DLYTL 17

Chapter – 17

“This impatience of yours… You’ve changed quite a bit since I last saw you.”

“…….”

“I wonder why. Could it be because you’ve become the one and only Duchess?”

There was a certain sharpness behind his words.

Psyche felt uneasy as she looked at Warren.

No matter what he felt inside, he always wore a smile.

He placed his hands on his knees and spoke in a gentle tone.

“Actually, Princess, I wanted to ask you a personal favor. I’ll compensate you generously.”

“A favor… from me?”

“Oh, but first, a question.”

He spoke in a cheerful tone.

“Do you love Ikali?”

“Eh?”

Psyche frowned at him with a displeased expression. Yet Warren seemed satisfied with just that answer, nodding slightly.

“Well, who could possibly be happy marrying such a monster?”

“What on earth are you trying to say?”

“Find Ikali’s weakness and pass it on to me. That’s my request.”

“…….”

“I’ll pay you enough to pay off your royal debts and divorce that person. How about it?”

A pleased smile spread across Warren’s face.

While someone might find that smile beautiful like a flower, Psyche could only feel disgust.

When Psyche remained silent, Warren tilted his head in curiosity.

“Was my offer not appealing?”

“Do I have to answer? You, the Marquis, have asked me an absurd favor.”

Even Psyche, who had maintained a calm expression until now, could not hide her feelings this time.

As expected, Warren was sharpening the blade of revenge against Ikali, who had cast her aside.

He lowered his eyebrows pitifully and looked up at her. His eyes, unnervingly pure, seemed devoid of any hidden intentions.

“That’s strange. Was my offer really that bad? Sure, you were close to Ikali as a child, but that person killed the father who raised her and crippled my legs. Ikali is a monster. Before that, she was just a lowly orphan.”

“…….”

“You’re saying you’d nullify that marriage. The entire empire calls him a monster, and now you’re going to let him divorce you… Shouldn’t you be glad rather than making that face?”

He spoke calmly, but his voice carried irritation.

It seemed to bother him that Psyche was questioning his terms.

Then Warren’s gaze turned cold, and he sneered.

“You’re not actually in love with that monster, are you?”

“…….”

“Isn’t it unnatural for a person to act that way? If you married such a monster, shouldn’t you have cried for three days and nights out of fear?”

He still looked genuinely confused.

“Could a princess really fall for a poor orphan?”

“Stop it, Warren.”

“Now you’re telling me what to do.”

At that moment, Warren grabbed Psyche’s wrist abruptly.

Startled, Psyche let out a sharp cry. His grip was strong enough to hurt her delicate wrist.

Clenching his teeth, Warren looked up at her and spat out words with low malice.

“Why can’t you understand me in one go? You used to be a bit more obedient…”

The angelic smile was gone. From the wrist he held, Psyche felt as if a snake were crawling up her arm.

“Let go of me. Why are you doing this?”

Psyche trembled, trying to pull her hand free, but his grip was unyielding. Even in a wheelchair, his strength was formidable.

Her heart seemed to plummet. It was only then that Psyche remembered Warren’s words about “the past.”

It had been four years since she returned to this timeline.

Back then, before Ikali gained power and became a duchess, Warren, who dominated the social scene, suddenly proposed marriage to the Dosun royal family.

The sudden marriage proposal shocked Psyche—and the entire royal family.

“What? Warren Demiosys proposed marriage?”

“Yes. He offered to pay off our royal debts in exchange. There would be no other opportunity, Psyche… you understand, right?”

Psyche stared blankly at her three older brothers.

As the only princess of the Dosun royal family, it was naturally her whom Warren had requested for marriage.

But why him? Why me?

All the women of the empire admired Warren for his appearance and status.

No one would have thought he would propose to a princess of a small, distant nation, a girl he had no connection with.

The royal family had no reason to refuse a duke who would repay such a large debt.

After all, royal marriages were all political, so Psyche could not fully resist.

Yet Warren came from the household that had abused Ikali.

And though she wasn’t entirely certain, Psyche could not shake off the thought that Warren had been at the center of the cruelty.

It was almost inconceivable that she would share a tea time with the man she was about to marry.

Warren read the caution on Psyche’s face perfectly.

Psyche spoke as she looked at Warren entering her palace.

“I know why you want to marry me. It’s because I’m close to Ikali.”

“…….”

“You want to suppress Ikali, right? By marrying me, who was once close to her, you plan to torment her. I know everything. I know your people beat and mistreat her.”

Psyche swallowed hard.

No matter how she thought about it, that was the only reason.

He wanted to bring her, someone Ikali trusted, to his side.

To isolate Ikali completely.

Otherwise, there was no reason Warren Demiosys would propose to someone like her.

Warren seemed struck, staring at her with an emotionless gaze.

The sight sent a chill down her spine.

She clenched her fists, eyes burning with determination.

“Yes, I’ll marry you anyway because of the debt. But do you know what? My father loves me very much—just as much as this country. If I throw a tantrum and say I don’t want this marriage, he will cancel it. Then you won’t be able to separate me from Ikali.”

“……What are you trying to say?”

“Promise me you won’t harass Ikali anymore. If you become the duke, you can quietly expel her later. Don’t try to take everything from her. Please.”

“…….”

“If you just promise, I’ll marry you willingly. So please…”

Psyche didn’t want to see Ikali’s family suffer any longer.

Even if she married another man, she would be fine with it.

If someone else’s marriage made Ikali feel at ease, she could accept it.

So she asked Warren not to harm him.

Meanwhile, Warren stared at her confident, gentle brown eyes with annoyance.

Her lips, speaking as if she knew everything, were increasingly irritating.

His own lips twisted.

“So the orphan wasn’t just in love with me…”

“Huh?”

Warren, who had wanted to claim the girl Ikali loved, felt his mood souring. He felt unpleasant and heavy in his throat.

A sly smirk spread across his face.

After a brief silence, he spoke magnanimously.

“Fine. As you say. If you marry me, I won’t bother Ikali anymore.”

“R-Really?”

Innocent Psyche’s eyes widened in delight. But when she saw Warren’s expression harden, she shivered.

“On one condition… you must endure whatever I do.”

He whispered.

Psyche stared at the man gripping her wrist as if to break it.

Even in a wheelchair, Warren’s strength exceeded that of an average adult male.

Warren Demiosys pretended to be a gentleman but harbored a sinister core.

He could strike a woman without hesitation to enforce his will.

“Why are you suddenly so quiet? Hmm? Noble Duchess. Aren’t you going to keep talking? As always, you should turn me inside out.”

“I’m not your servant. Let go.”

Psyche gritted her teeth, refusing to yield.

Warren gripped her arm tightly, leaving white marks on her pale skin.

She stared back, determined not to cower, ready to face Lady Tilly and Warren if necessary.

She had even died in her previous life, so she could withstand a powerful presence now.

And she knew how to embarrass Warren in public.

If she could brand him as a dishonorable man who strikes women, his reputation would be tarnished.

She felt that this might even work in her favor.

Psyche tried to steady her trembling breath. She was about to scream aloud in front of everyone when suddenly…

“Ugh!”

With a dull thud, Warren toppled over in his wheelchair.

Psyche clutched her empty wrist, which bore a red handprint. Her face turned pale, and sweat beaded on her skin.

“Psyche!”

Startled, she looked up.

Standing right in front of her was Ikali, her face pale as she stared at Psyche.