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Chapter 11
A Future That Cannot Be Changed
Why on earth was he speaking to her like that in such a mocking tone?
Adeline wanted to retort immediately. But the Grand Duke’s gaze—whether it was anger or hurt, she couldn’t tell—only confused her further. She couldn’t bring herself to part her tightly closed lips.
Let’s stay calm. I just need to say what I have to say properly.
As Adeline organized her thoughts in her head, a thick, refreshing scent suddenly pierced her senses from right beside her.
Before she knew it, Winston had come close and lifted her chin with one long finger. Their eyes met at close range, coldly glowing. Depending on the light and atmosphere, his eyes sometimes looked a clear blue, and other times a dull gray.
“So.”
“…?”
“So I’m not your first?”
Winston grabbed a handful of Adeline’s hair. The soft strands slipped through his long fingers, but he did not tighten his grip. However, the veins on the back of his other hand bulged, revealing restrained emotion.
“So.”
“…?”
“So you intend to pretend you don’t know about my first?”
“……”
“What kind of bastard did you….”
“Junior. No, Your Highness.”
Adeline instinctively pressed a finger against his lips. The touch of his red, alluring lips made her hand tremble slightly.
“I just want to talk about how we might try to understand this situation with a broader heart.”
“…?”
“We’re adults, aren’t we?”
Winston’s blue eyes seemed to ask what she was getting at.
“Two young men and women meet at a banquet. Depending on the atmosphere, things like this can happen, and that is not strange at all.”
Winston tilted his head slightly, as if he truly did not understand.
“I’m not trying to argue about whether it was a first or not. What I mean is that it’s fine either way. That’s what I’m trying to say.”
In the end, the Grand Duke removed her hand from his lips and gently pulled her closer to him.
“I’m not interested in pointless talk.”
“……”
“Winston Blackwood.”
“…?”
“I have no intention of ever letting go of Adeline.”
“…!”
A soft touch brushed the back of her hand. The growling voice that followed was anything but gentle.
“Even if I wasn’t your first, that’s fine.”
“……”
“Of course. The bastard who took your first will die by my hands.”
After that,
Adeline hoped she had already passed the age where such things made her blush—but it seemed the time when her heart still wavered had not yet passed.
After that incident, whether she closed her eyes or opened them, she thought of Winston. Even while reading or working, she repeatedly imagined their relationship maturing—or ending.
She pictured interesting conversations and elegant letters, but every imagined scenario ended with him leaving her in the end.
There’s no way that perfect man would end up with me.
If only she hadn’t known the future.
A man she once found annoying suddenly falling for her because of a momentary mistake—such a thing was impossible.
“Whether it’s your first or not doesn’t matter. Just be my last.”
“It was just a mutual mistake that day.”
“How can something so important be a mistake?”
“…You don’t even remember, do you?”
“I do.”
“What if I don’t?”
“Then do it again. Until you remember everything.”
Winston was more serious than ever. The eyes of the man who had always been cold now felt strangely warm, unfamiliar, and almost embarrassing.
Don’t think nonsense. At times like this, she needed to stay sharp. Adeline knew her position better than anyone.
I am nothing to that man.
Her first life had been unremarkable. She had been married off like she was being sold, tried to adapt, but was ultimately executed. Even that execution was so insignificant it drew no attention. The problem was that her husband had severely offended the Blackwood family.
In her second, third, and fourth lives, every death she experienced was somehow tied to the Blackwood family. Winston had never directly killed her, but he could not be said to have nothing to do with the cause of her death.
This time, I thought I was doing well avoiding the Blackwoods…
Adeline entering the academy, starting a business—all of it was something any citizen of the Empire could do. Moreover, during her academy days, Winston had disliked her. He always glared at her—there was no way she didn’t notice.
He said he wanted to marry me but is actually just trying to mess with me? Why?
No matter how she thought about it, Winston was an unreadable man.
“Boss.”
And there were so many women who followed the Grand Duke. There was no way she could possibly be his first. Unless he was just joking with her.
“Boss.”
Winston was a man admired and watched wherever he went. She had never even imagined that she would become the object of such a man’s attention.
If only he had just kept picking fights with me like before, I wouldn’t have cared at all.
“Adeline!”
“…!”
Startled, Adeline’s eyes widened. Ian was right in front of her, staring closely. He touched her forehead, checking her temperature as if she might have a fever. Then Adeline urgently grabbed his hand and spoke.
“I-Ian. W-when did you get here?”
“Are you feeling unwell again?”
“Hey, Ian…”
“Yes?”
“Do you have someone you’re going to marry?”
“…?”
“A fiancée or something like that.”
“N-no, not yet. Why are you suddenly asking that…?”
“Then will you marry me?”
“…Pardon?!”
“For just a year—no, even half a year.”
“W-what are you talking about…?”
Ian’s eyes shook violently. Adeline knew very well how foolish and absurd what she had just said was.
“No.”
“…?”
“No, even if I’m desperate, this isn’t it. Sorry. I think I’ve lost my mind.”
“Is it… because of the Hamel Count family?”
“How do you know about the Hamel family?”
“I met your younger sister yesterday. I wasn’t sure, but it seems to be true.”
“My sister?”
“Yes, I heard there’s a marriage arrangement with the Count of Hamel…”
“I have no intention of marrying anyone.”
The real problem wasn’t the Count of Hamel—it was Winston. Adeline couldn’t bring herself to say that and forced an awkward smile.
“Boss.”
“Yeah?”
“You know I respect you deeply, right?”
“I know. I’m also always grateful to you, Ian. Just forget what happened today. I think I really lost it.”
“It’s fine.”
Ian scratched his cheek, slightly embarrassed.
“Do you remember that day? The day I fell into the water?”
“Oh, that day. Of course I remember.”
“Honestly, I felt like giving up everything. Like even God had abandoned me.”
It was a cold winter day. Ian falling into the water. He had been quieter and more passive back then.
Adeline had always supported and encouraged him, helping him regain his current lively personality.
“Back then, you shouted at me, telling me I’d die if I gave up. That’s what saved me.”
Ian gave a faint smile and took her hand. His sincere smile and serious eyes shone brightly.
Adeline felt deep gratitude, but she couldn’t nod at what came next.
“…I’m not great at acting, but I think I could help when needed.”
After returning home, Adeline immediately threw herself onto her bed.
Using Ian like that was definitely wrong.
He hadn’t gotten angry at her insane request—he had tried to understand her instead. Using someone that kind was not something a decent person would do.
Maybe she should find someone to act as a fake husband instead? It wouldn’t be a real marriage anyway—it would just be like hiring a new employee.
Adeline clutched her hair. A throbbing headache set in.
So this is what contract dating or contract marriage feels like…
She let out a long sigh.
For a ruined noble girl from the countryside, the role of an extra suited her perfectly. What kind of situation would ever require someone like her to actively enter a contract marriage?
Sometimes I really hate this world.
In the Odensian Empire, it was still common for parents to force marriages. She had no intention of being sold off again—but she also had no desire to marry a man she had never seriously considered.
Maybe living as a lifelong single would be happier.
Had she been too careless focusing only on earning money? Adeline closed her eyes tightly and thought back over her past lives.
No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t see what the problem was.
I was never involved with Winston like this before. That was normal.
The Grand Duke was the male lead of this world, and by his side had always been the female lead, “Leila Penasia.” So a marriage between a nameless extra and the male lead was absurd.
But this story… when did it even start again?
