Episode 10

“Perhaps because the level of gossip in the newspapers is rising, even in the palace, there are constant suggestions to hurry up and get married—things like that.”

“Ahhh…… Really……?”

Although she nodded, Eileen’s mind was in turmoil.

Is this working properly now?

I came down south to avoid the northern archduke cliché, but was that really the right way to avoid clichés?

A handsome man like that, with a secret story.

I think it’s even worse than the North. Am I really in the right place?

However, it was not possible to simply declare the marriage invalid in the middle of the night.

Let’s say the marriage is annulled or divorced right now.

Back in the capital, what could she do?

The Northern Duke would undoubtedly cling tenaciously, saying, “I knew you’d come back,” and the empire wasn’t set up in a world of romance novels that was lenient on divorce.

It was obvious that at home, they would start nagging me with all sorts of things, starting with, “Why did you go down to the south?”

‘Even if I go up to the capital now, the situation won’t improve. So I just have to hold on tight and hold out for two more years.’

What on earth are you holding back?

‘All I have to do is hold back and not be captivated by that handsome man’s face.’

Eileen, who had made up her mind, nodded solemnly.

“But, I also have a condition.”

“What is it?”

“No plotting.”

“…….”

“No face attacks, absolutely no attacking handsome men!”

“…….”

“Don’t involve me in your work. Let’s just keep our distance and go our separate ways.”

“Eileen.”

“Don’t call me by my name so affectionately.”

“…….”

Floran scratched his chin and tilted his head.

“Didn’t you say that the Northern Grand Duke prefers ugly men over handsome men?”

“that’s right.”

“But why are you saying that? As if there’s even the slightest chance you’ll fall in love with me.”

The way she smiled with one corner of her mouth pulled up was so beautiful that it seemed like it would make anyone fall in love.

But Eileen wasn’t so easygoing.

“The reason is simple. If you look at any romance novel, in contract marriages, the contract is usually not fulfilled, but the marriage is done.”

“Romance novels… you mean?”

Eileen was taken aback by Floran’s bewildered reaction and became angry.

“Why, do you find romance novels funny? They’re a wonderful genre that’s been read since the dawn of human civilization!”

“No, isn’t a novel ultimately fiction?”

“Aha, everyone who reads romance novels and dreams of love is a fool and an idiot?”

“Isn’t that what you meant?”

Floran raised both hands as if in embarrassment.

Eileen had her own plan.

It was to make the man distance himself by pretending to be in the 6th dimension rather than the 4th dimension.

‘Stop getting closer unnecessarily and just keep moving away!’

As if reading her thoughts, Floran looked at her intently and said.

“If you want to keep your distance, let’s approach slowly.”

“No, I asked you to keep your distance, so why are you approaching so slowly? I told you not to come.”

“But how can that be, when people have feelings?”

“Then, don’t look at me like I’m a person, but like a chicken or cow passing by somewhere on a farm?”

“Do you want to be a chicken or a cow?”

When Floran laughed as if he found it absurd, Eileen nodded confidently.

“Yeah, well, let’s just say that’s true. Whenever I see a handsome man, I want to be a chicken or a cow. I mean, I hope I never catch his eye.”

“…….”

“Didn’t I tell you? I’m allergic to handsome men. You know that when your allergies are severe, you have trouble breathing and can become critical. I don’t want to die. Just as there’s a saying, “A beautiful woman’s fate is obscured,” there’s also a saying, “A beautiful man’s fate is obscured by a handsome man.”

It seemed like her plan was working to some extent.

This was because Floran, who had been quietly looking at Eileen, nodded with a slightly stiff smile.

That must be this woman. She’s not just crazy, she’s just plain crazy. Her face looked bewildered.

“Good. Let’s be more alert from now on, Eileen.”

The goal is to successfully divorce and become the Grand Duke of the South in two years.

“Please take care of me in the future, Eileen.”

Eileen is holding his hand as he asks for a handshake.

At the sight of his bright smile, Eileen quickly took her hand away.

“I need to get the contract signed as quickly as possible—I’m tired now, so I’m going to go to bed.”

Was it because things got messed up unexpectedly that I was so nervous, or was it because marriage is marriage after all?

Eileen cautiously sat down on the edge of the bed and lay down.

There were also times when I deliberately acted more casually. It was a kind of self-hypnosis, a pledge to myself to never see that handsome man as a man.

“Ugh, I’m tired.”

“I definitely like the fluffy side of it.”

But Floran is no pushover either.

He started to unbutton his shirt, smiling faintly and giving me a look that seemed to be just cute!

“What, what is it? Why are you unbuttoning it?”

“It’s hot.”

“What! It’s not hot at all!”

“Southerners are born with a lot of heat, Eileen. I held your hand earlier, and it was cold—”

He took off his top and came over to Eileen.

Eileen quickly crossed her arms and hugged me tightly, wrapping her arms around me protectively, then quickly stepped back.

“You said it was a contract marriage!”

“Even if it’s a contract marriage, a couple is still a couple.”

“I said I wasn’t going to force it! Ugh!”

Eileen, who had been slowly backing away with her buttocks, suddenly slid down to the edge of the bed and almost fell down.

Floran’s strong arms supported Eileen’s waist as she tried to fall backwards, and pulled her back onto the bed.

Thanks to that, our faces became closer.

Eileen felt like her breath was being suffocated, as if she was really allergic to the two eyes that met hers.

“Huh,” I said, taking a short breath and tensing my body, and Floan smiled playfully and said.

“Why are you so nervous?”

He slowly removed his hand from Eileen’s waist.

“Since we’re a married couple, we should share a bed in the same room, Eileen. That means I won’t touch anything else.”

So, is this really why he took off his top because he had a high body temperature?

Eileen glanced at his body, which had nowhere to look, and cleared her throat for no reason.

“Why does it have to be like that?”

“Think about it, Eileen. If a couple who didn’t even have a wedding night and even shared separate rooms suddenly died and the wife inherited everything, wouldn’t you think it was a little strange?”

In order to safely receive the royal siege without any troublesome rumors, let’s pretend to be a fairly good couple.

His words were very reasonable, but Eileen couldn’t shake the suspicion that was rising in her mind.

‘This man keeps smiling brightly, but I can’t figure out what he’s thinking.’

It is unlikely that he got married simply because he was annoyed by the palace’s interference.

And yet, without even telling her the exact reason, aren’t you just trying to confuse Eileen with your good looks?

‘It’s dangerous. We have to be careful.’

Above all, that smile.

That smile that seems to know very well that I am handsome.

Are you trying to seduce me, or are you trying to seduce me and use me?

Or maybe he’s just a born smiling merchant.

Eileen felt the need to do some more research about her husband.

“Okay, so don’t cross this line.”

As she said that, she divided the middle of the bed with a thick pillow and blanket.

Floran looked at her with a bewildered expression, but she remained silent, wrapped herself in the blanket like a caterpillar, and closed her eyes tightly.

Soon, a sweet man’s voice was heard.

“Good night, Eileen. Let’s get along well from now on.”

Eileen, who was hesitating whether to answer or not, quickly answered.

“Drrrrrrr.”

With a snoring sound.

“Phew, it’s unique anyway.”

As expected, the Southern Grand Duke was a formidable opponent.