“President, or rather, Senior Taylor, do you realize what you’re saying?”

“Of course I do.”

“You’re really proposing marriage? And using me as collateral for a loan? Senior, does that make any sense?”

“Anticia, you said it yourself that you don’t have anything to use as collateral. So, as far as I’m concerned, the only option is to use you as the collateral, isn’t it?”

Lucas responded calmly, as if there was no problem. It was Giselle who was left speechless. She opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words for a moment, then raised her voice belatedly.

“There’s no need for it to be marriage! Senior, you can’t just decide on marriage so casually. It’s a matter that affects your whole life. But what kind of marriage is this, using me as collateral!”

Giselle shook her head in disbelief. Quietly watching her, Lucas spoke in a light tone.

“Then think of it as an investment instead of collateral.”

“That still doesn’t make sense. How can marriage be an investment? And how would I be of any help to you?”

Giselle was well aware of her own situation. She knew that this marriage would not provide any benefit to Lucas.

The wealthiest in the kingdom. And the daughter of a family on the verge of ruin.

What kind of investment could arise from a marriage between these two people?

Unless she and her family were simply attaching themselves to Lucas. His words lacked any persuasiveness.

“Moreover, do you really think I’m worth eighty million larcs? Do you see that much value in me to lend me such a large sum so readily?”

“Enough.”

“What?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Lucas nodded in response, and Giselle looked at him with a bewildered expression, as if to say, ‘Have you gone mad?’

Rather than feeling offended, his reaction amused Lucas. That was so like Giselle Anticia. Perhaps that was why he had been drawn to her from the very beginning.

During their academy days, his gaze had naturally gravitated towards Giselle, a year his junior. It was the first time he had shown interest in a ‘person’ rather than ‘money’.

Deciding to spend his money on something that wouldn’t directly benefit him was also a first.

Of course, he hadn’t outright offered to give her the money, but to lend it to her.

‘Why are you always the ‘first’ for me?’

Lucas looked at her with a newfound gaze.

Even though he had been observing her for years since their days at the academy, the woman before him remained an incomprehensible existence.

And the way he behaved around her was also uncharacteristic, which he couldn’t quite understand.

Yet, it wasn’t unpleasant. He didn’t regret his impulsive actions either.

Just having her by his side as his wife was a satisfactory enough investment.

He chuckled at Giselle, who was looking at him as if he were insane. While he was aware that he had acted in a crazy manner, he spoke calmly on the surface.

“I never invest in anything that lacks value. I’m sure you, who’s been working with me, know that better than anyone.”

“That’s why I don’t understand it at all.”

Giselle sighed heavily at his words and grumbled. She couldn’t comprehend why the composed man had suddenly started behaving this way.

“Then just accept it. Isn’t it better to have me than that old man? Well, if that’s your preference, I can’t do anything about it.”

“What do you mean by that…! It’s absolutely not like that!”

Giselle raised her voice, flustered by Lucas’ casual remark.

“Then the discussion is over. If you have to get married because of the debt, then do it with me.”

“But this still isn’t right. We’re not even in a relationship… If you’re willing to lend me the money, I’ll pay it back by working.”

Giselle was not in a position to refuse the offer of a loan, so she proposed an alternative. However, Lucas’ response was rather indifferent.

“Hmm. If you were to pay it back that way, it would take at least 20 to 30 years.”

“But that’s still better. What you’re proposing is entirely beneficial only to me. Even using me as collateral is essentially putting your life on the line for me. No matter how I look at it, there’s no benefit for you at all.”

Giselle looked at him with a triumphant expression.

‘Alright, now what are you going to do? You have nothing to say, do you? I won.’

Her expression clearly conveyed those words to Lucas, who let out an amused chuckle.

‘At times like this, I’m not sure whether to call her naive or stubborn.’

In the social circles of the capital Sorben, Lucas Taylor was the most sought-after marriage prospect.

Considering his commoner status, it was a remarkable feat.

Of course, these days, ‘money’ was valued more than the hollow nobility, so it wasn’t entirely incomprehensible.

By that standard, Lucas could be considered the highest authority in the kingdom.

The Taylor family was the wealthiest in the kingdom. Some even speculated that they might have more wealth than the royal family itself.

Whether that was an exaggerated rumor or the truth was known only to Lucas, the master of the Taylor household.

Nonetheless, when such a man proposed marriage, and Giselle, who’s likely the only one, instead of being delighted, treated him as if he were spouting nonsense.

Lucas swallowed a hollow laugh, then spoke again in a low voice.

“Anticia, you and I are both at the age where we should be getting married. Or rather, we’ve even passed the traditional marriageable age, haven’t we?”

“Well, I may have passed the commonly accepted marriageable age a bit, but… that doesn’t mean we have to get married just because we’ve reached that age, does it?”

Giselle nodded at his words, then furrowed her brow and countered.

“That’s true. We don’t have to get married just because. But living as a single person can be quite inconvenient in many ways.”

No matter how old one gets, remaining unmarried often leads to being perceived as immature. And that judgement, though a dated mindset, was a reality that couldn’t be ignored.

It could significantly disadvantage one’s social life, regardless of gender.

As someone who had experienced such disadvantages more than anyone, Giselle could only agree. She was fortunate to be working in Lucas’ office, but who knew what the future might hold.

Lucas might have also faced similar disadvantages, though perhaps not to the same extent as her. He lacked the ‘weakness’ of being a ‘woman’, but he was still ‘unmarried’.

‘I doubt there’s anyone with the audacity to use their own unmarried status as a weakness in front of their senior.’

Despite her slight skepticism, Giselle’s expression indicated that she was convinced, and Lucas continued.

“So if marriage is something we’ll have to do eventually, I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to do it with you. It would be better than living with a woman I can’t communicate with. And we can work together whenever necessary.”

‘I see. In the end, he’s just trying to exploit me whenever he can, disguising it as marriage.’

Though grumbling inwardly, Giselle finally understood Lucas’ intentions.

The man before her was not offering charity out of the goodness of his heart. He was making this absurd proposal because it would benefit him.

However, whether they had to go as far as marriage was still questionable.

‘Alright. Honestly, it’s silly for me to worry about others when I’m in this position. He was the one who proposed marriage first.’

If he remained unwavering despite her objections, there was only one decision she could make.

“Okay, let’s get married then. If you end up regretting it later, I’m not responsible. I made it clear that I objected, didn’t I?”

Giselle extended her hand to him. Lucas chuckled and shook her hand.

Contrary to his cool exterior, his hand was slightly warmer than a normal person’s body temperature.

* * *

“I’ve had breakfast, head maid. I’ll just have a cup of tea and then leave.”

Lucas closed the newspaper he was reading and stood up to prepare for work.

The head maid paused while setting the breakfast table, making an awkward expression.

The aged butler of the Taylor household, Bushin, also furrowed his brow as he was selecting the cuffs Lucas would wear, interrupting his task.

“But please do have something to eat, Mr. Lucas. Master Fernan has repeatedly reminded you that skipping meals is not good for your health. And considering the effort the head maid and kitchen staff have put into preparing this…”

“Alright, I got it. Stop the nagging already. In the end, the highest decision-maker in this house is Bushin, not me.”

“Oh, how can you say such a thing, sir? Even as a joke, it is quite uncomfortable to hear.”

Bushin, the stubborn butler, frantically waved his hands, taking Lucas’ remark seriously. Seeing this, Lucas chuckled and made his way to the table.

A warm soup and bread had been prepared in the meantime. He briefly thanked the head maid for her efforts and sat down on the sofa.

‘A cup of tea would be enough…’