Chapter 31

After watching Elias’s performance at the Opera House, Charlotte and Erhen spent some time at the shooting booth in the night market, as there was still some time before evening.

Erhen, holding the rifle stock against his shoulder, spoke.

“About that one and only friend of yours.”

Charlotte bristled.

“There’s no need to add the word ‘only’ to that.”

Elias Cherfeld was someone Erhen already knew. He had been one of the few guests on the bride’s side at Charlotte and Erhen’s modest wedding, held simply at a cathedral. He was her only friend and had been skeptical of their contractual marriage until the end—a sharp, observant individual.

Erhen’s eyes narrowed as he aimed at the target.

“He certainly deserves to be called the jewel of the Rohadin music scene.”

The opera performance, for which Charlotte had personally acquired tickets from Elias, was nothing short of enchanting. The production evoked the serene night sky, with stage design that made the audience feel as though they were part of the scene. Elias Cherfeld’s voice resonated at the center, stirring emotions with its sweet melody.

Even for Erhen, who had received basic cultural etiquette training as a noble but had never lived a leisurely life, Elias Cherfeld’s talent was undeniable. Despite being impressed by today’s performance, Erhen muttered quietly, as if unwilling to fully acknowledge him.

“…I don’t like him.”

After finishing his aim, he gently pulled the trigger. Bang! The gunshot echoed, and a hole appeared right in the center of the distant target board.

Ten points! The score glittered brightly, displayed by the magical device, and Charlotte let out a scream. Even the booth owner beside them couldn’t hide his astonishment.

“Is there anything you can’t do?!”

“It’d be harder to find something I can’t do.”

“This is unfair! You’re already a master of magic—couldn’t you at least be bad at something?”

Charlotte’s shout, full of jealousy, softened the tension. That’s right, Elias Cherfeld might excel in magic and music, but surely, he wouldn’t be better at shooting than Erhen. Accepting the lion plushie handed over by the booth owner, Erhen spoke lightly.

“Back when you were still with your family, one of the Duke’s biggest ventures was the arms industry—guns, specifically.”

“What does that have to do with this?”

“How can a business owner not be skilled in their own trade?”

Honestly, he wasn’t wrong. Charlotte herself had drunk countless cups of coffee while setting up her café. Still, she couldn’t accept the fact that she had failed to hit the target even once while Erhen excelled effortlessly.

Taking the doll Erhen handed her, Charlotte spoke indignantly.

“Isn’t this country’s shooting champion supposed to be His Majesty? If you’re this good, does that mean His Majesty wields dual pistols with ease?”

“Why are you suddenly bringing up the King?”

Erhen, forgetting to use an honorific for the Rohadin monarch, looked bewildered at her sudden mention of the shooting champion. Charlotte, with a huff, grabbed Erhen’s arm and pulled him along.

The date had to continue.

***

Inside Braus Restaurant, renowned as the finest in Heringen.

As the gentle piano melody spread throughout the hall, with the night sea visible through the window, Charlotte and Erhen finished their meal while chatting quietly. After the table was cleared and dessert was served, the waiter bowed politely, wishing them a pleasant evening, and left. Erhen then broke the silence.

“Charlotte.”

At the soft voice calling her name, Charlotte, who had been gazing absentmindedly at the night sea through the window while waiting for dessert, turned her attention to him.

“If there’s something you want to say, just say it.”

His tone was calm. Struck by his perceptiveness, Charlotte smiled awkwardly.

“How do you always catch on so quickly?”

“No one rents out an entire restaurant just for a meaningless meal.”

He was right. Currently, the only people in the restaurant were the staff serving them, the chefs, and the pianist providing background music.

Was it too obvious? 

Feeling anxious, Charlotte took a sip of wine. Finally, she spoke.

“Erhen.”

“Go on.”

“I’ll admit that I’m shaken by you, Duke.”

The glass Erhen had been lifting paused mid-air. Charlotte hurriedly added.

“But I’m not certain.”

Erhen placed his glass back on the table. His voice carried a hint of unease.

“Why not?”

“It’s simple. We’re divorced.”

“That’s…”

Since Erhen had sought Charlotte out again, he hadn’t been at a loss for words as much as he was today. Frustrated, he clenched his fist.

Biting her lip briefly, Charlotte continued, looking at Erhen, who was still searching for the right words.

“The reason we’re swayed by each other now could simply be regret over our past relationship.”

“If it were just that, I wouldn’t have come back to you.”

His resolute tone and piercing blue eyes fixed on her. Charlotte inhaled sharply.

She knew. From the moment she reunited with Erhen, his actions toward her couldn’t be explained by mere lingering feelings. And she felt the same way.

Charlotte tilted her wine glass again. Taking a deep breath, she finally broke the silence.

“So what I want to say is…”

I’m not just shaken. I like you, Erhen.

Hiding her true feelings, which she could never voice, she pressed on.

“Shall we date? For just a month.”

She dared to put him to the test.

“So we can decide afterward.”

Setting a time limit for their marriage wasn’t enough—now she was proposing a time-limited relationship. At her sudden suggestion, Erhen let out a faint laugh.

Watching him, Charlotte bit her lip and looked at him anxiously.

She knew how absurd this proposal must seem to him. How selfish it was to think only of herself.

But Charlotte wanted to love.

She wanted to fully experience his feelings for her, even if only for a moment. She wanted to feel that happiness, even if it was fleeting.

After a moment of silence, Erhen, who had been quietly observing her, finally spoke.

“Does that include the possibility of rejection?”

Charlotte gave a barely noticeable nod.

“But on the other hand, it also gives you time to reconsider me, Duke.”

“My decision won’t change.”

As if there was no room for doubt, he scoffed.

Charlotte feigned indignation and shouted.

“That’s something you can’t know! What if, as your girlfriend, I follow you everywhere and cling to you, making sure you can’t do anything? Ugh, just imagining it is horrible.”

“That sounds perfect to me.”

Caught off guard by his honest response, Charlotte pursed her lips.

“So, do you dislike it? Dating me for a month?”

“Was there ever a choice for me in this proposal?”

His sharp gaze accompanied the pointed question. Charlotte fell silent, momentarily at a loss for words.

Just as she had come to understand her feelings through his words, Erhen’s pride was also formidable. It was the same pride that led to their argument when Charlotte had hired Lucas’s bodyguards to protect their home, citing concerns over Erhen’s magic.

Ridiculously, she felt a slight sense of relief at his question. If he didn’t accept, she could quietly let the month pass. By then, the royal decree might be rescinded, and everything would fall into place.

Looking down, Charlotte let out a quiet sigh.

“…I’m sorry if I offended you.”

Erhen’s blue eyes slowly scanned her troubled face.

He already knew that Charlotte was shaken by him. Her hesitant acceptance of his presence and the honesty in her gaze revealed as much. Yet, the reason she couldn’t fully commit was because of his failure to hold onto her in their past relationship.

With a deep breath, his sharp gaze softened as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Charlotte.”

“…”

“I don’t know whether to thank you for giving me this chance or to resent you for trying to bind even this with a contract.”

Still, if the reason he could stay by her side was this proposal, even if it risked destroying him, he had no right to refuse.

Hearing his words, Charlotte nervously clenched her hands on the table. His gaze lingered on her hands for a moment before he reached out, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it.

“Even so, I can’t help but lose to you.”

Her hand trembled slightly at the unexpected gesture, and he smirked, looking up at her. Feeling the warmth of his lips on her hand, Charlotte’s cheeks flushed red.

At her candid reaction, Erhen winked playfully.

“From now on, I’ll give it my all, my ex-wife.”