Chapter 4: 4

“Ah! I’m sorry!”

 

The woman couldn’t even raise her head and apologized repeatedly. It was me who rushed and bumped into her, but the woman didn’t seem to care at all about that fact.

 

“Oh no~ My dress has become dirty.”

 

I looked awkwardly at my dress, which was covered with whipped cream. The woman who saw it was even more surprised, bowed her head, and began apologizing again and again.

 

She even bowed her head to the waist height.

 

“I’m sorry! For me to do something like this… Ah, what should I do…”

 

The restless woman burst into tears. Her tears fell to the floor.

 

…Did I choose the wrong person?

 

I didn’t want any of this situation. What I wanted was to leave the ballroom and say, ‘Both of us at fault because we bumped into each other…’

 

“Excuse me, Lady? I’m fine. We made a mistake, so please stop crying and get up.”

 

“Ah… No… It’s my fault. This wouldn’t have happened if I had walked facing forward.”

 

That’s true. Maybe I wouldn’t have considered bumping into her if she didn’t do that.

 

However, I didn’t want this woman to lie down in a coffin. Because that woman looked dying right now. But now, I can’t say that I deliberately bumped into her. People already flocked around us as if they had found something interesting to watch.

 

“Oh my gosh… Lady Sosime, did you cause another accident?”

 

One of the people surrounding us said that.

 

Again?… She must be a troublemaker. Then I don’t have to be sorry to add one more accident she made, right?

 

I began acting like a kind lady while my mind had a party victory.

 

“No, I should have been careful… But, my dress…”

 

Count Bornes finally showed his face to the commotion in the ballroom.

 

He saw my dress and his face became red.

 

“What is this! Your Highness the Crown Prince will be here in a little while, and how can you see him like this!”

 

I said with a sullen expression on my face.

 

“What should I do? Father… I accidentally bumped into this lady…”

 

Count Bornes stared intently at Lady Sosime, who was already crouching like a criminal.

 

But he had no way out. He couldn’t show his daughter to the Crown Prince like this. In the end…

 

“Ugh. It can’t be helped. Go home quickly. Don’t embarrass me.”

 

“Yes, Father. I’m sorry.”

 

After I bowed my knees to greet him, I hurriedly left the ballroom.

 

When I turned around, Lady Sosime was still surrounded by people. She looked like a rabbit trembling alone in the midst of a hungry group of people. I was concerned about why she looked like that.

 

I have to leave her like this for today. Next time I see her, I will pay off this debt, Lady Sosime.

 

I had been taught that kindness is not to be repaid, but I should make an exception this time because I had caused trouble to a pitiful person.

 

* * *

 

As soon as I returned to the mansion, I took off the vulgar clothes and threw them away.

 

With the maid’s help, I washed and changed into my pajamas. It was already dark in the middle of the night.

 

I hung a white handkerchief by the window so Duke Kaien could recognize my room and waited on the sofa.

 

Then a sudden thought occurs in my mind.

 

Wait, if I greet him like this, he might think I’m trying to seduce him, right?

 

As I thought that far, I called Madrenne and changed into my neat everyday clothes. I’m going to make a deal with him, not to seduce the man who came into my room at night.

 

Madrenne wondered why I changed back into my casual clothes at night, but she wasn’t stupid enough to ask me why.

 

I sent my maid out and sat on the sofa, waiting for Duke Kaien.

 

When he comes, I will show him some portion of the ledger I prepared in advance and offer him the terms and conditions. If nothing goes wrong, I’m sure I can make a contract with him. Well, I believed so.

 

But after a long time, he didn’t show up. Don’t tell me…

 

Was he suspicious of me more than I expected? If that’s the case, I’m in trouble…

 

I scratched the innocent sofa in the rush of anxiety.

 

Still, the night isn’t over yet, so let’s wait until the end.

 

I sat thinking so, then fell asleep on the dark sofa.

 

* * *

 

Chirp, chirp. 

 

When I opened my eyes to the sound of birds chirping, the sun had already risen.

 

What? No way… sun already arises? That stupid man! Have I ever made a mistake with him?

 

I was stunned. Then, in anger, I picked up the cushion next to me and slammed it against the innocent sofa.

 

“You idiot! Stupid man!”

 

Still, I didn’t feel better. Cause I will be sold out because of the stupid man who missed up on such a golden opportunity.

 

It can’t be like that. Is running away at night the only choice I have now?

 

There’s no way I can get my father’s key to the safe right now…

 

I need to search Madrenne’s room as soon as possible…

 

“You’re awake now.”

 

“!”

 

I, who was startled, threw the cushion towards the sound and put my hand into the gap of the sofa. My surprised heart soon calmed down when a familiar sensation transmitted to my hand.

 

When I turned my head to check, Duke Kaien was leaning against the door while holding a cushion.

 

“When did you come?”

 

I asked as I pulled out my hand that was holding a gun I had hidden in the gap of the sofa and stood up from my seat.

 

“Lady Arianne, I knocked several times, but there was no answer, so please pardon me. I think it’s been about two hours since I was here.”

 

“What? Then, why didn’t you wake me up…”

 

“I couldn’t be rude to wake up the sleeping lady.”

 

Duke Kaien answered bluntly.

 

Ah… I see.

 

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So he’s been staring at the sleeping lady for two hours?

 

I couldn’t tell whether this man was being considerate or rude.

 

I only hope I didn’t snore or sleep with my mouth open.

 

“Sit this way.”

 

I pretended to be calm and fixed my clothes, pointing to the sofa opposite me so the Duke could sit down.

 

Until now, I couldn’t see his face properly until Duke Kaien sat on the sofa.

 

In the ballroom, I only looked at him from afar, or I was distracted, so I only knew that he was handsome even if I looked at him a glance, but I couldn’t get a close look at his face.

 

His face, seen up close, could be described as a ‘handsome sculpture’.

 

Hmm, he’s more handsome than I thought.

 

Shiny black hair, deep but lively black eyes, dark eyebrows of moderate thickness, high nose bridge, and thin but tightly closed lips seemed to show his upright personality.

 

Judging by the outward appearance of his well-dressed uniform, I expected him to have a good boy. His moderately tanned skin contrasted with the white uniform he wore.

 

This handsome man didn’t want to get married. It would be a real loss to the Empire, no, to the world. But it wasn’t his appearance that mattered. Right now, the most important thing to me is his status and wealth.

 

When I sat face to face with him, tension crept in. I thought I would be overwhelmed by the sharp eyes that looked at me as if they could make a hole in my face. But if I look clumsy, it won’t work for me, so I have to go strong.

 

I began to clear my throat and said,

 

“Then, shall we start the deal now?”

 

Despite my bold words, Duke Kaien only looked at me with his mouth shut.

 

I felt suffocated under his pressure, even though he didn’t say anything.

 

Is he angry? Or not? Maybe this is his expressionless face? Did he not have any feelings?

 

I was terrified to see him staring at me with his sharp eyes without saying a word.

 

It seemed that not a drop of blood would come out if I stabbed him with a knife. Other than my father, he was a man who could make me in fear, who was rumored to have blue blood.

 

If Count Bornes was a snake that slowly choked you, this man was like a beast that could bite your neck at once.

 

To make a contract with someone like him?

 

My fear of this man slowly reduced. My biggest fear now is being sold as the Crown Prince’s concubine.

 

Pull yourself together Arianne.

 

It’s rather good if he doesn’t have emotions. Since it’s a contract marriage, there’s no need to live with emotions toward each other so we can divorce neatly.

 

“Honestly, I don’t understand, Lady Arianne.”

 

I then asked Duke Kaien, who opened his mouth.

 

“What do you mean you don’t understand?”

 

He looked intently at me, still expressionless. I could feel his will to find out what I was thinking in that gaze. Then he opened his closed mouth.

 

“Why did you say you would betray your father?”

 

Ah, not many people know the situation in my family…

 

It was reasonable suspicion. But it’s better to show solid evidence rather than suspicion.

 

“That’s not what’s important, is it? The important thing is this.”

 

I handed him part of the secret ledger I had prepared. There were so many irregularities that even a small part of it was three sheets of paper. He picked up the book with indifferent eyes and began to check them, page by page. And then.

 

“As Lady said, this secret ledger really belongs to Count Bornes.”

 

“Huu.”

 

I sighed in relief.

 

The book I showed him was specially selected by myself, and included the corruption of some nobles from the Crown Prince’s faction and the corruption they did by themselves.

 

The value of the ledger must have increased thanks to the intelligence of my vicious father. He took advantage of other people’s weakness and sucked up the bone marrow. Things seemed to be going well. But Duke Kaien didn’t believe me easily.

 

“But you will have to explain why you’re going to betray your father and hand it over to me.”

 

I laughed bitterly.

 

As expected, he can’t let it slide easily.

 

To be honest, I didn’t want to expose my disgrace, but I shouldn’t have lied to deal with this man.

 

“Hu. I will be honest with you. My father is going to make me the Crown Prince’s concubine.”

 

I spit it out carefully as if confessing a secret. But Duke Kaien still had no expression. There was no agitation to the extent that it was easy for him to say things like ‘Ah, is that so?’

 

I was upset by this frustratingly unresponsive man. In the end, the hot-tempered me added,

 

“I have no intention of entering as anyone’s concubine. No, I don’t want anyone’s wife position.”

 

For a moment, he seemed to have a strange look in his eyes, but I wasn’t sure because it was only for a moment.

 

“So, what are you going to ask me for?”

 

Finally, he responded.

 

Before answering, I took a breath for a moment. Now it was time to get down to business.

 

“It’s marriage.”

 

Duke Kaien’s brow frowned. It was the first change in his expression I had seen since I met him.

 

“Obviously, I heard that you don’t want anyone’s wife position.”

 

I responded with my shining eyes,

 

“Yes. What I want from the Duke is a contract marriage. You can divorce one year later. Of course, I will ask for alimony. I need to gain something.”

 

He looked at me with his arms crossed, leaning his back on the sofa as if he was amused.

 

“Lady Arianne, I’m sorry, but how can I trust you? Now you say so, but who knows how long you will hold out because you don’t want to get a divorce?”

 

“Isn’t that the point of writing a contract?” I replied.

 

“I see. But, will your father allow you to marry me?”

 

I shook my head at Duke Kaien’s question.

 

“Of course not. So there is only one way.”

 

He looked at me as if to listen. It’s as if he can’t think of a way, let alone look like he doesn’t know what way. Oddly enough, even though it was a very subtle difference, I was already reading his expression.

 

Right. It’s something he would never even think of.

 

No matter how embarrassed I was to say this out loud, there was only one way for me.

 

I opened my mouth,

 

“We have to make an accident.”

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