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V. Engagement Ceremony

As usual, Viern sat properly at his desk in the study, reading through a letter just delivered from the Marquis’s household. Marquis Silberk, unable to withstand the pressure that had begun the day after the Founding Day ceremony, had finally raised the white flag and come crawling back. Since then, everything had proceeded smoothly, without a hitch, as if flowing water. The marriage alliance between the two houses was now set to be formalized again, and he had also secured the ownership rights to the western region mines he had demanded.

However, there was one thing. The events of that night still stuck in his chest like a stubborn splinter, persistently surfacing in his thoughts.

‘Doing something like this with you, while Aisen is out there… makes me feel a little… guilty…’

“Guilty. Guilty, she says…”

Muttering to himself as he penned a reply on the blank paper, he suddenly let out a laugh, overcome by the absurdity.

“Ha, haha!”

The word ‘guilt’ coming from the mouth of a woman who knew nothing of morals or ethics was utterly preposterous. A hollow laugh kept escaping him at the Princess’s foolishness, truly believing herself to be in love with that wretch Aisen.

Then, abruptly—snap—his laughter cut off. A sharp, stinging pain bloomed in his palm. Glancing down, he saw the fountain pen he’d been holding moments before, now broken in two. A metal shard had pierced his skin, and a little blood welled up, but he paid it no mind, simply pulling out a handkerchief to haphazardly press against the wound.

He could feel his aide shooting him a flustered look. But Viern wasn’t in the mood to care. He’d been like this for days now. Despite everything proceeding so satisfactorily…

“Eldman.”

Viern handed the completed letter to his aide.

“Yes, sir, Your Grace!”

The aide, sensing the chilling aura emanating from his superior, swiftly vacated the room. Left alone, Viern stared blankly at the top of his desk.

Click. Squeak— Thud.

The doorknob turned, the door swung open on its own and closed again, followed by a bright voice calling to him.

“Your Grace!”

Viern slowly raised his head. His gaze collided with round, green eyes. Diana, who had scampered over to him, leaned forward, planting both hands on his desk. The sudden rush of her warm, living scent stirred a chaotic blue storm within his cold, still eyes.

“Are you very busy?”

“What is the matter?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he replied in an even tone.

“You see, I heard this from Sally too…”

Her chattering voice, as she leaned even closer, grew distant, submerged in the living scent that had been wafting toward him.

Diana had always craved affection from him. Sometimes she’d claim she couldn’t sleep and demand a goodnight kiss; other times she’d say she hated others touching her and order him to personally attend her bath, even sending her maids away and asking him to help her change out of wet clothes—all clumsy, transparent ploys.

What she demanded from me was always clear. Romantic love.

I remember that time, drawn in by one of her clumsy ploys. She squeezed her eyes shut and held her breath. I thought the way her pale lips trembled, as if begging to be kissed, was somewhat cute.

Of course, I never intended to do such a thing with her. So, always knowing what she wanted, I pretended not to notice, smiling lightly and pushing her away. But sometimes, very rarely, I did wonder. If I really gave in and devoured those lips as she wanted, what reaction would she show?

Whenever that thought arose, a heat would pool in my lower belly, making me feel strange, and I’d quickly dismiss it. Still, I think I vaguely imagined a version of her that liked me. I never imagined the version who would cry after kissing me. I certainly never imagined the version who would sniffle, mentioning another man’s name, and say she felt guilty.

‘Doing something like this with you, while Aisen is out there… makes me feel a little… guilty…’

Even after time had passed and they’d mingled their bodies several more times, the un-diluted memory of that voice from that day constricted him again. It felt akin to betrayal, but also resembled rage or jealousy. Viern couldn’t understand why his emotions were being rocked so violently.

“Aisen likes doing it somewhere other than the bedroom. Especially on a bright day like this, on a desk in a study… Hup.”

Before her words could even finish, he shot to his feet and yanked her head back by the nape. He had no desire to learn any more about his youngest brother’s revolting s****l tastes. The green eyes that had sparkled moments before while thinking of another man widened in surprise, and the chattering pale lips were swallowed whole.

“Mmph… Nngh, mmm, ah…”

His tongue, pushing past her upper and lower lip, greedily sucked and rubbed against every soft part of her mouth as if marking its territory. The two pairs of lips, locked together, parted again with a wet sound.

She stared at him, chest heaving from the intense kiss. A low, heated mixture of lust and anticipation bloomed in her clear, innocent green eyes.