“It doesn’t matter.”

“…….”

“You’re going to die anyway.”

The unchanging truth pierced Ertel’s heart, as if he were stabbing her to extract the gemstone from its location.

“So, the plan hasn’t changed.”

“You’ll be a noble sacrifice for the grand cause.”

If there was any consolation, it was that she no longer felt sadness at such absurd words.

This was much better than when he wore a mask and spewed sweet words. At least now, she had no expectations left.

“Icarus, what if I don’t easily give you my death?”

“Then Marquis Adin will die.”

Ertel clicked her tongue at the endlessly cruel and consistent nature of Icarus.

“Then, what if I willingly give you my death?”

“Your father, your only blood relative, will remain untouched.”

“……!”

“This, I can promise.”

“…….”

“As a man.”

It was no empty promise.

No matter how ruthless Icarus was, there was a flexible part of him that allowed for negotiation.

This left Ertel’s mind in turmoil.

Adin had not accepted her when she returned to him as a daughter for the second time.

But even without words, she could feel it.

Adin was tormented, blaming himself for the resentment he once harbored toward his child.

Even if he couldn’t openly accept her, his sorrowful gaze toward her must have revealed his true feelings.

‘My head hurts.’

Ertel lowered her head as a sharp pain throbbed in her skull. She felt slightly out of breath as well.

Now she understood.

Why a child born with a gemstone was said to carry a “curse” rather than a blessing.

“Ertel.”

Icarus knelt on one knee to meet her eye level. Then, he gently extended his hand.

“If you want to prevent further tragedies, take my hand.”

“……!”

“Come back to me as my bride.”

As soon as she heard his short words, Ertel stared into the void, as if struck by a hammer.

>><<

<In a secret room within the mansion>

The sound of quiet breathing echoed in the small room.

Negotiations between Icarus and Ertel proceeded swiftly.

On the desk lay a sheet of paper and a quill.

‘A marriage of convenience contract.’

The contract was meticulously written, entirely in favor of Icarus.

Even so, Ertel had no choice but to comply.

If it weren’t for the variable of her father, she wouldn’t have yielded so easily.

The terms were roughly as follows:

– Icarus’s sole desire was the Kaiya Stone, and Ertel must preserve her body until she turned 23.
– If Ertel willingly gave up her life in two years, Icarus would ensure the eternal protection of the Agnes Marquisate.
– While living as the Duchess of Juan, Icarus would grant Ertel all the wealth and honor a woman could have in her lifetime.

As she read it, Ertel thought to herself, ‘“What? This is looser than I expected.”’

There weren’t many clauses designed to torment her.

Given his power and authority, he could have demoted her to a slave instead of treating her as a duchess and forced her into labor.

‘Why does he want to treat me like a wife?’

Considering this, Icarus was being surprisingly lenient with her.

‘Doesn’t he worry that I might pretend to comply and wait for the chance to kill him?’

She couldn’t understand his lack of caution, but it wasn’t a bad proposal for her. It gave her more time.

Suspicion filled her green eyes as she looked at the man sitting across from her.

“Alright. Will you personally kill me in two years?”

“Since you have agreed to this marriage of convenience, I’ll do as you wish. I’ll ensure you die in the least painful way possible, the way you want.”

“This situation, where I should be thanking you, is quite amusing.”

“I can afford to show you that much mercy.”

Ertel’s dazed eyes slowly scanned Icarus’s face.

“You’re well aware that I ruined the wedding ceremony at the chapel.”

“I’m very aware. Thanks to you, I became the laughingstock of the nobles for a while.”

“And yet, you’re planning to hold the wedding again? Aren’t you hesitant to show your face in public again?”

“That’s exactly why I need to do it more openly and confidently. To emphasize that your escape was nothing more than a minor incident.”

“Ah.”

At the thought of seeing Ertel in a wedding dress again, Icarus couldn’t help but smile.

Regardless of any personal feelings he had for her, it had been a truly beautiful sight.

Moreover, the thought of her returning to his mansion lifted his spirits.

Seeing his cheerful reaction, Ertel felt a strange sense of unease.

‘Is he excited because he’s planning to kill me later?’

She felt ashamed of the passionate love she had once harbored for a man with such a twisted mind.

Of course, she had no intention of dying willingly according to his plan.

“Ertel. For now, stay in the secret room today. Tomorrow morning, return to the drawing room.”

“……Alright. The thought of pretending to love you again overnight is hard to adjust to.”

“You’re good at it.”

“Am I?”

“I must’ve been fooled all this time.”

Icarus would no longer fall for her acting.

Thinking that her plan to kill him had become even more difficult, Ertel felt a fire burning inside her.

“Make sure to explain to the household staff why the wedding had to be canceled.”

“Yes.”

“Act your best so they don’t suspect a thing.”

“I understand.”

The agreements made in the secret room went smoothly.

>><<

”The next day, in the carriage heading to the royal palace.”

As he commuted to his post as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Icarus shared the events of the previous day with Amar.

After hearing the story, Amar was utterly dumbfounded.

“What? You’re going to force the wedding again? Ha, as expected….”

Shocked by the sudden turn of events, Amar quickly regained his composure.

“Well, it’s different this time. It’s a marriage of convenience, one that benefits both parties.”

“Does it really benefit both parties, my lord?”

Strictly speaking, it was closer to blackmail.

Regardless, Icarus couldn’t completely hide his excitement.

The thought of obtaining the gemstone made the memory of Ertel pointing a knife at him fade.

Meanwhile, Amar, who was growing increasingly frustrated, felt as though his chest would burst.

“My lord, do you really trust that woman? You’re accepting her as a duchess, not a slave? Even if you’re using Adin as leverage, two years is a long time. Well, technically, two months have already passed, so it’s one year and eight months, but still. In that time, she could gather strength and attempt to kill you again. She’s not the type to sit quietly.”

“If she fails, the Agnes family will be destroyed by my hand. Adin will meet a miserable end. Would she take that risk?”

“You never know. She has already tried to kill you once. What’s stopping her from trying again? Did you propose this marriage of convenience without considering the risks?”

To Amar, this decision seemed uncharacteristic of Icarus.

The Duke of Juan, whom he had served for a lifetime, was a man who allowed no room for even a 1% chance of failure.

Feeling a twinge of unease, Icarus shook his head.

“She won’t give up on Adin.”

He couldn’t forget the desperate look in Ertel’s eyes.

“Why are you so sure?”

Amar grabbed Icarus’s right hand and pulled it open. The scar from the blade was still visible.

“Have you forgotten this wound?”

“…….”

“This time, her knife only pierced your hand. Next time, she might aim for your neck!”

To be precise, it had been Icarus who had offered his hand to her blade, but he understood why his subordinate was so angry.

Even so, Icarus remained steadfast.

“Don’t worry.”

“My lord!”

“This time, since it’s a marriage of convenience, I’ll assign a watchman to Ertel.”

“…I suppose I’ll have to keep an even sharper eye on her myself.”

The carriage heading to the royal palace remained noisy until they arrived.

>><<

<Icarus entered the king’s reception room to mark his attendance>

Pedro had prepared a greeting for his arrival.

Since Icarus was still without his bride, Pedro had prepared words to console his deeply wounded heart.

But inwardly, Pedro was worried about someone else entirely.

‘I wonder if she’s doing well.’

The image of Ertel, who had suddenly disappeared from the palace, lingered vividly in his mind.

He was desperate to hear news of her.

He wanted to know where she was staying, but without knowing her whereabouts, he couldn’t even send a letter.

At the same time, he hoped Icarus wouldn’t find her.

“Welcome, Juan. You look well today, which is a relief.”

“It’s an honor to have your concern. No matter what happens, I must separate public matters from personal ones. Today, I’ve come to work diligently as Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

Icarus’s words went in one ear and out the other.

“Indeed.”

Pedro gave a meaningless response before asking the question that truly mattered to him.

“What about your bride? Has she returned?”