A man appeared as if he had fallen straight from the sky.

Because of him, a chilling silence descended upon the auction house that had been boiling with madness.

The sound of his footsteps was clear enough to be heard distinctly in Eve’s ears.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes in the auction house poured onto this one man.

Though his lips were covered with a golden mask, people could easily imagine the beautiful eyes and bridge of the nose hidden behind it. His slicked-back black hair gleamed with luster, and his appropriately broad shoulders, slender upper body, and long legs moved with elegance and dignity.

Above all, that enigmatic gaze was the masterpiece.

Those golden eyes, which should have contained the brilliance of the sun ruling the sky, instead possessed the golden light that dominated the earth.

Arrogant and mercilessly cold, yet like a lump of gold with an irresistible, bewitching charm that could never be refused.

The man was s＊xy like gold.

“…Ahh.”

“Mmm.”

The ladies seated in the auction house licked their lips and swallowed hard. Hidden behind their masks, they had long since thrown away their manners and etiquette. Some didn’t even hesitate to let out expl＊cit moans.

Just then, an elderly nobleman who had been staring blankly at the man stood up abruptly.

With a handkerchief in hand, he pointed alternately at the young man and the auctioneer, raising his voice in anger.

“No! Auctioneer, this is an illegal intrusion!”

“I apologize, I apologize.”

The auctioneer kept apologizing and looked at the man with the golden mask.

“Sir. I’m sorry, but the item is already about to be sold.”

“That hammer.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re still holding that gavel in your hand, aren’t you? Since you haven’t struck the auction block, I still have a chance.”

“B-but. That would be against the rules…”

The golden eyes narrowed, and the corner of the man’s mouth curled up coolly.

“Huh, what rules could exist in this filthy place?”

“S-sir?”

“From the old nobleman who chooses to act like a dog in heat to the ladies who shamelessly devour my body with their eyes. Aren’t you all rotten to the core?”

“H-how dare you! You scoundrel!”

The elderly nobleman, red to his scalp, jumped up in fury.

The man with the golden mask captured him once with his cold eyes, then slowly climbed the steps to the stage. He approached Eve, whose arms were being held by staff members.

Golden eyes melted into sorrowful purple ones as he opened his lips.

A refined desire rippled in the man’s eyes.

Eve saw salvation within them.

“One hundred thousand Lofran.”

The man, keeping his gaze fixed on Eve, tossed a panel with a number on it to the auctioneer.

The auctioneer looked at the panel number that had fallen at his feet and, as if entranced, raised his gavel.

Bang.

“This item… has been sold to customer number 91 for one hundred thousand Lofran.”

Eve was sold to the man with number 91.

Even as she was handed over to the man by the staff while still wearing her gown and veil, she didn’t take her eyes off him.

‘Salvation.’

Rolling the man’s number in her mouth, she gazed at the tall, confident back walking ahead of her.

Better to become ‘something’ to this young savior than to be an old man’s concubine or a tavern pr*stitute.

But she was curious.

‘Why did he buy me? He’s clearly not a commoner.’

One hundred thousand Lofran—enough money to buy two high-end mansions in the district.

Unlike Eve, whose curiosity was at its peak, the man numbered 91 didn’t speak to her once inside the auction house.

After quickly handling the payment procedure for the winning bid and fees, the man silently led her to a massive carriage.

An aide who seemed to have come with him opened the carriage door, and Eve grabbed her skirt with both hands to board.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

The man, still wearing his golden mask, called to Eve.

As she had felt inside the auction house, his dry voice sent chills down her protruding spine.

“I’ll have a lot to teach you.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Hand.”

A large palm opened before Eve’s eyes.

After tilting her head and staring at the large hand for a while, she let out a low sigh.

“Oh.”

Eve had seen noblewomen receiving escorts from gentlemen. It was something that often appeared in play scripts too.

Her thin, bony hand was placed neatly on the hand of man number 91.

Her ‘savior’ gently held her trembling hand and carefully helped her into the carriage.

Eve felt a chill down her spine from the sensation that contradicted his cold tone.

Soon after, the man boarded the carriage and sat right next to Eve.

‘Next to me?’

Whether he knew of Eve’s confusion or not, the man finally removed the golden mask covering his face. He also loosened his tight tie, tossing it onto the sofa across the carriage, and undid three or four shirt buttons with his fingers.

‘Oh!’

Eve closed her eyes in surprise.

But not long after, a woman’s instinct drew her eyes to the man’s face.

His black hair, damp with sweat from wearing the mask for a long time, clung to his forehead. Even that looked sensual, making Eve’s heart flutter.

His deep, arched eyes contained gold. Even from the side, his long, thick eyelashes rested elegantly. His high, sharp nose bridge connected to an elegant philtrum and lips that looked delicious. His sharp chin and the collarbone and chest visible through his unbuttoned shirt rose and fell slightly with each shallow breath.

A perfect beauty.

Thus, Eve was unconsciously staring at number 91’s face.

As he shook his head and fixed his hair with his right hand, her savior glanced at her and said:

“Done with your appreciation?”

“What? …Yes.”

Her small cheeks instantly turned red.

She heard the sound of the man’s scoffing laugh.

Eve’s face reddened even more.

“I am Duke Victor Mikhail.”

“D-Duke?”

The man who introduced himself as a duke—number 91.

Duke Mikhail turned his head and brought his face close to Eve’s.

“Hmm, you really do look alike. No, not just alike—you could be the same person.”

“…?”

Incomprehensible words flowed from between his well-shaped red lips.

Eve stared at Victor’s beautiful golden eyes with an astonished expression.

‘Who do I resemble?’

She sent such a questioning look, but he provided no further information.

After carefully observing the tense Eve, Victor withdrew his face. He rose from his seat without hesitation and moved to the sofa opposite, crossing his long legs as he sat.

The warmth of a person still remained in the now-empty space.

Even that cold man has warm body heat.

While thinking this, Victor’s indifferent voice woke Eve from her thoughts.

“Name.”

“Pardon?”

“Since you’ve heard my introduction, shouldn’t you give yours?”

“…Eve, Eve Saint.”

Victor, crossing his legs the other way, rested his elbow on the carriage window and supported his temple with his half-clenched fist.

“Surprising. I understood you were from the slums, yet you have a surname.”

“I-I’m an actress, so that’s why. It’s just for show.”

‘An actress, is that so.’

His clear voice pierced her ears distinctly.

But why suddenly ask if a commoner has a surname?

At that moment, the corners of his mouth turned up in satisfaction.

“Why… are you smiling?”

Eve asked, clutching at her gown that kept coming undone.

‘What’s so funny? My name? Or the fact that I’m from the slums?’

She didn’t feel particularly good about it.

“No. It just fits my plan perfectly. I won’t have to create a separate surname.”

“Plan? And what do you mean by creating a surname?”

Victor didn’t answer Eve’s question, his gaze falling on her opening neckline.

“Ah…”

Her hand trembled as she gripped her collar.

Victor raised his gaze to look directly into Eve’s eyes and said:

“From now on, you belong to me. That means I can do as I please, doesn’t it?”

“Yes.”

This was something Eve had already prepared herself for.

She had become merchandise, and Victor Mikhail was her owner.

“What kind of style do you want me to play?”

Simultaneously, Victor’s face distorted. Her hands had been trembling just moments ago, but now her bold eyes were meeting his directly. Eve was no longer covering her neckline.

The curves of her slender yet full feminine body were barely visible.

Looking at Victor who was staring at her with a crumpled expression, Eve swallowed and added:

“An elegant and sensual style, a femme fatale style, a loose style, a coy style, or perhaps an ascetic style… I can match any of them for you. Ah!”

Suddenly, Victor took off his coat and threw it at Eve’s face.

“Cover yourself.”

Eve blankly held the coat that slid down her face with both hands, while cold golden eyes glared at her.

“Do you take me for trash? Just act the way you always have.”

“…Pardon?”

A meaningful smile spread across Victor’s beautiful face.

“You’re going to be my wife.”

A man who was intense and rude from their first meeting.

His slanted smile was so cold it was rather fatal.

“The Duke’s wife…? Me?”

Eve asked, feeling her face flush red again.

“Pretend to be my wife for just six months. Think of it as being bait for my business. Do you understand?”

Wife? Not a mistress or a concubine, but a duke’s wife?

Eve just blinked with a flushed face.

“I’m…”

‘A commoner.’

Victor closed his eyes and leaned deeply against the backrest without further explanation.

Eve had to travel to the duke’s mansion while forcibly keeping that cold man in her sight.

Inside the swaying carriage. Even when she looked out the window, Victor was reflected in the glass, and Victor was also right in front of her.

The coat in her arms was warm.

Eve thought it was fortunate that the coat didn’t resemble its owner as she leaned her small back against the carriage sofa and closed her thin eyelids.

‘I’m tired.’

The journey to the duke’s mansion felt endless.