Chapter 3 (Part 6)

As she sat on the railing and leaned her head against the pillar, the sky turned red as the sun began to set.

The wind was pleasantly cool, and the surrounding scenery was excessively surreal.

It was a moment to enjoy the peace that beautiful nature offered.

Rustle.

She heard the sound of grass being stepped on again and thought Katrina had returned, unable to contain her anger.

‘Yes. Running away doesn’t suit her.’

What should I say this time?

Should I lie that the Duke clings to my ankle and won’t let go?

Therese’s face twisted instantly upon confirming the intruder’s face.

“…Why?”

Seeing Duke Richard during the day was enough, so she couldn’t understand why she kept seeing him day and night.

As she wore a bewildered expression, the Duke’s lips curled up as he emerged from the bushes.

“Have you already forgotten our promise, Madame?”

“…Ah.”

She couldn’t recall the details of the promise due to her surprise. The Duke, reading the embarrassment on Therese’s face, sighed briefly.

“This is quite troublesome. Even when you’re by my side, you only think of other things and completely forget our promises.”

His voice was somehow twisted.

From the day Jeremy Richard returned to the capital, it had been a continuous state of confusion.

Especially when he realized that his arranged marriage partner disliked him.

He usually liked things to be certain.

Problems without answers were examined a hundred, a thousand times until resolved. Ambiguity was a threat to his life.

‘It’s really strange.’

He felt a strange sense of déjà vu when they danced near the street café earlier. It felt like they had had such a conversation before.

‘That can’t be.’

Since he gained awareness, he had never attended a ball. Therefore, if he had danced with a woman, he would have remembered.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of Therese’s coughing.

“I’m sorry. I must have forgotten because I’m not feeling well.”

Therese, making a vague excuse, remembered she had said similar things to him countless times. It wasn’t exactly a lie, but it might feel like an excuse to him.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

Regardless of what the Duke thought.

Then, realizing she was still sitting on the railing, she tried to jump down, but her head spun. Just as she thought she would fall helplessly to the ground, a firm embrace caught her.

“Are you alright, Madame?”

The Duke, who held Therese tightly, spoke in a voice as sweet as a gentle breeze.

The more tender his voice was, the more Therese’s mood was a mess.

In truth, she was not alright at all.

Both her body and mind didn’t seem like her own.

Therese’s lips trembled as she leaned against the Duke’s solid chest.

“Thank you.”

Come to think of it, the Duke had started calling her “Madame” instead of “Duchess” at some point. It was a change no one else noticed, but Therese could tell.

‘It’s not a good sign.’

Looking up at the Duke’s chin, she tried to break free from his embrace.

“Now, if you could…”

The Duke still held Therese’s body, so she gently pushed his chest with her hand. However, he didn’t budge and instead wrapped his large hand around her waist.

“I don’t like lies.”

“…Pardon?”

“I happened to overhear your words earlier.”

At the Duke’s words, Therese’s heart sank.

‘The Duke is too obsessed with me.’

Could he have heard such nonsense?

Feeling uneasy, Therese quickly lifted her head, only to be met with the Duke’s inscrutable dark eyes.

“That might be true.”

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Trying to escape, she struggled, but his grip only tightened.

“I think I’m obsessed with you. I am.”

“…Ha.”

At the Duke’s resigned words, Therese forgot to resist and just stared at his face.

“I can’t stand that slave, and I hate it even more when you’re in danger.”

The Duke’s overly serious words left Therese speechless.

“Your Grace. We, I mean, I…”

What should I say?

He should never say such things.

For a divorce, he needed to hate and despise her.

But just because he didn’t dislike her didn’t mean the look in his eyes was love.

“I will do anything for the honor of my family and my family’s name.”

“……”

Therese let out a laugh mixed with relief and disappointment at the Duke’s words.

‘Of course.’

It was the biggest commonality between Maria and the Duke. They would even risk their lives for the sake of this prestigious family.

Feeling upset, Therese pushed his arm away with force.

“Even a family member who tarnishes your honor?”

As the Duke already knew, she indulged in luxury, frequented gambling dens, and had been in a private room with Count Pablo in front of him.

He had every reason to misunderstand her. Besides, Therese never considered herself family with the Duke. Having names side by side on a marriage certificate didn’t make them family.

“You are my wife.”

“Didn’t you say our marriage was merely a formality?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Therese felt like she wasn’t communicating with the Duke at all. His hand, which had grabbed her waist again, was warm. The heat spread across her back as if it would burn her whole body.

“If I say everything is alright, what’s the problem?”

“Why are you doing this?”

He doesn’t even love her.

What was the reason for his sudden obsession?

Feeling like she was going crazy, Therese strengthened her gaze. The Duke softly stroked her back with his large hand and whispered.

“I never realized marriage would be this difficult.”

It was a more troublesome and unpredictable problem than hunting monsters. Now that Therese was a member of the Richard family, he couldn’t just watch her become endangered.

‘But the problem is, my wife seems to enjoy dangerous things more than I thought.’

“So it would be better if you’re where I can see you.”

“……”

Therese blinked her large eyes and checked his face again.

It was indeed her ex-husband and current husband, Duke Richard, but he felt strangely different.

“I don’t want to be interfered with.”

“Are you not going to fulfill the duties of our marriage?”

Damn marital duties.

The humiliating first night was still vivid. A night devoid of any emotion was merely a movement to produce an heir. It was no different from horses mating for breeding.

“Forgive me for not understanding your words due to my ignorance, Your Grace.”

Feeling confused, Therese stepped away from him and took a few steps back. Getting closer to the Duke was foolish.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Why is everything alright?”

Even when she was said to be indulging in luxury, the Duke said it was fine. When they met at the gambling den, he didn’t criticize her but protected her from behind.

‘Even with Count Pablo’s matter…’

But the Duke’s behavior didn’t sit well with Therese at all.

Suppressing her wavering heart, Therese straightened her posture.

“Fine. Do as you wish, Your Grace. It has nothing to do with me.”

It was a statement that would make anyone lose interest.

She hoped he would leave her alone, but the Duke didn’t.

He focused solely on Therese with his deep, dark eyes and took a handful of her silver hair.

“Thank you for granting me permission, Madame.”

It was a clear expression of rejection to anyone listening, yet the Duke considered it permission.

For a moment, the Duke felt like a leech.

‘I feel like I’m going to collapse like this.’

Therese jerked her head free and accidentally stomped on his foot.

“I think I’ve had enough of a walk. I’ll excuse myself first.”

“Allow me to escort you.”

“No, it’s fine.”

She didn’t want to go with him, but because she wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t walk fast, she couldn’t shake off the Duke.

The shadows of Therese leading and the Duke following merged into one and turned red.