This was not bravado. She truly meant it.

‘What would be the point of living so pathetically again?’

She wanted to live well, if only to spite those who had made her suffer.

However, rejecting Dolores meant giving up her only chance of doing so; death was her only remaining option.

At that moment, Lesrexion lunged forward, grabbed her around the waist, and pulled her back inside.

He was breathing roughly and raggedly from the surge of emotion that had overwhelmed him so quickly.

“D*mn it, can’t you tell a joke?! What the hell is wrong with you?!”

“Haa… an exceptionally vivid imagination?”

“What?!”

Dolores smirked as she threw back the very words she had heard at the Lancaster Estate.

“Lady Dolly. I thought you were just a pretty doll, true to your nickname. But it seems you have quite the imagination as well.”

Downstairs, people were already murmuring about the sudden fire.

The city guard had been urgently dispatched to contain the blaze, and the party had descended into chaos.

Suppressing the tremor threatening to show on her face, Dolores smiled sweetly.

“So? Have you finally decided to make a deal with me?”

“You’re completely insane.”

As the Beast of Albion looked genuinely appalled, a strange thrill bloomed inside her chest.

***

In Dolores’s first life, the Howard Street Fire had been a famous incident.

Some fool had smoked inside a flour mill, and a tiny spark had ignited the disaster.

As a result, Madame Loire’s grand banquet had been spectacularly ruined.

‘And it affected my wedding to Adrian as well.’

Such a devastating disaster struck the capital that the scale of her once-in-a-lifetime wedding was significantly reduced.

Consequently, Dolores had the simplest wedding of any crown princess in imperial history.

There was also something else.

“Does the Grand Duke’s trading company own a building at 483 Street? Was it spared from the fire?”

Dolores and Lesrexion were sitting facing each other in the most secluded reception room in the Imperial Palace.

With everyone’s attention focused on the fire, no one had noticed them slipping away.

It was the perfect opportunity to discuss the contract.

Yet Lesrexion did nothing but stare at her.

She had mocked him.

Threatened him.

As if that were not enough, she had almost thrown herself to her death right in front of him.

The more he thought about it, the more unbelievable it seemed.

‘I don’t like this. It feels like I’m losing.’

He tilted his head arrogantly.

“Fine. Then tell me how you found out.”

“Hmm. As for how I learned the secret of Number 483…”

Dolores recited the excuse she had already prepared.

“My brother is thinking of selling the Gilbert Estate.”

“…Isn’t that your land? Did he give it to you?”

“As if he would. That’s why he was secretly looking for a buyer, and I think he came across the Sub Rosa Trading Company.”

This wasn’t entirely a lie.

James had planned to make a fortune by using the Gilbert Estate as collateral and selling the land secretly through the Sub Rosa Trading Company.

This would later become something he deeply regretted.

‘Let’s not think that far ahead for now.’

Her immediate concern was persuading the Grand Duke, who was still looking at her with open suspicion.

“Going through my brother’s documents wasn’t difficult. But the part about the trading company belonging to you—that was only a guess.”

“Based on what?”

“When I asked the government office to verify the owner of the building on Number 483 Street, the name that came up belonged to a noble family that had already gone extinct.”

“…”

“And if you trace that family’s origins, they were vassals who served the Grand Ducal House long ago.”

The government office had also burned down in her previous life, halting the investigation into the building’s ownership.

Consequently, it took Dolores a long time to suspect that Number 483 belonged to the Grand Duke.

“Hmm…”

Lesrexion stroked his chin.

The mocking look in his eyes sharpened into something far more discerning.

It was only then that Dolores realized that he was starting to change his mind about her.

“And the fire? Surely you’re not suggesting you arranged it yourself…?”

“Of course not. Do you know how closely I’m being watched at the Rochester Estate?”

Dolores was destined to become the crown princess.

The Marquis of Rochester kept a close eye on her, terrified that she might be harmed.

Even the simple letters she sent to enquire about someone’s well-being were subject to inspection.

“…I’ll tell you how I found that out after our deal is concluded.”

“Lady Dolly…”

“Your Grace, I need at least one card to protect myself.”

“…”

“But even if I don’t tell you, it’s not as though you’ll suffer any losses, is it?”

Still smiling, Dolores tilted her head slightly.

Had she not warned him, he would have faced significant setbacks for years to come.

As it was a secret business venture, it would not have been easy for him to recover from the damage.

“…So. You really want to break off your engagement with Adrian?”

‘Got you.’

Dolores’s eyes sparkled.

At last, he had taken the bait.

“Yes. And I only ask that you let me take refuge as the Grand Duchess for one year.”

“…”

“After that, we can part ways cleanly. No settlement necessary.”

Folding his arms, Lesrexion fell silent in thought.

Then he asked an unexpected question.

“Did you happen to hear what they were doing in the Ruby Room?”

“…”

“So you did.”

The triumphant look on Dolores’s face instantly hardened.

“…Yes, I heard. I know who the woman is, too.”

“Someone you know?”

“My cousin. Angelica Rochester.”

“Ah. Ahh. The one who looks like a weasel?”

“…”

A muscle twitched faintly in Dolores’s cheek.

A weasel.

Comparing her to one of those sly little creatures that stole livestock while pretending innocence.

‘Though it’s an absurdly accurate comparison.’

After her parents died young, Angelica became dependent on the Rochester Marquisate.

She gradually exploited their goodwill and resources, eventually crossing a line that should never have been crossed.

Dolores merely looked away, however, as taking pleasure in such gossip would hardly be graceful.

“I see… If your fiancé’s mistress is your own relative, I can understand why you’d find the marriage revolting.”

“Please mind your language…”

“Spare me, Lady Dolly. Fine.”

Lesrexion raised both hands as though surrendering.

“Let’s do it. This one-year marriage or whatever it is.”

“Your Grace!”

“But you’d better be prepared.”

His golden eyes flashed dangerously.

When he bared his teeth in a fierce grin, he looked every bit like a black beast about to tear flesh from bone.

“In exchange for keeping you safe for a year, I’m going to squeeze every last drop out of you.”

“…Be my guest.”

Dolores responded with a smile of her own.

Was he going to squeeze her dry?

The feeling was mutual.

She fully intended to exploit the Grand Ducal House’s influence whenever the opportunity arose.

‘I should start teaching those people who owe me a lesson.’

The Marquis of Rochester had fed on her blood.

Madame Loire had forced her to kneel, even though she was not her mother-in-law.

And her husband, Adrian, who had broken his marriage vows so shamelessly.

‘And Angelica.’

“How dare that ungrateful little wretch betray her sister’s kindness from the very beginning.”

‘Though I should be grateful she took that trash of a husband off my hands.’

Still, Angelica deserved to shed tears of blood as well.

At the very least, she should suffer as much as Dolores had while raising Angelica’s son in her place.

‘And if everything goes according to plan…’

Dolores Rochester intended to live freely.

Forever.

***

By now, the commotion outside was gradually dying down.

At the same time, the two of them had finished negotiating their contract.

[Lesrexion Lancaster shall take Dolores Rochester as his wife for one year.]

[Whenever Lesrexion Lancaster requires it, Dolores Rochester shall provide the necessary information and assist in ensuring the success of his plans.]

[The contents of this contract shall remain secret between the two parties.]

They both signed their names beneath the terms in God’s name.

Neither of them believed in God.

Yet, at that moment, the act felt strangely solemn.

“Then I suppose our deal is settled.”

“Agreed, Your Grace.”

“We should leave now. There’s no need to invite unnecessary misunderstandings already.”

“You’re right.”

But before stepping out, Dolores turned back and flashed him a playful smile.

“Oh. I’d like to add one more condition to the contract, Your Grace.”

“What now?”

“Don’t fall in love with me.”

Lesrexion stared at her in disbelief.

“Lady Rochester. You’re certainly beautiful, but that’s an impressive amount of confidence.”

“Yes. The other men always said the same thing.”

A gentle smile curved her lips.

It was the same smile that had driven countless men to shower her with jewels just for a chance to see it.

“And every single one of them failed.”

“The porcelain doll certainly dreams big, Dolly.”

Rather than being offended by the contempt in his voice, Dolores felt reassured.

‘Good. After twenty years of suffering because of men, I’m sick of all of them.’

The Grand Duke’s subtle disdain and obvious disinterest in women made him seem all the more trustworthy.

‘People even whispered that he wasn’t capable of fathering children.’

In the Empire, a man without a wife or mistress was the subject of endless ridicule and speculation.

Yet Lesrexion had remained unmarried throughout her previous life.

Given this, perhaps the rumors were true.

‘That should make matters in the bedroom simple as well.’

An alliance between a eunuch and a barren woman.

Wasn’t it perfect?

***

When Lesrexion left the Imperial Palace, the fire was still being brought under control.

The building on 483 Street had probably been reduced to ashes by then.

At that moment, Edwin spotted Lesrexion and came running over in a panic.

“Your Grace! Your Grace, are you alright?!”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You disappeared for so long that I was worried!”

Glancing toward the fire, Edwin lowered his voice.

“We’ve got a serious problem…”

“But isn’t it truly strange? How did Lady Rochester know about it?”

“Speaking of Lady Rochester.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

“I’ve decided to marry Dolores Rochester. As soon as possible.”

“…What?”

“Bring me the marriage documents immediately. I’d rather get this over with quickly.”

“W-What? What?! J-Just a moment, Your Grace?!”