“What?”

Vincent lifted his head, looking as if he’d just been punched in the gut.

A woman? What woman is she talking about?

He reacted blankly, like he had just heard an ancient language he couldn’t understand.

Laila, as if she had no intention of explaining, simply closed her lips.

They were full and red like cherries.

Vincent frowned, trying to pull his wandering thoughts back into place.

‘Don’t tell me…’

Suddenly, a vague memory surfaced that woman he had only registered as female earlier.

Her presence had been so faint that he had to think hard just to recall her.

“Ha… what do you take me for…?”

His irritation vanished in an instant.

His entire body cooled, as if doused in cold water.

That was how ridiculous it was.

“Listen, Lady Loardy.”

He pulled away from Laila.

“Where exactly do you think there’s another woman in front of me besides you?”

Did she seriously not realize that this situation existed because of her?

He was speechless.

Laila’s expression turned strange confused, as though she couldn’t understand his response.

If anything, that was the expression Vincent himself wanted to make.

“Forget that, what were you talking about earlier?”

He asked, unable to hide his displeasure.

Laila blinked.

“What are you talking about?”

Was she really unaware or pretending?

“Douglas.”

He said bluntly.

Then, realizing he sounded like he was interrogating her, he added,

“I thought you came together.”

“I arrived separately from Sir Douglas.”

“And?”

“We just ran into each other at the party and exchanged greetings.”

“…I see.”

Her calm tone brought him an unexpected sense of relief.

Strange because it shouldn’t have mattered to him at all.

“…Do you like Douglas?”

At that, Laila’s expression shifted again.

Vincent quickly added,

“Don’t misunderstand. If you want to have a little fling, I don’t mind.”

Trying to sound like a cool husband Laila’s composed expression cracked ever so slightly.

“Vincent.”

Her tone rose.

“That’s how things are. A block away, the woman I’ve slept with might sleep with another man… and I might end up with someone he’s been with too…”

It was common in their world.

People acted refined on the surface but behind it, affairs were everywhere.

“What do you mean by that?”

Laila’s expression darkened.

Vincent stopped mid-sentence.

He suddenly felt like a scoundrel teasing an innocent girl.

“…Never mind.”

He swallowed his words and gestured toward the curtain.

A silent signal it was time to leave.

If they stayed any longer, they would draw attention.

The kind of attention that wondered, what scandalous things the Loardy couple might be doing behind the scenes.

The party dragged on, dull and tedious.

While Laila stepped away to the powder room, people approached Vincent out of courtesy.

He exchanged greetings half-heartedly but her prolonged absence began to bother him.

Eventually, he left the hall and walked down the corridor.

“How are your nights with His Grace? I’ve heard he’s quite… talented when it comes to pleasing ladies.”

A group of women’s voices reached him.

Some idiot must be chasing multiple women again, he thought dismissively, making no effort to hide his presence as he walked.

“…I’m not sure what you’re implying, Lady Delta.”

Vincent froze.

That voice Laila.

What now?

“Goodness, don’t misunderstand. I was just wondering since it’s been some time since your marriage… whether His Grace treats his wife differently.”

“That’s right. He’s quite famous, after all. Gets bored quickly, very fickle…”

Their sharp voices pierced through the doorway.

What kind of situation was this?

Before he could even think, Vincent’s hand moved faster gripping the doorknob.

“…You do know His Grace attended the masquerade ball a few days ago, don’t you?”

At that, Vincent stopped breathing. He had attended that masquerade.

With his ash-gray hair and tall stature, he was impossible to hide.

Even in disguise, he stood out.

A few noble ladies had approached him but he ignored them, drank, and left.

‘So what about it?’

Something about the atmosphere felt off. A cold sweat formed in his palm.

“He loses interest quickly, so you might want to keep him entertained.”

“Thank you for your concern, my lady. But no matter what he does… I’m fine with it.”

Laila’s voice was calm. Vincent frowned slightly.

What exactly is she thanking them for? And what is she fine with?

He tried to piece together the conversation then gave up.

Women had a talent for speaking in circles. It was exhausting.

“So… you’re saying it’s fine even if he’s involved in something improper with another woman?”

At the sudden voice cutting in, Vincent’s face darkened instantly.

Is this some kind of joke?

Just as his irritation peaked and he was about to kick the door open Laila’s voice stopped him cold.

“Yes. I don’t mind.”

It felt as if his blood froze. Vincent stood there, stiff, blinking blankly.

Her words echoed in his ears calm… almost indifferent… bordering on boredom.

***

“…Hah.”

Vincent fled the scene as if escaping, stopping at the west entrance to take a deep drag of his cigarette.

His mind was colder than ever but his chest burned.

‘She said she doesn’t mind if I’m with another woman?’

The thought left a bitter taste. Why? He searched for an answer but couldn’t find one.

Even if their relationship was built on a contract no one else knew about, wasn’t Laila always composed, refined?

Her words had unsettled him more than he expected.

After finishing his fifth cigarette, Vincent flicked the b*tt away and forced the thoughts aside.

When he returned to the ballroom he saw her.

Standing alone, like a flower against the wall.

A sudden surge of anger rose to his head.

Without thinking, he called out.

“Laila Nelasidad.”

“……”

“Why won’t you divorce me?”

Straight to the point. That was how Vincent was. When something crossed his mind, he had to resolve it immediately. He did what he wanted, when he wanted even if it meant excess.

Some called him crude.

But that was simply who he was.

Laila said nothing.

She only looked at him.

The longer the silence stretched, the narrower his eyes became.

Around them, whispers began to spread among the nobles.

“Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? His Grace is quite cruel. Anyone can see she’s the one in love.”

“Honestly, it’s embarrassing as a woman. Asking for devotion from the empire’s worst rake? She must be mad.”

“No wonder he’d grow tired of her.”

Their murmurs reached Vincent clearly.

His expression darkened. He didn’t care what others said but hearing his wife become the subject of ridicule wasn’t pleasant either. He was just about to speak—

“Vincent, I…”

Even after hearing all that laughter Laila finally opened her mouth.

“Don’t.”

His voice cut sharply through the air.

“I already know. So don’t bother.”

He interrupted her completely.

Soft laughter spread among the noble ladies not directed at him, but openly mocking her.

Vincent clenched his fists.

His eyes drifted to her ear slightly flushed.

‘Love… is it love?’

He turned the thought over in his mind.

It was well known in society that Laila Loardy loved Vincent Loardy.

Everyone knew.

Him included.

His gaze lowered to the crown of her head.

‘If you love someone, you keep them by your side.’

His father’s words struck him suddenly.

Even when his mother had an affair, even when she spiraled into madness, his father had never let her go.

“…I see.”

Vincent nodded slowly. Yes. This was love. Everything Laila had done it all fit. No matter how much he mocked or humiliated her, she stayed. Because she loved him.

A pleasant warmth spread through his body as he drank the wine.

A faint intoxication followed his lips curling into a small smile.

‘Then… why did she say that before?’

The memory surfaced when she had been sick. Back then, she had said she hated him.

‘Maybe…Maybe that ‘hate’ was just resentment because I didn’t return her feelings.’

Vincent reasoned with himself.

Yet somehow, it didn’t feel right.

His thoughts traced back further.

Why did she love him?

His expression stiffened, as if struck.

Their first meeting the Emperor’s audience chamber.

She had looked at him shyly, offering a handkerchief.

Before that nothing.

That was when he had first noticed her.

Then came the second meeting at her family estate.

The faint image of the reception room resurfaced.

She had boldly proposed a contract.

The antidote.

The mithril mine.

A trade.

What had her expression been then?

Had she looked at him shyly?

Had she been excited about marriage?

What am I missing?

A sharp pain throbbed in his head.

“Vincent?”

A faint voice pulled him back.

He looked up blankly.

For a moment, his vision blurred then cleared.

Laila stood before him, watching him with quiet confusion.

Not concern just curiosity.

“…Do you love me?”

The question slipped out before he could stop it.

Her expression shifted slightly as if she had heard something strange.

“Vincent, are you drunk?”

She studied him slowly.

Her gaze was calm.

Neither mocking nor pitying.

Just… dry.

“…Yeah. I must be.”

He admitted shortly.

He had drunk too much the night before.

Maybe that was why he was thinking things he normally wouldn’t.

“Right… I must be drunk.”

He murmured, dazed.

This was not like him at all.