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Chapter 10
That Man’s First Time
For some reason, Adeline suddenly felt embarrassed, as if it were somehow her fault. Meanwhile, Winston looked completely unconcerned.
Unlike how she felt inside, Adeline spoke with an expression that showed she didn’t care at all.
“I sent the ledger and invoice right away, but you never accepted them. I wondered if there was an error, so I checked the accounts over and over every day.”
The Grand Duke glanced through the documents she handed over and let out a short laugh.
“You expect me to cover all of these absurd costs?”
“If paying all at once is difficult, installments over twelve months are possible. Or should I make it twenty-four? If you want, I can even offer thirty-six months as a special arrangement.”
She had admittedly exaggerated the compensation costs a bit. But considering the Blackwood family, how could this amount be considered expensive?
“I think it’s a reasonable price. Our atelier couldn’t even open today.”
“You sound like you have no intention of reopening it for the rest of your life.”
“How could that be? I have to reopen in time for the victory celebration. I could survive starving alone, but I can’t let my employees starve too.”
Thankfully, there was already enough stock in storage to sell during the celebration period. Still, earning more was always better.
“What if I said I refuse to repay this amount?”
“You have to.”
“Why?”
“Because you agreed to.”
“Do you want my entire fortune?”
“And if I do? Will you give it all to me?”
“…!”
Why did he look shocked? Had she sounded too much like a thug?
But then Winston’s next words made her doubt her own ears.
“You just proposed to me, didn’t you?”
With a faint smirk, Winston changed the subject leisurely.
“My lawyer would probably handle this matter more accurately. What do you think?”
“You think I’ve never studied law?”
Adeline immediately shot back.
After living through five regressions, she’d learned most practical knowledge—except things requiring extraordinary mastery. The reason she kept Ian as a personal lawyer was simply because two heads were better than one.
The Grand Duke reviewed the papers until the end before casually tossing them onto the table.
“This amount would equal about four months’ worth of household allowance for the mistress of Blackwood.”
“Then the future lady of Blackwood must be more modest than I expected.”
“She lacks vanity compared to what our family possesses.”
A lie.
Then what were all those golden statues scattered around the garden if not vanity?
Adeline forced a nod and smiled faintly.
“It’d be nice if, with so little vanity, you’d also resolve this matter properly without causing trouble.”
“Enough about this. You’ve chosen what you’ll wear on the first day of the banquet, right?”
“Ah, I actually wanted to discuss that today.”
“Was there no dress you liked?”
Since last night and all through this morning, dresses sent by the Grand Duke had piled up at her house. Maybe he meant to pressure her, but none of them mattered anymore.
“The dresses aren’t the problem.”
“Then what is?”
“The problem is that I won’t be wearing them.”
“What do you mean?”
“I already have plans that day.”
For nobles, honoring prior engagements was basic etiquette.
“If it’s an important prior commitment, then it can’t be helped.”
She remembered how she’d once safely kept distance from the Grand Duke using the excuse of prior plans. As befitted a high-ranking noble, he considered keeping appointments basic courtesy.
Why did I agonize over this when the solution was so simple?
Pretending regret, Adeline sighed.
“It’s a very important engagement. One I absolutely cannot break.”
“Cancel it.”
…Did I hear that wrong?
“Cancel whatever plans you have.”
“…?”
“It’s the victory celebration.”
“But…”
“You know it’s the most important event in the Empire right now.”
“For important people, maybe.”
“It’s important to everyone living in the Empire.”
“I sincerely congratulate it from the bottom of my heart. Thanks to it, we’re living peacefully.”
“Congratulating from an invisible heart isn’t enough.”
“…”
“Come in person. I want your congratulations.”
Why had she forgotten this man was more self-willed than anyone else in the world?
She’d thought he had at least some common sense.
Apparently war had made him forget it.
“You didn’t seriously think childish wordplay would make me cancel my plans, did you?”
“It wasn’t a promise to begin with.”
“You called it a prior engagement because you considered it a promise.”
“What kind of twisted logic is that? Anyway, I really do have important plans, so please understand.”
“How important?”
“More important than my life.”
“So if you break it, your life would be in danger?”
“That’s right.”
No one lost their life over a broken appointment, but Adeline saw no reason to share her personal life with Winston.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You mean that sincerely?”
“Yes.”
The Grand Duke’s expression remained calm, but his eyes turned fierce.
After a brief silence, Adeline suddenly became alert at his next words.
“Then I suppose I’ll cancel all schedules.”
Winston rang the bell on the table with complete composure. Soon, the butler Joseph appeared.
“You called for me, Master?”
“Joseph.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Contact the Imperial Palace immediately. Tell them this event is either canceled or postponed indefinitely.”
“As you command—”
“Wait!”
Startled, Adeline jumped to her feet.
If rumors spread that a national celebration was canceled because of her, she might have to flee the Empire overnight.
“You said it was an extremely important national event!”
“It is.”
“Then can something so important really be postponed?”
“Then is it acceptable for someone to skip something so important?”
“That’s different.”
“It’s the same.”
“It’s completely different!”
“Then give me a reason. One I can accept unconditionally.”
Winston’s blue eyes flashed as if he’d devour someone whole.
“That’s…”
“Don’t tell me your prior engagement is with another man again.”
He’d kill someone.
No—not merely kill.
Looking into those blue-flame eyes, she instinctively felt it wouldn’t end that simply.
She wanted to explain that she planned to attend the banquet with Ian and her younger brother before taking him to an amusement park…
But somehow, she was certain neither Ian nor Luca would survive hearing that.
“Joseph.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Leave. I don’t think we’re done talking.”
“Understood. Call whenever you need me.”
After Joseph left, Adeline sat down again and tried to gather herself.
“…Ha.”
A sigh escaped unconsciously.
She irritably brushed back her hair.
“What’s wrong?”
“No matter how much I think about it, I genuinely don’t understand.”
“What?”
“Junior—no, Your Grace… I have no idea why you’re going this far. If you dislike the compensation amount, we can renegotiate.”
“I could pay that immediately.”
“Then what exactly…”
“Why do you keep pretending not to know?”
“…?”
Until moments ago, the Grand Duke had been lounging crookedly. Now he straightened.
He placed the necklace he’d been holding onto the table.
His deepened blue gaze fixed on Adeline as though urging her.
“You.”
“…?”
“You need to take responsibility for me.”
“…”
“You’re not seriously claiming you don’t remember?”
“…”
“I have no patience.”
“…”
“The only reason I’m enduring this is because it’s you.”
What is he talking about…?
The necklace on the table was the one she’d lost at the Grand Blacktree Hotel.
Adeline’s thoughts spun rapidly.
But she couldn’t be sure.
Had all the times this man seemed to pick fights with her… not actually been fights?
How was she supposed to interpret this?
“Adeline.”
“…”
“I’ll say it again. My patience is short.”
“…”
“I have no intention of vaguely postponing the wedding.”
…Wedding?
“I’ll handle everything else. So for now, all you need to do is stay by my side during important events.”
“Wait a minute.”
The Grand Duke looked at her with complete seriousness.
“My mind isn’t processing any of this right now.”
“Why?”
“You suddenly mention weddings and things like that… What am I supposed to say…?”
The Grand Duke frowned as if wondering why she was asking something so obvious.
“If two people do something they need to take responsibility for, then naturally they should take responsibility.”
Responsibility?
Something to take responsibility for?
Could it be…
If her suspicion was correct, Winston was bringing up marriage because of the night they spent together at the Grand Blacktree Hotel.
“…Don’t tell me you’re acting like this because it was your first time.”
The words slipped out before she realized.
It was quiet, but Winston seemed to hear.
Adeline reflexively bit her lip.
Winston’s gaze sharpened more dangerously than ever.
“That thing you just said…”
His voice turned cold.
“Are you saying I was the only one whose first time it was?”
