Chapter 29

“…If I want to meet their expectations, I suppose I should make my exit now.”

Eliana chose silence instead of answering. The sensation of a moist tongue brushing across her palm made every hair on her body stand on end.

Thinking back, she had only ever thought of escaping through marriage but had never actually discussed the specifics of married life with Grady.

Her previous two marriages hadn’t been normal. They were paths she had chosen to escape. But just remembering the first night made her body tremble like a leaf.

“I can’t disappoint my bride’s expectations.”

Seeing Eliana suddenly shrink back and tremble, Grady took off his jacket.

“Are you already caring for your bride? If she finds out, she might get pretty upset!”

Grady realized the “she” they were referring to was Empress Rosella, and he gave a bitter smile. No matter what he did, the shackles Rosella had placed on him would not be undone.

Like a noose, they dug into his flesh, drawing blood and leaving wounds. Yet no one realized that Rosella was the one who had shackled him.

‘Is it invisible to them?’

Grady smiled bitterly and lifted Eliana into his arms. Before she could even take in the sudden change in his expression, Eliana found herself held by him and buried her face in his shoulder, startled by the sudden elevation.

“Whew!”

The stares filled with desire pierced through them relentlessly.

Eliana knew just how violent unwanted attention could be—something she’d learned all too well through her two previous marriages.

But with Grady, it was strictly a contractual relationship. If she failed to prove her worth to him, she would be discarded without hesitation.

“Keep your head down and stay like this.”

Just as she was about to lift her head, thinking she couldn’t entrust everything to Grady, a low whisper made her freeze.

“Is that some seductress technique too? My God, look at her pretending to be innocent after two marriages.”

Hearing voices while her view was blocked made her whole body stiffen. It felt like she was standing with one foot off a cliff.

Eliana swallowed dryly and clung to Grady’s neck tighter, as if it were the only lifeline she had.

“If you’re jealous, shut up and move on instead of spouting nonsense.”

“W-What did you say?!”

The masked man who had been drunkenly hurling insults at Eliana stumbled when Grady pointed him out.

“Well, if I were her, I wouldn’t want to spend the night with you either.”

Grady, holding Eliana, laughed brightly. At his words, the people around the man burst into laughter.

Perhaps it was because everyone had been tense during the Emperor’s party earlier in the day, but the guests got drunk unusually quickly. The masks that perfectly concealed their identities only added to the excitement.

“Hope it’s a night none of us forget!”

Cheers followed behind Eliana and Grady as they left.

Just a few steps away from the brightly lit garden, darkness quickly enveloped them.

Only then did Eliana raise her head in Grady’s arms. Shadows, dark like stains, flickered and trailed behind them.

“…You can put me down now.”

Her voice was clearly tired. Grady slightly loosened the strength in his arms holding her.

“Ah!”

Startled by the sudden slip, Eliana quickly grabbed Grady’s neck.

“Seems like your body’s reacting differently than your mind.”

Though he seemed sober, there was a hint of drunkenness in his voice. Yet he walked without a single stumble.

“I was just surprised you suddenly let go. There’s no one around now, so please put me down.”

She was right. Though occasional voices of drunken guests could still be heard, they had just turned the corner of a building and were now completely out of sight.

“Hmm.”

Grady suddenly stopped and groaned, making Eliana look at him in surprise.

“W-What are you doing?”

“You really don’t get it, do you?”

Grady looked incredulously at Eliana, who was clinging to his neck, locking eyes with him.

“Just explain it clearly.”

Eliana replied while shrinking back slightly.

Once out of the garden, the cold air made her body tremble. But it wasn’t just the cold.

Whenever she spoke with Grady, Eliana felt like a mouse cornered by a cat.

Now was no different. Being in his large arms made her feel protected, but Grady’s evasive manner of speaking put her on edge.

“Maybe it’s just something you’re born with.”

“Duke Cryber!”

Eliana couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted. She hated this kind of conversation—it made her feel like a fool.

“I meant when a woman whispers sweetly into a man’s ear while in his arms, in the dead of night, while talking about marriage. Even I can’t help but wonder if I can close my eyes and ears and believe I can live a normal, happy life.”

As Grady stepped down the last stair, the waiting coachman hurriedly opened the carriage door. Thanks to the coachman’s quick movements, Eliana lost the chance to escape from Grady’s arms.

“The bride seems tired. Let’s head straight home.”

“Yes, sir.”

The coachman replied as he opened the carriage door.

The plain rental carriage revealed a completely different world inside. Grady smoothly climbed aboard with Eliana still in his arms.

“Ha…”

Eliana, finally free from his hold, leaned against the window. Her face flushed red, and she needed to cool down immediately.

Grady let out a soft chuckle watching her press her cheek against the glass.

“Isn’t it a bit early to be acting so distant?”

“We’re alone here.”

“Clearly you don’t know. Even the walls have ears in the Cryber Duchy.”

Grady tilted his head back, closing his eyes as if tired, and Eliana stole a glance at him. Moonlight streamed in through the carriage window, illuminating him from head to toe.

He sat opposite her in the most relaxed posture she’d ever seen. Though he had his legs spread and eyes closed, it didn’t feel inappropriate at all.

Bothered by the tight cravat, Grady removed it with a rough motion while keeping his eyes closed.

“Got something to say?”

“….”

Eliana gasped, startled at being caught watching him.

“You’ve been staring for a while now.”

Grady still had his eyes closed. Eliana looked down at the moonlight touching his shoes and cautiously opened her mouth.

“I just… hope that marrying me means nothing to you.”

Grady’s eyelids moved slowly before fully revealing his eyes.

Eliana kept her gaze lowered.

Looking back, it had been a relentless day. To keep the wedding secret until the last moment, she had to attend the Emperor’s party.

Not only that, she had to constantly hover around Matteo and Rosella, keeping them reassured.

Then came the wedding right after. Anyone would be exhausted.

Even Grady, a man, slumped in the carriage. It was a miracle Eliana was still upright, especially when her wounds had only just healed.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing.”

Eliana shook her head with a faint smile. Behind that bitter smile, the large moon stared down at her.

“Come to think of it, have your injuries healed?”

Until now, Grady had left everything about Eliana to Emma. Feeling he had been too indifferent, he asked about her back wound.

“…Ah! Yes. Thanks to your concern, I’ve fully recovered.”

Eliana nodded firmly. She looked like she had more to say, but Grady was just as tired.

“No need to shrink back like that. I’ll make sure to collect the full dowry.”

“…It won’t be easy.”

Eliana bit her lip, thinking of Baron Hoffman.

It was shameful to admit, but the baron had only ever spent money on Eliana to get what he wanted.

Wealth and title.

Even though he gained it all through Eliana, he was never satisfied—he tried to push her into becoming the Emperor’s mistress.

“He underestimates imperial law far too much.”

Eliana looked up. Grady, watching her in his relaxed posture, curved his lips into a smooth smile. His eyes, as dark as his shimmering black hair, looked like they might pull her in.

Eliana shook her head at the sight.

‘Don’t get your hopes up, Eliana!’

Even her birth parents had only used her as a tool to gain something.

This was just a contract.

It was a relationship that could be severed at any time. Eliana pressed her cheek to the cold glass again, the chill matching the grim reality she faced.

When she closed her eyes, familiar darkness returned. Fatigue overtook her at last, and she slipped into a deep sleep.

The carriage raced down the dark road like a giant cradle.

“Get off.”

“……”

“Hey?”

As Grady opened the carriage door to step out, he turned back. The coachman had lowered his eyes, pretending not to notice.

“So you weren’t lost in thought—you were asleep.”

“Hmmph.”

Startled by Grady’s words, the coachman covered his mouth. Beneath a starlit dawn, the sky glowed blue, cradling a thin, long crescent moon.