I Was Tricked Into A Fraudulent Marriage By The Obsessive Villain - Chapter 4.3 - Grand Duke Thanatos

“I promise not to harm my wife, of course. I won’t even touch a single hair on house Hardin, whom my wife cherishes so much, or any member of the guild she holds dear.”

“…….”

As he mentioned the guild, there was a slight crease in the man’s brow. However, he quickly returned to his charming smile, the one that Iona adored so much.

“In return…”

“…In return?”

The man suddenly reached out, taking Iona’s wrist and pulling her close to him.

“Ah!”

As she found herself in his embrace, the man whispered to her.

“Please don’t refuse.”

When the man’s breath touched her ear, a shiver ran down her spine. Suppressing the urge to recoil from his approaching fingers, she asked him.

“….Is it really true?”

“Yes, it is.”

The man replied, his eyes curving into a crescent shape in response to her question.

Iona was confused.

Was she supposed to believe him now, again?

Was he trying to deceive her once more, like he had done that day as a child like he had done that day at the festival?

Though doubts flooded her mind endlessly, there was only one conclusion.

In the end, she only had one choice.

“…….”

After a moment of silence, Iona nodded slightly.

As the golden hair swayed, the man twisted his lips and approached her.

With each step, his red eyes narrowed, making her feel like prey waiting for a predator’s fangs to pierce her neck.

Her fingertips began to tremble again, ready to push the man away at any moment.

“……!”

The next moment, the man grabbed Iona’s trembling hand and with one hand, he held her chin.

“Stay still.”

The man growled. His red eyes were sharp.

“I told you not to refuse.”

He spat out the words. The next moment, his lips swallowed hers.

She felt the rough sensation. Her toes curled involuntarily at the feather-like touch.

As she hesitated to part her lips, the man bit her lower lip.

“Ah…!”

She moaned as she felt a sharp sensation. Her mouth opened, and the man took the opportunity to enter her mouth.

The moment their lips met, her mouth opened wide, and his tongue penetrated deeply. The sensation he gave her dominated her entire body. She couldn’t control her mind due to the sensation of her tender flesh being stirred up.

When her jaw reached its limit, it started to itch. The kiss didn’t stop until her breath was blocked and her tongue was sore.

Iona, who was suffocating, finally struck the man’s broad shoulders with her fists. Then the man, who had no intention of stopping, backed off.

“Hah… hah…”

Struggling to catch her breath, Iona gasped heavily, while the man watched her without a blink.

Iona met the piercing gaze of his red eyes, a strange feeling engulfing her.

“…….”

It felt like she was facing the man’s true face instead of the eyes that always wore a mask and deceived her.

It felt like she was peering into the man’s true face, swallowed by his blood-red eyes. Her trembling hands and feet showed no sign of calming down.

“…….”

The man who had been staring at Iona grabbed her trembling hand and kissed her knuckles. Her fingers quivered with each touch.

Despite the increasing intensity of the trembling with each touch, the man seemed unable to stop.

Yet, his gaze remained fixed on Iona, while she reciprocated the unwavering stare.

Even if his gaze wavered slightly, the man firmly held Iona’s chin, as if not allowing any other thoughts.

As time passed, the man brushed his thumb across Iona’s lips before kissing the back of her hand.

“I’m sure you’re tired today, so you should get some rest. I’ll show you the mansion tomorrow.”

Despite his courteous words, his gaze was sharp and piercing, like something that had been honed to perfection. Even his lips, which curved habitually, couldn’t hide the intense energy emanating from his red eyes.

In an instant, Iona realized something that had been unclear to her before.

She could never escape from this man.

“There are still many things that have not been organized, so I will be busy for a while.”

With the man’s statement, reason returned to Iona, who had been momentarily dazed. Upon hearing that he would be busy, Iona silently offered a prayer of gratitude.

Oh Lord, thank you. Please keep him busier, and make him work overtime until exhaustion.

“You seem to have some bad thoughts on your mind.”

The man, who was staring intently at Iona, spoke.

“Ah, well, I don’t have any bad thoughts…”

As Iona spoke, the man chuckled softly and kissed her trembling hand again.

From the man’s actions, it seemed as if her hand was covered in honey.

“So, here’s the thing. Since my wife was a competent individual who managed a guild, why don’t you try your hand at housekeeping?”

At the man’s words, Iona’s face displayed a puzzled expression.

Instead of immediately killing her or imprisoning her, he was asking her to take care of the household. Moreover, he knew everything about her past in the guild. It was incomprehensible that he would entrust her with household responsibilities.

Considering the actions of villains in novels, she had expected a knife at her throat instead of being left alone and being asked to manage the household.

“Can I make a choice?”

In response to Iona’s question, the man habitually smiled and nodded.

His demeanor left Iona feeling helpless. If he was going to let her live and fulfill the role of a hostess without harm, then all she had to do was obey his commands.

As a lady of the house, taking care of the household was expected of her, but the man was giving her the option to choose as if it were not necessary.

…come to think of it, he had always been like that.

From a young age, he had always given her the option rather than pushing her.

“…….”

Iona looked into the man’s red eyes with her lips tightly closed.

She couldn’t read the thoughts behind those burning eyes, hotter than blood, hotter than the sun.

If only this man was half as transparent as Isaac.

She thought of her younger brother, who was as transparent as water and whispered to herself.

There was no other way. She had to ask directly.

“Why do you keep asking me to choose?”

After organizing her thoughts, Iona’s violet eyes shone as she asked.

“After all, the answer I have to choose is already predetermined.”

At Iona’s words, the man paused for a moment before lifting his lips.

He had always smiled kindly like a saint, or sweetly like a demon who could charm people.

But now…

It was as if a beast was showing its teeth as it smiled.

At the sight of his sinister face, Iona couldn’t help but shrink back.

“Yes, indeed. My wife is truly wise.”

The man lowered himself slightly and kissed her ear.

Feeling the tingling sensation of his lips on her ear, Iona shivered.

“Please understand that I simply desire to be chosen by my wife, no matter what.”

As the man whispered these words, a sense of unease crept over Iona.

After whispering in her ear, the man stood up as if he had something to do.

“Please go to bed early. It seems I’ll be back late.”

“Yes…… Huh? Back, to where? Isn’t this my bedroom?”

Most nobles had separate bedrooms. It was common for each person to have their own room, with a shared conjugal room used only when necessary.

But to say he would return? It felt like winning the lottery and then being struck by lightning.

“Where else? By your side, my wife.”

The man chuckled mischievously.