Chapter 6

“Why are you so shocked? Hurry up.”

“Your Majesty, but I…”

For a brief moment, the duke’s composure cracked. He hurriedly tried to object.

Or rather, he tried to.

A firm wave of the Emperor’s hand silenced him before he could finish.

“No more ‘buts.’ Just get married already. Ah, yes—consider it an imperial decree.”

He even attached the words imperial decree to it.

Bella had no idea why marriage suddenly warranted an imperial order, but to the noble ladies present, it was an unbelievable opportunity.

And Bella was no exception.

He’s leaving in four days? Hmm… That’s sooner than I expected…

Finding the man from her dream had been fortunate.

The problem was everything that came afterward.

Watching him from afar would accomplish nothing.

Then, out of nowhere, the Emperor issued what was practically an imperial command ordering the duke to marry.

Could this be it?

A spark shot through Bella’s mind like static electricity.

Everything fit together too perfectly.

Yes… If this isn’t fate, then what is?

But—

“Your Majesty. Forgive me, but I have no intention of marrying.”

The man known as the Duke wasn’t easily pushed around either.

The moment those resolute words left his mouth, Bella could almost hear her entire plan collapsing into ruins.

Soft sighs spread throughout the hall.

Even the Emperor looked dissatisfied.

Resting his chin on one hand, he frowned openly.

“What do you mean you have no intention? You need to marry and produce an heir. If anything should happen to you someday, who will defend the North?”

“But—”

“I said no more ‘buts.’ I’d like you to introduce your duchess before this year is over.”

The Emperor pressed the issue with almost shameless force.

The duke’s brow twitched in irritation.

Still, his opponent was the Emperor.

Open defiance wasn’t an option.

“I… will think about it.”

That was all he said before stepping back.

Using an imperial decree to interfere in a noble’s marriage wasn’t exactly appropriate.

Even so…

An imperial decree was still an imperial decree.

If even an ordinary noble dared ignore it, the consequences would be severe.

What would happen if the one refusing was a duke?

Even if he was the empire’s greatest hero and guardian of its northern border.

Honestly, he should be grateful the Emperor didn’t simply choose a bride for him.

After all, allowing the ruler of the North to strengthen his political influence through marriage was hardly something the Emperor would welcome.

The Emperor was a coward.

Normally, Bella despised that fact with every fiber of her being.

But not today.

She almost felt sorry for him.

Because, for her…

This was her last chance.

Glancing at the unusually dispirited duke, Bella smiled brightly to herself.

Beside her, Evan gave her a strange look.

“Why are you smiling so… frighteningly?”

She answered with the happiest smile she’d worn in years.

“I think God has finally decided to take my side.”

After a life so miserable it bordered on cruel unfairness…

Surely this was Heaven finally making up for it all at once.

Yes.

She truly believed that.

“Some compensation.”

Bella let out a long sigh.

“I take it back.”

Then another.

“Of course. As if God would ever be on my side.”

Compensation?

What a joke.

If anything, she’d apparently earned God’s hatred instead.

She now stood before the duke’s mansion in the capital.

From the front gate all the way to the distant main road stretched an endless procession of carriages.

She stared in speechless disbelief.

“What a disaster…”

And it wasn’t just the carriages.

Every prominent young noblewoman in the capital had arrived in her finest attire.

Standing in orderly lines, they smiled politely while silently waging war against one another.

Anyone passing by would think a beauty pageant was underway.

That lady in front is the marquis’s daughter.

The necklace she’s wearing costs a fortune.

The gift someone brought is an original painting by a famous artist from a neighboring kingdom.

Rumors flew through the crowd.

The noble ladies glared at one another while subtly trying to outshine their rivals.

Watching the spectacle, Bella quietly walked to the very end of the line.

Almost immediately, a pale, exhausted-looking man staggered toward her.

“Miss… are you also here to meet His Grace the Duke?”

“Yes.”

“I see…”

The man released a weary sigh before holding something out.

Tilting her head in confusion, Bella accepted it.

It was a numbered ticket.

“Please wait until the number written on it is called.”

“…All right.”

She nodded automatically.

Before she could say anything else, another carriage rolled in behind hers.

The poor man’s expression darkened even further.

Dragging his feet, he shuffled over to greet the newly arrived lady and handed her the same slip of paper.

They weren’t kidding when they said nothing in life comes easily.

Bella looked blankly at the number written on her ticket.

55.

Just moments ago, they had called Number 7.

She still had a very long wait ahead of her.

“Am I even going to meet him today?”

This was bad.

She didn’t have time.

Looking up at the towering front gate, Bella could only fidget anxiously.

She had finally made it all the way here…

Yet she hadn’t even crossed the mansion’s threshold.

It felt as though fate itself was slipping farther away from her once again.

But she’d come this far.

There was no turning back now.

If she returned home…

It would truly be over.

She only had two choices left.

Move forward…

And risk death.

Or fall into the abyss of despair.

There was no third option.

“This way, please.”

Following the servant inside, Bella released a tired breath.

It had taken…

Five full hours to get through the line.

Still… that’s not as bad as I expected.

She’d assumed she wouldn’t be admitted until evening.

Instead, it was still afternoon.

Part of that was because quite a few impatient young ladies had given up and gone home.

The bigger reason, however, was how incredibly short each audience lasted.

Whether they were daughters of marquises…

Counts…

Or anyone else…

Status made no difference.

Almost everyone emerged within minutes.

The beauty famous throughout high society.

The lady rumored to have once received a marriage proposal from a foreign prince.

Every single one of them lasted only a few minutes.

They entered with sparkling eyes full of hope.

They all came back out wearing equally displeased expressions.

Some even lashed out at the servants.

“You made me wait for hours… for that?”

“Your Grace.”

The butler opened the door.

“I have brought Miss Bella Eton.”

Bella stepped inside cautiously.

The room was surprisingly spacious.

Only a sofa and a small table occupied the center.

Other furniture existed, but every piece was covered with white sheets, as though they hadn’t been used in ages.

Apparently, the rumors were true.

Once the Founding Festival ended, the duke intended to leave immediately.

“You may go in.”

At the butler’s encouragement, Bella nervously approached the sofa.

As she drew closer, she saw him.

The man was reclining against the sofa, his head tilted back.

Is he asleep?

His eyes were closed as he breathed slowly and evenly.

He must be exhausted.

Which wasn’t surprising.

After spending the entire day dealing with women who refused to leave him alone…

Anyone would be tired.

His neatly groomed black hair from the banquet yesterday had become hopelessly disheveled.

His pale face was filled with unmistakable fatigue.

He almost looked pitiful.

Well… I’m just another nuisance, aren’t I?

As she quietly studied his face…

Her gaze suddenly stopped.

His hands.

Wait… he’s wearing gloves indoors?

Just like at the imperial banquet, black gloves covered both of his hands.

So the rumors were true… He really is a germaphobe…

As Bella drifted into thought—

The man suddenly opened his eyes.

His crimson gaze settled directly on her.

“What.”

Bella jumped.

She hadn’t expected him to wake so suddenly.

If he’d already been awake, couldn’t he have said something?

Now it looked as though she’d been caught secretly staring at his sleeping face.

Well… I suppose I was…

“If you’ve arrived, why are you still standing?”

“Oh—yes.”

He gestured toward the sofa opposite him.

Hurriedly, Bella sat down.

Between being caught staring and the awkward silence that followed, her entire body stiffened.

She was wondering how she should begin when—

“So.”

His voice interrupted her thoughts.

“What’s the story you prepared?”

“…Excuse me?”

Bella blinked.

Story?

Seeing her confusion, the duke frowned.

“You don’t have one?”

His crimson eyes narrowed.

“Everyone else came with one.”

“…”

She did have one.

She just hadn’t expected him to ask so bluntly.

At the same time…

She suddenly understood exactly how many noblewomen he’d already dealt with today.

“A family in crisis.”

He began counting on his fingers.

“Abusive parents.”

“An unwanted marriage.”

“It’s usually one of those three. Which is yours?”

“Um…”

Bella hesitated before answering carefully.

“The third.”

Technically…

The real answer was:

I’ve come here so you’ll kill me.

But that hadn’t been one of the options.

The unwanted marriage was close enough.

For the first time all afternoon, something flickered in the duke’s lifeless eyes.

Almost as though he found it amusing.

“At least you’re honest.”

He straightened in his seat and made a small gesture.

A maid immediately stepped forward, filled the empty teacup before him, then quietly left the room.

What?

Does this mean I’ve at least earned a cup of tea?

“Go on.”

His tone couldn’t have made his contempt any clearer.

“I’ll listen.”

Any proud noble lady would have reddened with humiliation.

Bella wasn’t one of them.

I’ve survived thirteen years surrounded by those foxes.

Compared to the people she’d lived with…

Someone like this was almost charming.

She inhaled deeply.

Then looked him straight in the eye.

“Please marry me.”

“…Why?”

“Because if nothing changes… I’ll end up marrying a perverted old man.”

She deliberately added the word perverted.

Maybe…

Just maybe…

It would earn a little sympathy.

The duke didn’t even blink.

“My parents were murdered thirteen years ago.”

She continued calmly.

“The family title and fortune were inherited by a distant relative I’ve never even met.”

“I’ve become an unwanted burden in the household.”

“They’re planning to sell me off along with a dowry.”

The words flowed effortlessly.

She hadn’t rehearsed any of this.

Somehow, her desperation spoke for itself.

She cautiously watched his reaction.

Nothing.

His expression remained as indifferent as ever.

This isn’t good…

“I know how this must sound.”

She forced herself to continue.

“A woman you’ve never met suddenly asking you to marry her… You probably think I’m insane.”

“But I promise… this isn’t a proposal that would leave Your Grace at a loss.”

Despite her earnest plea, he remained perfectly composed.

His crimson eyes simply studied her without the slightest hint of surprise.

Several moments passed.

Then—

“So.”

He spoke at last.

“You’re asking me to let myself be used?”

“With all due respect…”

Bella nodded without hesitation.

“Yes.”

“I only just became an adult.”

She looked him squarely in the eyes.

“And marrying someone more than twice my age… doesn’t exactly sound appealing.”

“I’ll admit.”

He nodded once.

“You have a point.”

Bella’s eyes lit up.

Did I finally get through to him?

Hope swelled inside her chest.

Only to freeze solid the next instant.

“But.”

His voice turned icy.

“That’s your problem.”

Every trace of warmth vanished.

“The story isn’t any different from the dozens I’ve heard today.”

“C-common…?”

“Among nobles, marriage is merely a tool for preserving power.”

His tone was unwavering.

“So marriages between young nobles of equal standing are naturally rare.”

A terrible feeling settled over Bella.

This was going exactly the same way it had for all the others.

Soon she’d be sent away.

Empty-handed.

Back to that dreadful house.

And next week…

She’d be sold off to that disgusting old man.

No.

Anything but that.