Chapter 2.5

His shoulders were broad, and his back was lined with well-defined muscles.

Her gaze drifted lower, and she saw his round, firm b*ttocks.

“Ellie, you’re drooling.”

“N-no, I’m not!”

At Feroza’s words, she snapped out of it and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

Luckily, nothing came away, and she sighed in relief.

He went into another room and soon came back out.

This time, he faced her directly.

His firm chest and defined abs were on full display.

‘Geez, you could do laundry on that…’

That must be what a real washboard abs look like.

Unconsciously, her gaze dropped lower, and she was startled to see that—though not aroused—he was still quite impressive. She quickly turned her head away.

“Ellie, if you keep acting so cute, I might just pounce on you.”

“I didn’t do anything!”

She turned back to look at his face, struggling to keep her eyes from wandering downward.

Then she noticed what he was holding.

“What’s that?”

“A chemise and underwear. You wouldn’t want to wear what you had on before.”

He naturally helped her stand.

Before she could protest, he slipped the chemise over her.

With the underwear on too, she felt refreshed.

“How is it? Is anything uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s fine.”

The soft fabric felt good.

Then, realizing she was just accepting things from him again, she was shocked.

Was I getting used to this?

She quickly stepped away from Feroza.

He looked at her with a puzzled expression, tilting his head.

“Where are you going?”

“…I still don’t like you, Your Grace.”

“What? What do you mean…”

Feroza blinked, then burst out laughing.

“Oh, so even a gift can’t win you over.”

“I’ll repay you for the present in kind, so please wait a bit.”

“Then until then, you’ll have to keep seeing me.”

The realization that she’d have to keep meeting Feroza made her even more shocked.

But for now, she brought up the reason she’d come here yesterday.

“And Your Grace, please cancel the marriage proposal.”

“Hm…”

“Do you really like me? There’s no way you do!”

Feroza was the male lead, and yet he liked her instead of the heroine?

That must be a sign the world was ending.

He smiled slyly and strode over.

She instinctively took a step back, and Feroza spoke.

“Why are you so sure I don’t like you?”

“That’s…”

She couldn’t tell the truth, and it was driving her crazy.

“My whole life changed after that one night.”

“Come on, how could your life change…”

“Ever since that day, I can’t stop thinking about you, and I keep getting… excited.”

“How can you say things like that so casually!”

He had to be out of his mind.

Her face flushed, and she covered it with her hands.

“Look at this.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled it away.

“Just thinking about you, and I’m already… like this.”

She couldn’t stop her gaze from dropping.

As he said, his arousal was standing tall and proud.

“Wh-why…”

“Because you’re so lovable, Ellie. If I could, I’d lock you away so only I could see you…”

For a moment, there was a dangerous glint in Feroza’s eyes.

She swallowed nervously, but the look soon faded.

Feroza smiled sweetly and spoke.

“But you’d hate that. So, what else can I do? I’ll just have to marry you.”

“How does that make sense?”

“Do you hate the idea?”

He drew closer.

Now she really had nowhere to look, so she closed her eyes tightly.

“Ellie, you like it, don’t you?”

“Like what…”

“My…”

He pulled her hand toward him.

She felt something soft and round at her fingertips, and when she opened her eyes, her finger was touching the tip.

Startled, she tried to pull away, but he was too strong.

“Ellie, you’re amazing too. When I’m inside, you squeeze and when I pull out, it feels like you don’t want to let go.”

Her heart pounded, and her face felt like it would explode.

What was worse, hearing such shameless words made her even more embarrassed to realize she was getting wet.

He guided her hand lower, wrapping it around his shaft.

“Ha…”

Feroza buried his face in her shoulder and let out a hot breath.

She carefully moved her hand, stroking him, and saw his body shudder.

Just then, there was a small knock, and startled, she gripped him tightly.

“Ow!”

“Ah! Oh no!”

She hurriedly let go.

Feroza let out a wry laugh and spoke.

“Just leave it and go.”

“…Yes.”

A small reply came, and then the sound of hurried footsteps.

Ellie, nearly in tears, said,

“I’m sorry. Did it hurt a lot? I was just surprised…”

“I won’t be ruined by something like that.”

He laughed low.

As things started to get heated again, Ellie quickly shouted,

“I’m hungry!”

“…What?”

“I’m really so hungry I can’t stand it.”

Feroza must have easily noticed she was trying to escape the situation.

But he just smiled and moved aside.

“I can’t let you go hungry.”

She tensed, thinking he might go out n*ked, but thankfully, he put on a robe.

Feroza opened the door and came back in with a tray.

“Good thing it didn’t get cold.”

“Wow…”

She swallowed at the sight of the dishes on the table.

There was a fluffy omelet, savory bacon, warm cream stew, and soft bread.

As expected, the taste was perfect.

She’d noticed at dinner yesterday too, but the chef at this mansion was truly talented.

She ate the omelet with a happy expression, feeling Feroza’s intense gaze.

Turning her head, she saw him watching her with a satisfied smile.

“…Why are you looking at me like that? Just eat your breakfast.”

“I don’t usually eat breakfast. If you want more, have mine too.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

He pushed his plate toward her.

Ellie looked at him doubtfully, then quietly drew the plate toward herself.

“It’s nice to see you eating well.”

“There’s a saying that even a ghost who died after eating well looks good.”

Ellie was the type who thought the most unfair way to die was to starve, so she always made sure to eat her meals, no matter how busy she was.

“Take your time eating. I’ll have the carriage prepared.”

“Yes.”

She cleaned her plate completely.

She tried to wear the dress she had originally come in, instead of the one Feroza had gifted her yesterday, but since she had already worn it, he said it couldn’t be returned, so she had no choice but to wear it again.

It was only after she got into the carriage and arrived at the mansion that Ellie remembered she hadn’t gotten an important answer from Feroza.

She was supposed to get his promise to cancel the marriage proposal!

“Ha, I’m so stupid.”

Muttering to herself as she got out of the carriage, she saw her mother hurrying over from afar.

“Ellie, dear!”

“Yes?”

“Oh ho, did you have a nice time yesterday? I just sent the acceptance letter for the marriage proposal.”

“Ah, yes… Wait, what?!”

She nodded absentmindedly, then realized what her mother said and shouted.

“Oh my, you startled me!”

“You accepted it?!”

“Of course! When else would you get such a chance to be involved with the Grand Duke?”

Her mother clasped her hands together, a blissful expression on her face.

“Our son-in-law is a Grand Duke… I must arrange a meeting with my friends right away.”

“Mother, wait, wait!”

Before Ellie could stop her, her mother had already disappeared into the mansion.

She stood there, her arm half-raised in vain, staring at the empty spot with a helpless expression.

* * *

Back in her room, Ellie bit her lip.

Even if she asked to cancel now, there was no way her parents would agree.

That meant she had no choice but to buy time.

“Since marriage is too soon, I’ll ask to be engaged first…”

She had to think about what to do when Feroza eventually lost interest in her. After all, breaking an engagement was better than divorce.

“Haa…”

What she dreaded most were the things the original female lead had experienced in the novel.

He was known as the world’s best groom and attracted the attention of villainesses.

There were stories of villainesses bullying the heroine at balls or tea parties, dirtying her clothes on purpose, and so on.

Eventually, one villainess even went so far as to orchestrate a kidnapping.

Of course, after that, Feroza completely ruined her.

“This is too scary.”

Just thinking that such things could happen to her made her shiver.

She pulled the blanket over herself, trembling from the chill.

“If the heroine is coming anyway, I just have to hold out until then.”

But when did the heroine first appear?

She thought hard, then felt a chill down her spine.

“It was definitely the Founding Festival… But the festival has already passed…”

She slowly sat up.

Was it next year’s Founding Festival?

She hurriedly pulled the bell cord.

“Did you call, Miss?”

“Roni, when was this year’s Founding Festival held?”

“Empire Year 1982, May 10th.”

Sweat trickled down her back.

“What date did you say?”

“Empire Year 1982, May 10th, Miss.”

Roni replied clearly.

Ellie sat blankly for a moment before speaking.

“Okay…”

“Miss, are you alright? Is something wrong?”

“No, you can go.”

“If you’re feeling unwell, please let me know.”

“Mm.”

When Ellie nodded, Roni looked at her with concern.

Only after Ellie reassured her several times did Roni bow and leave the room.

“I’ve definitely lost my mind.”

The festival she attended was the very one where the heroine was supposed to appear.

That was where Feroza and the heroine were supposed to meet for the first time…

But because she got involved with Feroza, maybe their first meeting never happened.

So now, was there no connection between Feroza and the heroine?

Her head throbbed at the thought that the story had become tangled.

She decided to stop thinking about it.

Unless Feroza and the heroine had already met, she had no intention of going out of her way to put the story back on track.

“Whatever, I don’t care anymore.”

For now, all she could do was brace herself for whatever the social world might throw at her.

Now that her mother had accepted the proposal, the news would be all over society by tomorrow.

If anyone asked about the marriage, she planned to say they were only engaged for now.

But first, she had to tell Feroza that marriage was too soon and they should be engaged first.

“I shouldn’t have drunk there…”

She should have just stayed in the corner.

The thought of becoming the center of society overnight was dizzying.