Dion grimaced. He stood up from his chair, put both hands in his pockets, and looked down at Clementina.

Now she felt she was seeing his true face.

“The marriage has to happen.”

Seeing his serious expression, Clementina sensed it was time to hear the truth. She too rose from her seat, straightened her posture, and faced him.

“What do you gain from marrying me?”

Her clear voice reached Dion’s ears. He didn’t answer immediately, just stared at Clementina for a moment. A cool breeze carrying the scent of garden roses passed between them.

Looking at Clementina with a troubled expression, he finally seemed to make up his mind and moved his lips.

“Dowry.”

Clementina frowned. This was the first time someone had shattered her composure so thoroughly.

‘What exactly has he heard? The Duke of Drasia, said to be as wealthy as the Emperor in the Ronakia Empire, wants my dowry?’

This was even more absurd than his pretense of love. Clementina leaned forward, placing her hands on the table.

“Are you referring to the Siara Mine in Ankart? You’re marrying me for that pile of rocks?”

“Yes, that pile of rocks.”

Dion nodded lightly and then smiled. His expression suggested relief at having his motives exposed.

“The Siara Mine is the least valuable among the properties my mother brought. Not to mention that Claire’s and Bella’s are far more valuable.”

“I’m not interested in those. I only need that pile of rocks assigned to you.”

Dion’s finger pointed directly at her chest. His clear eyes held unwavering conviction.

Clementina’s golden eyes wavered more than ever before. It was the most incomprehensible answer, but judging by Dion’s attitude, it was clearly not a lie this time.

Thinking Clementina was still hesitant, Dion hastily continued.

“One year. Let’s put a time limit on our marriage.”

“One year?”

“After the divorce, I’ll return your dowry. Not in its original form, but I’ll pay its worth.”

Clementina couldn’t take her eyes off Dion. She felt unpleasantly confused, unable to follow his reasoning.

“What will you pay with?”

“I’ll give you freedom. Even after the divorce, you won’t have to return to Sustain.”

Surprised by this unexpected proposal, Clementina stepped back and gripped the terrace railing tightly. After biting her lower lip several times, she asked in a low voice.

“You’re saying I can gain…… freedom through marriage?”

“I was planning to do that anyway. I considered telling you in advance, but I couldn’t approach you separately. Count Sustain is impressive. I didn’t expect him to hide you so thoroughly.”

“You knew about me already?”

“Ah! When I saw you at that ball that day, I nearly fell to my knees before God. And I don’t even believe in any god.”

Looking up at the sky with a cynical murmur, Dion began pacing back and forth, muttering to himself.

“Now that it’s come to this, we can expedite matters. Can I go to Ankart first after the wedding?”

“That doesn’t matter to me.”

Clementina followed Dion with her eyes as he walked busily. When she felt like she was having a conversation with an unresponsive wall, Dion suddenly stopped, then strode purposefully toward her.

“Marrying me is your only way to escape your father. Use that. I’ll get what I want from the Siara Mine, and you’ll gain your freedom.”

Clementina stared at Dion with a mixture of hope and suspicion. Her eyes were filled with confusion. The wind had stopped blowing. Only the afternoon sun shone upon them like a burning fire.

“How can I believe that?”

Dion slightly raised his left arm. As he whispered softly, his arm glowed with golden light, illuminating their surroundings. Clementina’s gaze fixed on the arm made by the magic of Leon, Dion’s deceased dragon.

Leon was praised as being closest to the great dragon Rakane of the first king Bisha, when the Ronakia Empire was still a kingdom.

Leon was a dragon with human-like intelligence, exceptional flying abilities, and a spirit of sacrifice that cared for others. Above all, he was the only known dragon capable of using dragon magic.

However, by the time he met Dion, Leon was already very old.

Over the years, Leon had grown wiser, gaining intelligence and magic, but ultimately had to surrender to his lifespan. Leon accepted his death according to the laws of nature, but Dion could not.

When Dion first discovered Leon, he exchanged his own arm to save Leon’s life. He didn’t do it knowing Leon was a magic-using dragon. When Leon recovered from near death, his first act was to create a new arm for Dion.

Though it couldn’t use tremendous magic, it was still an arm imbued with dragon magic. Having a body with dragon magic allowed him to easily command twelve dragons as the Gold Dragon Commander.

“Let’s make a contract.”

Clementina’s eyes wavered.

She knew that contracts sealed with dragon magic could never be broken.

“You and I will have a strictly contractual relationship. For one year, you’ll be the Duchess. Then I’ll give you freedom. I don’t think there could be any more certain guarantee than that.”

She bit her lip tightly and lowered her head. Even without eye contact, she could feel Dion’s devouring gaze.

Clementina was certain there was a hidden intention behind this contract. His cautious attitude in assessing her gave her the illusion, for the first time in her life, that she held the upper hand over someone.

This was clearly a great opportunity for Clementina. Yet a shadow of anxiety still lingered.

As Clementina kept her gaze on the floor, a rough, scarred hand suddenly appeared in her vision and gently grasped her delicate wrist.

A gentle voice resonated above Clementina’s head.

“I’ll make you happy.”

Clementina raised her face. A man bright as sunshine was smiling radiantly.

⁕⁕⁕

The carriage procession of the Duke and Duchess of Drasia leaving Sustain was magnificent.

The white carriage with gold trim had thirteen dragons carved in relief. Six dragons and their masters—six knights of the Gold Dragon Order and dragon riders—escorted the carriage.

When bundles of flower petals and black gunpowder were shot into the air, the dragons breathed fire to ignite the fireworks, then skillfully maneuvered between the sparks, performing acrobatics.

To those unfamiliar with the truth, it might have seemed like a dragon show for entertainment, but to those who knew better, it was merely play that did nothing to diminish their reputation for cruelty.

Clementina could hear murmuring around her carriage. Amidst the excited voices, unfamiliar language had been overlapping since they left Sustain Castle.

‘Dragons are very charming creatures. They might be wary at first, but once you become friends, they’ll be better companions than anyone. Don’t be frightened by their appearance. Dragons are sensitive animals and they know everything. Who likes them and who hates them. Of course, they don’t care about such things at all.’

Clementina and her Mother spent most of their time together telling stories about dragons. Perhaps because of this, Clementina didn’t find dragons unfamiliar.

“They’re really cute. I want to see the dragons up close.”

“You’re the first person I’ve met who calls dragons cute.”

Dion, who had been sitting languidly across from Clementina, leaned his upper body closer to her with a rather serious expression.

“I’m saying this out of concern, but you shouldn’t approach them carelessly. They can become aggressive to anyone who isn’t a dragon rider. If you want to see dragons up close, tell me. I’ll show them to you anytime. But not alone. You must always be with me.”

Dion stared intently at Clementina as if observing her. Though he was expressing concern, she noticed he was subtly stimulating her curiosity.

Plus, this unpleasant sense of déjà vu.

Clementina leaned forward toward Dion with half-closed eyes and spoke in a deep, thick voice as if imitating a man.

“You can’t go alone. What could you possibly do without me?”

“What?”

Clementina made a comical expression. Dion realized she was recalling someone beyond him.

“Do as I tell you. Just sit still.”