“Have you returned, Master… and…”

When they canceled the appointment and returned to the Aselidia ducal estate, the butler who came to greet them trailed off upon seeing Karin in Luke’s arms. 

Karin’s complexion was pale, and despite the bleeding being stopped, wounds and bloodstains remained on her face and arms.

“We need to treat her wounds first. Prepare everything quickly.”

“Yes, Master.”

The butler didn’t ask further questions and moved swiftly, instructing them to call a doctor and prepare hot water and bandages.

Karin remained still while the doctor arrived, examined all her wounds, and wrapped them with bandages.

“The injuries aren’t severe, but you should avoid strenuous exercise for a while to prevent the wounds from reopening or getting sweat in them.”

After the doctor gave his prescription and left, the butler quietly took the servants outside, leaving Luke and Karin alone together.

The room was the one Karin had used as a bedroom when she was the Duchess of Aselidia. The room was kept clean, with proper bedding laid out instead of dust covers, and though Karin didn’t know it, the clothes she had left in the dressing room were still hanging there.

Luke had instructed them to clean and air the room daily while not touching anything inside, seemingly waiting for its owner to return.

“Karin.”

Luke called Karin’s name worriedly. Karin’s eyes were still vacant. Just when Luke was about to call her name again.

“There really is someone who wants to kill me.”

Karin said this, then chuckled and clenched and unclenched her hands.

“It’s not that big a deal, but honestly, it’s a bit shocking. I mean, I really almost died.”

“…Are you okay?”

“How could I be okay? You rejected me, I almost died, and I have no idea what’s going to happen next.”

Luke made a pitiful expression and tried to take Karin’s hand, but Karin pushed it away.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Karin, please listen to me. Just for a moment.”

“What is it?”

“What I said to you wasn’t sincere.”

Karin looked up and stared at Luke with disbelief.

“Really, why are you doing this? It’s kind of pathetic.”

“I don’t care if it’s pathetic. If you stayed with me and lost all of Hurion’s support, it seemed certain you’d become unhappy. That’s why I told you to go back. I wanted you to forget someone like me and live a new, happy life.”

Luke’s words made Karin’s eyes waver. But her mouth remained stubborn.

“How thoughtful of you to worry about me that much.”

“I was always worrying about you. Whether you were eating on time, sleeping properly, whether you were getting involved with other men.”

Everything was fine except the last part was ridiculous.

“The last one isn’t worrying about me.”

“But that’s what I thought. If you got involved with someone else, I felt like I’d kill that man and then myself.”

“Seriously…”

“Did you think it would be fine if I did everything I did with you to another woman?”

Karin shut her mouth in confusion. She tried to quickly give some answer, but that brief silence and her flustered look were already more than enough of an answer for Luke.

“Karin. I love you.”

Karin’s eyes widened.

Luke squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and properly faced Karin before him.

“Because I love you, I wanted to let you go so you could live happily. But I can’t do it. The moment you were in danger, I felt like my blood was flowing backward. I could have prevented you from going through something like that, if it were me. I kept thinking that.”

“…”

“So I wanted to take you somewhere, anywhere. As far as necessary. To a place where you wouldn’t be in danger. To a place where you’d come into my arms. If such a place doesn’t exist, I can create it. That would work. As long as you’re by my side.”

Karin panicked and held out her hand to stop Luke.

“Wait, wait a minute. You seem too excited. Is… is that sincere?”

“I may have said mean things to you many times, but I’ve never lied to you. What I said today was also mean, but it wasn’t a lie. It would be better for your life if neither I nor the child existed.”

Karin looked at Luke with troubled eyes.

A twisted story. The male lead saying he loved her.

This was Karin’s new story. Everything now depended on Karin’s single word.

“…Even knowing that it would be better for me, you’re asking me to live with you?”

“Yes.”

“…You’re really so selfish. Egotistical. Completely rotten. A pervert. Just like my first impression of you. You know that? You’re really the worst?”

Luke lowered his head at Karin’s criticism. Everything she said was right. When he thought about it, there was no way Karin would choose someone like him.

Karin shook her head irritably.

“Geez, I said people can’t be fixed… No, this probably can’t be fixed either… Fine. Let’s live together.”

“…What?”

Luke looked at Karin with disbelieving eyes. Karin felt embarrassed by Luke’s reaction and got annoyed.

“Are you complaining even when I’m agreeing to what you want?”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just, why are you—”

“I came looking for you today partly because you’re the baby’s father, but more than that, you’re… now.”

Karin’s face turned bright red and she turned her head to the side, then suddenly glared at Luke defiantly. Just like Luke had looked into her eyes when he confessed.

“I spent the whole month thinking only about you. No other options even occurred to me.”

“…Karin.”

“I also, I think I lo… love you too.”

Luke’s face brightened. When he took Karin’s hand, this time Karin didn’t push it away.

“Thank you.”

“…For what?”

“Just, for everything. For you being here. All of it…”

“You’re the one who brought me here.”

Karin grumbled but somehow felt good and smiled slightly. It was troublesome that her feelings didn’t hide well in front of Luke, and it was even more troublesome that Luke liked that.

* * *

The incident of Luke taking Karin away quickly became gossip and spread.

“They say the two families are bitter enemies, but maybe not so much with the younger generation.”

“They say those two had such a good relationship.”

“Then are the two families finally going to get along better in this generation?”

Because the deadly rivalry between the two families was so famous, people watched the incident with curiosity.

“Thanks to this, Hurion has been completely humiliated. Thank you for taking away both their daughter and their honor.”

Adrian said through gritted teeth.

The security for the meeting between Adrian and Luke was tight. No one could approach the two dukes, not even servants could enter the conference room, and knights lined the corridor guarding the entrance.

Luke leaned back against his chair and chuckled.

“Didn’t Hurion bring this on themselves? Have you identified the mastermind behind the assassin?”

“Is that something you need to be curious about?”

“Well, if I don’t need to know, I’ll let it pass. I’m sure I’ll find out someday.”

Luke shrugged. He read the intention to avoid the question in Adrian’s words.

If the assassin had been from Aselidia’s side, Adrian would have attacked him viciously with that information, but since he wasn’t doing so, it meant the assassin was from Hurion’s side.

“Karin has lost the family’s trust over this incident. She probably won’t be able to inherit Hurion now.”

“Is that so?”

“If you have any brains, any heart, wouldn’t you think about it? Karin will live with you from now on, living a life worse than an ordinary noble with no titles to her name. Don’t you think Aselidia will tear such a Karin apart?”

There was desperation in Adrian’s words. Luke’s expression darkened somewhat, as he had thought about this before.

However, Luke shook his head.

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Even so—”

“So, I’ll give you a gift.”

Luke pulled out a beige leather-bound booklet from his jacket and pushed it toward Adrian.

Adrian picked up the booklet and looked puzzled.

“What is this?”

“Try reading it.”

Adrian made a displeased sound and opened the book. After reading for a while, his eyes widened.

“This is…! You’re giving me this?”

“Yes.”

It was the journal of the noble who had been killed by Alicia and Anton.

It detailed the emotions he felt toward Alicia and what he had done. His desire and longing for Alicia, and everything he planned to do – it was strong evidence that he had tried to ass*ult Alicia.

If this were submitted as evidence in court, Alicia and Anton would be recognized for self-defense. And Aselidia would suffer great humiliation.

That’s why Adrian couldn’t believe it. That Luke had kept this instead of burning it and was now giving it to him.

“What’s your scheme?”

“I want to make a deal with you, Your Grace. The price for that notebook is quite high.”

Luke said this, then leaned forward and looked at Adrian.

“I’ve discussed this with Karin at length and we’ve reached an agreement. She has accepted that she won’t inherit the ducal house. But please take good care of the assets that she’s supposed to inherit.”

“…Is that all?”

“No. You must also recognize the inheritance rights of the child that will be born between Karin and me. As for that child’s succession rights to the Hurion dukedom, do as you please.”

Adrian groaned uncomfortably again. But it wasn’t over yet.

“Also, both sides will withdraw the marriage nullification lawsuit.”

“…So Karin has no intention of returning?”

“Why would you want a married child to return?”

“If the son-in-law is trash, that could happen. You’ll understand soon enough once you have a child.”

Adrian spoke bluntly. Luke nodded without smiling.

“I’ll respect my child’s wishes.”

“Don’t regret those words.”

“Of course not.”

“Then I’ll go submit this to the court.”

Adrian stood up first from the uncomfortable meeting. Luke remained seated without following suit.

“Listen.”

Adrian, who had been heading to the door, suddenly stopped and looked back at Luke. His face looked very tired.

“If Karin ever comes home crying, I’ll put a hole in your head.”

“That will never happen, so don’t worry, father-in-law.”

“Call me that one more time and you’ll see.”

Adrian spoke roughly, then turned and left the conference room, while Luke smiled bitterly.