Chapter 3.5

“Are you done talking?”  

The Grand Duke, who had been silently listening, asked in a low, calm voice. He didn’t seem to expect an answer, as he continued speaking.  

“You claim to have been in a secret romantic relationship with Lady Bellacita?”  

“Yes, that’s correct.”  

“So, you’re saying that you have no witnesses or evidence to support your claim?”  

The Grand Duke’s tone was relaxed and gentle, yet it carried a sharp authority.  

“Well, that’s true, but I assure you, my words are nothing but the truth.”  

“Alright. Lady Bellacita, who says she met you for the first time today, also lacks evidence to support her claim.”  

“That’s correct.”  

Evan responded confidently.  

“So, one of you must be lying right now… Who do you think it is?”  

The Grand Duke’s golden eyes fixated intently on Evan, almost uncomfortably so.  

“I didn’t want to bring this up, but while searching for Elena, I discovered something. I’m not the only man in this situation. There are others like me. Rumors have already started spreading in the capital, and soon everyone will know.”  

Who were these supposed others? Am I a femme fatale?  

Did I unknowingly possess such a fatal charm?  

In Evan’s fabricated narrative, she had suddenly become a woman who pretended to be engaged while secretly meeting multiple men.  

“If such a woman were to become the Grand Duchess, Your Grace, your reputation would inevitably suffer. So please, allow me to take her with me now.”  

“So, you’re saying this is for my benefit?”  

“Yes, that’s correct.”  

“Well, I appreciate your concern… but I’m more worried about you.”  

“Pardon? Me?”  

“Did you think I wouldn’t have the judgment to see through this?”  

The Grand Duke crossed his legs leisurely and spoke again, directing his words at Evan, who looked bewildered by this unexpected remark.  

“Did you really think I wouldn’t conduct a thorough investigation while selecting a candidate for Grand Duchess? Is that what you believed when you came here?”  

“But, but we met in secret, so even if you investigate, there won’t be anything…”  

“You just said it yourself. That it wasn’t just one or two. Isn’t it strange? In the capital’s social circles, where even nonexistent rumors run rampant, not one but several men were involved, yet rumors are only now beginning to spread?”  

Evan’s face twitched with small spasms at the chilling tone that starkly contrasted with the faint smile on the Grand Duke’s face.  

“Let’s see. You’ve slandered the daughter of a Marquis’ family, insulted me, the Grand Duke, and disparaged someone who could potentially become my Grand Duchess. Adding defamation and the crime of insulting a member of the Imperial Family, you’re looking at losing your title, confiscation of property for damages, and spending the rest of your life in prison.”  

The Grand Duke, as if just remembering something, added nonchalantly toward Evan, who was already pale from the previous words.  

“Oh, but that’s just the legal consequences. Right now, my mood is exceedingly unpleasant. I told you at the beginning, didn’t I? If this wasn’t something trivial, you’d have to pay the price for wasting my time. So, how about it? Are you prepared to pay with your life?”  

At those final words, Evan shot up from his seat.  

The Grand Duke, despite mentioning life so lightly, simply sipped his tea with an unbothered demeanor.  

“There… there must have been some kind of misunderstanding.”  

“Ha.” 

A scoff escaped, too incredulous to hold back.  

What about all the nonsense he had spouted until now? And now he says it’s a misunderstanding?  

“No, I mean… I’ll come back another time.”  

Evan, who had been slowly backing away, suddenly turned and fled without even looking back, too fast for anyone to stop him.  

The Grand Duke set down his teacup and rose from his seat. She hurriedly followed him as he was about to leave and spoke up.  

“Your Grace, I truly didn’t do it.”  

“I know.”  

“You… you believe me?”  

“Of course, I have no choice but to believe.”  

“Your Grace…”  

She had resolved not to cry, but tears threatened to fall.  

“A lady who toyed with so many men? That couldn’t possibly be you. If you had such charm, you’d have succeeded in seducing me long ago.”  

Crash. The moment of sentiment was utterly shattered.  

Was that supposed to be a compliment or an insult?  

She felt pleased that he believed her, yet strangely annoyed at the same time…  

“Besides, didn’t you say you fell for my face?”  

His expression as he looked back was brimming with confidence.  

“That guy wasn’t even close.”  

Though Evan’s appearance wasn’t objectively terrible, she nodded vigorously in agreement.  

“That’s right. I have incredibly high standards. If it’s not you, Your Grace, it’s absolutely impossible.”  

“…Let’s consider the debt repaid with this.”  

At the sudden remark, she tilted her head in confusion.  

“A debt?”  

“That time, I…”  

“Pardon?”  

When she asked again, unable to hear his mumbling clearly, a loud voice suddenly came back.  

“The cake!”  

“Oh!”  

“I was… sorry about last time. Anyway, since you made it with thoughtfulness, I figured I should at least thank you.”  

She had completely forgotten about it, overwhelmed by the shock of the situation with Evan.  

Right, they were still in an awkward phase.  

It would’ve been better if he had said “thank you” instead of “sorry.”  

“Did you… eat the cake?”  

“…”  

“You ate it, didn’t you!”  

She definitely saw it. For a moment, his earlobes turned red.  

She quickened her steps to catch up, sneaking a glance at the Grand Duke’s face, which had now turned completely crimson.  

“How was it? Was it good? It was my first time making that cake, and I succeeded on the first try. Maybe I have a natural talent for cooking?”  

“If you had made that twice, your fingers wouldn’t survive.”  

“Oh! How did you know?”  

“With all those bandages stuck on your fingers, wasn’t it obvious you wanted me to notice?”  

“Well, I wouldn’t say that’s entirely untrue. Hehe.”  

She could feel his gaze examining her fingers.  

“They call these glorious scars. But they’ve all healed now.”  

She spread her hands to show her now-clean fingers, and the Grand Duke gave a faint smile.  

“It was too sweet.”  

“Huh? That can’t be. I measured everything precisely. More importantly… so you did eat it after all.”  

Perhaps she had teased him too much.  

The Grand Duke turned his head sharply away from her, quickened his pace, and with his long strides, disappeared in an instant.