What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter 3.3

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“Did you hear? Princess Adelheid……!”

“Wait, then Miss Hardick is…….”

“The Archduke must have gone mad for a moment in the first place. How could a baronet’s sister even be considered?”

“She’s not even a proper woman, is she?”

It was laughable. Caitlyn thought as she listened to the whispers that spread in an instant and reached her ears. It was truly… laughable, and at the same time, she was glad. Though the Princess from Solaris herself probably didn’t know it, she had done Caitlyn a great favor. Now, no one would doubt that she and the Archduke would soon break off their engagement.

“……This is too much.”

If there was one thing weighing on her mind, it was Leslie’s increasingly somber reaction.

“To say such things at the very place where Cathy is first introduced as the Archduke’s fiancée… The Princess of Solaris has no manners at all.”

“It’s what I wanted, so it doesn’t matter.”

Leslie stared at her blankly.

“……Cathy, do you really have no feelings for His Grace? Is it really okay to let him be taken away like this?”

Caitlyn had to struggle not to laugh.

“He wasn’t mine to begin with, so I can’t say he’s being taken away.”

“Still……!”

“Even if it weren’t for the Princess, it was a relationship that would have ended someday. I should thank her for bringing it forward.”

One potential problem would be if Princess Adelheid wanted to hurry the marriage with the Archduke. However, a national wedding was something to be celebrated with caution. It would take years for a formal marriage to actually take place, and before then, she would be able to end her relationship with Archduke Akbar.

“Besides, I can just act the part of a tragic fiancée fallen into despair.”

She glanced around. Seeing how everyone was diligently stealing glances at her, it seemed they all thought she would be in despair. If so, she should live up to their expectations. Caitlyn slowly lowered her head and buried her face in her hands.

“……Leslie…….”

“It’s okay, Cathy.”

Fortunately, Leslie played along.

“I-I’m going to go out now. I just can’t stay here…….”

“Cathy!”

Caitlyn grabbed the hem of her skirt with both hands and ran quickly out of the ballroom. Naturally, no one stopped her. She began to descend the stairs slowly, savoring the cold outside air.

The Archduke’s carriage would be waiting below, and since it would take quite a while for the ball to end, the driver would take her home if she slipped him a little money. The problem was that even before she reached the carriage, Archduke Akbar had stormed out of the ballroom.

“A laughable performance. I enjoyed the show.”

Caitlyn turned slowly and looked up at Archduke Akbar standing atop the stairs. The wind blew, and his black hair fluttered, revealing his handsome forehead. Wearing a black fur cloak and a longsword at his hip, Archduke Akbar was several times more intimidating than usual.

But Caitlyn was not afraid of him. She and Roxias Akbar had things to take from each other. One does not harm an opponent from whom there is something to be gained.

“……Why did you follow me instead of going to your future bride?”

“You know very well that I don’t want that woman.”

Archduke Akbar replied irritably.

“I don’t want such a cumbersome wife.”

“I wonder.”

Caitlyn held her head high and retorted. Apollo might not want the Princess of Solaris, but it was normal for Archduke Roxias Akbar to want her.

“As long as you are in the human world, a wife is necessary. Furthermore, if it’s a wife of high status who loves Your Grace, there would be nothing more to desire.”

“You talk quite well for someone who can’t even remember her past life. Aren’t you the one who refuses to take a husband despite being human?”

“…….”

Hearing that, she had nothing to say. If someone were to present Caitlyn with the perfect husband right now and tell her to marry him, she would refuse.

“Caitlyn Hardick.”

Archduke Akbar slowly descended the stairs. His golden eyes flashed like a predator’s in the dark, and an overwhelming aura, difficult to feel from anyone else, surged forth. A rough hand gripped her cheek.

“Your only value is your body. So don’t babble empty words and provoke my anger.”

Caitlyn looked straight up at him without yielding even a little. If he intended to intimidate her, the Archduke’s judgment was completely off. As long as she knew the fact that they were in the same situation, he wouldn’t be able to break her no matter what means he used.

“Your Grace’s value is no different.”

Caitlyn softly reminded him of that fact.

“So, for Your Grace not to do anything useless……!”

Caitlyn couldn’t finish her sentence. It was because Archduke Akbar practically threw her into the carriage and kissed her with savage intensity.

“My value is also my body, you say.”

A chilling tone hung in the Archduke’s voice.

“I’ll teach you that words carry responsibility.”

The carriage, having received no orders to leave, did not move. Caitlyn glanced at the drawn curtains with an anxious gaze. If someone were to lift those curtains… But she didn’t even have the luxury to continue that thought. Almost at the same time her entire body was tilted back, Roxias Akbar’s powerful arms completely overpowered her. Of course, Caitlyn did not resist. Why would she?

It was the moment she had been waiting for.

“Cathy.”