Chapter 3

I followed my father into the study. I loved the smell of paper, ink, and my father’s presence.

I looked around and then sat in front of his desk as if to have a light conversation. My father shook his head as if he couldn’t understand.

“Laila, have you heard the rumors about Grand Duke Zan?”

“Yes, I know. The northern duke who was cursed to turn into stone for eating people.”

My father didn’t enjoy rumors that belittled others. However, anyone’s stance changes when it concerns their daughter.

Kazak might appear handsome and polite at first glance, but he was trash, whether it came to drinking or women.

However, my father didn’t know that Kazak was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. So, naturally, he preferred Kazak as my husband over Julian, who was called a monster.

“I’ve heard the rumors, but why did you choose him?“

Because Julian was my savior. Only he understood me when I was stuck in a quagmire.

But that was merely an emotional reason. I had to prioritize reason over emotion.

“I have something I want to achieve. And to achieve that, I need the power of Grand Duke Zan.“

“Something you want to achieve. May I ask what it is?“

“I can’t tell you that.”

My father let out a disappointed sigh. He had always granted me whatever I wished for. I, too, knew this and never made unreasonable requests.

But this time was different.

“Father, I must marry Grand Duke Zan. No woman has yet appeared who wants to marry him.”

“No.”

I was making an unreasonable request, and my father was refusing me.

It was the first time such a long silence flowed between us. I finally nodded. I seemed to have to retreat temporarily and strategize for another time, as my father wasn’t likely to change his mind.

“I’ll think about it a bit more.”

My father smiled brightly, genuinely pleased.

“Thank you, Laila. Really, thank you. Please know that I only want what’s best for you.“

“I always know.”

I smiled bitterly. I knew my father wanted the best for me. But sometimes, not backing down is also a virtue of a knight.

Back in my room, I checked the family seal I had stealthily taken from the study. I had taken it properly.

From the start, persuading my father was bound to be complicated. So, I decided to steal the seal as soon as I entered the study. Thanks to my father’s trust, it was easy.

“Phew… this doesn’t feel good.”

But without the family seal, no marriage talks could proceed. I sat down and began writing a letter proposing the marriage.

* * *

Clang!

There was a loud clash of swords. The youngest, Adam’s sword, shook violently. I didn’t give My Lady the opportunity and struck Adam’s wrist with my hand. Adam eventually let go of the sword and grabbed his wrist.

“Ouch, that really hurts.“

“You need to protect your wrist.”

The rare training was refreshing and enjoyable. I boasted as I looked at my brother, pretending to be in pain. Adam, seemingly uninterested in continuing, plopped down on the training ground.

“Why are you so fierce today, sis? You don’t want to break off the engagement with Marquis Amber, do you?”

Adam asked with a pained expression, partly due to his wrist but also because he seemed worried about me. I shook my head as if shuddering.

“Absolutely not.“

“That’s strange. Why did you suddenly start hating Marquis Amber? Even though I agree he’s not good enough for you.”

My brother’s certainty was endearing, so I pinched his cheek. Then I picked up the sword and handed it back to him.

Adam took the sword with both hands, thanking me. But he still didn’t seem interested in continuing the training.

“By the way, where’s Louis?”

“He’s not feeling well.”

Adam answered hurriedly to my casual question. I looked at him with narrowed eyes.

“How unwell is he? Should I take a look?“

“No, sis!”

Adam grabbed my leg. It was cute that my brother’s lie was already being exposed, but it also made him seem very naive. In the capital, people lied as soon as they opened their mouths.

Living as the Count of Winsley’s family, guarding the frontier with our father, the Count of the Frontier, we weren’t easily swayed by others and still had upright hearts. I crouched down in front of Adam, smiling bitterly.

“What’s going on?“

“I can’t tell you.”

Adam shut his mouth firmly, showing determination. There was a way to leave him and check on Louis, but I didn’t want to do that. I stood up and pointed my sword at Adam.

“Then let’s duel again. The winner gets to do what they want. How about it?”

Under the best swordsman in the empire, our father and three siblings settled disputes with duels. Adam swallowed hard and then stood up.

“Don’t lose focus like last time.“

“Of course.”

After straightening my posture, we crossed swords again. Adam gritted his teeth, determined not to let me go.

However, swordsmanship driven by emotion is always prone to falter. I deflected his sword a few times before pointing mine at his neck. It happened so quickly that I burst into laughter.

“Shall we go see if Louis is really sick?”

I teased as I turned around. My ponytail followed me in slow motion.

It was because a man standing against the side of the training ground was staring at me intently. I awkwardly fidgeted with the sword at my waist before walking towards him.

“Greetings to Grand Duke Zan.”

I greeted him according to knightly etiquette, using the excuse of not wearing a dress. In my past life, I valued myself as a lady more, but in this life, I wanted to be more faithful to myself as a knight.

“Laila Winsley.”

Unlike my past life, I could now use the Winsley family name. It made me so happy that I replied with a bright smile. Wiping the sweat off my chin with the back of my hand, I looked up at the man.

“Julian Zan.”

Julian stated his name. Was it out of courtesy?

I smiled gently and glanced at Adam. I seemed to understand why he tried to stop me and why Louis was nowhere to be seen.

I could see my family in a state of confusion through the open door of the training ground. It seemed they had been trying hard to prevent Julian from entering.

“Sorry for the delayed greeting.“

“Never mind. It seems your family didn’t inform you. They tried to keep me from meeting you.”

Julian spoke without concealing anything. I didn’t need to see how my family treated him.

The thought of my family struggling to neither cling to Julian nor distance themselves from him made me almost laugh.

“Forgive their rudeness. They still think of me as a fragile doll.“

“From the duel I just witnessed, you’re far from a fragile doll.“

“Right?“

“Laila! No, Your Grace.”

My father hurried inside, seemingly ready to start round two. He greeted Julian respectfully and pulled me away, clearly filled with caution.

This wasn’t like my father, who always valued etiquette. He looked at Julian with the most courteous smile he could muster.

“My daughter is still too young to marry. Look at her, spending her days in the training ground. She’s still an immature tomboy, unfit to be Your Grace’s wife.“

“I heard that the Count of the Frontier is prouder of his daughter, who received a knight’s title than his other sons. It seems that was incorrect.“

Julian’s cold voice left my father speechless. It wasn’t because he was afraid of the duke but because he was ashamed of speaking against his true feelings.

“That is…”

My father closed his eyes tightly before opening them again, trying to say something else.

Seeing him struggle for my sake didn’t feel good. I was proud of my father, who was proud of me, which made it even more painful. Julian, who had been watching me, also spoke up.

“Lady Laila Winsley.“

Julian’s voice was very low, but it wasn’t chilling. Instead, it was elegant, like an instrument that suited his imperfect appearance.

“I demand an explanation.”

No matter what anyone said, Julian was the only duke in the empire. His stature was just as overwhelming, so tall I had to crane my neck to look up at him. His red eyes, visible through the mask, were enough to frighten both children and adults.

Though his body was covered by a cloak, the part of his neck visible between the mask and the cloak was exposed. At a glance, the skin didn’t look human. It was rough, like a rock, and had an ashen tone.

Despite this, the visible half of his face was quite handsome. I hadn’t noticed before, but I realized today, seeing him up close.

His nose was sharp, and his eyes were deep and striking. His thick eyelids made his eyes look melancholic.

Yet all of this was overshadowed by the other half of his face. I found myself staring at him unknowingly.

Julian called my name again, urging me.

“Laila Winsley?“

“Yes?“

“I demanded an explanation.”

I snapped back to reality and cleared my throat. A wave of tension suddenly hit me, but I took several deep breaths and tried to appear as confident as possible.

“Ah, I sent the proposal for marriage with Your Grace. Your Grace, will you marry me?”

I knew it wasn’t proper etiquette for a lady to propose directly.

However, I had to marry him. I needed the strength to protect my family. Although it was sudden, I proposed with a sincere heart.

What should I do if he refuses? What persuasion or threats would work on him? While pondering these things, I clenched my fist tightly.

“Alright.”

Julian answered without hesitation. I heard Adam, standing behind him, collapse to the floor as if his legs had given out. Standing next to me, my father’s face was also filled with astonishment. My mother, who couldn’t bring herself to come closer and was standing outside the door, covered her mouth with both hands, silently screaming.

Throughout the entire process, Julian’s eyebrows furrowed once and then returned to their place. My father tried to say something, but I quickly interrupted.

“In that case, may we talk alone in the drawing room? I’ll quickly change and be right back.”

Julian nodded. I hurriedly ran to my room, roughly wiped off my sweat, and changed into a light dress. In a rush, Anna, attending to me, made a fuss.

“My Lady! You should wear these earrings with that dress… Ah, but what if His Grace thinks you’re too beautiful? Madam will be upset… But since you’re meeting His Grace, you must be proper…”

Anna was in a fluster, busy on her own. I left her behind and hastened to where Julian was. Julian and my family were conversing awkwardly, discussing this and that.

I greeted Julian once more.

I thought Julian would lead the way immediately. However, he stopped in front of me and extended his right hand. He looked like a gentleman offering an escort.

“What are you doing, not taking it?”