IBWMD 108

~Chapter 108~

I remembered something I’d once said.

‘You’re a good person, Karl.’

‘So you don’t have to act like you’re not.’

‘Are you saying I was pretending to be bad?’

After that, my urge to act tough disappeared.

The Duke looked at my face and spoke.

“You were never really welcomed here from the beginning.”

He gently massaged my calf and ankle.

“And lately, you’ve been shunned by others just because you have holy power.”

“But even so, you cared for the people here and didn’t turn away from me. You even healed me.”

“….”

“Even though I sent you that kind of letter…”

That’s true…

But suddenly I wondered:

‘Did he fall for me just because I reminded him of the Saint?’

He seemed touched because I did something good.

In the original story, he was impressed by the Saint’s kindness too. And she also had healing powers, right?

‘Maybe he just likes women who heal him.’

If I’d known, I wouldn’t have used my holy power on him.

I regretted it a little, but I spoke without thinking.

“That’s because…”

“That’s because?”

“There’s no reason not to help. If I can save someone, why wouldn’t I? It’s just something I can do.”

It’s not because I’m such a good person or anything.

The Duke shook his head slowly.

“There are a lot of people who don’t act, even if they have no reason not to.”

“And there are even fewer people who are kind, even if they have reasons to hate or avoid someone.”

“What do you know about me, anyway?”

“I know enough.”

“I’m not that nice. I only helped the townspeople at first to look good in front of you.”

“You’re honest about that, and honesty is a great virtue.”

The Duke laughed from behind his mask.

It sounded strangely clear, almost refreshing.

“I even like that part of you.”

“What part? The selfish part?”

“The part where you say you’re being fake, but then you’re honest about it anyway.”

The Duke’s hand gently held my foot.

“Besides, I’ve done my own share of hiding things.”

“I don’t really have the right to be mad if you lied to me.”

I felt my whole body prickle for some reason.

“That’s why I like you.”

“I like you.”

“Stop. Please don’t say it anymore.”

“Even if you were a Holy Knight, or a Saint, or even the Pope’s illegitimate child.”

“Really?”

The Pope’s illegitimate child is probably out there dancing in the hall somewhere.
No, she was only dancing to talk to me—now she’s probably standing against the wall.

I tried to distract myself with silly thoughts, but my cheeks got even hotter.

‘Why am I blushing so much?’

He says he likes me all he wants, but I don’t like the Duke.

…I don’t like him, right?

‘But Karl… what about Karl?’

But then my inner voice mumbled,

‘I don’t like cowards like that anymore.’

‘So you’re switching to the Duke now? Just because you noticed something good about him?’

If that’s the logic, I should have fallen for Captain Ista, too.

No way. He’s like family to me.

“…Anyway, just stop saying it.”

I bit my lip, not sure how to handle my feelings.

The Duke leaned in.

“If you don’t like hearing I like you, then how about—”

“Adorable? You think I’m cute?”

“No, I—”

“You think I smell like a person? I get that a lot.”

I dodged as hard as I could, and the Duke just laughed and tickled between my toes.

I instinctively curled up my toes, and he looked at me like it was adorable.

“Let me go.”

“….”

“I’m cold. I want to go back inside.”

Actually, I wasn’t cold at all. I was hot all over.

The Duke probably knew how warm I was since he was touching me.

But he just nodded gently.

“Yeah. We should go inside now.”

“I’ll wait.”

“Didn’t I tell you? I’ll try my best so you can like me too.”

“It’s not easy for me to ask you to accept me right away.”

He got up first, then added, after a pause:

“Especially when I could kill you in this situation.”

That’s only if I have your child, right…?

‘Wait.’

…Does he want to have a child with me?

To have a child…

Burning hot.

I suddenly felt my whole body get hot and my mouth dropped open.

‘But you’re supposed to be impotent!’

In the original story, he never even looked at Reina!

I barely managed to swallow my words, thankful for the last bit of sense I had.

‘And the worst part is I don’t even hate it!’

I put my hand over my burning ear as the Duke scratched his neck and laughed.

I was too out of it to even get annoyed.

He shook his head slowly.

“Not until that problem is solved.”

“Can you even fix it?”

“I’m looking for a way.”

He added shortly,

“Either way, I won’t touch you recklessly.”

“….”

“So don’t make that scared face, Elaine.”

Is he trying to say, “Don’t be afraid, my little kitten,” or something?

Oddly enough, those words made me snap out of it a bit.

“I’m not scared. I’m just surprised.”

Those are totally different things!

Just as I was about to say so—

“Here.”

He knelt in front of me and put my shoe on for me.

His fingers slipped over my foot and ankle, almost too obviously.

‘Didn’t you say you wouldn’t touch me?!’

Liar!

I flinched and shivered, but the Duke just looked at my foot like he wasn’t satisfied.

“Should I carry you?”

“…Why?”

“Your feet must hurt.”

I jumped up right away.

It didn’t sound like an empty offer.

If I stayed any longer, I might actually end up in his arms.

Beth called Karl a fox, but the Duke was more like a fox with nine tails.

“I’m fine! My feet don’t hurt. I’ll go change into slippers.”

“Good idea. Go in and rest. And don’t go talk to that man.”

“You should rest too. You’re the one who needs it.”

You stop talking to Reina, too! I’m scared she might fall for you.

I stopped myself from saying that, and tried to link arms with the Duke… but paused.

He was still smiling.

“I told you.”

“I have no intention of touching you recklessly.”

…Who knew he’d change his mind in just a few minutes.

“What?”

I stared at the head maid in the hallway, shocked.

The Duke was just as frozen.

“Duke, Duchess. This isn’t just a suggestion.”

“You must use the same bedroom.”

“As long as the Holy Knights are staying in Saint-Ports, absolutely.”

* * *

“I can’t believe this.”

Later, I was sitting on the bed in the couple’s bedroom, hugging a pillow.

‘Is the Duke here too?’

The thought made my head spin even more.

‘We haven’t even had a wedding, and now we’re sharing a bedroom?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why?’

‘We can’t let the Holy Knights the Emperor sent know you’re not really married.’

The head maid was strict.

So the Emperor or the Pope couldn’t use our marriage as an excuse to cause trouble.

That meant we had to act like a married couple sharing a bedroom.

‘We’ll pretend you already had the ceremony a while ago.’

‘Then what about the real wedding?’

‘It’ll be done in secret, with just your sister as a witness. What matters is showing there’s no problem with your marriage.’

I couldn’t even argue.

The head maid looked at me and spoke calmly.

‘It’s not really a big deal, right?’

‘What does that mean…’

‘Anyway, just do it. Use the same room. No excuses.’

It was too late to complain.
The door to the couple’s bedroom was right in front of me.