Chapter 01

It was a day when rain poured down endlessly.

Lauren was the sole heir of the late Baron Siaz. Though she had helplessly lost her title after the sudden deaths of her parents, fortunately, her father had legally registered her as his rightful successor. Her uncle had ordered her to meet with a lawyer, check the list of assets her father left behind, and visit the bank.

Lauren let out a short laugh.

Who, knowing everything would be taken away anyway, would return carrying their inheritance?

Her uncle was greedy, but compared to that greed, he was foolish. And unlike his father, her cousin had a sharp mind—but a weak body and timid disposition. By ordinary means, he would never become a knight.

Lauren secretly sold the jewels she had hidden away.

Even though their estate was not wealthy, they had been gifts from her parents for her birthdays. They were precious belongings, but she had no choice. Her parents would rather she survive by selling them than be sold off as an old man’s second wife.

After checking the money in her possession, she chose the safest-looking inn she could afford and stayed there.

There was only one way for her to avoid being sold.

Lauren left the inn wearing the most valuable dress she owned.

The sky-blue summer dress was slightly worn, but the fabric was luxurious, and the color remained beautiful. After renting a small carriage, she headed toward her destination.

The residence of Duke Lilywood.

The coachman openly looked displeased.

Rumors claimed the current Duke Lilywood was a vicious murderer, so he was probably uneasy about something happening near the ducal estate. Lauren forced a gentle smile and paid him extra. Only then did the carriage move—and once it dropped her off in the rain, it fled as if escaping.

Holding a large black umbrella borrowed from the innkeeper, Lauren stood before the duke’s estate for quite some time, hesitating.

She had steeled herself before coming, but would the duke really accept her proposal?

A savage murderer.

The rumor was difficult to believe, but such stories did not spread without reason.

What if he considered her insolent and drew his sword?

He had gone to war; cutting down someone like her would be effortless.

Rather than be sold off to become an old man’s wife… death would be better.

Firming her resolve, Lauren pressed the doorbell.

A butler appeared at the distant entrance, spotted her standing in the rain, and tilted his head in curiosity. But soon he came out carrying an umbrella and opened the iron gate.

Though she thought opening gates wasn’t usually a butler’s duty, it didn’t matter who did it.

“Good day, miss. Forgive me, but what brings you here?”

Even seeing Lauren standing alone in the rain—without attendants, soaked hem of her worn dress dragging in water—the butler greeted her without visible surprise.

Lauren straightened her back, inhaled slowly, and finally spoke.

“I wish to meet Duke Lilywood.”

“His Grace the Duke?”

Her request clearly seemed unexpected.

The butler frowned thoughtfully for a moment, then perhaps deciding not to leave her in the rain, guided her into the estate.

Lauren quietly followed behind him.

As she passed through the entrance, she failed to notice a puddle and stepped into it.

Cold water filled her faded shoes with a squelch.

Oh no…

These were her only shoes suitable for the dress.

She likely wouldn’t be able to wear them anymore.

“You arrived without an appointment, so I cannot say whether my master will wish to meet you. I will inform him of your visit first, so please wait a moment.”

The butler led her to a reception room, lit the fireplace, served warm tea, and withdrew.

His gaze briefly lingered on her soaked skirt and shoes before leaving.

His words had probably been an unspoken kindness—permission to dry her thin, rain-soaked clothing and waterlogged shoes.

The duke’s butler is competent, Lauren thought while sipping the tea.

The knock came around the time she emptied her teacup.

The butler informed her that his master had agreed to meet her.

She expected to be summoned elsewhere, but instead, a man appeared behind the butler.

Lauren abruptly rose to her feet.

Aster Vale Lilywood.

He was the master of this estate.

His appearance had been featured countless times in newspapers during the war, so she remembered him well.

No—

She could never have forgotten.

Hair like molten gold and softly shining green eyes.

But the man before her now looked different.

His once neat and beautiful hair had been grown out carelessly and left loose, and his eyes had lost their light.

Like the hero who had personally wielded a sword and led the war, the slender boy’s body had become that of a fully grown man.

Apparently unconcerned with formality, he wore only a shirt and simple trousers. The movement of his body beneath the light fabric was plainly visible.

For some reason, Lauren’s face heated, and she lowered her head.

The Duke of Lilywood dropped heavily into a long chair and gestured.

The butler immediately served tea for him as well.

“Sit.”

At his words, Lauren unconsciously sat.

The man accustomed to giving orders looked at her.

His green eyes, carrying a cold aura, swept over her as if examining her hidden intentions.

“I heard you wished to see me.”

His voice was frighteningly low.

As cold as his gaze.

Lauren quietly took a deep breath and lowered her head.

“I apologize for arriving without an appointment. My name is Lauren Secreta Siaz.”

The man sitting with one leg crossed nodded.

And? his expression seemed to ask.

If she failed to gain the favor of this so-called murderer, she might die.

Though frightened by the duke’s cold stare, Lauren refused to appear intimidated.

She straightened her back and met his eyes directly.

“The reason I came here… is to propose marriage to Your Grace.”

Rumble—

Thunder roared loudly.

A flash exploded beyond the enormous windows.

In the blinding lightning, bright enough to whiten her vision, she saw the lips of the fierce man lift crookedly.

It was, without question—

A terrifying sight.

She couldn’t retreat now.

Nor could she appear afraid.

Lauren deliberately straightened further and looked directly at him.

The green eyes that had once been kind now held darkness as they met hers.

Expression unreadable, he set down his teacup.

“How interesting.”

The Duke of Lilywood murmured in a low voice, leaning back in his chair.

His movements were leisurely, like a well-fed predator.

“Go on.”

One corner of his mouth lifted.

That alone intensified the ominous pressure emanating from him.

Lauren learned for the first time that a person could be crushed by another’s gaze alone.

The tea in her tightly held cup trembled.

Not wanting him to notice her unease, she set down the cup too.

Biting her trembling lips once, she spoke again.

“I know Your Grace is being pressured into a marriage alliance with the imperial family.”

“And that you are displeased by it.”

The Duke folded his arms.

His green eyes still held a threatening gleam, but he neither shouted nor became angry.

At least, he seemed willing to hear more.

Lauren felt relief.

Of course.

The imperial princess involved in marriage talks with him was only fourteen.

No matter that he was a war hero who saved the nation, he likely disliked marriage negotiations with a child as much as Lauren hated the prospect of marrying someone twice her age.

“You’re not entirely wrong.”

“Though I wonder where you heard that.”

Contrary to his infamous reputation, the duke answered calmly in a quiet voice.

Is this… alright?

Lauren cautiously looked up at his face.

The smile at his lips had deepened slightly, but otherwise his expression remained unchanged.

“And then?”

Apparently, that alone wasn’t enough.

Lauren slowly inhaled.

She had expected this and prepared another card to play.

But what if even that doesn’t satisfy him?

Worried, she took another sip of tea to steady herself.

“You would gain a capable administrator personally trained by the former Baron Siaz.”

Setting down her cup, she placed a hand over her chest and bowed.

The duke’s eyebrows shifted.

After a brief silence, he lowered his head and his shoulders began to shake.

Confused, Lauren stared.

Then he finally burst into laughter, clutching his stomach.

“My apologies.”

“It’s just… this is the first time since the battlefield that I’ve heard such a confident introduction.”

The duke wiped tears from the corners of his eyes as he apologized.

But Lauren’s pride was hurt.

Her father, the late Baron Siaz, might have held a low title, but he had been a highly capable administrator of the imperial court.

His name was not one to be laughed off.

Though admittedly, seeing the duke—who had seemed cold and savage for his age—appear momentarily like an ordinary young man was unexpectedly refreshing.

“I sincerely apologize.”

“I had no intention of insulting the deceased. I know very well what an exceptional official he was.”

The former Baron Siaz’s name was familiar even to the duke.

After the war against the western desert tribes, there had once been a ceremony discussing achievements where the names of the duke and the troops under his command had been entirely omitted.

It was obvious whose doing it was.

He hadn’t cared enough to protest.

But someone had spoken out in their place.

If those who risked their lives fighting received no reward, who would fight for the country in the future?

That person had been the former Baron Siaz.

Even afterward, the duke owed him several debts.

To those above him, the baron had likely been a thorn in their side.

Yet he was someone who could raise his voice against the powerful and embrace those beneath him.

And he had been an administrator excessively honest and determined to walk the righteous path.

The duke inclined his head toward Lauren.

“I mean it.”

“The deceased was an admirable man.”

“Losing someone like him was a great loss to the Empire.”

The butcher of the battlefield.

The duke she had assumed to be barbaric seemed more reasonable than expected.

She had shown her displeasure, yet she hadn’t died.

No—

More importantly, he had apologized for his own rudeness.

He’s easier to reason with than I thought.

As Lauren quietly felt relieved, the duke straightened and looked at her again.

“An administrator, hm.”

“Talented people capable of handling internal affairs are always scarce.”

“In my case… especially so.”

He tapped the armrest of his chair.

Lauren lowered her eyes to her teacup.

The duke was a hero renowned through war.

His army had not been a knight order formed by noble retainers or family lineage, but one made up largely of common soldiers.

There likely weren’t many capable of overseeing governance.

Otherwise, they would have received their rightful share of rewards.

The duke himself came from generations of wealth and might not care, but the soldiers beneath him were different.

Her father used to sigh over drinks, saying that commoners should not have their merits diminished simply because of their birth.

Lauren took a deep breath and raised her eyes.

Across from her, the duke sat slouched in his chair, green eyes glinting with interest.