Chapter 8

“Ahem. Your Grace!”

At the sharp voice echoing through the drawing room, Bella quickly turned her head.

The butler was standing by the door. She had no idea when he had arrived. Wearing a stern expression, he stared straight at his master.

The duke, however, paid him no mind.

After calmly revealing that he was cursed, he simply continued to gaze at Bella, as though carefully studying her reaction.

“You’re saying… you’ve been cursed, Your Grace?”

“Yes. A curse.”

He nodded.

Bella fell silent in thought.

In Arhen, a curse was considered an indelible stain. The moment someone was rumored to be cursed, people avoided even going near them.

That was why those who bore a curse usually hid it at all costs.

Almost no one admitted it themselves.

The Empire’s revulsion toward curses was so severe that, in the past, the temple had even approved divorces solely because one spouse had become cursed.

And yet…

The man who protected the Empire itself—the Duke of Avalan—was calmly declaring that he was cursed.

Though people do call the Avalans a cursed family behind their backs…

Still, hearing it from his own mouth was on an entirely different level.

Bella let out a quiet chuckle.

For the briefest instant, the duke’s expression faltered.

His eyes seemed to ask,

Why are you laughing?

With a gentle smile, Bella replied,

“So Your Grace is cursed.”

“…”

“Then I suppose we’re destined for one another.”

There was no way Bella would be frightened by something as trivial as a curse now.

The duke’s crimson eyes trembled slightly, as though he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“Did you not hear what I said?”

“I did.”

“I told you I’m cursed.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re still saying you’re fine with that?”

“I am.”

“Why?”

His voice cut through the room like a blade.

But Bella didn’t so much as blink.

Because there was only one answer.

“Because I’m the same.”

She smiled brightly.

At once, his expression darkened.

No…

It twisted.

As though her calm acceptance irritated him.

“The same?”

“Yes.”

Bella nodded without hesitation.

“I’ve been cursed as well.”

In a way, it truly was a curse.

If this life wasn’t one, then what else could it possibly be?

Apparently, however, he didn’t see it that way.

“Do I look like I’m joking to you?”

His sharp eyes narrowed, and one corner of his lips slowly lifted.

He was smiling.

But beneath that smile lingered unmistakable irritation.

The overwhelming pressure rolling off him made Bella unconsciously swallow.

“I’m not joking.”

“…”

“I’m being completely serious.”

She truly was.

She couldn’t remember ever being this desperate before.

“That’s why I’m standing here, risking what little life I have left… asking you to marry me.”

At her unwavering declaration, the duke held his breath.

After a long moment, he released it.

Quietly.

Slowly.

Like a man burdened by an impossible dilemma.

“In that case…”

Lost in thought, he finally opened his mouth after a long silence.

Just as he was about to continue—

“Ahem. Your Grace.”

The butler glanced at the watch tucked inside his coat before cautiously approaching.

Reading the atmosphere, he leaned in and whispered into the duke’s ear.

“Quite some time has passed.”

“Has it?”

The duke glanced toward the clock sitting atop the side table and frowned.

Bella did the same.

The butler was right.

Far more time had passed than she’d realized.

It doesn’t even feel like we’ve talked that much…

She hadn’t even received a proper answer yet.

I can’t leave like this!

Panic welled inside her.

What if…

What if he dismissed her now, just as he had all the other noble ladies?

That was the only thought filling her mind.

What do I do?

Biting her lip, Bella looked directly into his eyes once more.

Just as she concluded that she’d have to fall to her knees and beg if necessary—

“It’s getting late. You should return for today.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ll give your proposal some thought. Go home for now.”

At the words for today and I’ll think about it, Bella’s eyes widened.

That was…

A surprisingly positive answer.

No… don’t jump to conclusions.

He might have said the exact same thing to every other lady.

Perhaps it was nothing more than a convenient way of sending people away.

Bella’s eyes sharpened.

She needed something more certain.

“May… may I take that to mean you’ll seriously consider marrying me?”

“Well.”

The duke rose from his seat, slipped a hand into his pocket, and answered casually.

The bewilderment from earlier had vanished.

His face had returned to its usual icy expression.

“I’m not the sort of man who makes promises lightly.”

In other words…

Don’t expect anything.

What should I do…?

He wasn’t the type to leave even the slightest opening.

Just like his flawless appearance, his emotions seemed impeccably controlled.

Nothing slipped through.

Which only made Bella even more anxious.

Her mind raced.

If she kept pressing him now, it might only backfire.

At this point, all she could do was trust fate and wait.

After all…

If everything that had brought her here was merely another one of God’s petty games…

Then if he truly was her destined partner…

They would inevitably meet again.

It can’t be helped.

In the end, Bella chose a strategic retreat.

“Then I’ll look forward to hearing your answer.”

Of course…

She wasn’t leaving empty-handed.

“But Your Grace will come looking for me.”

She smiled with complete confidence.

The duke’s crimson gaze deepened.

It clearly conveyed,

How arrogant.

Yet hidden beneath that was a trace of curiosity.

Bella gave him one final bow before turning away.

She didn’t dare linger.

Leaving even a shred of hesitation behind might only put her at a disadvantage.

That’s enough.

I’ve done everything I could.

She had planted every seed she possibly could.

Now…

All that remained was to wait and see what kind of flower would bloom.

Whatever the outcome, she’d accept it calmly.

Bella stepped out of the room and walked down the long corridor.

A moment later, she heard footsteps following behind her.

Stopping, she turned around.

The butler was trailing her from a respectful distance.

When their eyes met, he stopped walking and smiled awkwardly.

“I’ll escort you to the entrance.”

“Oh, there’s really no need—”

“It is His Grace’s order.”

Though his tone was gentle, there was unmistakable firmness beneath it.

Bella closed her mouth.

Behind that kindly smile lay remarkable stubbornness.

“His Grace is a very considerate person.”

More than I expected.

She swallowed the last part of the sentence before it could escape and smiled instead.

As she thanked him for the kindness, the butler’s expression oddly darkened.

“My lady… I know it’s improper for a mere servant to speak this way to a noble lady, but…”

He hesitated, clearly searching for the right words.

Then he finally spoke.

“You will regret this.”

“…”

“You’ve heard the rumors that the Dukes of Avalan rarely live long, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

Bella nodded.

She had only heard it from Evan yesterday.

‘No one knows why, but every heir of House Avalan ends their own life.’

It wasn’t merely a matter of dying young.

Every duke had supposedly taken his own life.

A family shrouded in secrets.

“If you’ve come hoping to inherit the Avalan fortune…”

Bella let out a small laugh.

Money?

She couldn’t care less.

“I’ve heard it already. Every Duke of Avalan committed suicide. That’s why people call your family cursed.”

The butler blinked in surprise.

Perhaps because she had spoken so casually about something most people wouldn’t even dare mention.

“Then… have you also heard what became of their wives?”

“…Huh?”

Bella froze.

Come to think of it…

She’d never considered that.

The previous Dukes of Avalan had all ended their own lives.

Yet somehow, the family line had continued uninterrupted.

The current duke had no wife.

And no one ever spoke of his birth mother.

It was as though someone had deliberately erased every trace of her.

What happened to the duchesses?

As Bella stared at him with wide, questioning eyes, the butler sighed deeply.

He had expected this reaction.

After a long silence, he answered.

“They all died.”

Bella’s eyes widened.

“Some passed away only a few months before their husbands. Others several years earlier.”

“In the end… every one of them died before the duke.”

“…Why?”

“I cannot tell you.”

He firmly closed his mouth.

There was a strict order forbidding anyone from speaking about the causes of their deaths.

“Regardless… House Avalan is that sort of place.”

“So if you’re approaching this lightly—”

“That only makes me more interested.”

The butler had clearly intended to frighten her.

Instead…

He had only succeeded in piquing her curiosity.

His face stiffened.

His gray eyes practically screamed,

Wait… that’s not how this was supposed to go.

“Well.”

Bella smiled.

“In the end, the decision belongs to His Grace.”

“For now, all I can do is wait.”

The butler looked at her with a complicated expression.

Then, as they reached the entrance, he opened the door.

The evening sky, dyed crimson by the setting sun, stretched before her.

Outside…

The line was still there.

In fact, it looked even longer than when she had arrived.

His Grace must be exhausted.

Thinking that, Bella stepped forward.

Then—

The crowd’s chatter abruptly died away.

An instant later, dozens of sharp gazes landed on her all at once.

Startled, Bella froze.

Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.

“Is that her?”

“Which family is she from?”

“I don’t know… I don’t think I’ve ever seen her at any social gathering.”

The open hostility in the women’s eyes made Bella instinctively shrink.

Why are they all staring at me like that?

Their gazes swept over her from head to toe as though appraising merchandise.

The scrutiny quickly became unbearable.

She lowered her head to avoid making eye contact.

“They’re probably reacting because your audience lasted the longest.”

The perceptive butler quietly supplied the answer.

“You spent nearly five times longer inside than any other lady.”

“And…”

He added,

“I’m personally escorting you out.”

Apparently, no other young lady had ever received such treatment.

Bella nodded blankly.

She hadn’t realized an escort carried that much significance.

“By the way… where is your carriage?”

“Oh.”

She blinked.

“I don’t have one.”

“…Pardon?”

The butler stared at her in disbelief.

“Then… how do you intend to return home?”

“I’ll just go out to the main road and hire a carriage.”

“…”

“It’s fine.”

She smiled.

“That’s what I always do.”

Telling him not to worry, Bella stepped outside the estate.

Though she insisted he needn’t escort her any farther since he must be busy, the butler frowned.

“Then… until next time.”

With a cheerful farewell, Bella walked away without another glance back.

“Haah…”

Watching her disappearing figure, the butler let out a weary sigh.

He still had work to do.

Turning around, he found a crowd of noble ladies glaring at him with obvious dissatisfaction.

Clapping his hands lightly to regain their attention, he announced,

“My apologies, ladies, but today’s audience has come to an end.”

Protests immediately erupted from every direction.

The butler didn’t so much as flinch.

Instead, he smiled coldly.

“It is His Grace’s order.”

Those four words—

His Grace’s order.

Their effect was immediate.

The crowd quieted.

But only for a moment.

A few young ladies quickly raised their voices again.

“Was that woman just chosen?”

“Surely… that’s what happened?”

“N-No, that isn’t—”

The butler’s composure finally wavered.

Sensing the situation spiraling out of control, he desperately tried to calm everyone.

But it was already too late.

“Who exactly was that woman?”

“What noble family does she belong to?”

The ladies’ eyes, burning with jealousy and suspicion, had already turned positively venomous.