prove that the Black Witch had a daughter.

But she couldn’t comprehend his intentions. What did he gain from marrying someone who might be his enemy?

Aurora lowered her head. “My question from earlier, can you give me an answer? Why are you willing to marry someone who might be your enemy's daughter? No, in the first place, why did you go so far to come save me? Even though you were heavily injured?”

She wanted to know.

Why was it so important to him?

“That’s simple, it’s because I want you.” He said, without hesitation.

“What?” Aurora lifted her head and stared at him. She was dumbfounded.

“You're useful. You're a Witch with an affinity for three elements and have a unique ability to see the future. You haven't received formal training from another Witch on how to use your foresight have you?"

"How did you -?"

"It seems you look down on your ability due to its short duration, but it is due to your lack of experience that you have not been able to use its full potential. And I have a feeling that you're the key to breaking this curse."

Aurora blinked her eyes. She was bewildered by his sudden declaration of 'wanting her'.

"There's more." He said with a charming smile on his face.

"More?"

"I find you to be quite amusing.”

…Amusing??

Amusing?!

How so?!!

“Hhaaa…”

Aurora let out a heavy sigh.

She thought Lucius was a person who only saw people in two ways. Those who are useful and those who aren't.

She wondered if this change in him was due to her.

No. How can that be?

He’ll eventually lose interest and throw her away once he realized she wasn’t useful or amusing in any way.

To be honest, when she thinks about how she was betrayed by that man, the very idea of marriage disgusted her. It made her want to throw up. That night she killed him, he looked at her with disdain. His words continued to repeat in her head even after several years passed.

'You're useless without me!'

Aurora closed her eyes.

Lucius wasn't like him. He didn't bother hiding his intentions. What scared Aurora the most were needlessly kind people. Those that hide their motives behind fake smiles and praises. He said she was useful for him...if that's so...then, she 'll show him how useful she can be.

For her to get stronger. And for to continue living in this world set a thousand years later, she can only rely on this man in front of her for now.

She slowly opened her eyes. Although her expression didn't change, the light in her eyes did. “Alright. I agree to your proposal."

The Duke observed the woman in front of him.

With her around, Lucius wouldn’t have to hold back anymore. However, there were still many doubtful aspects about their relationship. He wanted to know if what he was feeling was truly due to their connection as a summoner and familiar, or was there something more about her?

Still, no need to rush.

There was plenty of time to figure it all out.

Right.

Eventually, he’ll find an answer.

Until then, he won't tell her about how the link between them as summoner and familiar might be a lot stronger than others.

“We’ll discuss the rest back at the mansion. Then…”

Lucius grasped her chin with one hand and lifted her head straight as he pressed his lips against hers. Before she could react, his tongue already entered her mouth. As they both blushed from the heat racing to their heads, their kissed deepened. It wasn't until a few minutes later he parted from her lips, leaving a thin trail of saliva that fell between them.

His eyes met hers.

“Contract complete.”

Aurora had it right the first time. It was her presence that caused him to start to change.

She roused the part of him he tried to keep in control.

And without the need to control himself any longer, who knows what will happen next.

End of Volume 2 ♥