18. The Proposal of the Prince of Black Tea

“So just tell me when this joke will end—”

“I came here to propose. I want to marry you.”

“W-what did you just say?”

Katya asked with a shocked expression.

It felt like a bell was ringing in her ears, as if someone had struck a gong nearby.

“I said I want to marry you.”

No, why is this real?

“Why?”

“Why would anyone want to get married? Because I’ve fallen in love with you.”

“No, I mean, when did you start having feelings for me?”

“Specifically?”

“The more specific, the better. I can’t believe what you’re saying, Your Grace.”

It didn’t make sense that he wanted to marry her after seeing her at her worst while they were together.

If he were really a commoner, she could somewhat understand that he might find her appealing because he hadn’t been around nobles.

But Nikolai’s true identity was that of a Grand Duke.

Why would someone like him have any reason to like her?

“I’ve fallen for you countless times, but there were three notable moments. The first was when you smashed a lute over a man’s head, the second was when you held a blade to my neck, and finally, when you cursed at the assassin while aiming a gun.”

“If you don’t want a bullet hole in your head, put the knife down and raise your hands.”

“When I heard that, my heart fluttered. It seems I have a thing for fierce women.”

I hate to say it, but is he a pervert?

Katya was so shocked by the Grand Duke’s peculiar taste that she had to swallow back the words trying to escape her mouth.

In the moments that would make other men recoil, calling her a tomboy and a villainess, he fell for her instead.

“Even though I’ve been so rude to you, Your Grace? I’ve been out of my mind, telling you to get lost and all—”

“That’s what I liked even more. When you treated me harshly, it felt like my breath was taken away.”

“Almost losing your breath sounds serious. Maybe you should see a doctor?”

“I did see a doctor. They said there was nothing wrong with my respiratory system or heart. Only you can heal me. It’s lovesickness.”

Katya couldn’t immediately find words to refute because he seemed so serious.

Isn’t the crazy one here?

“Do you want me to tell you more? Besides, you have a talent for recognizing a fine horse.”

“A fine horse?”

“The white horse we rode here this morning.”

“It was white? I thought it was light gray.”

“After washing it, its true coat was revealed. The horse you chose was an ‘Orlov Trotter.'”

There were rumors that some southern nobles levied high taxes under various pretexts and then seized horses from ranches to sell, mixing them in.

This breed was originally gentle and quiet, but there are always exceptions.

Unlike its companions, this horse was stubborn and refused to run if it didn’t want to.

Moreover, it had a picky appetite and refused grooming or bathing unless it was from someone it considered its owner, making it difficult to manage.

It was only natural it lost its strength after being forced to pull carriages without proper care or feeding.

No one realized it was a fine horse because of its shabby appearance.

“You’re the one who recognized the horse that neither the seller nor the stable master could identify.”

Nikolai, who knew from the start it was an Orlov Trotter, was genuinely surprised when she selected that horse while scanning them with hawk-like eyes.

“No, I had no idea it was a fine horse. I don’t know much about horses.”

“Not learned but instinctual? That’s even more impressive.”

“…….”

This man wouldn’t budge no matter what she said.

“It seems the horse has grown fond of you and doesn’t listen to anyone else. I’ve sent someone to purchase it for you. Once the ownership papers are transferred, it will be your gift.”

“I appreciate the gift, but….”

Refusing a gift from the Grand Duke wasn’t an option, and Katya genuinely liked the horse that had taken a liking to her, so she was pleased with the gift itself.

However, she understood it was a kind of bribe.

A way of saying, please accept my courtship.

“Anyway, there’s no one else like you.”

“There might be, if you look hard enough. It might be easier to find than you think.”

“There may be similar people, but there’s no one exactly like you in the world. You’re one of a kind.”

“Oh, um….”

“Therefore, you’re the only woman I want as my bride.”

The barrage of confessions left Katya extremely flustered.

It was the first time she had received such a sincere courtship from a man.

Nikolai was the ideal type Katya had always dreamed of.

A handsome, strong man who respected her.

When she mistook him for a commoner, the only barrier she saw between them was their status.

Niki, whom she thought was a commoner, returned as a Grand Duke.

However, that didn’t mean she wanted to become a Grand Duchess.

“I’m the notorious madwoman… no, tomboy of this area. Do you really think I’m fit to be a Grand Duchess?”

“I’m not second to anyone in that area either. The madman of the north and the villainess of the south, don’t we make a good pair?”

Katya was mortified to realize Nikolai knew her nickname and wanted to crawl into a hole.

She hadn’t even revealed her real name to hide her identity as the ‘Villainess of the South,’ but all her efforts were in vain.

No, that wasn’t the important issue right now.

Maybe it was for the best. No man in the world would want to marry the villainess of the South.

‘But what? A good pair?’

Why did it sound like Nikolai valued that aspect?

“You’ve seen how it is. A madman like me needs someone like you to keep me in check. You make me want to be gentle.”

Nikolai suddenly recalled what happened yesterday.

The moment he saw Katya collapse to the ground, he lost his senses and charged at Ivan’s men, slashing them with his sword.

When Katya urgently held him by the waist and stopped him, he finally calmed down and halted.

If she hadn’t stopped him yesterday, he might have killed them all on the spot.

“Are you looking for… a bride or a handler?”

“I think you could be both. I assure you, you have a talent for it.”

This man had no intention of listening and was even discovering her talent.

“But why haven’t you taken a sip since earlier?”

Nikolai asked, realizing belatedly that Katya’s cup was still full of tea.

“……Pardon?”

“It’s tea from the north, and it’s quite good.”

Just as he eagerly watched her pick up a spoon at the inn, Nikolai’s blue eyes now glimmered with anticipation.

In fact, Hersen was the largest consumer of tea from the Eastern Continent, previously relying entirely on imports.

When Nikolai was still a prince, he supported farmers and scholars’ research, thinking of his mother, who loved tea, and finally enabled tea cultivation in Hersen.

Hersen’s tea became famous and was now being re-exported to the Eastern Continent.

Thus, in the Eastern Continent, Nikolai, who first attempted to cultivate Hersen tea, was called the ‘Prince of Black Tea.’

The tea itself became symbolic of Nikolai, and ironically, rumors spread that he killed people with tea.

But Nikolai didn’t bother to correct those rumors.

If he couldn’t earn respect from those threatening his position, he decided to make them fear him.

In the precarious Grand Ducal household, being underestimated by anyone could cost you your life.

Nikolai’s mother had suffered the same fate.

Seeing Katya not touching the tea throughout their conversation, it was clear she knew about the rumor.

Seeing her fear him too, Nikolai slightly regretted leaving the rumor unchecked.

At the same time, he felt mischievous and wanted to tease her.

“Are you worried it might be poisoned?”

Nikolai asked, deliberately serious.

“No! That’s not—cough, cough!”

Startled by his accurate guess, Katya began to cough, and he burst into laughter.

“Did you know that different countries have slightly different names for tea?”

“Pardon?”

“Countries that call it ‘red tea’ do so because of the red color of the brewed tea, while those that call it ‘black tea’ do so because of the black color of the tea leaves.”

“I see.”

Not knowing what he was getting at, Katya forced a smile and nodded.

“Blood also turns black when it dries, similar to black tea. Doesn’t it suit me, the ‘Bloody Grand Duke’?”

Saying that, Nikolai poured out the cold tea from her cup and refilled it with fresh tea.

With a gesture urging her to drink, Katya picked up the teacup handle with trembling hands.

“Um… Before I drink, I’d like to know something.”

“Go ahead.”

“Does it hurt a lot?”

Katya mustered the courage to ask.

It would be nice if it ended quickly without pain.

Nikolai finally burst into laughter at her implied question.

“Is it true then? Why would I come to propose and then kill you?”

“You might kill me because you’re angry I rejected you.”

“Are you going to reject me?”

“…….”

“I meant it as a joke, but you didn’t laugh.”

“You called that a joke?”

Katya asked in shock, and he replied.

“I have much to learn from you. Teach me step by step if you become my wife. How to have empathetic conversations.”

“I’m not that great at empathy myself.”

“As long as the teacher is a little better than the student, isn’t that enough?”

Nikolai, who expressed his willingness to take lessons, smiled brightly like sunshine.