What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter 2.8

He looked straight at Caitlyn. Her body tensed up instinctively, but Caitlyn steeled her heart. It was common for Archduke Akbar to provoke and insult her. This was just another instance of that. Likely, for the Archduke, it was nothing more than a simple amusement.

“If you hated this sort of thing, you should have hidden it appropriately from your twin.”

“Twin?”

Caitlyn asked back in confusion. Edward and she were siblings born in consecutive years. They weren’t that far apart in age, but ‘twin’ was completely wrong. Roxias made a peculiar expression.

“I thought you were twins because you look so much alike. I’m talking about Baronet Hardick. He sought me out yesterday and told me to let you go.”

“…….”

Caitlyn was momentarily lost for words. When she had pressed Edward, who only returned home yesterday evening, about where he had been, the only answer she got was that he had gone for a walk because he felt stifled……. She had realized immediately that it was a lie. Still, she hadn’t expected him to have sought out Archduke Akbar. Considering Edward’s physical condition, it felt like a miracle that he hadn’t collapsed even after visiting the Archduke’s mansion.

“He was making such a fuss about going down to the countryside or whatever, so I told him I would get engaged to you.”

Roxias Akbar deliberately hid the fact that Edward had mentioned suicide. He didn’t want to see the already close siblings become even more sentimental. Caitlyn swallowed hard. She knew Edward was heartbroken, but for him to seek out Archduke Akbar right away, it seemed he had received a much greater shock than she had thought.

“……It will be an immediate annulment as soon as you regain your power, then.”

The Archduke looked at her intently. Uncomfortable with the gaze that seemed to want to read a person, Caitlyn turned her head. But why was it? Why did it feel as if everything had been read by this man through that brief eye contact.

“I can do as you wish, Cathy.”

Look. Even now, does he not speak softly as if he knows that what Caitlyn wants is a tiny bit of kindness?

“If you wish to become the Archduchess, I will gladly make it so.”

It was a proposal too sweet to refuse.

But Caitlyn did not fall for it. That was no different from a poisoned chalice. Roxias Akbar does not consider himself human, and he thinks of other humans as being as insignificant as bugs crawling on the road. To spend her whole life with such a man……. It might be possible for someone, but at the very least, she was not that ‘someone.’

“Just…… please handle it so that Edward’s heart won’t be wounded.”

“Is that not becoming the Archduchess?”

“No.”

Caitlyn answered firmly.

“I won’t be happy by Your Grace’s side. And my brother knows that well too.”

“Then what should happen for our Cathy to be happy?”

The Archduke’s tone was as soft and seductive as dark red velvet.

“I……”

Caitlyn hesitated. Could she really say what she truly wanted?

“Tell me.”

Archduke Akbar stood up and took a stride toward her. Strangely, the distrust and mockery that were usually felt in his eyes were not there.

“As long as I regain my power, I will gladly grant it.”

Caitlyn finally opened her mouth.

“I…… want my future.”

“Ha.”

The Archduke made a peculiar sound that was neither an affirmation nor a denial.

“I mean a future that I can change and decide for myself.”

“That is an impossible thing for an ordinary human.”

“Yes. That’s why Your Grace must help me. It wouldn’t be a difficult task if you regain your power, would it?”

“…….”

Archduke Akbar was silent for a while.

“So you truly want that.”

“Yes.”

She was serious. Freedom from being bound by the future. If she had only that, she didn’t need money or status.

“Fine.”

Finally, the Archduke nodded.

“If my power returns, I will give you exactly one chance to change your future.”

Caitlyn’s heart pounded violently. If those words were true…… if it were truly so……. She approached Archduke Akbar on her own. It was a distance close enough to hear each other’s breath.

Caitlyn hugged his body. It was an act stemming from a pure impulse without any s****l intention. Archduke Akbar’s reaction was completely different from her expectation. His body went stiff, and he forced Caitlyn away, pushing her from him.

“Get out.”

Caitlyn licked her lips.

“I just, because I was grateful……”

“If you don’t want to lose what you’ve barely been promised, get out.”

Caitlyn didn’t ask further. She bent her knees slightly in a polite bow and immediately went outside. The Archduke slumped into his chair and covered his face with one hand. Between his fingers, the dazzling sun blazed. Unchanging, whether thousands of years ago or now.