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Chapter 05
“If You Don’t Want to Die, Please Break Off the Engagement, Duke”
“If what you’re saying is true, then I’ll promise.”
At the Duke Romanov’s agreement, I cheered inwardly. I couldn’t show it on the outside since I was trying to act composed.
“Alright, then I’ll tell you the cause. When winter comes, somewhere along the forest path where the monsters roam, it will be completely blocked by a wall of ice.”
“A wall of ice?”
“Even monsters have to move around in winter to survive, but that ice wall blocks their path. So of course they end up coming down to the villages.”
Hearing me, he slowly stroked his chin with his long fingers.
“Then all we have to do is remove that ice wall?”
“You need to find the point where the wall forms and use magic in advance so it doesn’t get blocked. Then both monsters and people will have peace, right?”
“Listening to you, it sounds rather simple.”
“It will be simple. Because I can use that magic.”
I said it casually, but then hesitated for a moment. Memories of repeatedly failing whenever I tried any magic other than one specific type came to mind.
“Ah! Let me correct that. I’m a mage specialized in only one kind of magic… so let’s hire someone else to handle the spell that prevents the ice wall.”
Silence followed.
Breaking it, the Duke Romanov spoke in a voice filled with suspicion.
“…Are you saying a lady of a noble house can use magic?”
“Of course. I may not look like much, but I’m actually quite a capable mage.”
That was true. Contrary to the belief that I was born with weak magical power, I actually possessed quite a considerable amount.
‘It’s just that no one ever paid attention to me before.’
One of the reasons I thought this life was better than my previous one—which I still remembered as clearly as yesterday—was because of the magic flowing through my body.
‘The novel never mentioned that I was a skilled mage, though.’
Maybe the author simply didn’t include it, or maybe the original story had changed.
The reason didn’t matter. Either way, if I were to live on my own, magic would definitely be a useful means of survival.
‘And what I specialize in is healing magic…’
At first, I thought I could use all kinds of magic, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. I was specialized only in healing magic, and later I learned through various texts that healing mages generally can’t use other types of magic well.
‘It’s a shame I can’t heal myself, but even so, it’s more than worth it.’
Thinking about my abilities made me feel oddly satisfied. Of course, I quickly calmed myself as the Duke spoke again.
“By the way, my lady.”
“Yes?”
Hadn’t I almost convinced him? Seeing suspicion return to his eyes made my mouth go dry.
“How did you find out? That the monsters’ path was blocked, and that magic could solve it.”
“Well, obviously!”
Because I had read it beforehand in the novel.
In a side story, Dante Romanov and Hazel Lindberg—before their marriage—visited his duchy together. At that time, Dante wanted to explain in detail the power of the polar night, which everyone vaguely feared, so he took her deep into the mountains.
An avalanche occurred, leaving Hazel stranded alone on a mountain path.
‘That’s when she discovered the ice wall.’
Dante, who came to rescue her, also found the enormous wall of ice.
After that, the two of them quickly resolved the monster problem—one of the episodes in the side story.
‘Right now, I don’t know the exact location of that wall.’
I would have to wait until winter to confirm it myself. But that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
‘Because I have a reason to go there myself.’
I needed an herb called Coana, which only grew in the monster forest near the Romanov duchy.
‘That’s the only way to cure my illness right now.’
In the side story, Dante learned of Hazel’s illness and brought her the herb—but now, I had to do it myself.
I stopped my train of thought. No matter what, I still had to give the Duke a convincing answer.
“I learned it through research while studying ancient texts.”
“You’ve never even seen it yourself, and you’re claiming it based purely on research?”
“I can guarantee it. I looked into it thoroughly. If you want, I can even bring you piles of old books as proof.”
I had already prepared books I could present as evidence.
Be confident and shameless! My eyes burned with determination.
Meanwhile, distrust flickered openly in the Duke’s eyes. Still, fortunately, believing my words didn’t really cost him much.
“Alright.”
Oh! He was finally convinced.
But—
“There’s a condition.”
“A condition…?”
He nodded.
“As you said, to solve the monster problem, we need to find the ice wall. Which means we have to wait until winter.”
“That’s right.”
“Until then, you will continue acting as my fiancée.”
“E-Excuse me?”
His unexpected proposal made me stutter.
It was still warm spring.
‘He wants me to stay engaged until winter?’
That was a long time.
“Is it really necessary to maintain the relationship?”
Could it be… this handsome Duke—
‘Did he fall in love with me at first sight?’
Was this story about to change from “Dad is a Monster Duke” into “The Strongest Man in the World is Obsessed With Me”?
As my imagination ran wild, the Duke suddenly frowned and spoke.
“It seems you haven’t considered how troublesome it would be for me if news of the broken engagement spreads.”
Though restrained, his voice carried a chilling edge.
“….”
I had nothing to say.
‘So he didn’t fall for me.’
Well, even if we broke off the engagement now, it would just add one more flaw to my already long list. Nothing much would change.
But for him…
He would be thrown back into the marriage market like a beautifully wrapped gift box. Countless noble ladies would pursue him.
‘And judging by him, he clearly hates that kind of situation.’
I nodded in understanding.
‘Still, I was planning to leave the Lindberg duchy after breaking the engagement…’
A brief silence followed my hesitation.
“Why aren’t you answering? Your proposal to break the engagement was already quite rude. Are you saying you can’t even endure it until winter?”
“No, it’s just…”
“I tolerated your extremely rude behavior. Surely you’re not saying you can’t do even that much?”
So scary.
I quickly shook my head.
“Alright. As you say, we’ll maintain the engagement formally until the monster problem is resolved.”
I deliberately emphasized formally.
Winter was still far away. But on the bright side, that meant I had more time to prepare for independence. With healing magic, maybe I could open a small clinic somewhere.
‘Healing mages are valuable anywhere, so I won’t have trouble making a living.’
If opening a clinic felt like too much work, I could serve under a lord in some distant region. Or head to the southern empire, where healing mages were said to gather.
Either way, it wasn’t a bad situation.
‘And…’
Thinking about another goal, maintaining the engagement for now might actually be better.
I cleared my throat to bring up something important.
“There’s one more thing I’d like to propose.”
What I was about to say might anger the Duke even more than the engagement issue.
I studied his expression cautiously. He didn’t respond, but gave a small nod for me to continue.
Swallowing, I spoke carefully.
“Five years ago, carriage accidents were unusually frequent.”
At my words, the air around us instantly grew heavy, as if soaked with water.
The Duke’s face hardened harshly. Five years ago was the year his mother died.
Likewise—
“My adoptive mother, Duchess Vivian Lindberg, also passed away that same year.”
“What are you trying to say?”
His voice was dry.
I felt my lips tremble slightly but forced myself to speak firmly.
“You may remember—besides the mistresses of the Romanov and Lindberg houses, toward the end of that year, the Duchess of Reinhardt also suffered a carriage accident.”
“I asked what you’re trying to say.”
As expected, the topic clearly displeased him—his expression twisted openly.
