ITTRAETML 39

~Chapter 39~

“…Sorry.”

“Hahahahahaha!”

A loud, cheerful laugh echoed through the quiet garden, so loud it almost hurt her ears.

Did she lose her mind because of what I said?

“You’re really funny.”

Garri, who had been laughing so hard she held her stomach, wiped tears from her eyes. But that was Lovelace’s line.

No—you’re the funny one. Or maybe just strange.

Still, Lovelace swallowed her words. She kept thinking about how she had insulted Garri’s father earlier.

“Yeah. My father is the bastard who tried to kill Larvihan. And I’m the ungrateful daughter who wants to screw him over.”

So she has her own story.

Lovelace’s expression softened as she looked at Garri.

“Tell me.”

Lovelace plopped down onto a bench with a careless thud. Not at all like a noble Count, but Garri didn’t care.

“Tell you what?”

Garri narrowed her eyes.

“From what I see, you don’t need someone to fight with—you need someone to talk to. You want to say why you want to marry Larvihan, don’t you?”

Her posture was sloppy, but her eyes were sharp and clear as she watched Garri.

At first Lovelace had thought Garri was reckless with her life—picking fights, snapping back at Larvihan himself. But for someone reckless, she was strangely polite.

In love rivalries, isn’t hair-pulling the standard? Or at least a slap?

Garri only barked about who she was, and when Lovelace didn’t react, she got flustered. She looked more like a fake villainess than a real one.

“W-what nonsense…”

The once confident Garri stuttered, clearly shaken by Lovelace’s words.

“Don’t like it? Fine then.”

When Lovelace moved to stand, Garri quickly sat down beside her.

“Civilized people solve problems with conversation.”

It was as if Garri needed to justify every action she took.

“Yeah. You’re civilized. I’m civilized. We’re the great nobles, aren’t we?”

Lovelace said with a sarcastic smile. Garri’s eyes widened, full of disbelief that someone could say such a thing.

See? She’s not a villainess at all. Even if her father is trash.

Lovelace gestured for her to continue. Garri sighed.

“I have to marry Larvihan. The reason is simple. Even my father couldn’t stop it.”

“Is the Duke trying to force a political marriage on you?”

Garri nodded.

“If rumors spread that I proposed to Larvihan and made a fuss, the marriage could be delayed. Best case, I really marry him.”

Her voice was calmer now, explaining step by step.

“Why do you hate a political marriage so much?”

“He’s ugly.”

Lovelace almost slipped while leaning her chin on the bench’s armrest.

“He’s old, has a belly, and is balding.”

“Ah, that’s unforgivable.”

Garri pressed her lips together to hold back a laugh.

The Lovelace she met today was strange. She was rude, but somehow it didn’t feel rude at all. She had a knack for lifting heavy moods. Talking about her father usually made Garri’s chest feel crushed, but today she just wanted to laugh.

Still, she couldn’t. She had been told countless times never to smile—smiles made a woman look cheap. So she forced her lips stiff as she spoke.

“I thought Larvihan would at least pretend to romance me since he hates my father. But to think he already has a fiancée.”

Well, sorry about that.

“Still, I can’t give up on Sir Larvihan.”

Lovelace thought about confessing the truth of her engagement with Larvihan, but stopped herself.

Even if I told her, it’s not like I’d step aside. Larvihan isn’t an object to hand over anyway.

But she still wanted to help Garri. Somehow, she felt the girl’s past must hold something painful.

The empire’s cherished princess can’t hate her father just because the fiancé is ugly. That’s too flimsy.

Wait… Larvihan… weak to women?

The thought made her go pale. Larvihan didn’t care about man or woman—he killed anyone who stood in his way.

Garri’s future flashed in her mind.

Lovelace couldn’t let her die like that. Out of sheer humanity.

“Let’s do this.”

“Do what?”

“Keep liking Larvihan. Let’s stay rivals in love. I’ll even ask him to arrange a dinner with you. That should at least delay the marriage, right?”

She was right. Just spreading rumors of Garri’s affection for Larvihan would make other families hesitate. If they were even seen together, the other side might cancel the marriage entirely.

But why was Lovelace helping her? Garri eyed her suspiciously.

Since childhood, she was taught never to trust favors. Favors had to be repaid, so it was safer never to accept them.

“What do you want from me?”

“Be my spy.”

Lovelace hadn’t expected much by saying it. She didn’t even think Garri would accept.

But Garri fell into deep thought, and finally—

“Fine. I accept.”

Even then, Lovelace didn’t put much hope in her.

They shook hands lightly, then let go.

“I’m going back in. You?”

“I’ll stay out a little.”

Lovelace nodded and walked back toward the banquet.

“Had fun?”

It was Larvihan’s voice. When she looked around, he stepped away from a column and approached.

He fixed Lovelace’s shawl, his cold hand brushing her shoulder.

“Were you waiting?”

“Yeah. A long time.”

Normally, people say ‘I just got here.’ You’re supposed to say that!

“Why bother waiting?”

“I thought you might get your hair pulled. I’ve seen it often. Women fighting over me.”

He scanned her carefully, making sure she wasn’t hurt. When he saw she was fine, he met her eyes.

“You must’ve had a lot of women.”

“Can’t say none.”

“Oh, how wonderful for you. Is that why you’re so confident?”

When she grumbled, Larvihan leaned closer. The wind blew her hair across her face.

He reached out and brushed it back. His fingers against her cheek were cold, making her flinch.

“Cold? Should I warm you up?”

He pressed closer, whispering softly.

“Forget it. Is this how you seduced women?”

“No. I never had to. They came on their own.”

He smiled with his eyes.

In the moonlight, his smile shone dazzlingly. It was the kind of smile impossible not to fall for.

“Don’t worry about women. I killed all the ones who came at me. You’re the first I haven’t killed.”

“Maybe because I never came at you?”

“Why do you twist my words? You seem upset. Is it because of Garri?”

She exhaled, shoulders tense, then forced herself to relax.

“Don’t mind her.”

“I don’t. But isn’t Lady Garri better than me?”

The words weren’t from her heart.

“Ridiculous. Rey, you’re far better. Want me to tell you why?”

She nodded slightly.

“Because inside your belly is my great power.”

His hand brushed across her stomach, then slid down to clasp her hand. Her shoulders tensed again, all nerves focused on where his hand would go next.

“And you can use magic. But more than anything—”

Their eyes locked. His fingers traced her lips.

Then he pulled her close, their bodies pressed together. His lips inched nearer.

“You’re beautiful.”

At that whisper, so close she could feel his breath, Lovelace’s hand clenched tight on her dress.