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Chapter 15
“Pardon?”
At Croa’s questioning, Julian let out a faint groan and leaned back against the hard chair.
“I’ve lived all this time with only one goal in mind. To be honest, I’m a little tired now. I want something to lean on, even if it’s just a small shred of hope. It’s not that I completely trust Rebecca. But when I thought about it carefully, I realized I had no real reason not to trust her either. If she’s using us, then we can use her in turn. At the very least, as long as I remain married to her, no other innocent woman will have to be sacrificed.”
“……”
Even so, Croa kept his mouth shut, clearly displeased.
Julian crossed his legs leisurely.
“I don’t know what you’re so worried about. Perhaps you’ve forgotten, but I’m Duke Johannes. I’m young, handsome, and rich. Even the Emperor can’t do anything to me. Do you really think that even if she plays me for a few years, I’ll suffer any fatal consequences? At most, I’ll think of it as a fleeting amusement. And besides…”
Julian fixed his gaze on Croa.
“You won’t just sit by while I’m deceived, will you? I trust that while I’m letting her play me, you’ll find a way to break the curse. Isn’t that so?”
That gaze, filled with boundless trust, bore down on Croa.
Suddenly, Croa recalled the moment Julian had first reached out to him.
He hadn’t shed a single tear at his mother’s funeral.
But when his nanny was buried, Julian had wept great tears.
The boy, roughly wiping his face, had reached his hand out to Croa.
‘From now on, you’re the only one on my side, Croa Chenister.’
Back then, Croa had looked after young Julian merely out of a sense of family duty.
But the moment he clasped that small yet firm hand, he had sworn to give Julian his true loyalty.
Even if his life was short, he resolved to make the boy as happy as possible.
Croa searched for the right words, but in the end, he could only nod.
Knock, knock—
A knock sounded, and Rebecca entered the room.
“Ah, you’re already here. I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“No, I didn’t wait long.”
Julian greeted her with a glance, taking in her appearance.
She wasn’t adorned in her usual extravagant fashion, which made her look strangely unfamiliar.
But she seemed more radiant and lively than usual. Julian found himself momentarily spellbound.
Rebecca, after bowing politely to Julian, suddenly froze in place.
She had spotted Croa examining her with narrowed eyes.
Reddish-brown hair, fresh green eyes, and the ever-present round spectacles.
He looked young, but he was unmistakably the Croa she knew.
A dull ache rose in her chest, and she forgot all about Julian’s presence as she stared at Croa.
Croa, who had intended to intimidate her with a sharp glare, instead found himself flustered by her open gaze.
Sensing something unusual in Rebecca’s stare, Julian asked,
“Do you two know each other? Croa, you didn’t reveal the family’s secret to Rebecca, did you?”
Croa nearly jumped out of his chair.
“No, of course not! I swear to the heavens, today is the first time I’ve ever seen this lady!”
Rebecca quickly averted her eyes from Croa.
This was not the time to let emotions sweep her away.
She smoothed her expression and smiled faintly.
“Of course not. Your Grace, I’ve never met him either. I only looked because he had a cookie crumb at the corner of his mouth.”
At her words, Croa’s face flushed bright red.
He hastily brushed at his lips and shot Rebecca a sidelong glare.
What an infuriating woman.
Julian relaxed his frown into a smile.
“Croa, I told you to stop eating so much. Anyway, now that Rebecca’s here, you can leave.”
“What?”
“I said you could accompany me, but I didn’t say you’d be part of the negotiations.”
“But, Your Grace—!”
“That’s an order. We have important matters to discuss, so step outside.”
When Croa protested, Julian’s eyes flashed dangerously, just short of turning golden.
At last, Croa was forced out of the room, nearly in tears from the sting of rejection.
“Us? Your Grace, you always said ‘us’ only to me…”
Julian closed the door firmly.
He could hear Croa grumbling outside, but paid it no mind as he returned to his seat.
Croa had spent the entire trip here picking faults with Rebecca.
Julian already regretted bringing him along.
If Croa had stayed in the room, he would surely have interfered with every word of their discussion.
Just thinking about it was exhausting. It was easier to send him out.
Julian glanced around the modest but neat reception room.
“I didn’t know such a place existed. Did you say it belongs to the Devonshire family?”
“Yes. I built it, but it’s Zeppelin’s property.”
Rebecca smiled bitterly, then quickly brightened.
“But I’ll be reclaiming it soon enough.”
“A fine idea. But how?”
Rebecca’s smile widened as she produced a sheet of paper.
“That’s a story for later. For now, here’s a draft of the contract.”
Julian wordlessly took the document.
The handwriting was so characteristically Rebecca’s—graceful yet stiff—that he almost chuckled.
<Contract Terms>
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Duke Julian Johannes shall actively assist Rebecca Devonshire in obtaining a divorce.
-
Duke Julian Johannes shall invest at least minimally in Rebecca Devonshire’s plan to destroy the Devonshire family.
-
Both parties may freely pursue romantic relationships without the other’s consent, so long as it remains undiscovered by outsiders.
-
The contract shall last until Count Zeppelin Devonshire’s death. If Duke Johannes fulfills the above clauses, Rebecca Devonshire must lift the curse on House Johannes.
Though short, Julian studied the contract for quite some time.
Rebecca fought to keep any sign of impatience from her face.
“I have one question.”
“Yes, please.”
“If divorce is your goal, why destroy the Devonshires? And why kill Zeppelin?”
“I’d rather just say… it’s personal. I’ll explain when the time comes.”
Rebecca’s eyes slid away.
Their relationship was one of mutual need.
There was no reason to bare her heart in detail when all they required was an exchange of favors.
She sipped her tea quietly, as if to say don’t press further.
Julian rested his chin on his hand and studied her.
She doesn’t seem to be hiding anything sinister…
Though young, Julian had a sharp eye for people.
Since childhood, he had been exposed to schemers and frauds eager to attach themselves to House Johannes.
“Watch closely, Julian. When someone avoids your gaze, it means they’re hiding something.”
His mother had trained him this way, analyzing each guest while keeping young Julian on her lap.
Even after her death, his education focused on survival skills.
Thanks to this, despite inheriting the title at fifteen, he had never once been swindled.
Julian’s thoughtful silence stretched on.
Rebecca cleared her throat softly and continued.
“But rest assured, nothing in this will harm you. Think of it as an investment. I’ll handle everything. You won’t need to lift a finger.”
“You’re telling me to do nothing?”
“Yes. You won’t have to dirty your hands. All I need is the shield of your title as Duchess and some financial support. And I don’t expect that for free. Whatever you lend, I’ll repay several times over. Perhaps Count Devonshire’s entire fortune would suffice?”
The words were outrageous, yet Julian somehow believed she might actually succeed.
There was no evidence—just instinct.
The absurdity of his own intuition made him chuckle wryly.
Am I going mad? Or is she working some strange spell?
Still, it was intriguing. Until now, everyone had wanted him to do something for them. No one had ever asked him to do nothing.
That alone piqued his interest.
“Well, fine. I lose nothing, as you said. But there’s one clause I’d like changed.”
“Yes? Which one…?”
“Clause 3. The part about ‘without the other’s consent.’ If we’re married, shouldn’t we at least ask permission before seeing others?”
Rebecca’s eyes widened.
That clause had been written with him in mind.
It was her second marriage, but his first.
And according to Croa, in her past life he had never even dated anyone—fearful an heir might be born.
But now things were different. Rebecca could lift the curse, so there was no harm in him falling in love with a girl his age.
Besides, Rebecca knew men disliked feeling confined.
Even Zeppelin had scowled whenever she showed the slightest hint of jealousy.
Pondering Julian’s motive, she reached a conclusion.
Is he… considering my feelings?
She had never told him the true reason for her divorce.
So he must have assumed it was because of Zeppelin’s affairs.
A woman seeking revenge for her husband’s infidelity was common enough.
Julian was trying to be considerate.
Rebecca, convinced of his intention, broke into a wide smile.
“You needn’t worry about me. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I’ll change it. You’re kinder than I expected, Your Grace.”
The sudden compliment made Julian grimace awkwardly.
Even in a nominal marriage, he had no intention of seeing other women while bound to Rebecca.
He had only thought of his father when he saw that clause, and asked for it to be changed.
Sweeping his lips nervously, Julian felt oddly unsettled.
He’d been called cold-blooded, an ice sculpture, a beast—but never warm.
It seemed Rebecca was introducing him to quite a few firsts.
