IRTHP 07

Chapter 8…

 Protect Me, the Pretty One

The first to propose marriage had been the Grand Duke.
However, ever since she followed him to the ducal household, things had taken a strange turn. No one welcomed her, and even the Grand Duke himself seemed to have changed his mind, his attitude lukewarm at best.

It would have been great if things just ended with her parting ways with House Claudia altogether, but that wasn’t going to happen. Everyone wanted Ethan. So before the Grand Duke brought Ethan over, Aileen had to find a way to convince him no matter what.

“I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Aileen continued explaining in detail, not allowing him a chance to interject.

“What I’m saying is, let’s get married and then get divorced. That way, you can keep your promise to House Claudia and still take another omega as your mate. It won’t take long—just one year.”

What on earth was she talking about now?

Lloyd tilted his head, wearing an expression as if wondering where some dog had suddenly started barking. But Aileen stood her ground and elaborated further.

“Even after the divorce, you don’t need to worry. There are plenty of young ladies who want to marry you, so remarrying won’t be a problem.”

“Ladies who want me, huh…”

“You’re one of the few dominant alphas on the continent, from a great house, and you’re handsome too. Do you know how many young women adore you? A divorce wouldn’t even be a blemish.”

Why do I have to be the one saying this…

As she listed praise after praise, Aileen felt bitter about her situation. But that was a separate matter—the priority now was to convince the Grand Duke.

“What do you think?”

She carefully asked for his opinion.

Lloyd fell silent, seemingly deep in thought. The longer the silence stretched, the more each minute felt like an hour. Aileen was about to call out to him when he finally spoke.

“If there are people who want me, wouldn’t that include you as well? But you’re talking like you’re not one of them.”

“…What?”

“It’d be even more troublesome if you later said you couldn’t go through with the divorce.”

His shameless words made Aileen’s blood boil, but she forced herself to stay calm.

“That won’t happen. I can divorce you cleanly, like a blade.”

She declared confidently, as if to say she wouldn’t love him even if he were the last man left on earth. Annoyed by her resolute tone, Lloyd didn’t answer immediately.

“It’s not something I can decide on the spot. Marriage isn’t some child’s game…”

Aileen let out a hollow laugh, finding his words absurd. In fact, children’s pretend weddings were probably more serious than this.

And he’s the one who proposed so casually in the first place.

“This won’t work after all,” Lloyd refused.

“How can I guarantee that your feelings won’t change once we’re sharing a bed?”

Wow…

Once you praised him a little, he floated endlessly.

Aileen struggled to keep her composure, forcing herself to look indifferent, as if she’d never fall for a man like him. But the next thing Lloyd said almost shattered her calm.

“I don’t want us to end up squabbling miserably later. I’ve changed my mind. It’s better to bring your brother in from the start—”

“Wait.”

She stretched out her hand.

Lloyd obediently closed his mouth at her signal to stop. A fleeting smile passed across his lips—so brief that no one could have noticed.

“I swear I’ll never fall for you. If—if I ever do, cast me aside without mercy. Treat me like I’m worthless. And also, there’s another good thing about marrying me.”

“What’s that?”

He asked casually, willing to listen. Aileen, despite feeling frustrated, answered honestly.

“I’m a beta, so I won’t bother you with pheromones. And if you’re still uneasy, we can put it all in a contract.”

“And you expect me to trust a mere contract? Love transcends all rules.”

She wanted to retort, Who are you to talk about love?, but technically, he wasn’t wrong. He wasn’t saying he loved anyone—he was implying that it would be troublesome if he ended up falling for her. From beginning to end, he was a man deeply in love with himself.

I wasn’t planning to go this far…

Aileen bit her lip.

“Fine. If you still can’t trust me even when I say I won’t fall for someone as perfect as you, then I suppose I’ve failed to show my determination. What else can I do?”

She had to prove it.

Taking an exaggerated deep breath, Aileen spoke with solemn seriousness, as if pledging everything she had.

“If you need an heir, I’ll do my best during the marriage. And even if I do end up having a child, I won’t get greedy.”

She said this solely to make the marriage happen. She knew he’d soon leave for the battlefield and there wouldn’t be any children. But she acted as if there might be, painting herself as pitiful and determined.

“Do you need anything more? I have nothing else to offer.”

She looked at him earnestly, wishing he’d accept. Lloyd’s expression was unreadable.

He actually liked her initial proposal of a limited-term marriage. And the additional conditions she offered made it even more enticing. Watching her was surprisingly amusing. But one lingering question made him school his features.

“Then we’ll have to hurry the wedding. You can’t get pregnant before that.”

Even though he was agreeing to her terms, Aileen couldn’t smile.

Those attending the retainers’ meeting heard a report that Grand Duke Rihast had personally escorted the Claudia family’s woman to her room. Some couldn’t believe it; others began speculating about his intentions, building elaborate assumptions.

But when the Grand Duke himself entered, everyone fell silent as if on cue. While they exchanged uneasy glances, Lloyd recalled his earlier conversation with Aileen.

“I don’t understand why you’re going this far. Your brother would probably like me… Or could it be that you already like me and are pretending otherwise?”

“Of course not. My brother’s an omega.”

“And?”

“Because he’s an omega, he could be drawn to your pheromones. But I’m not.”

“And that’s a reason?”

He’d been genuinely baffled.

There were arranged marriages where the parties had never even met before. Pheromones weren’t that important. In fact, it was better if they were compatible.

“Come to think of it, this is all suspicious. I might as well talk to your brother instead of you.”

“Why do you keep talking about someone else when you already proposed to me?”

Her betrayed expression had nearly made him burst out laughing. So he firmly nailed the issue shut—no more talk about Ethan.

Aileen kept offering things to him: one year of time, the duchess’s seat to relinquish after divorce, even the prospect of a child.

By the end, she would have nothing left for herself. It almost seemed like she’d appeared before him out of nowhere just to beg for marriage.

“What’s so suspicious?”

“Anyone who offers that much with nothing in return is suspicious. Don’t you want anything?”

“I do.”

She forced out the words, her face showing no desire at all, but her voice trying to sound as if she did. Her expressions were more honest than her words. He waited patiently, and when she finally spoke, her face lit up.

“After the divorce…”

Wealth that could last a lifetime?
Power that none could ignore?

He was curious to hear just how grand her wish would be.

“Please protect my brother and me.”

“…What?”

Her expression turned resolute, as if she’d made up her mind.

“Just like my beautiful brother, protect me, the pretty one.”

…Pretty?

“As you know, my brother’s a dominant omega. His pheromones are exceptional, and he’s incredibly beautiful. Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone prettier. But beauty isn’t always a blessing. He couldn’t even go outside freely.”

She spoke flatly while praising her brother’s looks.

“I want to move freely. I want protection so no one can casually reach out to me. Not forever—just until we both find our destined partners and imprint.”

She wasn’t seeking House Claudia’s power. She wanted the Grand Duke’s power.

“Can you do that?”

“That’s not a difficult condition.”

It was such a simple request that he was almost surprised. But she looked displeased at how easily he’d agreed, as if his words had somehow offended her. She rolled her eyes, swallowing her irritation, then suddenly changed the subject.

“By the way, why are you speaking so informally to me?”

“It’s a sign of familiarity.”

“Familiarity? Since when did you feel that?”

When she hid in the laundry room?
Or when he heard she’d gone out without notice?

While Lloyd pondered, Aileen muttered, not really expecting an answer.

“It’s not like we’re that close anyway…”

“We should get closer. We’re going to be married, after all. Unless you’d prefer I stay formal—then there’s no real reason to get married…”

“We’re close. Of course we are. Be as familiar as you like.”

Her forced acceptance made Lloyd smile. He couldn’t let his guard down with her—not until the very end. Conversing with Aileen, who was so unpredictable, was strangely fun.

But then…

As he replayed their conversation in his mind, something he’d overlooked earlier caught his attention.

“Until we both find our destined partners and imprint.”

We both?