Chapter 10
“A mask?”
“If it’s difficult, you don’t have to take it off.”
“…No. This is the first time I’ve received such a request.”
There was something unfamiliar in his usually emotionless tone.
Anneliese had already looked into his eyes before and been fine.
The Grand Duke knew that too.
He nodded.
“It’s not impossible.”
Keeping one hand extended toward her, he raised the other.
With his long fingers, he grabbed the mask and removed it in one motion.
Then he brushed his dark hair back from his forehead.
“There. Is this enough?”
Anneliese unconsciously swallowed.
“…Yes.”
She even stuttered from the shock.
He wasn’t ugly at all.
He was handsome.
No—not just handsome.
‘What do they mean, horrifyingly ugly?’
If this was the “true face” Isaiah had mentioned—
Then those who couldn’t see it were pitiful.
They were living without even experiencing a fraction of the world’s beauty.
His nose was straight and elegant, his lips perfectly shaped.
There wasn’t a single flaw in his appearance.
The dim light cast shadows beneath his thick brows.
In contrast, his amber eyes shone vividly.
Just looking at them felt like her soul was being pierced.
The Grand Duke looked at her blank expression with interest.
“As expected, this is strange.”
“That’s what I should be saying.”
Anneliese had grown numb to beauty after seeing her own face in the mirror every day.
And yet—
His appearance felt almost overwhelming.
Was it unsettling? Or sacred?
‘At this level… did the princess faint not because he was ugly, but because he was too beautiful?’
That thought crossed her mind.
“Why are you fine even in front of me?”
It was the same question she had once wondered.
He seemed just as puzzled.
“Am I not frightening or grotesque? That’s what others say.”
Anneliese answered firmly,
“Not at all.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. But your knight said it’s because I resemble Saint Annelarion.”
“Isaiah said that? I see.”
Curious, she asked,
“Do you agree? Do I resemble her?”
He tilted his head.
The distance between them grew closer.
His gaze carefully examined her face.
“…I’m not sure.”
His long fingers lightly touched her curly bangs.
Her forehead tingled.
“I don’t remember well. What she looked like.”
His tone sounded as if he had once seen Annelarion himself.
‘So he doesn’t know either.’
She wanted to ask why he wanted the relic—
But stopped.
He would probably just say he didn’t remember.
He was a man full of secrets.
‘Maybe it’s like soldiers who lose long-term memory after head injuries.’
For now, it wasn’t important.
The Grand Duke already seemed distracted by something else.
“Why is your hair curled? It wasn’t like this before. Did you burn it?”
She wondered when he would bring that up.
“…I styled it on purpose. It’s the trend these days.”
“I don’t understand.”
No point arguing.
Before he could criticize her clothes too, she held out her hand.
The Grand Duke took it.
After briefly gripping her hand, he clicked his tongue.
“…”
What now?
“If I use a little more force, it feels like it might break.”
She was getting used to his strange comments.
“It won’t break.”
His arm wrapped around her waist.
He complained again.
“Your waist is too thin.”
“If it hurts, I’ll tell you. Just hold properly.”
“Make sure you tell me. I’m not confident in controlling my strength.”
Finally, he began to move.
As they danced, Anneliese was impressed.
‘He’s really good.’
Whoever taught him must have been excellent.
His lead was flawless.
Following his movements, she spoke.
“Your Grace. You still want the relic of Aldeon, right?”
He had been looking at her the entire time.
“Yes. Did you bring it?”
“Of course.”
The relic was tied at her waist in a small pouch.
“Would you like to see it?”
“No. That won’t be necessary. I believe you. Keep it for now.”
For someone who had come all the way from the north for it—
He seemed strangely indifferent.
‘He really is unusual.’
He tilted his head.
“As you said, I rejected the royal offer. So you must want something in return for that box.”
She nodded.
“That’s right.”
“What do you want?”
“Marriage.”
She spun once in a circle.
Her arm extended away from him, then she returned to his embrace.
“Please marry me, Your Grace.”
The moment she finished speaking—
He stopped moving.
She couldn’t see his expression clearly in the dim light.
What if he rejected her immediately?
Without giving him time, she continued.
“Don’t misunderstand. I only want a legal marriage. Nothing more. Just until I inherit my title.”
He remained silent.
“I don’t want your land or your power. I just need this marriage to avoid marrying the Crown Prince.”
The moment she mentioned the Crown Prince—
His grip tightened.
He spoke quickly.
“Robert Hildegart. That fool wants to marry you?”
At the same time—
All the candles in the corridor went out.
‘Did the wind blow? But the windows are closed…’
In the sudden darkness, she answered,
“…Yes.”
“…Hah.”
His reaction was stronger than when she mentioned the relic.
‘He really hates the Crown Prince.’
Good. So do I.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Maybe she should keep mentioning the Crown Prince?
It felt like that would make him agree.
“Were you going to marry him?”
She swallowed her real thoughts and spoke sadly.
“Of course not. But he’s the Crown Prince. Unless I marry someone like you, I may not be able to escape.”
“…How troublesome.”
He frowned, deep in thought.
“So all I need to do is take you as my partner?”
He was already cooperating.
‘He must really hate the Crown Prince.’
She didn’t even need her backup plans.
‘If I knew it would be this easy, I wouldn’t have stayed up all night preparing.’
She had worked so hard on her proposal.
Still, this was good.
“There’s just one condition. It shouldn’t be difficult for you.”
“This time, truly just one?”
“Yes, just one. But before that… could we get some light? It’s too dark.”
The candles were still out.
The only light came from the moon—barely visible through clouds.
It felt dangerous to keep dancing like this.
“…Ah.”
He sounded like he had just realized.
As if darkness wasn’t a problem for him.
He moved his hand in the air.
Anneliese looked outside and widened her eyes.
‘Did the clouds just move with his hand?’
As he gestured, the clouds covering the moon parted.
Bright moonlight flooded the corridor.
Under the light, shadows formed along his sharp features.
Even his shadow looked beautiful.
He clicked his tongue.
“This is the best I can do for now.”
He had just done something impossible—
And acted like it was nothing.
Anneliese stared at him.
‘He’s definitely not normal… there’s something different about him. He really is…’
