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Chapter 7
Bella fell into deep thought.
What should I do? At this point… should I just beg him to kill me?
It felt as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her head. Her mind raced.
After all, she only wanted one thing.
Marrying him was merely a means to that end.
The honor of becoming a duchess?
She couldn’t care less.
Did she want the man before her to fall in love with her?
Not even a little.
What she wanted wasn’t a new beginning with him—
It was an ending.
As long as the result was the same, the method didn’t matter.
If marriage wouldn’t work, perhaps she should try something else.
Just then—
“I’ve heard your story.”
The duke spoke calmly.
“Now answer my question.”
“Talking any longer would only waste time.”
He looked directly at her.
“What benefit do I gain by choosing you?”
“…Pardon?”
“Why should I choose you instead of one of the other ladies?”
If he was going to be forced into marriage anyway…
He intended to marry the woman who would benefit him the most.
He’s certainly calculating, Bella thought. Just like you’d expect from a duke.
“To give you a few examples…”
He continued casually.
“One lady offered to bring her entire fortune as a dowry.”
“There was another who promised she’d never interfere with my relationships, as long as she could have the title of duchess.”
“And one even said she’d accept any illegitimate children I might have.”
“…”
“So.”
He looked at her.
“Can you offer me anything better than that?”
Bella was speechless.
When she failed to answer immediately, a satisfied smile finally appeared on his face.
He sounded completely relaxed.
“Go ahead.”
He leaned back.
“Surprise me.”
Bella didn’t react to his challenge.
She was too busy thinking.
A price…
No matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t come up with anything that would satisfy him.
Well… that’s only natural.
To the master of one of the wealthiest ducal houses, even an enormous dowry would be insignificant.
As for ignoring affairs or illegitimate children…
Those weren’t exactly uncommon among nobles.
What could possibly surprise a man like him?
Bella searched her mind over and over.
Then suddenly—
She remembered something.
“I have no intention of getting married.”
He had definitely said that.
The one thing he truly wanted…
Was to avoid marriage altogether.
Yet Bella had to tie herself to him somehow.
And marriage was still the only realistic way.
To make that happen…
She had to give him exactly what he wanted.
It sounded contradictory.
But in truth…
It was possible.
And it was something no other noble lady could offer.
Only Bella could.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
The duke didn’t notice.
He was still smiling confidently.
“You can’t, can you?”
“…”
“I thought so.”
He started to dismiss her.
“Then we’re done—”
“I can.”
Bella immediately lifted her head.
The confidence in her voice made him pause.
He stared at her with genuine curiosity.
“What could she possibly say?”
Then Bella spoke.
“I won’t live very long.”
“…”
“I’m going to die soon.”
“…”
“I doubt I’ll survive until next spring.”
For the first time—
The duke’s crimson eyes shook with obvious surprise.
Seeing that, Bella smiled faintly.
At least I’ve fulfilled his condition.
“Surprise me.”
But she wasn’t finished yet.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t offer Your Grace a mountain of gold as a dowry.”
She continued calmly.
“But at least your wealth will never have to be divided with me or inherited by me.”
“Because I’ll be dead.”
“…”
The duke fell silent.
Bella sensed that the tide had finally begun to turn.
“And I heard that Your Grace doesn’t wish to marry.”
“So what I can offer you…”
She smiled.
“…is an excuse.”
“…An excuse?”
“Yes.”
Bella nodded.
“If your wife dies, that’s not divorce—it’s widowhood.”
“Even His Majesty couldn’t immediately pressure you into marrying again.”
“And even if he tried, you could simply say that you still haven’t recovered from losing your late wife.”
“No one could force you after that.”
“It would look cruel.”
She smiled sweetly.
“Wouldn’t you agree?”
The duke couldn’t answer.
Now this…
This is how you turn the tables.
Having finally taken away his composure, Bella leaned back with a satisfied smile.
“So?”
She asked confidently.
“Was that enough to surprise you?”
He hesitated.
His crimson eyes narrowed as though searching for the right words.
“…You said you’re going to die?”
Bella immediately nodded.
“Yes.”
She smiled brightly.
“I am.”
By your hand.
“Hm…”
The duke stroked his jaw in silence.
Watching him think, Bella struggled to calm her racing heart.
What if this doesn’t work either?
She looked composed on the outside.
Inside…
She was burning with anxiety.
She had already revealed every card she possessed.
This was a gamble.
A bluff made by someone who had nothing.
Fortunately—
“It certainly is… an interesting offer.”
He was intrigued.
He’s more honest than I expected.
Bella looked at him with surprise.
Most high-ranking nobles had enormous pride.
If they disliked something, they refused it until the end.
If they insisted they were right…
Then even when they were wrong, they would force everyone else to agree.
For someone like him to calmly admit he’d changed his mind…
That meant he was rational.
Far more rational than she’d expected.
As long as I don’t provoke him first… maybe he’ll be all right.
Bella quietly revised her first impression of him.
In her dream, he had swung his sword without mercy.
She had been convinced he was a violent man.
But that had only been a dream.
Even if it was destined to happen someday…
It wasn’t happening now.
“Very well.”
He nodded.
“Let’s say your offer has merit.”
Bella quickly bit her lip.
Otherwise, she might have burst into a huge smile.
I’m so close.
If she grinned too widely and annoyed him now, everything would fall apart.
Just as she was making that resolution—
“But…”
He looked at her.
“Are you really satisfied with that?”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean…”
He spoke quietly.
“Are you truly willing to do this?”
Bella finally understood.
He was asking whether she really intended to stake her life on this marriage.
She smiled softly.
He doesn’t know me.
“Yes.”
She answered without hesitation.
“I am.”
He didn’t know that her current life was far worse than death.
He didn’t know that he himself would become the savior who freed her from that living hell.
Nor did he realize she intended to use him for exactly that reason.
“It’s worth risking my life.”
Bella met his eyes without flinching.
His crimson eyes trembled again.
“You hate marrying that old man that much?”
After another long silence, he asked.
“So much that you’d rather die?”
“Yes.”
Bella nodded immediately.
The truth was more complicated.
But there was no point explaining everything.
Even if I told him the truth…
Would he believe me?
I dreamed of the future.
You appeared in that dream.
You killed me.
Since I’d already lost the will to live, I came here because I thought it must be fate.
Who would believe a story like that?
“Most people believe nothing is more precious than their own lives.”
“I’m not most people.”
“…So you’d rather marry me than an old pervert.”
“Yes.”
She nodded again.
Anyone could tell a young duke was preferable to an elderly viscount.
Of course…
That wasn’t her real reason.
But why does he keep asking?
It’s almost like… he wants me to change my mind.
Suppressing her growing unease, Bella looked straight at him.
It felt as though he was quietly trying to push her away.
But she couldn’t give up.
This might be her final chance.
Until now…
She had only known how to give up.
This time—
She would take what she wanted.
Perhaps he sensed her determination.
Something flashed in his crimson eyes.
Then his expression slowly hardened.
After a long silence…
“…Has it ever occurred to you…”
He suddenly asked.
“…that choosing me might be even more dangerous?”
He casually lifted his now-cold teacup.
His voice remained calm.
But beneath it…
There was an unmistakable chill.
Bella laughed.
She knew she probably shouldn’t.
But she couldn’t help herself.
“…Why are you laughing?”
He frowned.
“Because…”
She smiled.
“I’ve never met anyone who says, ‘I’m a scary person,’ and actually turns out to be scary.”
In other words—
I’m not afraid of you.
The duke clearly understood the hidden meaning.
His expression darkened.
“Then…”
He said quietly.
“This will be your first.”
“…”
Bella froze.
The certainty in his voice made her wonder if there really was something dangerous about him.
Growing cautious, she studied him before speaking.
“…Do you hit women?”
“What?”
“Or…”
She asked carefully.
“Do you enjoy hurting people for no reason?”
She knew she wasn’t really in a position to ask.
But…
She still wanted to live peacefully until the day she died.
Being abused day after day until that day finally came…
That would be a miserable way to end her life.
So she had asked just in case.
Yet…
The duke’s expression became strangely cold.
Almost angry.
“I’m sorry.”
Bella hurriedly apologized.
“I mean… Your Grace keeps calling yourself a dangerous man…”
She awkwardly tried to explain.
Then—
“The reason I said you should fear me…”
The duke sighed quietly.
“…is because I’m cursed.”
“…A curse?”
Bella blinked.
“Did I hear that correctly?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
“A curse.”
The corners of his lips slowly lifted.
The smile was so breathtakingly beautiful that Bella found herself staring without realizing it.
After a long moment—
“You’ve heard the rumors that House Avalan is a cursed family…”
He smiled faintly.
“Haven’t you?”
“People seem to enjoy whispering about it behind my back.”
Just then—
The door to the reception room suddenly opened.
A man with a deathly pale face hurried inside.
