Pain rushed in like it had been waiting the moment she tried to raise her upper body. Only then did Luciella recall what happened last night and squeezed her eyes shut.

‘What on earth is this……’

She still couldn’t believe what happened last night.

That was because the Enoch Walter that Luciella had seen didn’t seem like a man who would commit disgusting acts from being unable to control his lust. He seemed like someone who would coldly scan even if loose women ran to him n*ked and then turn his back.

That’s why his behavior in this manner was even more incomprehensible.

Knock knock.

The suddenly heard knocking sound cut off Luciella’s thoughts.

“Princess. Are you awake?”

“Ah, yes……”

A maid had come to check on Luciella after sensing movement. The maid who confirmed she had woken from sleep quickly brought wash water.

“You can speak comfortably. You’ll soon become the lady of the house…… you don’t need to do that much for us.”

“Yes? Soon become the lady of the house. What do you mean……”

“Ah, didn’t the Marquis tell you yesterday?”

Luciella shook her head like she couldn’t understand at the maid’s words. Then the maid also tilted her head with a puzzled face.

“Huh, that’s strange…… He definitely said yesterday that the wedding ring was completed and the Marquis would give it to you…… Oh.”

The maid who was continuing to speak belatedly checked Luciella’s expression and closed her mouth like she realized her mistake.

“Oh, oh, what should I do…… I’m, really, really sorry. I misspoke.”

But a wedding ring. This was completely the first time Luciella was hearing about it. Naturally, she hadn’t received anything from Enoch either.

“I’ve committed a mortal sin. Princess, please pretend you didn’t hear what I just said……”

He had said he would handle the marriage preparations himself, and it seemed he really was doing something alone.

‘I didn’t expect the ring to be completed already……’

The maid’s voice continued to beg for forgiveness, but Luciella’s mind had completely wandered elsewhere. Only belatedly did she notice the maid kneeling before her and hurriedly stopped her in surprise.

“It’s fine, it’s fine so you don’t need to go that far.”

“B-but…… sob.”

The maid seemed to misunderstand that Enoch had prepared the ring as a surprise gift without Luciella knowing. Luciella, who knew that wasn’t the case, felt troubled inside.

‘He came to talk about the ring yesterday.’

That’s why he was in a better mood than usual.

Without knowing this, she had asked him to cancel the marriage. No wonder Enoch was terribly upset.

But even so, Luciella had no intention of going through with a meaningless marriage with him.

‘I’m sorry, but this really won’t work.’

It’s the wrong choice. Even more so for the Marquis than for me……

Just then, Luciella’s door opened without warning. There was only one person in the mansion who would open the door and enter without even knocking.

Enoch Walter.

Sure enough, the large-framed man was striding in.

“You’re awake.”

Despite what happened last night, Enoch faced Luciella with the same indifferent eyes as usual.

It was a dryness that made it impossible to imagine he was someone who had passionately mingled bodies with her.

The only thing that had changed was his shortened way of speaking.

Enoch gestured toward the maid. Then the maid who had been begging Luciella for forgiveness until just now quickly disappeared from view like she was fleeing.

Only the two of them remained completely alone in the room.

“Today will be a bit busy. The wedding dress just arrived.”

Enoch began to continue speaking leisurely.

“I picked something that would suit you reasonably well, so check it out, and if you really don’t like it, it’s fine to change it.”

Listening to Enoch’s lengthy words, Luciella fidgeted her hands uncomfortably. Then she carefully called to him while gauging his mood.

“……Your Grace.”

“Do you have something to say?”

Enoch answered indifferently. Even while vaguely guessing what Luciella was going to talk about, he nodded his head like he was saying go ahead and try.

Clearing her voice, Luciella courageously opened her mouth.

“Please think once more about what I said to you yesterday. This marriage will actually cause Your Grace even greater loss……”

“Typical of noble royalty, calculating marriage like a business with talk of loss and gain, just like those disgusting Imperial noble bastards.”

But she couldn’t finish her words to the end. It was because Enoch sarcastically cut off her words.

Calculating with marriage. Momentarily infuriated, Luciella let out a hollow laugh and responded aggressively.

“Ha, you’re the one who bought me for a purpose and tried to marry me……”

“You…… calling me that is good too. Yes, we’ll soon be husband and wife, so we can’t keep being stiff with ‘Your Grace’ and ‘Marquis’ forever.”

But even with Luciella’s sharp reaction, Enoch remained calm. He just shrugged his shoulders once, answered like a snake, and smiled at the corners of his mouth.

Becoming even more frustrated with Enoch’s attitude, Luciella lowered her voice uncharacteristically and retorted.

“You’re not playing word games right now.”

“I was being sincere too.”

This time too, Enoch didn’t budge.

Luciella became even more frustrated with Enoch’s behavior, treating her courageously spoken words like they were nothing.

He sat across from Luciella and leisurely even crossed his legs. Enoch placed his clasped hands on his knees and tilted his head slightly. Then he quietly faced Luciella.

“Luciella.”

“……”

“If you marry me, you’ll be able to continue enjoying the same peace and leisure as before without worry.”

He was always blunt and dry…… but today he seemed strangely different. His tone had become somewhat softer, like he was soothing a child.

“Even so, do you really hate marrying me?”

“……That’s exactly what’s strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“Why on earth would you go that far for me when we’ve never even met? That’s…… that’s what makes me most uncomfortable. You must surely want something from me……”

Luciella sighed and swept her face.

“I don’t understand why you’re doing this much for me. Following what you said yesterday, I’m not only fallen but sold for ten billion gold……”

“……”

“Who would do that much for a slave they bought with that money?”

Luciella spoke slowly, word by word.

“Simply for an heir? Honestly, it’s not like there are no other women to bear children. You could find a much better bride than me, so why on earth……”

Even the moment she barely finished speaking, Enoch was just looking at Luciella calmly like always.

It was a face whose thoughts were completely unreadable.

His pitch-black eyes like the night sky, his upright gaze without a trace of disgusting lust. Even struggling to understand his inner thoughts, his expression revealed nothing.

Luciella had courageously brought out her inner feelings, but looking at that indifferent face, she felt like she was talking to a wall.

Silence descended in the room. Uncomfortable and heavy quiet filled the bedroom. It felt like it was weighing down even Luciella’s shoulders.

She buried her face in her palms with her head deeply bowed.

How much longer did that uncomfortable silence continue? When only the two people’s small breathing sounds could be heard alternately, a murky low voice broke the silence.

“……Men are originally like that.”

Luciella reflexively raised her head and looked up at Enoch. His pitch-black eyes were still looking at Luciella.

A little more thoroughly and persistently than usual.

“When blinded by love, they do stupid things that don’t pay off.”

“……What?”

Luciella, who didn’t understand what Enoch was saying, asked again. But Enoch didn’t kindly explain the meaning of his words.

Luciella alone chewed over Enoch’s words once more.

‘What on earth is that……’

Blinded by love? Who exactly?

Luciella couldn’t understand. Why Enoch was spouting nonsense that didn’t fit the situation. Why he gave a strange answer unrelated to what she asked.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know? How foolish and stupid what I’m doing now is?”

Luciella still shook her head like she couldn’t grasp his intention. Even so, Enoch continued only his own words.

“No matter how lowly my origins are, I’m not stupid enough to not know such things.”

Her head became foggy. Luciella chewed over his words several times for understanding and comprehension. But she only reached an absurd conclusion.

Just listening to Enoch’s words, it sounded like he loved her.

‘That can’t be.’

It doesn’t make sense at all.

Luciella’s foolishly repetitive head-shaking lasted only briefly.

From Enoch, who always felt indifferent and dry, Luciella encountered something unbelievable.

His bright red ears.

Flustered, Luciella completely lost her words.

“Is this enough of an answer?”

So what kind of situation is this? She was swept up in confusion.

“L-lies……”

“Now you’re denying even the truth? Or are you turning away because you don’t want to face it.”

“No, no…… it’s not that…… it doesn’t make sense.”

“What exactly doesn’t make sense?”

“When have we ever met……”

With Luciella’s stammered words, Enoch made a meaningful expression. He tilted his head slightly and raised one eyebrow.

“We’re not in a relationship to discuss love.”

“……”

“If I understood correctly.”

Seeing Enoch’s silence, Luciella hurriedly added one more thing. She wondered if she might have misunderstood.

“Well.”

Enoch answered shortly and indifferently.

“I answered your question sincerely.”

“But I still don’t understand……”

“I have no obligation to make you understand too.”

Then he spouts something unrelated to the topic.

“Oh, and don’t associate with Grand Duke Winston from now on.”

“Suddenly? No, more than that, we weren’t talking about that right now.”

“It would be good to do as I say.”

Enoch gave a command that wasn’t a command and stood up from his seat like he was cutting off further conversation.

“Your Grace, where are you going? Our conversation isn’t finished yet……”

“I’ve finished everything I had to say.”

Unlike usual, he escaped from Luciella’s room like he was fleeing. Enoch’s ears as he left were still bright red.

* * *