SEM 10

#010

“I figured it out, but that doesn’t change anything.”

“……”

“Now that you know who I am, you want to strike a deal to get what you want?”

At Grady’s subtle prodding, Eliana looked at him.

Instead of replying, Eliana chose silence. She had no intention of toying with his passionate love for the Empress.

But in order to survive, she needed Grady’s fervent love for Empress Rosella. Only then would he marry her to protect the Empress.

“…I’m sorry.”

At Eliana’s calm apology, his black eyes twitched.

“I have no intention of mocking Your Grace’s love for Her Majesty. I just… want to live.”

“Disgusting.”

Her fingers gripped the hem of her dress tightly on her lap. She tried not to fall apart, but the contempt that flowed from Grady’s lips pierced her heart like a dagger.

“……”

“So now, after everything you and your father have done, you’re trying to weasel your way out alone and survive?”

“……”

“With that deceitful face, whose life are you going to ruin next?”

She had nothing to say against his harsh accusations. Anyone would think that way, and it was no different just because it was Grady sitting in front of her.

Her heart, which had momentarily thawed at his earlier kindness, froze over again.

“What happens next is none of Your Grace’s concern.”

Her voice, when it finally came, was composed. So shamelessly brazen that Grady turned his head at the sound.

‘Is that kind of shamelessness what makes a true seductress?’

She lived up to the rumors.

And the path ahead was clear.

Grady Cryber had to marry Eliana Hoffman by order of Empress Rosella.

What if Grady refused the Empress’s command?

Shaking off the complex thoughts, he looked at her.

She had the kind of beauty worthy of being called the empire’s most beautiful woman. Her radiant blonde hair shone like sunlight, her pale skin nearly translucent. Her deep blue eyes looked as if they held the sea itself, shimmering with moisture.

“If I accept your terms, you’ll have to accept mine as well.”

It was a meaningless question.

Part of him asked it, hoping Eliana might refuse to marry him and instead aim to become the Emperor’s mistress. He needed a reason—an excuse—that it was her desire, not his failure.

“Of course.”

But it wasn’t the answer Grady wanted. Eliana nodded as if she had been waiting for the question.

Grady slowly extended his hand toward her. Eliana stared at it blankly for a moment, then placed her hand atop his.

Grady silently looked down at her small hand resting on his palm.

Everything was playing out exactly as Empress Rosella intended, and it made him sick.

And this woman—she had already been married twice. Though this was to be a contract-based relationship, it still left a bad taste.

His anger, unable to reach Rosella, redirected itself to the woman in front of him.

“Ah!”

Before he realized it, she was on his lap.

He didn’t even have time to register the feeling of her slim waist in his arms before his fingers traced her spine.

The cold sensation and pain made her back arch.

“Who likes this kind of thing? You or your father, the Marquis?”

Eliana lifted her head at his question.

Innocent curiosity, devoid of malice.

But Eliana had learned through experience—curiosity like that was the most cruel. If she got angry, she was oversensitive. If she ignored it, she was rude.

She placed her hands on Grady’s shoulders and wrapped them behind his head. The pain from reopening a wound surged through her.

“What kind of taste does Your Grace have?”

Her whisper barely brushed his ear.

The fine hairs near his ears stood on end—something he never even knew he had until now. Her slender waist fit perfectly in his arms. If he just tilted his head a bit, her red lips would be within reach.

“Sounds like you’re saying you’ll cater to my tastes at any time.”

Grady raised a hand. His long fingers found her smooth back.

“Haa!”

His touch, tapping at the small of her back, resembled a pianist playing a melody. Eliana, who had been toying with him so confidently, bit her lip and buried her face in his shoulder.

“Is that guy glaring at me your lover?”

Grady whispered near her ear, while his hand continued to wander along her spine.

“Ugh!”

When Eliana tried to turn her head toward the window, his caress turned rough. Her moans followed his rhythm—rising and falling like music.

“Don’t force your preferences on me. I have no interest in whipping women.”

With that, he pulled her tighter into his embrace.

Falling limply into his arms, Eliana leaned against his firm thigh, gasping for breath. Grady wiped the sweat beading on her forehead and ran his hand through her golden hair. Her damp, sweat-soaked hair coiled in his fingers.

When their eyes met—her face flushed red—Grady smirked.

“From how well you endure, you don’t seem like someone who gets beaten often.”

He rested his chin on her head and muttered.

“Do you like the product?”

“Product?”

Even as she sat on his lap, drenched in cold sweat, her steady gaze didn’t waver.

“I ask because I think we may need to renegotiate.”

At that, Grady’s eyes narrowed. The small body trembling under his touch had now found its composure.

‘Look at this.’

Eliana raised his chin with her slender fingers. Outside the glass window of the private restaurant, shouts and gasps could be faintly heard.

The Empire’s famed seductress.

Even amid the swirling emotions she couldn’t see or hear, Eliana remained composed.

“Oh? And what do you plan to wager?”

Grady caught her chin-lifting fingers and brought them to his lips. Eliana bit her lip at the warm, lingering heat on her fingertips.

“Ah!”

The sharp sensation traveled from her fingertips to her heart. Eliana frowned slightly. The way her skin was crushed between his teeth was dizzying.

“If you like the product, it’s only natural the price should go up.”

She withdrew her finger from his lips as she spoke.

Grady grabbed her chin and bit down hard on her lower lip. Just like the first day they met, the metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.

“Ugh!”

Even in the vivid pain of her lip being bitten, Eliana didn’t look away from his eyes.

“Kyaa!”

Through the large glass windows, the young ladies who had witnessed their kiss shrieked and stomped their feet.

From afar, it looked like a shameless public display of affection, but the atmosphere inside was anything but romantic.

Even while Grady bit into her lip, Eliana didn’t close her eyes. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and leaned in.

“Urgh!”

Grady let out a short groan.

“Hey. Even for me, it hurts when you yank my hair like that.”

Eliana smiled with bloodied lips and leaned close to his ear.

“I just gave you the treatment you deserve, Your Grace—for behaving like an uncultured bastard.”

“Wow, so you figured out I’m a beast despite all my efforts to hide it? Impressive. Ugh—!”

Grady winced as the searing pain in the back of his head made him stop stroking her waist.

“Listen well, Your Grace. Now that you’ve shown this kind of interest in me, imagine how frantic she must be.”

“……”

“She’s the kind of woman who takes back what she’s already given. What do you think will happen if word spreads that the girl she’s been watching closely is sitting on your lap like a rutting sow?”

“……”

“If you ask me, it wouldn’t be surprising if she storms into your residence tonight.”

Realizing what Eliana meant, Grady quickly tried to lift her off his lap—but Eliana was faster.

“Ugh!”

She bit his earlobe hard. In response, he instantly let go of her waist.

He was a man made entirely of steel—but his earlobe, bitten between her teeth, was different.

With an audible crunch, Eliana let go, satisfied.

“Ha.”

Grady sighed as he watched her casually wipe her lips with the back of her hand.

“You started this, Your Grace.”

“Weren’t you the one who set the trap?”

“Are you seriously blaming a woman for this? That’s not very manly of you.”

Grady chuckled at her bold retort. But his smile quickly faded.

Eliana, unfazed, wiped the sweat from her forehead. Judging by the dampness down her back, her wound had reopened.

“A mess,” Grady muttered near her ear.

Eliana ignored him and glanced out the window.