IYGBYD 25

Chapter 25

“I want to get married. As soon as possible.”

Sereret looked straight into Yuan’s eyes as she spoke.

Yuan, hands in his pockets, simply stared back at her. His expression was unreadable, giving away no emotion at all.

Why isn’t he reacting? Sereret couldn’t understand his lack of response.

She had just said she wanted to get married—shouldn’t he be shocked, or happy, at the very least?

“We should hurry with the wedding.”

Wondering if he hadn’t heard properly, Sereret repeated herself clearly.

“Marriage, suddenly?”

Yuan asked in a detached tone.

“Yes. I think it would be best to marry quickly.”

That way, we can divorce quickly. Determination burned in Sereret’s eyes.

“I was thinking of marrying in about two years…”

“What? No way!”

Sereret cut him off with a shout. In two years, her father’s title and mansion would already be in someone else’s hands.

“Not possible?”

Yuan tilted his head slightly, his voice languid.

“Of course not. Then this…”

She swallowed back the words Then even the divorce will be delayed and cleared her throat. Then, with a calmer voice, she continued:

“I’ve thought this through carefully. I want us to marry soon.”

“Just a few days ago, Lady Inohater was demanding a broken engagement. Such a sudden change of heart… truly astonishing. I don’t quite know how to take it.”

Yuan’s eyes studied Sereret’s face as he spoke.

“Of course it must look strange. But…”

Sereret faltered, unsure how to continue. It was natural for Yuan to find it odd.

After all, she had been raging about breaking the engagement, only to now plead for marriage. Anyone would think it strange.

In the meantime, Yuan strode toward her, closing the distance until he stood right in front of her.

His scent swept over her, and Sereret instinctively stepped back.

“But…?”

Yuan urged her to continue.

“…”

With him so close, Sereret couldn’t think of anything to say. She must look completely ridiculous.

She should have prepared an excuse before seeking him out. She cursed her own recklessness.

“Have you suddenly fallen for me?”

Yuan’s voice was soft, low enough to tickle her ear.

Sereret lifted her gaze to meet his. Their eyes locked—her amber against his ashen gray.

His face remained expressionless, but his eyes brimmed with emotion. What she read there was anger.

“Of course not.”

His voice cut like ice.

Yet his hand was careful, almost tender, as he brushed stray strands of her hair behind her ear.

His fingers grazed her skin, making her flinch.

Sereret’s body tensed at both his gaze and his touch. She had to handle this carefully.

After all, Yuan Frektuster needed Sereret Inohater too. There was no reason to cower.

“Perhaps I realized there’s no better husband than Duke Frektuster.”

She stepped back and answered with forced composure, meeting his eyes with a defiant look.

Yuan chuckled at that, though the sound carried an edge.

“Do you truly believe that?”

“…”

She couldn’t respond. Of course she didn’t believe it. Yuan Frektuster was the worst possible husband for her.

“You shouldn’t lie, Sereret.”

Yuan stroked her cheek.

Even his gentle touch, even the way he softly spoke her name, made her tense.

She grabbed his wrist, large and heavy in her hand, and pulled his hand away.

“What do you mean, a lie?”

“There must be a reason for this sudden change.”

“…”

“Don’t want to say?”

Yuan slipped free from her grasp, then seized her waist, pulling her against him.

Sereret was drawn into his arms, their bodies pressed so close she could feel his breath.

She instinctively braced her hands on his shoulders, pushing lightly.

“What reason could there be?”

Her voice trembled with nervousness.

Yuan leaned in as though to kiss her.

Sereret tried to step back, but his firm grip at her waist held her in place.

His breath brushed her lips. Just as their mouths were about to meet, he veered toward her ear and whispered:

“Convince me. I don’t know how else to accept Sereret Inohater’s fickleness.”

His breath against her ear made goosebumps rise along her neck.

But Sereret forced herself to look up at him with feigned calm.

“How can I convince you? As you said, it’s just whim.”

“…”

He said nothing, simply watching her.

“Yes. I threw a tantrum. Since Your Grace showed me no attention, I thought if I threatened to end things, you might finally care.”

It was better to act like a spoiled fiancée demanding affection, she thought.

Yet Yuan remained silent, only gazing at her. Their eyes locked again, neither yielding.

Finally, Yuan broke the silence.

“May I kiss you?”

His voice was almost a sigh.

“What?”

Sereret frowned in disbelief.

Such a ridiculous question—kiss her, out of nowhere?

“Perhaps I must. Only then will I…”

Before finishing, Yuan lowered his head and kissed her.

His lips were soft, strangely both familiar and foreign. Sereret clutched his arm tightly.

“Will you allow me, Sereret?”

He asked again, after pulling back briefly.

“And if I do, will it change anything? Will you understand my whim?”

“Perhaps.”

He leaned in again, this time with more intent.

Sereret closed her eyes. A kiss was nothing. In her past life, she had endured far more.

She could just give him that and be done with it. At least, that’s what she told herself.

But as the kiss deepened, Sereret lost her composure. Her arms slipped around his neck almost of their own accord.

Soon her back bumped the desk. Yuan lifted her and set her atop it, his lips never leaving hers.

“Mmm…”

A faint moan escaped her lips.

His rough, consuming kiss, his tongue tangling with hers—it left her dizzy.

Yuan gently eased her down onto the desk, his lips trailing to her throat.

Startled, Sereret grabbed his shoulders. The shock snapped her back to her senses. She pushed him away and sat up.

“That’s not my lips, Your Grace.”

She said between ragged breaths.

“I see.”

Yuan’s face was calm, even his breathing steady, as though he hadn’t just devoured her mouth.

It was always like this. Even after their most intense nights, he looked completely unruffled.

Now, too—aside from the faint redness in his ears, not a hair was out of place.

Sereret slid off the desk to stand before him.

“Will you marry me, Your Grace?”

Her words were almost a proposal, though her gaze was defiant. Just as you used me, I’ll use you too.

“Very well. Let’s marry. Soon.”

He answered as he gently smoothed her disheveled hair. Sereret let him, smiling bitterly.

How tender. For a man planning to poison her, his touch was far too warm.

She brushed past him toward the door. As her hand reached the knob, Lydia’s face flashed in her mind.

She turned back. Yuan stood at an angle, watching her.

“It seems men find it quite easy to kiss women they don’t love.”

His sharp gaze pierced her.

Without waiting for a reply, Sereret stepped out of the study.

“What’s a kiss, anyway? He had no qualms about lying with a woman he didn’t love, just to sire an heir.”

Her muttered words left a bitter taste on her face.

* *

Leaning back in his chair, Yuan’s face was grim.

‘She visited Madam Delabayng’s house… You know, that eccentric lawyer rumored to encourage women to divorce.’

The coachman’s words echoed in his mind, grating on his nerves.

Right after meeting that lawyer, Sereret had asked him to marry. The meaning was all too clear.

A marriage entered with divorce already in mind. Yuan let out a short, bitter laugh.

He had planned to force the marriage anyway, offering to return the deed to her family estate if she stopped demanding a broken engagement.

It would make him the villain, but he hadn’t cared. Because he wanted her. Sereret Inohater.

‘I want to get married. As soon as possible.’

Her voice lingered in his ears.

He had avoided being the villain, thanks to her. But it brought no joy. Even after marriage, she would still dream of escape.

That desire to flee only fueled his possessiveness, driving him to kiss her. And after the kiss, the hunger had only grown worse.

“This is madness.”

He laughed under his breath.

Lately, even he couldn’t understand himself. What was Sereret Inohater, that she had him so entangled?

She was nothing. Just a woman chosen out of necessity.

Still—if she wanted marriage, he would give it to her. But escape? Impossible. Once she bore the name Frektuster, she would belong to him completely.

A crooked smile tugged at his lips.

(To be continued…)