“You mentioned the Grand Duke wanted the Leverun family’s land route rights, right? Duke Xenon’s waterway rights are better than those. This says he wants to give me full access to them. He suggests we discuss it further at the banquet.”

Arne handed the invitation to Cedric. When he took it, she pulled it back, causing his upper body to lean toward her again.

Even though their lips were almost touching, Arne didn’t stop whispering.

“If I’m more useful than the Leverun family, you can make the engagement with me, right?”

Arne let go of the invitation. Her eyes were confident, urging him to open it. Cedric unfolded the invitation.

She was telling the truth. Duke Xenon, whom even the Grand Duke had failed to persuade, was practically begging her for a meeting at the banquet.

Arne laughed brightly, watching Cedric’s expression.

“You think of me as a naive young lady, but I’m neither that naive nor that ignorant.”

Arne smiled proudly. Negotiating with a bigshot like Duke Xenon wasn’t something an ignorant young lady could do.

“My feelings for you are sincere too.”

Arne lightly grabbed Cedric’s collar.

“So why don’t you take me a bit more seriously?”

Cedric’s gaze fell on Arne’s hand, lightly holding his collar. He closed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair.

“What on earth are you?”

Not naive? Cedric’s eyes sharpened. He pulled her ankle firmly, causing her upper body to fall into him.

It happened so quickly that Arne blinked. Unconsciously, she clung to Cedric’s neck, trying to find footing in the air, but her ankle, held firmly by his hand, wouldn’t move.

His red eyes, looking down at her, were seething.

“What makes you think you can shake me?”

She could feel Cedric’s solid lower body beneath her thigh. The thin summer fabric transmitted the movement of his firm muscles. Perhaps it was because he had pulled her close that there was no space between them.

“There’s no reason to refuse a beauty like you.”

Cedric’s eyes blazed. His red eyes, as he looked down at her, were intensely sensual.

His thick fingers slowly rubbed Arne’s ankle. The movement, though minor, was overly stimulating.

Arne trembled, but Cedric’s fingers didn’t stop.

Her pupils, wide like a startled rabbit, didn’t shrink. Cedric, seeing his reflection in her eyes, turned his head.

“If you get engaged with me, what do you gain?”

“You.”

Arne’s clear eyes shone. She would gain Vivian. If she could do that, she was willing to do anything.

Cedric’s eyebrows twitched. Again. Did she know the emotions swirling in his eyes were grief and sorrow? What woman talks about engagement with such a face?

“Do you want to sleep with me?”

“What?”

“Most women who want to marry me fall into two categories. They desire the wealth and fame of the Grand Duchy of Renigrad, or they want to sleep with me.”

Arne blinked. To meet Vivian, she would have to spend the night with him.

“Do I have to choose between the two? The wealth and fame of Renigrad would be nice, but I can do without them. If I have to choose, I guess… I have to sleep with you.”

“Not want to sleep with me, but have to?”

“Aren’t they the same? I’ll fulfill the duties of a wife.”

“Hmm.”

Cedric’s red eyes gleamed mysteriously.

“You seem to like the kindness I show you.”

She probably mistook this kindness for affection because it was the first time she had experienced it. She was at an age where such confusion was understandable.

“You could get as much kindness as you want once you debut in society. Men are eager to be kind to beautiful women.”

“I don’t want a man’s kindness. I want you.”

Anger laced Arne’s voice. Another man’s kindness? Vivian was irreplaceable. How could he compare that kindness to Vivian?

“It has to be you.”

“…….”

Cedric closed his mouth at the raw anger he felt from Arne. Her sudden burst of anger strangely pleased him. His nape felt hot for no reason.

“…I apologize.”

Cedric ran a dry hand over his face, fingers threading through his hair.

“What I mean is, think carefully so that you don’t mistake your feelings. The price of Renigrad’s curse is high, and once you hear about Renigrad’s secret, you can’t turn back.”

The secret about the demon must never be leaked outside Renigrad. Once the wedding is over, never.

“So don’t make a choice based on a momentary impulse that you’ll regret and resent for a lifetime. I also don’t want to live with someone like that by my side.”

In that sense, it was easier to be with someone who was satisfied with the wealth or status Renigrad could offer.

“It will be too late to run away, saying you didn’t know it would be like this. I won’t let you go, and I can’t let you go.”

“I told you, I won’t run away. Why do you keep saying that?”

Cedric sighed deeply. Well, sometimes, experiencing it firsthand is the only way.

Once she has her debutante, she’ll naturally understand what he meant.

Cedric smirked, and Arne raised her eyebrows.

“What does that expression mean?”

“It means, ‘What should I do with this young soul?'”

Cedric shrugged. His fingers tapped lightly on Arne’s ankle bone.

“So, can you walk to the banquet hall on your own now? I think this should be enough.”

Cedric released Arne’s ankle. Her leaning upper body stabilized. When she moved her ankle while sitting on the windowsill, it no longer throbbed.

“Spirit mana is really useful.”

Cedric, who was about to help her down from the windowsill, paused.

With a peculiar expression, he tilted his head. His red eyes looked at Arne intently.

“Cedric?”

When he pulled her waist close, her puzzled expression was clearly visible. Arne thought his gaze was strange.

“And in the North, showing your ankle means you want to sleep with someone.”

When Cedric applied force to his fingers again, her foot touched the ground completely. Due to the sudden increase in height, Arne had to look up. His red eyes remained fixed on her.

“I know you’re a woman from the capital, but be cautious with Northern men.”

His hand completely left her waist. Arne, unable to take a step, stood frozen as Cedric smiled lazily.

“Or do you really want me to carry you this time?”

“No. I can walk.”

Arne, snapping back to her senses, hurriedly started walking. It seemed she heard a low laugh behind her.

Arne deliberately quickened her steps. Even in the capital, showing one’s feet was a subtle seduction, but it wasn’t that blatant. In summer, even noble ladies’ clothes became thinner.

Thinking about it, in the perpetually cold North, revealing one’s body might have a more blatant meaning. There would be no one daring to make such an intimate advance in front of the Grand Duchess, so it was something she hadn’t realized even in her past life.

‘We were married, so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Why do I feel so embarrassed?’

Arne quickened her steps even more to keep her distance from Cedric, but he easily caught up.

“Lady.”

“Yes?”

Startled, Arne’s voice echoed through the corridor.

“Not that way.”

Cedric lazily gestured with his chin from the door Arne was heading towards.

“If you go that way, it’s my bedroom.”

“Is it this way?”

Arne quickly changed direction and walked faster.

“Lady.”

“Yes, what is it now? Is this not the right way either?”

Arne asked, pressing down her pounding heart.

“That’s my bathroom.”

“Let’s go that way.”

“That’s my office. Unless you prefer the office.”

Arne glared at the playful Cedric.

“Stop teasing me. So the first direction was the right one?”

“This entire floor is mine. The banquet hall is on a different floor.”

“You should have said so earlier.”

“I’ll escort you.”

Arne glared at Cedric’s outstretched hand.

“You said you didn’t want to be late.”

Feeling like she had no choice, Arne reluctantly took Cedric’s hand. She kept hearing low laughter.

* * *

As they approached the banquet hall, Arne’s demeanor gradually calmed. Her body naturally exuded the etiquette she remembered, and her well-honed gaze sparkled.

Cedric watched her changing demeanor with interest. She was a woman who clearly separated public and private matters.

The flustered expression she had when he teased her earlier was nowhere to be seen.

A unique elegance flowed from her.

Arne repeatedly checked her attire as if she wouldn’t tolerate a single mistake.

Feeling Cedric’s gaze, Arne turned her head. Their eyes met calmly.

“You’re beautiful. You don’t need to check so much.”

“…….”

Arne’s eyes wavered for a moment. She seemed unsure how to react to such words. Though she quickly regained her composure, Cedric found her reaction quite satisfying.

“Receiving an invitation from Duke Xenon is impressive, but the Grand Duke is not an easy person. Not just for you, but for anyone.”

Cedric pressed Arne’s tense hand reassuringly.

“But don’t worry too much. You are a guest invited to the Grand Duke’s banquet. He doesn’t neglect his guests.”

“That’s kind of you.”

“I’m also one of those men eager to be kind to a beautiful woman.”

Feeling relaxed, Arne chuckled. She leaned in and whispered in Cedric’s ear.

“My preference is the banquet hall. Since I’ll fulfill my duties anyway, I thought you should know.”

Arne straightened up and nodded to the servant as if nothing had happened. Her natural grace made the servant instinctively show respect.

Cedric let out a helpless laugh.

He hadn’t expected her to counter his assurance that she wouldn’t sway the Grand Duke by suggesting he prepare for their marital duties.

‘That’s more like you.’

The woman who glared with her red eyes, determined to attend the banquet despite looking like a frightened rabbit begging for mercy.

She was the one who demanded to be filled completely.

‘This is driving me crazy.’