‘Why are you doing this to me?’

Emma squeezed her eyes shut. With Caden pressing his forehead against hers, she couldn’t move an inch. Frozen like a statue, she could only take shallow breaths.

‘Brenda, what is this man doing? Why is he acting like this?’

She wanted to run straight to Brenda and ask her. If only she had read Volume 1, ‘The Psychology of Men’, and Volume 3, ‘The Art of the Body’, from ‘The Encyclopedia of Romance’ that Brenda had recommended. She regretted dismissing those books as a waste of time.

“So, Miss Emma Brown. Prove your love.”

“H-how?”

She hadn’t meant to sound like that, but her trembling voice betrayed her, making her sound like someone who was expecting something.

“With those insolent lips.”

“…!”

She thought there wasn’t any more distance left to close, but the next moment, a surprisingly hot and soft sensation claimed Emma’s lips.

Brenda’s words flashed through her mind.

—How can you tell if you’re attracted to someone romantically? It’s simple. If there’s no emotion, you might share a body, but you won’t share a kiss. Do you know how nauseating that is? At least for me, it’s impossible. I can’t do it.

Caden’s sensual lips devoured hers in an instant. His sharp tongue impatiently teased her lips and, when given the slightest opening, plunged inside.

Caden’s large hands cradled the back of Emma’s head and her back, pulling her body tightly against his. The connection between their lips deepened even further.

“Mmm…”

Feeling as if she were being devoured alive, Emma thought blankly.

‘So this is possible?’

There was no disgust, no urge to push him away, no nausea. None of that. It was just hot. Blazing hot.

Her mind swirled with useless thoughts, like whether she might melt away like a roasted marshmallow. Their lips remained locked for a long time before finally parting.

“Haah… haah…”

Emma gasped for air, her face flushed red. Caden’s dark eyes followed her every move, watching her intently from head to toe.

After thoroughly observing her, Caden finally delivered his verdict.

“It seems you weren’t lying about loving me.”

“…!”

Emma, who had been fixing her disheveled hair, looked at him in disbelief. For the first time, Caden’s previously expressionless face showed a hint of amusement.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“Ha… This is just wrong, Your Grace.”

Emma lightly pushed against Caden’s chest and slid off his lap. This time, Caden didn’t stop her.

“What’s wrong?”

Caden crossed his arms, looking completely at ease. His face was as composed and tidy as ever, showing no trace of the passionate kiss they had just shared. That infuriated Emma.

“Playing with someone’s sincerity like this… it’s just wrong. Do I really have to prove my feelings this way? Why? I already told you I wouldn’t cause you any trouble! You’re the one who refused to accept my resignation, Your Grace. I told you I would give up on these feelings, and yet…”

“Who said you could?”

His voice was as cold as ice in the dead of winter. Emma wanted to retort, “Of course, it’s my own decision,” but her instincts warned her not to provoke him.

“That’s…”

“You decided on your own to desire me, to hold me in your heart, and now to discard me?”

“Discard? No, it’s not like that. I just…”

She felt wronged. Desire and discard? How could she discard something she never truly had? The accusation was absurd.

She felt like grabbing Caden by the collar and shaking him. His constantly shifting emotions were so unpredictable that her head was spinning.

‘So what do you want from me?’

Caden’s jet-black eyes darkened even further, like the deep ocean at night. Unlike before, his expression now genuinely seemed offended, making Emma even more hesitant to speak.

“You’re free to hold me in your heart, but you’re not free to discard me.”

“That…”

A small groan escaped Emma’s lips. Was he saying no one could discard him? She was baffled by his anger over something so unexpected.

‘Does someone like this really exist? How can anyone be this self-centered? Why does he think he can control other people’s feelings?’

For the first time, Emma felt relieved that her love for him wasn’t real. If she had truly fallen for a man like this, her heart would have been torn to shreds.

“I don’t understand what you mean. As I said, I… love you, Your Grace. I was only trying to suppress these feelings because I didn’t want to burden you. As your secretary, if I were to harbor improper feelings, it would surely make you uncomfortable.”

“Oh, so everything you’ve done was for my sake?”

His low, growling voice carried a chilling undertone. Emma was scared, but she straightened her back and puffed out her chest, determined not to show her fear.

Her heart pounded wildly, fearing that her clumsy lie might be exposed.

“Of course! I want to be close to you, to stay by your side, to touch you… Every moment, all I feel is yearning.”

“…”

Caden’s expressionless face betrayed nothing. Emma mustered all her strength to deliver her final performance.

“I know how uncomfortable this must make you, Your Grace. You’ve said many times how much you dislike clingy women. That’s why I tried to give up! I don’t want to make the person I love… uncomfortable.”

A heavy silence settled between them.

‘Did it work?’

She had been so immersed in her act that her eyes were now glistening with unshed tears. Wiping her damp eyes, Emma looked at Caden with a pitiful gaze.

“…Then, go ahead and do it.”

His tone was as casual as if he were ordering dinner.

Emma stared at him, dumbfounded.

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“You said you want to be close to me, to stay by my side, to touch me. Do everything you want. I’ll allow it. I’m a generous boss, after all.”

“…!”

Why? Why was he doing this?

No matter how much she tried to think from his perspective, she couldn’t understand why he was saying such ridiculous things.

“The kiss just now wasn’t bad.”

“…Ah.”

No, she understood now.

Emma unconsciously nodded.

‘So it’s because of lust, huh?’

They say men are ruled by their lower halves. Even the Empire’s revered hero, known for his ruthlessness, was no exception.

“Now that I think about it, I’ve been too immoral. I’ve decided to stop engaging in relationships where only the body is involved without any feelings.”

“Th-there’s no need to go that far…”

She tried to say, “Isn’t that unnecessary?” but failed. Caden’s sharp gaze pinned her in place.

“It is necessary. So keep trying.”

“What do you mean by trying?”

“To win not just my body, but my heart as well.”

“…Ah.”

She couldn’t understand what he was trying to achieve by saying such things.

‘As if you’d give your heart just because someone asked for it…!’

Emma looked at Caden with resentment, but he remained unfazed.

“It’s not a bad idea to settle down with one person. If I have to choose, I’d rather pick someone familiar than a stranger. I’m also tired of rejecting marriage proposals.”

“…!”

Settle down? Marriage proposals?

Why was the conversation suddenly heading in this direction? She couldn’t keep up.

“Why? Isn’t this a generous offer for you?”

His shameless question made something rise up within her. Without realizing it, Emma blurted out, “What happens if I try and fail to win your heart? What will happen to me then?”

“…”

Emma bit her lip, regretting her impulsive words. After a brief silence, Caden spoke.

“That’s how it should be. Even if you’re trembling with fear, you still speak your mind. That’s what makes you my secretary.”

“When did I ever…”

Trailing off, Emma glanced at him nervously.

She had expected him to be angry at her bold question, but instead, he looked satisfied. His unexpected reaction left her even more confused.

“I’ll give you a one-month grace period. If my feelings don’t change by then, I’ll accept your resignation. There will be no penalty fee, and I’ll even provide a generous severance package and recommend you for a new job.”

“Really?”

Her immediate response made Caden’s lips twitch. His sharp gaze lingered on her lips, which kept threatening to curl into a smile.

His previously calm expression turned cold, like the winter winds of the northern regions.

‘What now?’

Emma thought bitterly that he really couldn’t stand seeing others happy.

“Ahem, ahem!”

Emma, who had unconsciously leaned forward, quickly straightened herself.

“Let’s draft the contract right away.”

“…!”

Emma cheered inwardly. She tried to suppress her excitement, but a grin kept threatening to break through.

‘So I just have to endure for a month, right? With severance pay and a new job recommendation, I couldn’t ask for more! I can’t believe things are going so well!’

As Emma lowered her head to hide her smile, a cold warning fell from above.

“Not that it’s likely, but…”

“Yes?”

“If, by any chance, your feelings change within the month…”

“…If they change?”

“Let me know in advance. An unannounced change of heart will be considered betrayal.”