PLML 54🔐

CHAPTER 54…………………

“Fine. Let’s say you like me, Perus. But as you know, I’m already married to Theoris. I’m a married woman!”

“Well, if you haven’t officially registered the marriage yet, can you really call yourself married?”

“…What?”

Completely thrown off by the unexpected answer, Jaina asked again in a dazed voice. As if he had been waiting for this moment, Perus walked to his desk, rummaged through a drawer, and pulled out a sheet of paper.

He handed it to Jaina. The room was too dark to make out the words. As Jaina struggled to read the document in the dimness, Perus brought over a small lantern.

“A… marriage registration form?”

What Perus handed her was indeed the marriage registration between Jaina and Theoris.

“What?”

Jaina, staring at the paper slowly, was shocked. At the very bottom, where the imperial seal should have been stamped, there was nothing.

Without the imperial seal, the document had no validity. No matter how much Jaina claimed she and Theoris were married, without a sealed marriage certificate, their union would not be officially recognized.

“What on earth…?”

The date on the document was the day Jaina had first gone to the Grand Duke’s estate.

Even at the latest, such documents were usually processed within a week. If there was an issue and it could not be approved, the form should have been returned.

“Aren’t you curious why I have this?”

“Right… why do you have it, Perus?”

“Well, at that exact time, His Majesty entrusted me with this matter. After all, my dear elder brother was getting married. He couldn’t just stamp the seal without knowing who the bride was, could he? So while I investigated your background, the approval was held back.”

“You investigated me, too?”

“Of course. Surely my brother did as well… you didn’t know?”

For a moment, Jaina felt betrayed that Theoris had investigated her. But seeing Perus’s face, she quickly corrected her thoughts.

‘So this is how he plans to drive a wedge between me and Theoris. I see through you now.’

“Never mind. We’ll just resubmit the marriage registration…”

“And you think I’ll just sit back and let that happen?”

‘Ah. Right. He’s the Crown Prince.’

If he was the Crown Prince, it would be easy for him to intercept official documents.

‘This is driving me insane.’

“Why are you doing this to me?”

“I told you. Because I love you.”

“Don’t say ridiculous things. This isn’t love.”

“Who could stand by and watch the woman he loves marry another man?”

“I don’t love you!”

Frustrated by the utter lack of reason, Jaina raised her voice without realizing it.

“Shh. You’re too loud.”

Perus covered her mouth. Jaina forced herself to calm down and nodded. But he didn’t immediately take his hand away.

With his eyes lowered, Perus whispered into her ear.

“More importantly, Jeanne, sneaking into a man’s bedroom half-dressed—aren’t you being too defenseless?”

“Grrr…”

The black dragon, who had already been baring its teeth since Perus approached, suddenly leapt. Before Jaina could stop it, the dragon sank its teeth into Perus’s hand.

“Argh!”

Perus recoiled, shaking his hand, distancing himself from Jaina.

Hovering in the air, the black dragon flapped its wings proudly, as if asking for praise.

“You did well, but… don’t bite people again, okay?”

“Graah!”

The dragon beat its wings happily. Jaina stroked its head, then looked at Perus, who stood farther away, clutching his hand.

“Let me see. Are you okay?”

He showed her the hand. Fortunately, there were only faint tooth marks, nothing serious.

“That’s what you get for threatening people.”

“I was just teasing you. You’re far too defenseless around me.”

Lowering his eyes sorrowfully, Perus spoke in a plaintive tone. But Jaina was unmoved.

“That’s not teasing. Let’s get back to the point. Perus, stop spreading those articles right now. Because of you, I can’t even leave the house. Do you know how suffocating that feels?”

“That is… unfortunate.”

“You say you like me, right? Then don’t do things that I hate.”

Perus didn’t answer immediately. His pale blue eyes lingered on her. Jaina didn’t look away, meeting his gaze firmly.

Then Perus smiled faintly.

“Alright.”

“…Huh?”

The unexpected agreement caught Jaina off guard.

Surely this wasn’t the type of man to give in so easily.

Suspicious, she narrowed her eyes.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course. Don’t you trust me?”

“No.”

“That hurts. I’ve always been sincere with you, Jaina…”

Ignoring his theatrics, Jaina prepared to leave. There was no reason to stay any longer.

“Leaving already?”

“Yes. I’ll pay for the broken window soon. Sorry for disturbing you at this hour.”

As she moved toward the window with the dragon to depart, Perus’s amused voice stopped her.

“Jeanne, what about the barrier?”

‘Ah. Right. There’s that.’

Only Asins could open the barrier, but he wasn’t here.

Jaina turned back. Perus was standing there, smugly. She gave a strained smile.

“Perus… do you know how to open it?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t.”

‘So I really have to stay here until morning.’

Jaina sat in a corner with the dragon in her arms.

“What are you doing there, Jeanne?”

“I’ll go back in the morning. Don’t mind me. Just go to sleep.”

Perus shook his head.

“I can’t sleep while you’re here. Wait a moment.”

He returned with a teapot and cups. Pouring sweet-smelling tea into a small cup, he handed it to her.

When Jaina eyed it suspiciously, he took a sip first.

‘So it’s not poisoned.’

Relieved, Jaina drank. The honey-sweet tea eased her mind.

“Jeanne, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“What do you like so much about my brother?”

“That’s so sudden…”

Why Theoris?

At first, she had no particular reason. He was simply the protagonist of this world’s story, her arranged partner. A man she was supposed to win over so she could live peacefully as his duchess. That was all.

But somewhere along the way… she had become sincere.

Theoris was different from his game portrayal. He always prioritized her feelings, respected her, even entertained her absurd remarks seriously, and tried to grant her wishes.

His moonlit eyes when he smiled. His gentle voice when he called her name. His way of listening patiently even when skeptical.

She liked Theoris.

“I just do. Do you need a reason to like someone?”

Smiling faintly at the memory of his tender nature, Jaina didn’t notice.

The desire in Perus’s gaze had never burned more deeply.

‘Why am I so sleepy all of a sudden…’

Her eyelids grew heavy. She blinked slowly, her consciousness sinking. She slapped her cheeks, but it only made her sleepier.

‘I have to stay awake…’

She tried to stand. But her balance faltered, her mind fogged as if locked away. She leaned against the wall, unable to rise.

“Rrr…”

The black dragon looked at her with worried eyes.

‘This isn’t normal drowsiness.’

No way.

“Perus, this tea—!”

Before she could finish, she collapsed. Her voice failed her. Darkness swallowed her consciousness.

Perus approached the fallen Jaina. The dragon shot up into the air, blocking his path, fangs and claws bared.

Perus only smiled.

“I held back earlier because she was watching…”

A golden magic circle flared in his palm. A glowing restraint clasped itself around the dragon’s neck.

“Graah!”

The dragon crashed to the ground, thrashing until it was completely bound by shimmering chains.

Perus grabbed its nape.

“Don’t worry. Since she treasures you, I won’t hurt you too badly.”

Golden chains coiled tightly around the dragon.

Then Perus turned to Jaina. She was asleep in an uncomfortable position, her brow faintly furrowed. He lifted her into his arms.

“…Theo…”

Hearing her murmur, Perus’s eye twitched.

He could no longer stand even her unconscious lips speaking that name.

He had never felt emotions so violently before.

‘I just like him.’

Her words echoed.

But in Perus’s mind, he was superior to Theoris in every way—power, wealth, looks, character. Theoris had always been overlooked, yet somehow, he had Jaina’s heart.

Perus could not accept it.

He had always taken whatever he desired. And he desired her.

His face as he gazed down at the sleeping Jaina was not that of a man in love, but of someone who would claim her no matter the cost.