A day passed without even realizing how it went by.
Clematis, who had been absentminded all day, looked out at the sunset sky after finishing all her duties.
Looking back on today, she felt she had made quite a few small mistakes.
Yet she was so out of it that she couldn’t even recall them properly.
If she had to name the cause, it would be Prox, who had filled her mind since last night.
Not only yesterday—he had always occupied a corner of Clematis’s thoughts.
But starting from yesterday, the version of Prox in her mind had changed.
Before, he had been a product of her imagination. But since last night, what filled her head was the real image of him—like a beast she had seen with her own eyes.
A man who had stripped off her clothes and stood between her disgracefully parted legs.
His eyes were filled with contempt, yet his instincts seemed to drool as he lunged forward.
Clematis bit her lower lip tightly and shook her head, trying to erase Prox from her mind.
Then she turned and headed toward her private office.
Her schedule for the day was over, but she still sat down and took out paper and a quill.
With a rustling sound, the quill moved swiftly across the blank paper, writing something without hesitation.
She inserted the prepared documents between a thick stack of papers, then stood up.
Leaving the office, she headed straight for Prox’s quarters.
Was it true that the first time was always the hardest?
Just last night, she had hesitated greatly just approaching near his quarters.
But today, there was no hesitation in her steps.
Knock, knock.
Clematis knocked on Prox’s door and quietly waited for a response.
From inside, the sound of footsteps approached.
As they drew closer, Clematis’s lower lip trembled slightly in nervousness.
Click—
The door opened slightly, and Prox appeared with a tired expression.
Looking down at Clematis, he raised one eyebrow at the unexpected visit.
“So today you came to my room without being called.”
Clematis lifted her head, preparing to respond.
But before she could even part her lips, she felt herself being pulled forward.
Prox grabbed her wrist and dragged her into the room, then slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
“You’re adapting faster than I expected, even though it’s only your second night.”
When she regained her senses, she was trapped between the door and Prox.
Blinking blankly, Clematis only looked up at him as he leaned in closer.
“As expected, you’re an excellent talent in every field, Marty.”
Hearing his blue eyes pouring down on her, she almost forgot why she had come.
Why did she lose her rationality every time she looked at this man?
Steeling herself, she quickly slipped sideways away from Prox.
“That’s not why I came. I have something to give you.”
Clematis took out several sheets of paper she had brought, tucked among outdated miscellaneous documents, and handed them to him.
Prox snatched them away as if taking them by force, looking at them with cold eyes.
“What is this?”
The hastily prepared document looked crude.
As he quickly skimmed through what Clematis had written herself, he shot her a narrowed glance.
Clematis couldn’t meet his doubtful gaze and lowered her head.
“It’s a contract I made in case—though it will never happen—something goes wrong.”
Despite having suggested it herself, her lack of confidence made Prox let out a dry, incredulous laugh.
His eyes returned to the contract.
It was a document outlining a fixed-term romantic relationship between the two of them, with several conditions.
“Since we only agreed verbally, I thought there might be risks…”
Prox began reading the poorly written clauses one by one.
“All responsibility for this relationship lies entirely with the assistant.”
He frowned the moment he read the first line.
Despite her desire to formalize it in writing, there was no clear explanation of what this relationship actually was.
“If this relationship is exposed externally, Your Grace bears no responsibility. I would take all blame and punishment instead.”
Even after Clematis explained, Prox said nothing.
Turning the page, he read the next clause.
“During the relationship period, both parties shall, within reasonable limits, fulfill each other’s requests.”
Standing on her toes slightly, Clematis glanced at the line he was staring at for a long time.
“What I mean is requests within a romantic relationship,” she added politely.
Prox lowered the document and looked at her.
His gaze was cold and dissatisfied.
“In other words, I must also fulfill whatever you request from me?”
Clematis bit her lip and nodded slowly.
Just as he summoned her, she too should be able to ask things of him.
It was fair—but it was ridiculous.
“Quite a bold condition.”
“As we’re supposed to be lovers… I thought I should also be able to enjoy what I want during the contract period…”
She couldn’t finish her sentence.
Right in front of her, the contract she had written was torn apart with a sharp ripping sound.
The paper was shredded in his hands and scattered at her feet.
“Marty. I’m not free enough to entertain your romantic fantasies.”
Clematis did not fully understand Prox’s intention in proposing the contract.
He had never intended to fulfill her desires or emotional needs—only to drain and break them.
“As you know, I already have an official fiancée. She is the king’s daughter. If our relationship is exposed, what then?”
“….”
“You are my assistant first. Even if my lover were someone else, you would still need to protect this secret with your life.”
His blue eyes felt colder than ever.
Unable to meet his gaze, Clematis looked down at the torn paper at her feet.
She had not given any examples of what she meant by “requests.”
It didn’t have to mean public displays.
But judging from his attitude, he would not accept anything at all.
“I overstepped my bounds. I apologize.”
She bowed her head.
Then she noticed Prox’s hand moving toward his waist.
The tie of his robe came undone, the front opening slightly.
Startled, Clematis quickly lifted her head, unsure where to look.
“Take it off.”
“…Pardon?”
Confused, she stepped back—but the door was already behind her. There was nowhere to retreat.
“That’s not why I came today.”
“Whether it is or not, I want it. Take it off.”
The contract she had tried to propose had been torn to pieces in his hands.
Her requests would not be accepted, yet his would be enforced without question.
An unfair contract—but she had no proof, no power to refuse.
He was her master, and she was the assistant he could use as he pleased.
“Then who will satisfy my desires if not a lover?”
It was all something she had started.
The once-gentle Prox now looked at her with clear contempt, and in a way, it was her confession that had caused it.
“Marty, I told you before.”
His hand gently cupped her trembling cheek.
“Love isn’t as sweet as you imagined.”
Regretfully, as if even he found this situation unfortunate, he clicked his tongue softly.
“Human relationships bring disappointment, betrayal, and anger without end. And they make you question your own worth again and again.”
The sharp underside hidden beneath what seemed beautiful.
“So don’t give me obligations. Take responsibility alone.”
Prox intended to teach her the truth he had painfully learned long ago.
“You came into this filthy place on your own, Marty.”
