What the hell is this lunatic saying right now?
First, he suddenly calls me by name — something he’s never done before.
Then he tells me to come to his family?
And now… he’s proposing?
A proposal. Just like that. Out of nowhere.
And this is the same guy who picked a fight with me at the ball just days ago?
“Um, Irene.”
“…Huh?”
That’s when I finally realized — Edmond was still holding my hands.
Worse, when our eyes met, he calmly lowered his head… and kissed the back of my hand.
“H-Hey—!”
Shocked, I reflexively yanked my hand away.
Edmond looked up at me with wide blue eyes, blinking in surprise.
‘Did I pull away too hard…?’
Seeing him bite his lip quietly like that, I suddenly felt a little guilty.
“Uh… sorry—”
“No, it’s okay. I get it. It’s a lot to take in.”
Then he looked up and met my eyes directly.
And I was stunned again.
That was Edmond Wolfgang, staring at me like a heartbroken man who’d just been rejected by his long-time crush.
“It makes sense that you’d react like this… You probably thought I hated you all this time.”
“But I… I’ve liked you since I was fifteen—”
Fifteen?
Wait—he’s saying he’s liked me for six years?
“…”
“There were some misunderstandings, but I always wanted to tell you how I felt. I just… never had the chance. And then you got engaged and—”
I stared at him suspiciously.
This really didn’t feel like the Edmond I knew.
‘Is he scheming something?’
Maybe he’s trying to trick me, pretending to be kind while I’m at my weakest—then toss me aside later.
Or maybe he’s trying to lure me into Wolfgang to spy on the Venomaines.
It seemed more likely than the idea that he actually… liked me.
“Wolfgang. Even if you hate me, I wish you wouldn’t lie about things like this.”
But Edmond held onto my hand tighter and looked at me with trembling blue eyes.
“I’m not lying.”
His voice was low, but firm.
I forgot what I was about to say.
He stared at me for a moment, then broke the silence.
“I’m sorry for acting like a jerk when we first met. But after that, I really—”
“You don’t have to pretend, or force yourself to act nice.”
I leaned forward slightly.
“I don’t know what you’re after, but you’re not getting any secrets about Venomaine from me.”
“That’s not it! I really—”
He let out a long sigh, clearly frustrated.
“I just… I hate seeing you stuck in a place like this. You’re way too good for this.”
His words made me freeze.
“…What?”
“I don’t like the idea of you going to Lancaster or Puyre either. Someone like you should be in a place with real power and resources. Not scraping by in some second-rate house.”
His sapphire-blue eyes gleamed sharply like a wolf’s.
“I’d rather bring you to my family than watch you suffer somewhere else.”
The more he spoke, the more confused I became.
He didn’t seem like he was lying — and that made it all the more terrifying.
‘Either I’ve lost my mind… or he has.’
His breathing was a little rough, and his cheeks were slightly red.
‘Did he… eat something weird?’
Poison, maybe? Was he hallucinating?
I seriously started to wonder if I needed to knock him out and take him home to Wolfgang for medical help.
But then he spoke again, right next to my ear:
“Irene.”
“…What?”
His soft voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
He looked up at me, flushed and flustered, voice shaking just a little.
“You probably don’t believe it… but I want to marry you because I really…”
He trailed off and lowered his head.
“It’s okay. I get it. It probably sounds crazy, especially after how I treated you.”
His sapphire eyes locked onto mine.
“I’m sorry. For the fights. The yelling. Everything.”
Still kneeling at my feet, Edmond looked more desperate than ever.
Compared to what Venomaine and Tession did, honestly, Edmond’s behavior had been tame.
But still, he seemed to know he’d been cruel to me.
“But I’m serious. I’m not joking. I’m not here to get information on the Venomaines. Honestly, until four days ago, I didn’t even hate them.”
I blinked.
That didn’t sound right.
He hated me for being a Venomaine. He made that obvious.
“What do you mean? You hated me because I was a Venomaine.”
“Back when I was a kid, sure. But once I started liking you, I didn’t.”
“No way. You hated Venomaines. You used to flinch just hearing the name.”
“But it’s true.”
He lowered his head again.
“I hated Venomaines. But you were a Venomaine. How could I hate something I loved?”
His clear blue eyes shimmered gently as they looked at me.
They were honest, calm… and completely sincere.
“…”
“…Okay. I still hate that jerk Pierson Venomaine, though.”
“…Wait. Did you just say you didn’t hate the Venomaines until four days ago?”
“Yeah. That’s right.”
He slowly stood up from the floor.
His black hair, like wolf’s fur, shifted slightly with his movement.
And now his eyes—those bright blue eyes—sharpened, cold like a predator about to pounce.
“They threw you away. Treated you worse than animals.”
My heart dropped.
Why was he saying this?
“Honestly, it worked out for me… but I can’t forgive them. Not for what they did to you.”
His voice was cold.
His gaze, dangerous.
I didn’t understand.
Why was he on my side? Why was he angry… for me?
Could it be that this crazy guy actually… liked me?
‘Why…?’
I couldn’t stop questioning it.
“Irene.”
His voice was soft and warm.
Not like Tession’s fake kindness—rougher, but steady and comforting.
“Forget those trash humans and marry me instead.”
“…”
“The Wolfgang mansion is way nicer than here. We have extra rooms. I’ll decorate yours however you like.”
His voice trembled slightly as he continued.
“You like potion studies, right? I already built you a lab.”
“…What?”
“I’m serious. I started construction as soon as I heard you were kicked out of Venomaine.”
What in the world…
‘Can I even consider saying yes to this…?’
I was too stunned to think clearly.
No one had ever said they loved me before.
“If we get married, you’ll become Silver-Named right away. Our family gives the title to the spouse of the heir. I’ll also sponsor you to compete in the Siliera Tournament. You could even earn a Golden Name.”
Golden Named.
The most prestigious title a noble could earn.
I, who got thrown out of Venomaine without even a Bronze Name—what if I became a Golden Named under their rival house?
The very title the current Duke of Venomaine desperately wanted?
What sweeter revenge could there be?
“I’ll help you take revenge on the ones who threw you away.”
Looking into Edmond’s pure blue eyes, I remembered the blackened blood I’d hidden in a cloth bowl.
Wolfgang had the strongest healing abilities of all noble houses.
But only Venomaine’s poison could harm them.
And only my blood—with its purification power—could neutralize that poison.
‘This ability alone… might be enough to convince the rest of the Wolfgang family.’
I was starting to waver.
“I promise. Whatever you ask—no matter what—I’ll do it. So please—”
Edmond’s eyes sparkled, so honest, so open.
“Marry me. Live with me, okay?”
“…”
Even my own family and fiancé betrayed me.
To trust Edmond now… felt insane.
But I could tell—he really wanted this.
I clenched my fists tightly.
I was already standing at the edge of the cliff. I had nothing left to lose.
Even if I got betrayed again—so what? I could break the engagement again.
I’d been abandoned before.
But this chance was too big to walk away from just because I was afraid.
“Irene.”
His voice reached a deep part of my heart.
Had anyone said my name like that—so gently—before?
“…”
Even if it turned out to be a lie. Even if he changed his mind later.
‘It’s okay. I’ll survive.’
Just like I survived today, getting back up again.
“Irene… what do you think?”
“…”
I was already ready to do anything.
As long as I could stand back up.
“…Okay.”
I lifted my head and met his blue eyes.
Like I said—I had nothing to lose now. So why not take a chance?
I swallowed hard and steadied my voice.
“I’ll marry you.”
And that was how our strange cohabitation began.
