SEM 20

SEM

Posted by Hoor, Released on July 13, 2025

#020

“……”

“Do you need anything?”

“No. I already have more than enough.”

She was already receiving plenty. Living luxuriously in a suite at the Mendis Hotel and under Emma’s warm care, there was nothing she lacked. Her life was so comfortable that each morning, she feared it might all be a dream and would keep her eyes closed until she heard Emma’s voice.

“You’re different from the rumors. Everyone knew the Marquis frequented the auction house like his own bedroom to appease the Marchioness.”

At Grady’s cold voice, Eliana closed her eyes.

It was true she had received many gifts from the Marquis. But all of those merely passed through her and ended up with Baron Hoffman and Elizabeth.

“……”

“I didn’t expect you to keep your conscience in front of me.”

“I figured I’d have to keep my conscience intact if I wanted to hold onto my pride.”

“Is that so? Then I suppose I’ll have to protect your pride for you.”

“…Pardon?”

Eliana widened her eyes. She had always felt this way — conversations with Grady could often take unexpected turns.

“Seems the timing worked out. I was planning to meet Baron Hoffman later today.”

“Today?”

Grady nodded.

“We’re meeting at the second-floor café. Sounds like he’s in quite a bind.”

“……”

Grady sneered.

It had been Eliana’s choice not to return to the house where Baron Hoffman stayed.

If she had gone back, it was obvious they would’ve used whatever means necessary to push her into the emperor’s bed.

A sigh escaped between her tightly clenched lips.

‘Could he really not have given up yet?’

Even as she shuddered at Baron Hoffman’s obsessive persistence, Grady continued speaking.

“I was debating what to give the baron to make him agree to a high-end bridal entrance, but thanks to you, I’ll just empty his pockets instead.”

Eliana’s lips shut like a clam. The further the conversation went, the smaller she felt in front of Grady.

It had been a one-sided contract from the start. She’d known that — but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

“I’m glad. That I could at least lessen your burden a little.”

Grady glanced at her with a look of clear displeasure, as if something about her words deeply annoyed him.

“No matter what, I’m still human. I have to maintain some decency. People are already gossiping — if we ignore proper procedures too, who’s going to deal with the fallout?”

Despite the witty tone, the message was sharp and biting. Startled by the dissonance, Eliana swept away the goosebumps on her arm.

“…Do I really have to walk in holding my father’s hand?”

“If Baron Hoffman doesn’t attend the wedding, the temple and imperial court might claim our marriage is invalid.”

“…Our marriage?”

Surprised by Grady’s wording, Eliana couldn’t hide her shock.

She hadn’t expected to hear him use the word our.

“As long as neither of us gives up, we’re in the same boat. So yes, it’s our marriage.”

“I’m glad you’re on my side.”

Eliana shook her head. With every conversation, she felt like her life span shortened.

“The scariest ally is one who could become an enemy at any time. They know you best.”

Eliana swallowed hard as Grady casually said something that didn’t sound like a joke at all.

“…Really now.”

Grady stared at her, clearly displeased that she didn’t finish her sentence. Sitting at the head of the table, he had a clear view of her profile.

Every time her long lashes fluttered, her blue eyes — like the sea — disappeared and reappeared.

Grady found himself stealing glances at her profile. He didn’t even realize he was doing it. What had started as pure curiosity had turned into increasingly long moments of observation.

“Time to get up.”

After staring at Eliana’s profile for a long time, Grady suddenly stood up.

‘Falling for a temptress? Get a grip, Grady Cryber.’

Scolding himself, Grady left the drawing room, leaving a flustered Eliana behind. A long shadow hurried to follow him.

Eliana stared blankly at the spot where he had disappeared, unable to even see him off properly.

“…Did I do something wrong?”

Her quiet question echoed in the spacious room.

No one answered.

✦ ✦ ✦

“Hmph.”

Baron Hoffman frowned in displeasure at the gazes of the people around him. Though he usually enjoyed being the center of attention, meeting with Grady made him unusually self-conscious.

Besides, Eliana’s marriage to Grady had left him in an incredibly awkward position.

Grady, who had avoided meeting him all this time, had contacted him just before dawn, before breakfast tea.

The letter merely said he had been busy with wedding preparations and was now available to meet today.

Baron Hoffman had been furious at the blatant disregard, but he had no choice — he was the one desperate.

“Maybe I should’ve come later…”

There were still five minutes until their scheduled time, but the eyes on him made his seat feel like a bed of nails.

Rumors had already spread among the nobles at the funeral — that Baron Hoffman had bargained with the emperor over his daughter.

There was no escaping the nobles’ curious stares.

And that wasn’t all.

Before her second husband’s funeral was even over, Eliana had spent the night with Grady. The newspapers had been in an uproar for days, debating whether the Marchioness was guilty of infidelity.

Public curiosity about the father and daughter duo was at its peak — and not in a good way.

“Hmph…”

Just as Baron Hoffman let out his third sigh, Grady appeared at the entrance. His light gray suit and sky-blue cravat caused a small stir in the café.

“No need to get up. I’m not late — looks like you just arrived early?”

Grady waved off the baron, who had started to rise, and ordered a coffee. Baron Hoffman stayed silent, waiting until he finished.

“It would’ve been better if we met a bit earlier.”

“I was busy.”

Grady, sitting with his legs crossed and arm casually resting on the chair, exuded ease. Watching him, Baron Hoffman unconsciously licked his lips.

He knew better than anyone that impatience ruined everything. Still, he was under immense internal and external pressure, and the stress was taking a toll.

“So why did you want to meet me now?”

Baron Hoffman finally asked, unable to withstand the tension, despite the fact that they were meeting in a public café and not a private room.

Even the large potted plant swaying slightly in the windless interior made him uneasy.

“Are you angry?”

“For someone who cut off all ties with my daughter, even blocking her from seeing me, you’re awfully bold to ask that.”

Just one floor up, Eliana stayed in the suite. The nobles, aware from Raola’s diary that the baron had been repeatedly denied access to his daughter, nodded in sympathy.

Because of the rumors about this meeting, the second-floor café at the Mendis Hotel was packed to the brim.

“Did I really?”

To call him shameless would be generous.

As Baron Hoffman stared in disbelief, Grady gave a slight shrug, as if he genuinely didn’t understand why the baron was angry.

“I thought you’d be grateful to me. Guess not. How disappointing.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Baron Hoffman, who had lost his most valuable asset, flew into a rage. But the angrier he got, the more Grady smiled.

No one noticed the subtle shift, but Grady was quite pleased with how things were going.

“It’s not like she got divorced — she was widowed. Twice. You should be grateful I’m willing to ‘clean up’ your daughter. Instead of being angry, maybe you should be worshiping me.”

“What are you saying?”

Baron Hoffman’s face turned bright red at Grady’s attack.

“Sure, the first one could be chalked up to coincidence. But a second time? That’s suspicious.”

“W-what do you mean?”

They sat across from each other, trying to remain composed, but Baron Hoffman’s mind was racing.

“You know I’m a notorious gambler in the capital, right?”

Grady’s words made the baron nod without thinking. Grady’s love for gambling was infamous.

He was known for losing big — and winning even bigger. People loved betting on his games.

“……”

“Know what the biggest bet in the capital is these days?”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t indulge in such things.”

Meeting the baron’s scornful eyes, Grady smirked. The smirk sent an inexplicable chill down Baron Hoffman’s spine, and he lifted his teacup.