For a moment, Aaron’s lips hardened. A light of reproach seemed to seep through, as if asking if she was in any position to argue with him.

Even so, was he saying she couldn’t expect even the most basic consideration?

She couldn’t help but voice her complaint.

“I’ll wash as quickly as possible. Can’t I just promise not to keep you waiting long?”

“Do you know how cruel the word ‘promise’ can be? It can mortgage a person’s entire life. Isn’t the duality of promises quite amusing?”

He shuddered at the harm caused by the promise—the oath of allegiance—with the Marquis. Aaron’s tone was laced with sarcasm.

“Since this matter is relatively trivial, don’t think too seriously about it. If you can’t avoid it, it’s better to accept it quickly.”

Though he used polite speech, it was no different from the sharp commands he gave to servants.

It was an elegant way of saying that to make things comfortable for both of them, she should abandon her useless stubbornness.

Whenever she tried to summon her will to endure well, he cut it down at the base with an axe.

Repeatedly crushing her motivation, her resolve to behave properly began to tilt askew.

Lucilia scanned the room with trembling pupils.

There was nowhere for her to hide in the small bedroom.

Until now, she had bathed with just a screen set up in one corner. There was no chance they would arrange a separate bathing space for her now.

Did he think it possible for her to bathe while making the sound of water with him clearly listening?

In front of a man with whom she hadn’t formally married, let alone consummated?

Lucilia clung to a thread of hope and pleaded.

“As the young lord knows, I have no special abilities except reading minds. Even that is only possible when I look into someone’s eyes.”

“Once I’ve confirmed enough, I won’t trouble you.”

“And when will that be?”

“Well, I don’t know if it will be a day, a month, or a year.”

He crossed his arms and closed his eyes.

Lucilia bit her lip at this cold defense that cut off conversation.

Standing awkwardly in this confrontation that wasn’t quite a confrontation, the very thing she wanted to avoid happened.

“I’ve brought the bath water.”

“Come in.”

As the heavy command fell, the door opened.

Two servants placed a wooden tub, followed by maids carrying water jugs full of hot water.

The moment the maids headed toward the screen, her toes fidgeted with the desire to run away. Even if she rebelled, she would be caught in the blink of an eye if the master merely wiggled his finger.

As she imagined the scene of rushing out the door, Hans joined in, blocking her view.

Her flight of fancy collapsed weakly.

“I’ve brought the statement you requested.”

Aaron took the documents from Hans and pointed to the door with his chin.

“Everyone out.”

It was so terse that it felt more brutal.

The command, devoid of excess, targeted each person and hit them precisely. This startled a maid who was pouring water, causing her hand to slip.

The moment water spilled generously around the tub, the maid immediately put down the jug. Before incurring her master’s wrath, she rushed over and knelt down.

She placed her forehead on the floor and repeatedly apologized.

“I’m sorry! It will never happen again. Please forgive me just this once!”

She wondered how mercilessly he must normally treat them for the maid to turn pale and tremble so.

Was he always this cruel, as if dealing with enemies?

In one way, his beautiful appearance seemed to disrupt boundaries, and in another way, he exuded an unapproachable aura like a violent warrior.

“Leave now.”

“Yes, yes!”

Aaron froze the maid who was hurriedly rising and heading for the door.

“Hans.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Tell the head maid to train that girl again.”

“Understood.”

The young lord, second to none in strictness, and Karen Miriam, whom he trusted and employed.

The maid retreated with a pale face, imagining Mrs. Miriam’s narrow eyes beneath her glasses.

After sending everyone out, Aaron now glanced at Lucilia.

“The water will get cold.”

“H-how long are you going to stay like that?”

“Since it’s a holy day and I’m relatively free, I plan to spend the entire day here.”

“The bath… can wait until tomorrow.”

“I will personally inspect everything you’re wearing, so undress.”

“This is too much!”

“You’ll only be free once the verification process is complete. Allow me just today. In the future, if you use only approved items, I won’t need to check everything individually.”

Feeling exposed, she crossed her arms to cover her chest, and he commanded in an emotionless tone.

“If you understand, hurry and undress.”

Aaron, who glared at her briefly, encompassed her with his overwhelming presence.

Though she was the one standing by the window, he appeared to be wrapped in sunlight despite sitting inside.

If he was going to be so harsh, he could at least frown.

After dismissing her with his handsome face, he casually scanned the documents, making her doubt whether he had even given the command.

Thinking he might change his mind, Lucilia pretended to untie and retie the ribbon on her dress, stalling for time.

Honestly, Aaron didn’t seem likely to reverse his decision to monitor her.

It’s just…

She was too embarrassed to undress.

It was fortunate he didn’t seem intent on examining her n*ked body, but the idea of bathing in a room with a man present was absolutely unacceptable.

It conflicted with her firm belief in purity.

Even if it were the wedding night after marriage, her heart would still pound…

While she was employing this futile tactic, Aaron noticed the fluttering ribbon in her hand and chuckled softly.

“How should I think of you, who comes covered in dirt and blood every time I see you? At this point, it would be more unreasonable not to think that dark clouds follow you.”

“That’s! …Not my intention. I didn’t know I would be chased by the Order of Temple Knights, nor did I know the stone by the pond would move and make me fall.”

“That’s precisely the problem. If your will were involved, you could have resolved it yourself. It’s because uncontrollable situations keep occurring that people talk about misfortune and curses.”

Suddenly rising, he strode over and pulled the table. Then he placed it close to the screen and returned to the sofa.

After scanning the first page of the document, he grabbed the corner and turned to the next page.

“Place all your clothes and accessories on that table. Everything wrapped around your body.”

“Do we really have to do this?”

“As I’ve said repeatedly, you only need to go through this procedure once. If you don’t do it now, you’ll continue to be harassed.”

He added, sharply staring at her dirty dress.

The sunlight that had enveloped him earlier fled from the cold aura.

“Can you withstand it? I’m sure you’re not unaware of the rumors about me.”

How many enemies must he have annihilated to earn the nickname “Black Fog”?

They said he pushed enemies into danger zones and cruelly cut off their breath.

That quietness, that coldness was enough to inspire awe beyond fear, so nothing more needed to be said.

Aaron, as if seeing through Lucilia’s thoughts, calmly added an explanation.

“I don’t only use brutal methods. When torturing, I sometimes show the limits of patience, and when persuading, I can occasionally be kind.”

“…”

“Do you perhaps want to quarrel and make me sick of you? If that’s what you want, I’ll oblige.”

Aaron’s eye corners curved slightly. Then he suddenly turned his head toward Lucilia.

Surprisingly, it was Lucilia who was flustered by their directly connected gazes.

‘Do as you please.’

His eyes, flashing with determination, contained not a grain of falsehood.

His intention was clear—he only made eye contact when necessary, when he was confident. He wasn’t controlled by divine power but used it reversely.

Either undress or be harassed.

Though he had passed the decision to her, it was nothing but intimidation.

“I’ll wait until you make up your mind.”

His calm voice pushed at Lucilia’s back.

What good was his generosity when he had blocked all retreat?

She was trapped in a cage anyway.

Whether she struggled or conformed to reality, things would eventually flow as Aaron wanted.

Lucilia entered behind the screen without a maid’s help and began to undress herself.

Grunting, she untied the laces at her back and let her dress and petticoat fall to her feet.

The rustling sound spread unusually loudly.

Thinking that Aaron could hear everything, her face turned bright red as if she had put it in front of a fire.

Lucilia looked down at the thin chemise she wore. Her protruding br*asts were faintly visible through the white fabric.

She wanted to sink into the ground right then and there.

Surely he wouldn’t rudely intrude?

She recalled his words about examining everything on her body.

After taking a deep breath that made her chest heave, she removed even her undergarments.

Gathering all her clothes, she stretched out only her hand and placed them on the table.

“Here they are.”

Just as she hid deep behind the screen again:

“I see no accessories.”