Chapter 5

“Lily, why don’t you just say it nicely? Unless you want your dirty love life to be exposed.”  

“Tone down your temper, Kaiden. If you keep this up, rumors will spread before you even get married.”  

“Speaking of marriage, how long are you going to keep up that ridiculous playhouse?”  

“What, you mean our engagement?”  

Kaiden furrowed his brows irritably at Lily’s words, as if he had heard something unpleasant. Due to the mutual interests of Duke Gray’s family, who desired higher status, and the Servian Imperial Family, who needed funds for luxury items, they had to meet frequently at luncheons since childhood.  

The two, who met due to their parents’ circumstances, got along quite well. The adults, unaware that they were actually mocking their families’ elders, were delighted, thinking they were getting along romantically. Such simplistic thinking was almost pitiful.  

“I’ll say it again, I have no intention of getting married.”  

“Why act like this? We both enjoyed dating freely and being free from our parents’ interference.”  

Kaiden crossed his legs, showing he was too bothered to respond. As Lily said, thanks to the title of ‘fiancé of the Princess,’ he didn’t have to expend energy fending off women. However, unlike Lily, Kaiden intended to date normally and eventually marry, so it was time to stop.  

“Why, is there a young lady you want to marry?”  

“Mind your own business and break off the engagement.”  

“Are you sure you’ll be okay with marriage proposals flying at you like crazy?”  

“I’ll just burn them.”  

Lily rolled her eyes at Kaiden’s indifferent response, finding it uninteresting. Then, as if remembering something amusing, she snapped her fingers.  

“Did you know? Hazel might receive a marriage proposal soon.”  

“Who is it?”  

“Why, are you going to find out who it is, wave ten thousand gold in their face, duel them, and make them withdraw the proposal?”  

“How do you know that?”  

Seeing Kaiden’s furrowed brow, Lily nodded, finally finding it amusing. Kaiden had approached noble heirs who harbored feelings for Hazel, offering them a pouch of gold and challenging them.  

‘If I win, stay away from Hazel. But if I lose, I’ll give you ten thousand gold.’  

It was a childish and simple bet, but Kaiden’s irritatingly provocative attitude led everyone to accept it. And it was Lily who lent him the ten thousand gold.  

“I don’t do that anymore. Hazel won’t even read the proposal anyway.”  

“So, you’re not sending a proposal to Hazel either?”  

A brief silence fell between them at Lily’s words. Then, in a lower, more serious tone, he spoke.  

“It’s not romantic to pressure someone with a proposal if they might not want to marry. It’s violence.”  

“Romantic? Do you even know what that is?”  

Lily laughed heartily, clutching her stomach, and Kaiden shook his head, unable to bear it.  

“Stop spouting nonsense and just say we broke up.”  

Kaiden waved his hand dismissively, indicating he didn’t want to continue the conversation, and left the Imperial Garden.  

***  

“Duke, did you sleep well?”  

Kaiden, having returned from the Imperial Palace and showered, was sitting in the drawing room drinking coffee when a shadow fell over him. It was Hazel.  

Whether she had slept well, her skin glowed like pearls, and her cherry-colored hair, tied high, smelled of roses. It seemed the spell wasn’t affecting her condition.  

“I’m glad you slept well, Hazel.”  

“Yes.”  

“I got drunk last night and accidentally fell asleep in your room. I’m sorry.”  

“It’s alright.”  

Hazel’s ears turned red as she answered, and her amber-like eyes lowered. She was looking at his chest.  

He wore a garment with a deep neckline down to his solar plexus, tied with strings to expose his chest. He had chosen it because it minimized the fabric touching his damaged n*pples.  

Kaiden pulled the strings tight, ensuring no skin was visible. Hazel’s eyes, which had briefly widened, quickly lost their sparkle, and her gaze drooped.  

“Duke, I have personal matters today, so I don’t think I can research the fragrance.”  

“Personal matters?”  

The Duke’s frowning expression reminded her of the sound he made when she was sucking on his chest, and her heart raced. It was only natural to expect a perfect score from someone who was already 98.9.  

Hazel began to dream futilely, stealing glances at his chest muscles through the thin strings.  

There might be many perfect scores in the world, so now she just had to find a husband among them. She had bought some time until her brother returned, but she never knew when her father might scold her again. She needed to find perfect men in advance.  

‘And I should date the most gentle and compatible one among them.’  

Coincidentally, today was the day of the banquet to pray for the safety of the knights who went on the great Servian hunt. Since many nobles always attended banquets, she planned to go and look for one.  

“Yes. Today is the day of the Servian Great Hunt Safety Banquet.”  

“Did you always like such banquets?”  

Absolutely not.  

But now that she had acquired the magic mirror, things were very different. With the opportunity to find a future husband right before her eyes, there was no reason to refuse. She planned to discreetly look through the mirror and focus only on perfect scores, or gladly accept if someone asked her out on a date.  

“Staying at home all the time is too stifling.”  

“Then, let’s go together.”  

“Oh! Did you want to go too, Duke?”  

“No, I’m just worried about sending you alone, Hazel.”  

He was also concerned about what Lily had said that morning. Who was planning to date Hazel and send her a proposal?  

“I can go by myself.”  

“Let’s go together. I’ll get ready quickly.”  

The banquet was held in the grand temple at the center of the capital. Since it was one of the few official banquets, carriages bearing the crests of various families were lined up in front.  

“Shall we walk from here?”  

Hazel’s heart raced at the thought of finding a perfect man, and she urged Kaiden with her crimson eyes.  

“Let’s do that.”  

Kaiden intended to escort Hazel after getting off first, but Hazel, who was in a hurry, took the coachman’s hand and alighted from the carriage.  

Watching Hazel smile sweetly at the coachman, Kaiden couldn’t understand why his heart was aching.  

“Are you going to stop by the altar and return right away?”  

“I planned to look around a bit, but if you’re busy, Duke, would you like to go ahead?”  

“No, I’ll wait, and we can go in together.”  

“Ah… Thank you.”  

Hazel, who hadn’t intended to offer lilies or pray for safety at the altar, reluctantly nodded, and Kaiden formed a loop with his right hand, indicating she should take his arm.  

As expected of a Duke’s family, his etiquette towards ladies was impeccable. She gently placed her gloved hand on his broad arm.  

Even through his clothes, his arm felt solid like a log. Moreover, the outfit he changed into for the banquet had a distinctly different ambiance from what he wore while working at home.  

He wore a white shirt buttoned up to the neck with a gold-embroidered vest, and his thick pectoral muscles seemed ready to burst the buttons. His loungewear, which exposed his chest, was decadent, but even fully covered, it was no different.  

As expected, people seemed to notice, and whispers could be heard from all around.  

“Duke, you look good in that outfit today.”  

And your chest looks huge.  

“Thank you. Hazel, you look good too.”  

Even though she knew it was just a courtesy, the compliment made her feel good, and she couldn’t help but put a spring in her step.  

“Thank you. There’s nothing as pleasant as a compliment. Next time I attend a social gathering or a dinner, I’ll try complimenting first.”  

“A dinner? Which family’s noble?”  

“Just people I’ve met here and there.”  

Hazel said nonchalantly.  

“Hazel, from now on, whoever it is, let me know. They might have a bad reputation or be dangerous. And don’t hand out compliments carelessly.”  

“Do you think I’m a child? I’m an adult now.”  

“Still.”  

Hazel sighed inwardly.  

He had come at Evan’s request, but these two still thought of her as a ten-year-old child.  

She had planned to look for a husband with the mirror that showed compatibility while Evan was away, but that was all ruined.  

To avoid more bothersome questions, she changed the subject.  

“It’s exciting to be out after so long. How about you, Duke?”  

“After so long? Haven’t you met any friends?”  

Kaiden, who thought the sorcerer or demon that had changed Hazel might be nearby, probed further.  

“Not really! It’s the first hunt my brother has led as the Knight Commander, so it’s been a while for me too.”  

“That’s a relief.”  

“I should pray for my brother to return safely.”  

In truth, her goal was to find a husband who might be hiding somewhere in the banquet hall, so her conscience pricked her. Hazel discreetly touched the mirror she had placed in her small handbag.  

‘I have a good feeling since my heart is already tingling.’  

If she happened to meet a perfect man while looking around with the mirror, it would be good to at least exchange names. Her heart was already pounding, and her steps were light.