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Chapter 04
Under the moonlight, Zachary’s red hair gleamed vividly.
As his strong hand twisted the vagrant’s wrist even further, the man screamed.
“Sounds like a sparrow’s chirping somewhere. Damn noisy.”
“L-let go! Let go of me!”
Zachary bent the man’s wrist completely before roughly throwing him aside.
At that moment, another vagrant charged at Zachary with a knife.
Zachary let the blade slide between his fingers, seized the man’s fist tightly, and slammed his other fist straight into the man’s face.
“Gaaah!”
“How dare you wave a knife around in front of me, you insolent bastard.”
Holding the handle of the stolen knife, Zachary spun it around in his hand as if it were a toy.
“You’ve got five seconds to disappear.”
The vagrants couldn’t even answer properly. Clutching their pants, they scrambled away in panic.
Only then did Yurita whisper to Theo, who was sniffling, that everything was okay now.
When she lifted her head, her eyes met Zachary’s.
“Why are you here at this hour of the night?”
Zachary spoke first.
“And what about you, Duke?”
“I asked first.”
How childish.
Dusting off the dirt on her dress, Yurita answered,
“I was taking a night walk.”
“With your little brother? At this hour? You must be crazy.”
Zachary’s gaze slowly shifted toward the trunk and pile of clothes lying on the ground in the distance.
“Or you’re a liar.”
His eyes narrowed.
Thump thump.
Yurita’s heartbeat quickened.
“Go on. Tell me why you were carrying luggage around in the middle of the night.”
“…I was going to stay at a hotel for a night. Haven’t you heard of a staycation?”
Damn it. There was way too much luggage in the trunk for Zachary to believe that excuse.
As he stared at her even more suspiciously, Yurita forced herself to stay calm.
“Just because I owe you money doesn’t mean I have to explain why I’m out at night.”
“Is that something you say to the person who just saved you?”
Yurita froze.
Because she knew the original story, Zachary had always been a villain in her eyes.
But what he had just done had saved her.
“…I was rude. Thank you for saving me, Duke.”
“Hm.”
Zachary grinned with a strangely satisfied expression.
“Why are you smiling?”
“Well, hearing you thank me somehow feels pretty good.”
“…Because it feels like you won against me?”
“Yep. Exactly that.”
He’s unexpectedly simple-minded.
Yurita almost chuckled inwardly before quickly regaining her senses.
Don’t be fooled. That guy is a monstrous villain in the original story.
Zachary glanced toward the alley where the vagrants had fled.
“But when I first saw them, there were definitely three guys. Why did one of them suddenly run away like his tail was on fire?”
“…Who knows.”
Yurita knew exactly why.
“There’s a black shadow behind you with its hand on your shoulder.”
Because what she had said to the vagrant was true.
Yurita wasn’t just a tarot card reader making a living.
Whenever she squinted at the world, she could sometimes see spirits or ghosts—vaguely shaped like black shadows.
Honestly, the part about him killing for money was just a lucky guess.
Still, the black spirit had been following the vagrant with its hand resting on his shoulder. That was why she had singled him out specifically.
That usually happens when someone commits murder. Not always, but often.
Unlike the modern world, public security in this era was poor. Someone could kill another person and the incident might disappear without a trace.
Which meant murderers could walk around freely.
Yurita narrowed her eyes and looked at Zachary as well.
Contrary to her expectations, there wasn’t a single black shadow around him.
…Didn’t he kill my father and brother like in the original story?
But now wasn’t the time to think about that. Zachary had already walked over to the fallen trunk and was examining it with hawk-like eyes.
“A-anyway, it’s late, so my brother and I should head home now.”
“I thought you were going to a hotel?”
“…I changed my mind. After what just happened, I’m too shaken to go.”
“So are you planning to run away tomorrow instead of tonight?”
Yurita stopped in her tracks.
Zachary had hit the nail on the head.
I’m screwed.
She had hoped his simple, blunt personality would let this slide, but apparently she had underestimated him.
Giving off an intimidating aura, Zachary stepped closer to her.
“You know what happens to people who run off without paying me back?”
He leaned close, stopping beside her ear.
“They’re all buried in my family’s backyard.”
His whisper sent chills racing down her arms.
Even Yurita, who had watched countless horror movies in the modern world, felt fear in front of a real villain.
Maybe he didn’t kill them himself, but had his subordinates do it? There are even rumors that Zachary drinks human blood.
“So what should I do with you? Should I make you pay for this attempted escape with your life? Or should I add a horrifying amount of interest to your debt? Pick one.”
Yurita had reached a crossroads.
There aren’t many options left now.
Her escape had failed, and the creditor had found out she tried to flee.
The Killerster Ducal House was notorious for planting informants everywhere in the capital.
Now that Zachary knew, Yurita’s chances of escaping were practically zero.
“His Majesty the Emperor said he’d even cover the marriage dowry. A thousand gold coins!”
Suddenly, her uncle’s words echoed in her mind.
The choice she was about to make could completely change not only the original story, but her own life as well.
No choice. Survival comes first.
Yurita squeezed her eyes shut and answered,
“Let’s get married.”
Zachary’s eyes went wide.
“What?”
“Marriage.”
“You’re getting married? All of a sudden?”
Opening her eyes again, Yurita met his gaze directly.
“Yes. To you.”
“To me?!”
Zachary looked as though he had just heard the word marriage for the very first time in his life.
***
The next day. Imperial Palace of the Naroa Empire.
“Your Majesty.”
A servant cautiously entered the emperor’s chamber.
Emperor Rikard von Schwitt was seated at a table enjoying tea time.
When the servant hesitated to speak, the emperor glanced at him.
“What is it? If you have something to say, spit it out.”
“Well… Duke Zachary Killerster has appeared at the palace gates and is causing a disturbance.”
“…Haha! So he came exactly as expected.”
With an intrigued expression, the emperor set down his teacup and walked to the window.
Beyond the large glass window, the palace gates were clearly visible.
Near the entrance, guards were struggling to stop a red-haired man from forcing his way inside.
The man was shouting at the top of his lungs and trying to shove the guards aside. When that failed, he grabbed one of them by the collar.
“He’s as hot-tempered as the rumors say. Just like the former duke.”
“We told him he must submit a request for an audience first if he wishes to see Your Majesty, but he refuses to listen.”
“He probably received the letter this morning informing him of his marriage.”
As if he had prepared in advance, the emperor took a letter from a drawer and handed it to the servant.
“Deliver this to Duke Killerster.”
“But will a mere letter really be enough?”
“Once he reads it, he’ll quiet down.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A short while later, the emperor leisurely watched through the window as the letter was handed to Zachary.
Zachary ripped it open roughly, checked the contents, and then stood frozen in place for a moment.
He looked as though he might crumple the letter, but instead stuffed it into his pocket and left.
“Just as expected.”
The emperor smirked and took a sip of tea.
“Try to behave a little after you’re married, Killerster.”
Around the same time.
Yurita painfully dragged herself out of bed.
I’m exhausted.
After arguing with Zachary until dawn before barely making it home, it was no surprise.
“What nonsense is this?! Marriage between you and me?! Are you trying to trick me twice now?!”
“I’m not tricking you! His Majesty the Emperor personally ordered it!”
“Then why the hell do I have to marry you?!”
Only after repeating arguments like this five times did their conversation finally end.
So the imperial family never informed Zachary about the arranged marriage? Why? Did they hide it because they knew he’d hate it?
A marriage that neither party wanted—this world’s marriage culture was unbelievably harsh.
Besides, Zachary probably already met the original heroine at the café a few days ago.
If the story followed the original plot, he should have fallen in love with her at first sight.
…That guy might reject this marriage.
A mere noble lady couldn’t refuse the imperial family’s command, but a duke could.
But if Zachary accepted, the original story would change.
In the original, the name of the woman Zachary married in a political marriage wasn’t mine.
“Then why the hell do I have to marry you?!”
Remembering his reaction again, Yurita frowned.
As if I wanted to marry him.
Debt collection, the imperial family’s arranged marriage proposal, and her attempted escape being discovered—it was the disastrous combination of all three events.
Hot-blooded, violent, arrogant… just like the villain in the original story.
The only surprising thing was that Zachary had escorted her all the way back to her mansion.
“So you don’t try to run away again. Remember this—you’re in the palm of my hand.”
Hmph. Damn jerk.
“Lady Yurita! Hurry and come out here to look at these!”
At that moment, the mansion’s only maid called out to Yurita from outside.
