What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter 2.7

Edward didn’t answer. It was already too late anyway. She hadn’t appeared in high society for a long time, but even before that, Caitlyn had been a target of ridicule and avoidance. By now, it was obvious she had become the main subject of obscene rumors. But Edward knew his sister well. What tormented Caitlyn the most wasn’t those vulgar stares—it was the situation of being forced to share her body with the Archduke. And the Archduke Akbar…… seemed to have no intention of ever letting Caitlyn go.

“Must it be Caitlyn?”

The corners of the Archduke’s mouth twitched.

“Yes. It must be Cathy. Do you have a complaint?”

Before a complaint, he was puzzled. To be sure, Caitlyn was exceptionally beautiful, but the capital was teeming with women. Why did Archduke Akbar crave Caitlyn, who had a bad reputation and was passive toward men, this much?

Edward took a breath for a moment and continued his words.

“……I’ve told my sister several times, but she wouldn’t listen to me. It’s probably because of the obsession that she must cure my illness. Your Grace is exploiting that.”

“Ha.”

A peculiar sound escaped Archduke Akbar’s mouth. Edward flinched at his tone, which seemed a bit displeased, but he did not back down.

“Baronet Hardick truly seems to think all of this is because of me.”

“Is it not?”

“Well, to my eyes, there is a clear cause.”

Archduke Akbar’s gaze was as sharp and dangerous as a broken glass.

“It is the Baronet himself.”

“……!”

Edward flared up. It was Archduke Akbar who was toyed with Caitlyn. Not him!

If it weren’t for the Archduke, Caitlyn wouldn’t have to suffer like this. Perhaps she could have luckily found a good match and left the house. Then at least she wouldn’t have to watch him dying.

“Why, did I say anything wrong?”

The Archduke stood up. Because of the intimidation coming from a height a full head taller than Edward, his body instinctively cringed.

“I didn’t even need to do a background check on Cathy. Rumors just waft in even if I stay still.”

“……It’s all false rumors.”

“Yes, of course it would be false rumors. To my eyes, Cathy is not someone who is horny to find a husband.”

The corners of the Archduke’s mouth rose slightly.

“But, why on earth did our Miss Caitlyn Hardick attend every single ball despite the difficult family environment? And focused on balls where many men of marriageable age attend, at that.”

“Is my sister not a woman? Naturally, she would have a desire to form a family.”

“Is that so?”

The Archduke’s mouth drew an even larger arc. In contrast, his eyes were incredibly cold, enough to give one goosebumps.

“It seems even the Baronet himself knows that is not the case.”

“…….”

He couldn’t refute it. Because Edward also knew that what Caitlyn truly wanted wasn’t a husband. But in Edward’s mind, the only way Caitlyn could live a life without envy after he died was marriage. Until Archduke Akbar appeared like a bolt from the blue and smashed it.

“But well…… you say she is suffering. I suppose I can resolve that point a little.”

“Caitlyn will not take Your Grace’s money. Nor will I.”

“I know.”

The Archduke answered dryly.

“If I could have bought her with money, I wouldn’t have gone through this trouble.”

“……Then I don’t know how you intend to resolve it. If Your Grace will not stop, I will protect Caitlyn even if it means throwing away my life.”

He was serious. He couldn’t bear to see Caitlyn suffering because of this life that would last at most until next year.

“No, there’s no need for that.”

The Archduke’s answer was surprisingly fast.

“So…… you mean everyone thinks I’m playing with Cathy. Including you, Baronet Hardick.”

“Is it not true?”

The Archduke looked straight at him.

“What if I show you that I’m not playing with her?”

“How do you mean?”

Archduke Akbar chuckled. At the sight of him appearing genuinely amused, Edward grew even more uneasy. Whatever this man said, it surely wouldn’t be exactly as it appeared. He had to be careful.

“An engagement should be sufficient.”

Despite that, the proposal Archduke Akbar brought forward was sweet. To the point where it was absolutely impossible to refuse.

* * *

“……An engagement, you say.”

Caitlyn repeated the words she had just heard in total disbelief.

“Yes.”

Roxias Akbar answered while fiddling with a quill. He was reading through documents with a relaxed gaze, appearing to not understand Caitlyn’s agitation at all. Then again, if he were a person who understood, he wouldn’t have summoned her out of the blue to throw an engagement ring at her and tell her to wear it. Caitlyn opened her mouth while fidgeting with the engagement ring.

“I don’t understand. There is absolutely no reason for Your Grace and me to be engaged…….”

If it were a formal mistress, that would be one thing. But for her, the sister of a Baronet, to become the fiancée of Archduke Akbar was strange no matter how much she thought about it. Even that Baronet title was something her great-grandfather, who was a commoner, received for his achievements.

She, whose recent ancestor was a commoner, and Roxias Akbar, the Emperor’s cousin, lived in completely different worlds. Everyone would be puzzled, and there would be no good influence for either herself or the Archduke; there would only be bad ones.

“My, Cathy. Since when did you become so stupid?”