‘How shocked she must have been by the rough men’s attack and kidnapping. It’s impressive she’s still in her right mind. I didn’t know she was this strong.’

Having discovered her strong will, Leopold found himself even more drawn to her.

He wanted to tell her to go inside and rest, but the words wouldn’t come out easily.

He didn’t want to part with her. He wanted to spend the night together. A thirst arose in him to confine her beauty within his embrace and savor it alone.

Ariel, seemingly reluctant as well, lingered in front of him instead of going straight into the house.

As she leaned against his broad shoulders and solid back on the way home, she felt how firm his back muscles were.

The arms she wrapped around his waist informed her of how solid his abs were.

‘Though we spent the night together, I don’t remember the details because I was so drunk… Now I see why the original Ariel was so obsessed with Leopold.’

Before her possession, as she was reading the original story, she thought there was a lack of plausibility in why Ariel went crazy over Leopold and threatened Liese’s life.

But today, she finally partly conceded. The original Ariel couldn’t help but commit misdeeds when she fell for his masculine charm.

Leopold brushed Ariel’s long hair, tousled by the wind, behind her ear.

His tender gaze persistently swept over Ariel’s face.

“It tickles.”

Ariel grimaced and turned her head away to avoid his touch.

She couldn’t admit to herself the strange emotions swirling within her because of his touch.

“I want to be with you.”

Leopold saw a blush spread across her pale face.

His gaze softened. But within that softness, his red pupils shone with a luster of desire.

He gently caressed the back of Ariel’s head with his fingers, looking down at her face as it grew redder.

A relaxed smile crossed his face.

‘Adorable.’

During the ride, all his attention was focused on Ariel.

He considered stopping several times because of the warmth spreading from her back and stomach to him.

He knew he couldn’t lay her down on the cold autumn grass, so he had no choice but to endure and resist the surging desires.

‘I can’t believe I have such strong self-control.’

Fortunately, just as his patience was reaching its limit, they arrived at the Clark estate.

Leopold assumed Ariel must be very tired and weary, but he didn’t just want to leave.

With this incident, he felt he needed to keep her close to feel at ease.

He planned to bring Ariel to the imperial palace before the wedding ceremony and win her heart by granting whatever she wished for. He also intended to casually inquire about her visit to the Holy See.

“It’s nothing else. I just have something to say.”

“Then please come in before you go. I would feel too sorry to just send Your Majesty away.”

Ariel replied with a grudging tone of approval, then swiftly turned her body and headed towards the gate.

She bit her lip hard. Her heart skipped a beat at his words of wanting to be with her.

‘It feels like he loves me. It must be my imagination, right? No, how could he look at me with those eyes if he didn’t love me?’

Numerous thoughts raced through her head. As she reached the entrance of the mansion, she hastily concluded that even if she heard him say he loves her, she wouldn’t be able to trust his heart.

Ariel reached for the doorknob. Before she could open the door, the large entrance of the mansion swung open from the inside.

“Ariel!”

Marquis Louis and Marchioness Rose rushed out of the mansion and across the garden towards Ariel.

Marchioness Rose embraced Ariel tightly.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“I’m really fine.”

Rose felt a pang of pity looking at her daughter’s flushed face.

It was all because of the unnecessary hardship she had endured, and she stroked Ariel’s face.

‘I’m really fine except for some stiffness in my lower body from riding for so long. How long do I have to keep up this act?’

“Your Majesty, thank you. Thanks to you, Ariel could return safely.”

“When I arrived, I saw that Duke Noah had already rescued Ariel.”

Leopold’s face darkened as he remembered the uncomfortable presence.

But he quickly hid his discomfort and continued.

“I have something urgent to discuss. It’s late, but I’ll have to intrude.”

Leopold stepped into the building.

“Not at all, Your Majesty. Please go ahead. Escort His Majesty to the drawing room.”

At the command of Marquis Louis, the butler Henry guided Leopold.

Ariel, who was fine, did not refuse Marquis Louis’ support.

“Your Majesty, please follow me.”

Leopold followed Henry to the drawing room without a word.

There, Walter and Rodney, the second and third sons of the Clark family, were sitting on the sofa.

The two men quickly got up from their seats as they entered.

“Your Majesty, are you alright?”

The imperial physician, Rodney, rushed towards him.

“I’m fine. Please take a look at Lady Ariel.”

Leopold took a seat on the sofa first, and opposite him, Louis, Rose, and Ariel found their places.

Rodney checked Ariel’s condition at Leopold’s command.

Leopold, who had been watching this, shifted his gaze to the marquis seated directly in front of him.

“It will take at least six months to prepare for the wedding ceremony. But my patience is running thin, and I find it difficult to wait that long, Marquis.”

“That means…”

“That’s why, I would like her to enter the palace as soon as tomorrow.”

Caught off guard by this turn of events, Marquis Louis showed an expression of dilemma.

Marchioness Rose was shocked, covering her mouth with her hand along with a short gasp.

They hoped for Ariel to find a good match and marry, but they never dreamed it would be a connection with the imperial family.

And to think that His Majesty the Emperor, known for his bloodless and tearless cruelty, would be her marriage partner.

Until Ariel told them, they wondered what all this was about. But now that His Majesty himself had spoken the same words, it finally felt real.

Louis sensed it. Not only would the marriage between the two would proceed, but that his daughter would also enter the palace before the ceremony.

But if Ariel were to enter the palace before marriage, it was certain that there would be slanderous talk about her.

As a father, he couldn’t just sit by and watch the inevitable happen.

“There might be scandals.”

It was something Leopold hadn’t considered in his emotional state.

“Now that I think about it, that’s true.”

All sorts of rumors would circulate. That she seduced the Emperor first, or that she was carrying the Emperor’s child before marriage – such nonsensical rumors.

He didn’t want to make her suffer because of his own desires.

Leopold was contemplating a change of heart at that moment.

Ariel, who had been listening to their conversation with an expressionless face, now showed a sign of positive energy.

‘With a contract period of two years anyway, maybe it will be better to get married quickly. That way, the end of the contract will come sooner.’

She made up her mind.

“I haven’t been active in social circles up until now. So even if we take time to prepare for the wedding, there will be talk regardless.”

When Ariel, who had been silent, finally spoke up, all eyes turned to her.

She continued with a determined expression.

“As His Majesty said, I will enter the palace tomorrow.”

“Wh-What are you saying, Ariel!”

Louis Clark exclaimed in surprise, stuttering as he spoke to Ariel.

Rose turned towards Ariel.

“Ariel.”

She held her head, which was spinning with dizziness, and called out her daughter’s name.

It hadn’t been long since Ariel returned from Kolnman. Rose had planned to ask her about what had happened during her time away once she recovered. If Ariel were to enter the palace now, naturally it would become difficult to meet her.

Rose couldn’t understand why Ariel, who surely knew better, would make such a decision.

Leopold was equally surprised, but he waited quietly, just waiting for her to fully express her thoughts.

“I know what you’re worried about. But I don’t like being irresponsible with my actions. It’s a decision I’ve made, accepting all the consequences.”

She indirectly stated her intention to take responsibility for the night she spent with him.

Leopold’s heart began to race wildly as he looked at Ariel, speaking in a calm tone.

‘One might look at this woman and think she’s cool.’

Entering the palace before the wedding ceremony wasn’t even part of the contract.

She could have been upset about his sudden decision, but she accepted it in such a manner.

It was not that she’s merely complying due to the Emperor’s authority or coercion, it’s a decision she made herself.

But his elation didn’t last long.

“I have a request for Your Majesty.”

“Speak.”

“Please move the wedding up to within a month.”

Her true feelings were revealed.

‘As if saying outright that she wants to leave my side as soon as possible.’

A bitter pain spread through his heart at her words.

Yet, he nodded and smirked slightly.

“That’s not a bad request.”

He was confident that he could win her heart within two years, which is why he responded to her suggestion like that. No, even if he wasn’t confident, he was determined to make it happen.

The more he learned about her, the deeper his feelings grew.

She had firmly captured his heart with her honesty, integrity, and non-passivity.

“…….”

With Leopold’s response, silence fell in the room.

The people of the Clark family faced the reality that they could no longer stop the two of them and looked into space with a look of utter disbelief.

“Well, it seems we’ve wrapped up the conversation nicely. I would like everyone to clear the room. I have something urgent to discuss with the young lady.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

At Leopold’s command, everyone except Ariel exited the dining room.