Chapter 45
“My heart…? What do you mean by saying that! If it’s a contract, then what am I supposed to do?”
Stop tearing me apart with talk of whether you’ll use me or not.
Luna pressed her fingers to her forehead and lowered her head. She didn’t want to look at his face.
“Just one thing. I want you to pour all your strength into purification, just as you’re doing now. I’ll take care of the rest. I’ll make sure neither the role of mistress of the house nor public appearances burden you. And of course, as you’re worried, there’s no need for affection between us. Just appearing as a married couple on the surface will be enough.”
Her chest throbbed and tightened until it was hard to breathe.
What worries? What do you know about me? Have you already erased from your memory the time I kissed you? Did you take it lightly because you’re experienced and thought it was a childish whim?
The thin thread she had been walking like a tightrope snapped. Her lips twisted in a bitter smile as heat stung her eyes.
“Fine. Let’s do this contract marriage thing. You won’t say a word if I end up using you and our territory falls apart, right? And once I’ve purified your curse, I can meet a lover of my taste and wander all over the Empire with him, and you won’t care, right? I’ll still be the Duchess of Bahir until the end, won’t I?”
“If the curse is completely purified, I won’t care even about something more than that.”
What…? Is he out of his mind?
Even though she had said it dripping with sarcasm, his answer came without a pause, and her anger flared up.
Luna clenched her pale fists.
“All right. When we get back, let’s draw up our contract. But Your Highness, let me ask you one last thing. Please answer me honestly.”
“Go ahead.”
Luna exhaled deeply. Her heart, which had burned and stopped mid-flame, still ached, stupidly refusing to give up. Like a girl confessing her first crush, her voice wavered anxiously.
“What kind of person am I to you, Your Highness? Am I someone you feel even a little bit of affection for?”
“……”
Khalid’s lips stayed firmly shut, though she had thought he would answer easily. Her blade-like question had stirred waves.
But she had chosen the wrong opponent. A man as deep as an abyss could swallow blades without trouble.
It didn’t take long before the corners of his heavy mouth rose calmly. Khalid did what he did best—crushed his emotions and spoke in a grave voice.
“I think you’re the Empire’s greatest purification mage. And to me, you’re the only one I can think of.”
“Someone you feel for… a purification mage, in other words.”
Luna’s voice was lonely, as if she had been handed a clean verdict.
What had she been expecting? She had known this was the answer she would get…
Instead of feeling relieved, her heart only hurt more. The next fragile words shattered on her lips and never came. She should have broken her lingering feelings and left them there too.
She nodded, pretending to understand, pretending nothing was wrong, and met his eyes that had long since hidden their warmth.
Bad man. And yet impossible to resist…
‘As I thought—a bad man!’
Luna exhaled deeply to calm her heart.
Does he think I’ll be heartbroken over words like that? I have something more important than you.
‘I… I want to live….’
“Let’s go back now.”
Khalid nodded and held out his hand to her. The moment of the contract he had spoken of began now.
Unlike just moments ago, when she had been at a loss, Luna now placed her hand lightly on his with determination. She too had made up her mind.
‘I’m going to use you until you’re completely worn out. And when both your curse and mine are gone, then I’ll return cleanly to the East. That’s why I’m marrying you.’
Hast greeted the two of them as they returned from their walk with a mischievous grin.
“Where have you been, Your Grace?”
As the knight commander and aide, he usually maintained a steady, upright demeanor, but occasionally showed a cheeky side to the lord he had served for so long.
Seeing his master taking the young lady for a walk was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. Letting it pass without comment would be like betraying his loyalty.
“Did you perhaps show her the scenery of the villa in the meantime? As expected of our lord—personally demonstrating that even a cold-blooded man can change. I, Hast Alps, am truly moved!”
“……”
Khalid saw no need to respond to Hast’s words.
Hast, delighted that his lord for once hadn’t punished his impudent mouth, grew even more excited.
“It was just a guess, but did you really do that? As I’ve said before, shouldn’t you just get married? You suit each other so well.”
“Stop babbling and get things ready. I’m going to get married anyway.”
“My apologies. I was just speaking offhand—eh?”
Swift changes of attitude were Hast’s specialty. Even as he turned to carry out the order, he blinked dumbly several times.
“I’m going to marry Lady Adérette. Tell Gérard to prepare in advance. We’ll do it simply and quickly with only the minimum of guests.”
His lord, who used to recoil at the very mention of marriage, was now calmly laying out plans for one. A miracle had occurred! Even if the plan trampled on the Grand Duke’s usual sense of formality, Hast’s chest swelled with joy.
“I’ll deliver the message immediately! My lady, please excuse me first!”
Charged with enthusiasm, Hast quickly ran off somewhere.
Watching Hast’s retreating back, which somehow reminded her of her grandfather, Luna suddenly caught sight of another figure in the distance and widened her eyes.
“Grandfather!”
Luna rushed toward Baron Alonzo in a hurry.
“Oh, Luna! You’re unharmed? Thank the heavens. Truly, thank you.”
It seemed the baron had been praying over and over for his granddaughter’s safety. He embraced Luna, wiping away tears of relief.
“Are you all right, Grandfather? What’s with that wound?”
“Your old grandfather was quite spry in his younger days. Two thugs were nothing, but a mob is another matter. But don’t worry. Thanks to Bahir’s knights, I survived and even received treatment.”
“Grandfather…”
Baron Alonzo’s cheek had been slashed deeply by the attackers’ swords, but he wrinkled his nose as if it didn’t bother him.
Luna’s heart sank as she realized her grandfather had been kidnapped too. As she had feared, traveling to the capital while disregarding Raven had been far too dangerous.
At that moment, Khalid approached the two of them.
Luna smiled awkwardly at him as she stood at his side.
“Grandfather, I’m going to marry this man.”
“What do you mean? You’re marrying the Grand Duke of Bahir?”
Baron Alonzo, who had once been refused by him in marriage negotiations, looked bewildered. The old eyes, still holding onto a sliver of hope, seemed to expect some explanation.
“…I’ve found a reason to keep the young lady by my side.”
Khalid spoke after a brief silence, with a simple truth.
“I see. Then I have nothing more… to wish for.”
Even though his reason was short and simple, Baron Alonzo’s voice choked with emotion.
Whatever had happened, his long-cherished wish for his granddaughter’s safety had finally come true, and nothing else mattered.
“Your Highness, please take care of our child. I raised her so she wouldn’t bring shame anywhere. Even with my own inadequacy, she endured and survived until now.”
“Grandfather… please don’t say such things.”
Luna hooked her arm through her grandfather’s, her eyebrows drooping like a rabbit’s ears.
“……”
Khalid’s gaze quietly fixed on their linked arms.
“You see? She’s this pretty, affectionate, and polite. But there’s one thing that worries me… Could you make sure she doesn’t use magic?”
At Baron Alonzo’s words, both Luna and Khalid subtly stiffened.
Unaware of the situation, the baron confided as if sharing a secret with a trustworthy future grandson-in-law.
“She was lucky when she purified Your Highness, but in truth, ever since she was a child, using magic would make her ill. So if possible, I beg you to stop her from using it.”
What parent would wish for their child to be in pain? Baron Alonzo’s feelings were the same.
Luna deliberately tightened her grip on his arm. It felt like she was lying to her joyful grandfather and her throat constricted.
“Don’t worry.”
Just as Luna’s lips began to tremble, Khalid spoke gently to reassure the baron.
“From now on, Adérette will be under Bahir’s protection. You needn’t fear anything.”
His voice was firm yet never arrogant, drifting softly through the air.
“Baron Adérette, what would you like to do? Whether you come with us to Bahir or remain in the East, I will respect you completely and support you for life.”
Luna let out a faint sigh of relief at his dependable tone.
Her soon-to-be husband had spoken calmly words that not just anyone could say, and her clouded heart felt a little lighter.
