1.7

Ellen was so shocked that she instinctively covered her mouth with both hands, afraid that she might make a sound. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.  

Until a moment ago, she had been a target of mockery.

Did they think I was easy? Is that why I was chosen as the victim of their bet? How cruel!  

The first emotion Ellen felt was displeasure. She was upset that they considered her nothing more than a source of entertainment, using her as a subject for their wager.  

‘Do they think I’d fall for their tricks? What do they take me for? And to exploit someone’s weakness… What terrible people!’

Fuming, Ellen silently criticized the man who had proposed the bet.  

‘Wait! He said to confess to me… That doesn’t sound entirely bad, does it?’ 

She stopped her internal complaints. The more she thought about the content of the wager, the less offensive it seemed.  

‘Isn’t this an opportunity for me? Could it be that the heavens took pity on me and decided to give me one last beautiful memory?’

The man who was supposed to confess wasn’t just anyone; he was the man she had been secretly in love with. If it were a stranger, she would have been upset, but if it was Leon, shouldn’t she actually be happy?  

What seemed like a mischievous proposal from those men felt like an opportunity for Ellen. If Leon accepted the bet to protect his sister, he would approach her first.  

‘Wouldn’t this be a great chance to get closer to Sir Guilford?’

She also had a month of time to spare. Ellen decided she could use that period to create memories and then move on. She would treasure those memories for the rest of her life.  

Thinking about leaving behind only good memories without getting greedy made her feel like she could let go of Leon without regret.  

Moreover, if her married life turned out to be miserable, she could endure it by reminiscing about her beautiful moments with him.  

Ellen perked up her ears and focused on the men’s conversation.  

Would he really accept the bet?

She was curious about what words would come out of his mouth. Based on her first impression of him and the rumors she had heard, he was likely to reject the wager. He was a serious person, after all.  

“Don’t you feel sorry for the young lady being unknowingly used in a bet? That’s incredibly rude.”  

As expected, Leon seemed inclined to decline the wager.  

It’s not rude at all! Please, don’t feel burdened!  

Ellen desperately responded in her mind. She wanted to convey her feelings to Leon. How could she let him know? She was frustrated and anxious.  

“It’s not like we’re asking you to actually date her. It’s just a confession. Why take it so seriously? Anyway, I don’t care. Whether you choose her or some woman whose name you don’t even know, it’s your decision. Just don’t blame me later if I end up with Lady Guilford. After all, it would mean she chose me.”

The man shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but his words held Leon’s sister hostage.  

Yes, that’s it! Push him a little more. Provoke him into accepting the bet!  

Before she knew it, Ellen found herself rooting for the knight whose name she didn’t even know. She earnestly wished for Leon to fall for the provocation and accept the bet.  

“…Will you truly promise not to approach Mia anymore? Logan?”  

It seemed Leon was hesitant, likely because he found the man named Logan utterly detestable. After all, who wouldn’t be angry at someone openly declaring their intent to pursue their sister?  

“I swear on my family name.”  

“….”  

A heavy silence fell between the men. The longer Leon hesitated, the slower time seemed to pass.  

‘This is my chance! I can’t let it slip away. Please accept the bet!’  

Ellen hoped Leon would agree to his companion’s proposal.  

If he accepted, Leon would confess to her, and until he revealed the truth about the wager, she could have a fleeting moment as his lover. She wanted to seize that opportunity.  

His serious nature would make him struggle to confess the truth, but she could always come up with excuses to prevent him from saying it.  

With a month’s time, she could likely delay him from admitting the truth.  

Please!  

Ellen clenched her fists tightly. She was so nervous that her palms began to sweat.  

“…Alright, I’ll accept. But as promised, stay away from my sister Mia. Also, keep this wager a secret.”  

The man’s response broke the silence.  

Oh my goodness!  

Ellen once again covered her mouth with both hands. She had hoped for this outcome, but hearing the words she wanted was still unbelievable.  

Am I dreaming? 

She pinched her cheeks multiple times to confirm it wasn’t a dream.  

“Wow. What’s gotten into you? Logan, you must be so unbearable that he’d agree to a wager he didn’t want just to protect his sister.”  

“I didn’t think he’d accept my proposal. Ah, what a shame about Lady Guilford… She’s quite the beauty.”  

The companions seemed surprised that Leon had agreed to the bet. It appeared they hadn’t expected him to take it seriously.  

Though it might have been a joke to them, it wasn’t a light matter for Leon.  

To keep unsavory men away from his sister, he had agreed to a wager involving a woman he barely knew. This showed how much he cared for his sister, just as Donna had said.  

‘His name is Logan, right? Thank you!’

Ellen silently expressed her gratitude to the man who had proposed the bet to Leon. What kind of behavior had he displayed to make Leon accept the wager?  

“The deadline is today. Keep that in mind.”  

“Understood.”  

Ellen, who had been basking in joy, froze upon hearing the men’s final exchange.  

Today? That meant Leon would confess to me before the ball ended.

Oh no.  

Despite her feelings for him, she wasn’t mentally prepared. If he confessed now, she might faint from sheer happiness before even hearing him out.  

‘This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity… I can’t let it slip away.’

Ellen quickly returned to the ballroom, found Donna, and dragged her to a secluded corner. She felt that telling someone might help calm her nerves.  

“Did you finally find the man you’ve been longing for? But why bring me here?”  

Donna seemed to have noticed from Ellen’s expression her lips unknowingly curled into a smile that she had seen Leon. However, she tilted her head in confusion, not understanding why Ellen had brought her to such a hidden spot.  

“Well… Here’s the thing.”  

Ellen briefly explained what she had overheard in the garden.  

“What? Those men are terrible. But you’re planning to use that to your advantage?”  

As expected, Donna seemed shocked. She appeared more surprised by Ellen’s plan than by the men’s wager.  

“Sir Guilford didn’t decide lightly. It was a choice he had to make. Doesn’t that mean Logan is truly awful?”  

“Still, how could they involve you in this?”  

Ellen tried to defend Leon’s position, but Donna remained unconvinced.  

“I don’t mind being part of the wager. In fact, I’m glad because it’s an opportunity to get closer to him. So, can’t you just support me?”  

“Just because he’s your first love doesn’t mean I’ll take his side! Most people would think about how to win over a man’s heart, but you’re content with being played and ending it there? Are you serious?”  

“There’s only a month. How could I make a man who doesn’t even know me fall for me in such a short time? He doesn’t even remember who I am. So, I just want to create some fleeting memories without being greedy.”  

While Ellen wished she could win Leon’s heart, she thought it was better to avoid disappointment by not expecting too much. She decided to be satisfied with the chance to date him, even if only briefly.