Chapter 30: The Proposal (4) 

A few days ago, Eirene met Clive outside. After learning that Aishe intended to switch bodies, Eirene explained everything she had discovered to Clive and then made a proposal.

“I have something to add to my pledge.”

“Tell me.”

“Marry me.”

Clive wasn’t surprised by this outrageous request. He seemed to consider it briefly before smiling and promptly answering.

“Alright.”

“Thank you for agreeing.”

Hadn’t she already decided to have him at Dervel Palace? 

Now she was putting that determination into action. Originally, her goal was to become his wife by swaying Clive’s heart, but since she lacked the talent for that approach and found it difficult, she brought out the pledge instead. 

Eirene was the one surprised by how easily he accepted when she had worried he might refuse.

“You understand this isn’t pretending to be in love, but a real marriage, right?”

“I’m talking about a real marriage too.”

“I’m saying this because you seem unaware, but even if we marry for mutual benefit, there are obligations we must fulfill. Though this marriage might seem different from a political arrangement between families, the outcome must be the same. Can you fulfill those obligations?”

“What are these obligatory duties?”

“Continuing the lineage.”

Eirene knew what continuing the lineage meant. Though she hadn’t thought in detail about having Clive’s child, the process was an obligation to be fulfilled immediately after the wedding ceremony. 

An act of duty rather than love. She had prepared herself for it, accepting it as a natural requirement even if reluctantly.

“It means doing everything that ordinary couples do. No bedroom restrictions, no clauses about divorce after a few years.”

“I understand. But do you plan to live with me forever?”

Clive’s smiling face instantly crumpled.

“Isn’t that obvious? I don’t want to add ‘divorced man’ to my nickname of ‘Empire’s Rogue.’ Are you planning to divorce me later?”

“No. When you mentioned divorce, it suddenly occurred to me.”

“You’d better erase the word ‘divorce’ from your mind. It’s something that will never happen. Now, let me hear why you proposed to me.”

She didn’t tell him that she had planned to marry him since Dervel Palace. It wasn’t important, and she didn’t want to make a long story of it.

“Count and Countess Phineas and Aishe were already considering the possibility of me marrying you.”

They might even welcome the news of marriage. However, Eirene wouldn’t allow Aishe to switch bodies with her, nor did she intend to marry Clive according to their predetermined procedure.

“If you don’t want to marry according to their predetermined procedure, why propose to me?”

“One thing gets added before the marriage.”

There was a big difference between Clive marrying her thinking she was Aishe and marrying her knowing she was Eirene. If Clive chose Eirene over Aishe, they would be dealt a significant blow.

“Given Aishe’s personality, she’ll have a hard time accepting if you choose me.”

Aishe’s suffering would begin from that moment. She wanted to witness it. She was curious how Aishe, who had only known love all her life, would react when rejected by someone, how she would crumble. 

She still couldn’t forget what Aishe had whispered in her ear before she died in her first life. Words that had eaten away at her for a long time. 

Now it was Eirene’s turn.

“For a while, not only the Count and Countess but also the servants will be confused. I plan to use the servants’ confusion. Since you’ve chosen me knowing everything, they’ll be busy calculating which side to take. At least some of them will try to side with me. I intend to learn more about the Count’s family through the servants.”

“What should I do?”

“Come to the Phineas Mansion, gather everyone who lives there, and propose to me.”

“Hmm.”

Clive leaned back in his chair and folded his arms.

“I should handle this personally. Though such a major issue like changing fiancées should be reported to the Imperial family, if it goes to them, it might fizzle out. It’s better for me to pressure Count Phineas directly. If there’s something for me to gain in the process, can I add something extra?”

“Do whatever you like. I’ve told you everything I want.”

“Good. Then when would you like the wedding to be?”

“Early summer.”

Clive didn’t answer, seemingly displeased, and merely wiggled his crossed leg.

“Is that too soon?”

“No. I hate the heat.”

“Ah. Then autumn?”

“Autumn is harvest time, and the domain residents are busy. I don’t help with the harvest, but it’s not right to marry during such a busy time.”

“Then only spring is left. But spring is also busy preparing for the new year, isn’t it?”

“Spring would be best nonetheless.”

“Alright. Let’s make it spring.”

It seemed a bit early, but they couldn’t wait until the next winter, so spring it was. Clive looked satisfied, his lips stretching into a smile. His ash-colored eyes were smiling too.

* * *

On the day of the proposal, in the greenhouse of the Phineas Mansion. Eirene slightly pulled her face back from Clive, who sat close to her.

“You were acting quite well.”

She had expected Clive to handle the personal pressure himself, but she hadn’t anticipated him bringing his knights. 

Though she wasn’t particularly nervous since it was a planned event, Clive’s intimidating aura made her feel something might happen.

“There’s nothing I can’t do. Honestly, I was a little worried about what would happen if Count Phineas didn’t yield.”

“What would you have done if things hadn’t gone according to your expectations?”

“I only worried at that moment. By the time I made up my mind and came here, I was 100% confident, so I didn’t make any other plans.”

“You’re surprisingly reckless.”

“I’m perfect.”

Clive stroked Eirene’s hair from the crown of her head downward with the back of his fingers. As she gradually moved her body backward, he moved closer again by the same amount.

“You’re too close.”

“You seem to have forgotten, but right now I’m a man who came to propose to you. It doesn’t make sense to sit at a distance from the woman I love.”

Strange. Despite having kissed Clive before, being trapped in his arms felt awkward. He smelled not of cigars or perfume, but of cool wind. Perhaps like grass? 

The scent, which she couldn’t precisely describe, was both pleasant and unfamiliar. He picked up a small case that had been on the table and pressed his body close to hers. 

Blocked by the armrest, Eirene had nowhere else to retreat. Her breathing became increasingly uncomfortable due to Clive leaning toward her.

“Could your reason for investigating the Count’s family be related to the Imperial family?”

He paused while opening the case.

“Perhaps.”

“Is Count Phineas a threat to the Imperial family?”

Clive placed the closed case on his knee.

“Not Count Phineas, but the person he’s helping is threatening the Imperial family.”

Eirene had suspected this when she heard that reporting the body-switching incident to the Imperial family might cause it to fizzle out. She naturally thought the Count was the problem, but she didn’t know he was helping someone.

“Who is this person Count Phineas is helping? Now that we’re in the same boat, you need to trust me even if it’s difficult.”

He straightened his body that had been leaning toward Eirene.

“Who is it? The person Count Phineas is helping.”

Surprisingly, the answer came easily.

“The Temple. More precisely, the Pope. Though it’s not confirmed.”

So he had been trying to find out if the Phineas family’s money was going to the Temple. But hadn’t the Phineas family been doing the same with the Imperial family? Could it be? Was it a deception to blind the Emperor’s eyes?

“I’m going to meet the Pope before the wedding. He’s a person whose outside appearance and inside intentions are completely different, so be careful. I’ll be beside you, but I’m telling you in advance just in case.”

Eirene’s knowledge of the Bainfelt Pope or Temple was limited to what she had read in history books. Just as she was about to ask why the Pope was acting this way, Clive spoke first.

“By the way, I think we shouldn’t delay the proposal any longer.”

He gestured toward the outside with his eyes. There was Aishe, pressed against the glass, watching inside. He picked up the case again and leaned his body toward Eirene. 

This time, she didn’t back away but moved closer. In this state of complete proximity, Clive opened the case, revealing a necklace.

“Marry me.”

“I read in books that proposals are made kneeling down.”

“That’s boring. And old-fashioned.”

“It’s because Aishe is watching.”

“Ah, I understand what you mean. We should do something that’s not old-fashioned.”

Clive stood up, placed the necklace around her neck, and sat back down. Though Eirene wasn’t particularly moved by jewels, given that this marriage was for revenge, the feeling of receiving a proposal was peculiar. 

After putting the necklace on her, Clive kissed the back of her hand.

“What’s your answer to my proposal?”

“Strictly speaking, I proposed first.”

“I already answered, so you should too.”

“Yes. I’ll marry you.”

Clive’s face, which had been on the back of her hand, moved upward. He whispered in a position where his lips nearly touched Eirene’s.

“You can avoid it if you don’t like it.”

Before she could process what he meant, his lips touched hers. Along with the heat felt from the thin skin, moist mucous membranes made contact. Seeing Eirene’s surprised eyes, Clive removed his lips and asked.

“I said you could avoid it.”

He didn’t even give her time to avoid it. But this time, he gave her time while their lips still touched at the edges. Despite her surprise, she didn’t want to avoid it. 

Because Aishe was watching. 

Clive’s eyelids, which had been looking straight at her, gradually closed. With his eyes half-closed, he fixed his gaze on Eirene’s lips.

“I don’t want to avoid it.”

Clive smiled and pulled Eirene’s nape. Unlike his rough hand movements, his approaching lips were soft. 

She gave Aishe, who was staring intently through the glass, a smiling look with her eyes. 

At that moment, his breath touched her teeth and swept inside. Before she could say “oh,” he entered deeper. The previous kisses with Clive weren’t real kisses after all. 

Momentarily confused, Eirene looked at Aishe, put her arms around Clive’s neck, and closed her eyes. The kiss was quite nice, better than she had thought.

* * * 

When she returned to the mansion after seeing Clive off, it was dead silent. Neither the Count and Countess nor Aishe, not even the servants, were visible. 

Well, they must all be figuring out how to survive. 

Gemma stuck close to Eirene as she headed to her bedroom. She put her index finger to Gemma’s lips, which looked like they had a lot to say. 

After entering the bedroom and closing the door, she sat on the sofa and asked Gemma.

“What happened after the Grand Duke and I left?”

“The Count sternly warned the servants to watch what they say.”

“Everyone’s confused, right?”

“Yes. Especially those who were mean to you are scared, and Betty is acting like she’s become the head maid.”

Hearing about Betty acting like the head maid made her burst into laughter. That was so like her.

“Did Mother say anything to you?”

“No. The Countess said she had a severe headache and called for a doctor. She said she would retire early and not to disturb her.”

“What about Siaran?”

“He left.”

“What about Aishe…”

Before she could ask about Aishe, the door opened. There she stood. Unlike usual, she didn’t open the door loudly. She walked in quietly without panting and said to Gemma.

“Get out.”

Gemma remained in place, watching Aishe cautiously.

“Gemma. I’ll be fine.”

Only then did Gemma leave. When the door closed, Aishe glared at Eirene.

“Eirene is my name. I am Eirene Phineas.”

She was severely shocked and in denial of herself.