When meeting Aishe, it had been difficult to even hold hands, let alone kiss. Even on their engagement day, she had postponed kissing until the wedding. Yet suddenly, this same person showed her face and allowed physical contact. 

It was too abrupt a change to attribute simply to her feeling more comfortable in her own home. Though he had stopped midway, Aishe had also tried to touch Clive. She had changed too drastically. 

While puzzled, he couldn’t imagine it might be a different person. Who would dare deceive a Grand Duke? 

During his time at the mansion, Clive had noticed subtle differences in her voice. Aishe’s voice outside had been higher, while at the mansion it was lower. Without careful listening, the distinction would have been difficult. 

Just when he wondered if he was imagining things because she was ill, he noticed another difference: her scent. The sweet candy fragrance that always emanated from Aishe was gone. There was a faint, different scent, though he couldn’t identify what it was. 

She seemed like a different person, but without certainty, he had gone to the shop after learning Aishe’s schedule. The missing engagement ring on her finger and the thickness of her finger when he slipped the ring on confirmed it. 

She wasn’t the fiancée who had received the ring at their engagement ceremony. In fact, he was 99% certain when he saw Aishe of the Baix family wearing the ring, and the final 1% came from his story about the battlefield. It was just a test, but she had fallen for it. 

When Clive demanded to know who she was, her deep purple eyes trembled briefly before quickly regaining composure. Her startled expression also grew calm. After a moment of thought, the woman rose from her seat and greeted him politely.

“I pay my respects to Grand Duke Clive. I am Eirene Phineas.”

“I’ve never heard that Count Phineas had a daughter by that name.”

“That’s right. You wouldn’t have heard. I am the hidden daughter.”

Hidden daughter. Clive’s interest rose sharply at this unexpected answer.

“I don’t know how to begin.”

“I’ll understand whatever you say, so speak however you’re comfortable.”

“Honestly, I’m not sure if you’ll believe me.”

“That’s for me to judge after hearing everything.”

Before speaking, she took a deep breath, looking down, then raised her gaze to meet Clive’s eyes directly.

Eirene began her story slowly, carefully considering how much to reveal. Further lies were impossible in front of Clive, who already knew she wasn’t Aishe. She also harbored a slight hope that he might help her. 

She explained that she had been raised to serve the real Aishe, whom he knew. Because of her Divine Power, she had been imprisoned in a basement room her entire life, then abandoned to die when she was no longer useful. 

She said she had escaped because she wanted to live, needed to live. She also mentioned agreeing to temporarily impersonate Aishe after that day. And one more thing: the woman he had called Miss Baix at the shop was the real Aishe. That was all she revealed. 

She didn’t mention killing everyone in the mansion or coming back to life. Those would be unbelievable stories anyway. 

As soon as Eirene finished, Clive, who had been sitting beside her with his chin propped on his hand, asked:

“Why did they send me your portrait?”

“I heard it was sent by mistake.”

“No. Such a mistake would never happen.”

Eirene agreed with that.

“They also said they couldn’t tell the truth because you liked the switched portrait.”

“It’s true that I liked the portrait.”

Staring straight ahead, Clive muttered:

“So Aishe covered her face whenever we met to avoid revealing she wasn’t you. What were they thinking?”

Eirene also couldn’t understand the Count and Countess’s intentions. What were they planning to do when everything would eventually be revealed?

“We’ll figure that out gradually.”

Turning his head, Clive narrowed his eyes.

“Why tell me everything?”

“How could I lie when you already know and are asking directly?”

“Weren’t you hoping for help?”

“A little.”

“Hmm. I’m not exactly the most trustworthy person.”

“You don’t look the part.”

The answer slipped out before she could stop herself, too late to take back.

“How rare to find someone bold enough to say that to my face.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize for something like that. So, how can I help you?”

Eirene was surprised by Clive’s words. He would help so easily? Without verification?

“Do you believe me?”

“Not exactly. We’ve spent too little time together for me to readily believe everything you say.”

“Then why help me?”

“I’ll help you, and you’ll help me in return. The fact that you and Aishe were switched lends some credibility to your story.”

Eirene had never considered helping Clive. Having her identity suddenly exposed was disconcerting enough, and now this offer of mutual assistance left her confused.

“There are things I want to know about Count Phineas, or more precisely, about the Phineas family. For now, you can pretend I haven’t discovered you’re not Aishe, and I’ll pretend I still think you’re Aishe.”

Hearing Clive say he wanted to learn about the Phineas family, Eirene realized his engagement wasn’t motivated by Aishe.

“Is that all?”

“I’ll handle the rest myself. Once I achieve my goal, I’ll grant whatever you wish.”

“How can I trust your promise after you’ve achieved your goal?”

“Oh dear. I hadn’t thought of that. It would be difficult for you to trust me too.”

“I’ll help if you do just one thing for me as we proceed. Though it might be difficult, please love me. Whether I’m Aishe or Eirene.”

Clive turned his body, leaned back against the chair, and tapped his temple with his index finger. One corner of his lips slowly curled upward. He looked exactly like he had then. The same expression from the day he had come for Eirene in the past. The death god in the form of a snake. 

Looking at him smiling affably before suddenly turning frightening, she recalled the past. The atmosphere grew chilly and heavy. But soon it changed again, and Clive spoke with a voice full of curiosity.

“You want me to love you?”

“Pretend to love me. Though Your Grace’s heart belongs to Aishe.”

Eirene asked for confirmation.

“You know it doesn’t, yet you still ask.”

He had already seen through her.

“Is pretending to love you about revenge against Aishe?”

“It’s just to tease her a little.”

“Aishe must like me a lot.”

“You’re asking when you already know.”

Rising from his seat, Clive extended his hand toward Eirene.

“I’m glad my partner isn’t boring.”

She hesitated before taking his hand, but ultimately did. For Eirene now, it was a hand she absolutely needed to grasp.

“Then, once we step through that door, I’ll become your loving partner.”

Eirene’s hand disappeared in Clive’s large one. Only today did she fully feel the hardness of his palm, embedded with calluses.

It was a soft hand. Eirene’s hand had less flesh than Aishe’s, making it less plump, and Clive preferred it this way. Though he hadn’t held Aishe’s plump, seemingly sticky hand many times, it hadn’t left a good impression. 

Eirene’s story was both implausible and plausible. He was well aware that humans could transform into monsters for their own desires. Sacrificing someone else’s daughter for your own should never happen, but it wasn’t unheard of. 

Above all, it was true that Eirene’s portrait had been sent initially and the two women had been switched. Though she hadn’t explained in detail, Clive could imagine what humiliation and pain Eirene had endured as she stared blankly at their joined hands. 

Her pale complexion, face that rarely showed emotion, and low, calm voice all betrayed exhaustion. Only her lively eyes showed a will to live. Despite her denial, revenge against Aishe, or perhaps the entire Count’s family, might be sustaining her. 

Eirene squeezed his hand and stood up. Putting her treated foot back into her shoe, she smiled faintly. The smile seemed about to widen but then disappeared. 

Why did she stop smiling? Was it because of her difficult times? He felt an urge to grab her cheeks and pull them into a smile.

“Thank you for treating my foot.”

Her calm voice lingered in his ear. Though not particularly remarkable, it echoed like a tiny whisper before gradually fading. An inexplicable emotion stirred in his chest, giving him a strange feeling. 

Was it because she was different from other women? 

Women before Clive usually showed one of two behaviors: either trying hard to impress him or desperately trying to escape out of fear. Eirene was neither. She simply gave him indifferent glances.

“Let’s go outside now.”

Clive followed Eirene, who led him while still holding his hand. In that brief moment, he felt almost enchanted.

Opening the door, they encountered Ulik. He smiled brightly at the surprised Eirene and held out a box.

“I am Ulik, the Grand Duke’s aide.”

Eirene had seen the bespectacled Ulik before she died. So he was Clive’s aide. The look in Ulik’s eyes when he reported finding the Count and Countess’s bodies was markedly different from now. 

He appeared so gentle that he seemed unrelated to the person who had looked at Eirene with coldness and disgust comparable to Clive’s. Though his face was full of curiosity, he knew his boundaries as an aide and disappeared after greeting them.

“It was obtained in a hurry, so please understand if you don’t like it.”

Clive set the box on the floor. Opening the lid revealed a pair of shoes.

“They’re made of soft lambskin, so they should be less irritating to your heels.”

It was a thoughtful gift she hadn’t expected at all. Eirene was grateful but felt more burdened. She couldn’t understand why he had prepared this in advance, knowing she wasn’t the real Aishe. 

Was he truly a kind person? 

While she was uncertain about how to react to the shoes, Clive removed the shoes from her feet.

“Huh? Um, I’m fine.”

Eirene tried to keep her feet in her shoes, but his strength prevailed.

“You asked me to pretend to love you. Or was your concept that I alone am madly in love with you while you’re indifferent?”

“No, I wanted us to appear as a couple in love with each other.”

“Then shouldn’t you be kissing my cheek now, delighted with the shoes?”

“That’s true, but…”

Unable to argue with his logic, Eirene let Clive continue. After putting the new shoes on both feet, he stood up and said:

“Try walking.”

They definitely hurt less.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Realizing she needed to be bold in her actions for any future revenge, Eirene gently took Clive’s arm. She raised herself on her tiptoes and lifted her head, but couldn’t reach his cheek, which was considerably higher. She strained once more, but it was still impossible.

“What are you doing?”

Clive’s brow furrowed.

“You said to kiss your cheek.”

“Ah, that.”

He bent down to match her height. Just as she quickly brought her lips to his cheek, intending a brief touch, Clive turned his face, and her lips met not his cheek but his lips. Eirene immediately stepped back, feeling heat rise to her face.

“What are you doing?”

“A kiss on the cheek is too childish. We’ll have to kiss regularly from now on anyway, so think of it as practice.”

With a slight smile, Clive extended his arm to the dumbfounded Eirene.

“Let’s go now.”

After helping Eirene into the carriage, Clive instructed the coachman to drive slowly. 

Hearing about her motion sickness, he had suggested riding a horse instead, but Eirene had refused, saying that would be even more frightening. When he knocked on the carriage window, the door opened slightly, revealing Eirene’s face.

“What is it?”

“My goodness, you know nothing about romance. I’ll have to teach you from the beginning. Lovers can’t part so coldly.”

“Are you asking for a farewell kiss?”

Eirene pulled her face back.

“No. Save the kiss for next time. Today, just a wish for you to get home safely.”

“Yes. I hope you return safely too, Your Grace.”

The window closed before he could respond. How cold of her. After telling the coachman they could leave, Clive turned around as Ulik approached and stood beside him. Watching until the carriage disappeared, Clive took out a cigar, put it in his mouth, then removed it.

“Why did I do that?”