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Chapter 4
“Finally, the moment has come…”
Standing in front of the parlor, Fleur pressed her tired eyelids with her fingertips.
Aidan was one of the capture targets who appeared right at the very start of the game. His arrival at the mansion marked the beginning of Fleur’s unlucky life.
Now, if she let her guard down even for a moment, she could easily be swept away by the temptations of handsome men and end up tumbling here and there. She had to stay sharp.
She was bracing herself mentally when—
“Do you not wish to meet him?”
Dylan, who stood beside her, bent slightly to study her expression.
“I just need a moment to focus before I go in.”
“If it’s that much of a burden, I can send him away, saying you’re not feeling well.”
“No, it’s not that serious.”
The game had already begun. There was nowhere left to run. If she avoided him now, she didn’t know what might reset, so it was better to face him head-on.
“I’ll accompany you inside.”
“That’s fine. Dylan, wait outside.”
“Understood. Then if you need me, just ring the bell right away.”
“You’re surprisingly diligent for a secretary.”
“If I’ve decided to serve, then it’s my duty to do better than anyone else.”
“That’s a good attitude.”
After their brief exchange, Dylan opened the parlor door for her, and Fleur stepped inside.
The man lounging lazily on the sofa slowly rose to his feet at her entrance.
“Fleury.”
His voice was on the lighter side for a man, but soft and pleasant, tinged with shyness.
His black hair was long enough to cover his ears, tapering upwards at the ends, framing narrow, sharp eyes. Within them shone striking red pupils, like ripe cherries. With his delicate nose, small lips, and sharp jawline, he was beautiful—even for a man.
Though slender, his long arms and legs gave him elegant proportions.
Like a sleek black cat turned human, this was Aidan Hauser—the man she had been betrothed to since childhood.
Their marriage was set for two years later, when both turned twenty-two.
New capture target discovered.
Aidan Hauser.
Current Affection: 25%.
As her fiancé, he began with a base level of affection.
Which made him all the more dangerous—and harder to push away.
“Aidan, you’re… really beautiful.”
But his looks alone were enough to shatter all the defenses she had just put up. Mesmerized, she stared openly, and he covered his flushed cheeks with the back of his hand.
“What are you saying all of a sudden…?”
He looked like a fairy. A fairy, right here. If she stole his clothes, maybe he couldn’t return home… No! What was she even thinking?
“Ahem, it’s been a while, Aidan.”
Fleur quickly pulled herself together and sat down first. Aidan followed, but instead of across from her, he sat right beside her.
“It hasn’t been long. We just saw each other at your parents’ funeral a few days ago.”
“Ah, that’s true. My head’s been… a bit of a mess. Ha, haha.”
“Losing both at once—of course it would be.”
“Thank you for coming to the funeral.”
“Of course. How could I not? It was my fiancée’s parents’ funeral.”
He reached out naturally and clasped her hand.
The touch flowed so smoothly and familiarly that Fleur blinked in surprise, caught off guard.
“Fleury, have you thought about what I said that day?”
Though they were already close, Aidan leaned in until their shoulders were pressed together, his gaze locked intently on her eyes. The intensity was suffocating.
“What was it again? I’ve met so many people lately, I don’t quite remember.”
“I told you to come stay at the Hauser estate. You’re terrified of being alone in an empty house.”
“Oh, right… I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be fine. I can stay on my own.”
She subtly tried to withdraw her hand.
But Aidan only trapped it firmly between both of his, leaving no room to escape.
“I can’t let my fiancée live in fear by herself. Come to the Hauser estate, and let’s bring the wedding forward.”
“What?”
“It’s just moving up what we’d already planned for when we turn twenty-two.”
He spoke as if the decision were already final.
“You don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll handle all the arrangements.”
“Wait, hold on—”
“I’ll even buy the Valen estate. That way you can keep your parents’ belongings just as they are…”
“Aidan, listen to me!”
Raising her voice, Fleur cut him off.
“I’m not going to the Hauser estate. And I’m not marrying you.”
“…What?”
“I want to break off the engagement.”
His crimson eyes wavered violently, his brows furrowing deeply.
“What are you saying? Do you not want to marry me anymore?”
“The engagement was never our choice. It was a deal between our families. But with my parents gone, I’m not bound to fulfill it anymore. I want to break it off and marry someone I truly love.”
“Love…?”
His grip on her hand tightened.
“Ugh, Aidan! My hand—”
“You mean… you don’t love me?”
His voice sharpened, and his gaze turned cold and piercing. Just moments ago he had seemed like a harmless kitten—now he felt more like a jaguar, and Fleur’s body shrank back instinctively.
But if she faltered here, she’d be dragged to the Hauser estate without a chance. Fleur steadied herself and met his eyes without backing down.
“How could there be love in an engagement made for family profit?”
“All nobles marry like that. But we were different.”
“Different how?”
“We weren’t strangers who barely spoke and then wed. We went on dates—we were practically a married couple already.”
“That was just for show, to strengthen the bond between families. It wasn’t love.”
Their argument was rising in intensity when—
Surprise Quest!
Aidan is very close to you. This is a chance to raise his affection.
If you initiate skinship now, his affection will increase by 2x.
What? Skinship at a time like this? Sure, she liked the trope of “arguing then suddenly kissing,” but she absolutely didn’t want to do it herself!
Fleur pressed her forehead with her free hand, glaring at the blinking quest window above Aidan’s head. Mistaking it as a sign of illness, he pulled back slightly.
“You don’t seem well. Let’s end our talk here for today.”
But breaking off the engagement was her top priority, so Fleur grabbed his retreating hand.
At that single touch, Aidan halted obediently.
“Even if you don’t want it, I’ll send word to Count Hauser tomorrow that I wish to annul our engagement.”
“What?”
“Engagements are decided between heads of families. With the Valen house now under my care, it’s between me and your father—not you.”
“So when you said we should break it off… you were just notifying me?”
“That’s right. I thought you might feel blindsided otherwise, so I told you in advance—ah!”
Aidan seized her by the shoulders. Though slender, his strength pushed her back slightly.
“You can’t break off our engagement. Do you know how much money your parents borrowed from my family? Unless you repay it, you’ll never escape me.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll pay it back tomorrow.”
“…What?”
“You probably don’t realize, but I’ve earned more money than you think. I prepared it long ago, intending to repay the Hauser family first.”
“When? Your parents only died recently—”
“Don’t assume you know everything about me.”
Fleur spoke coldly, trying to wrench free, but his grip was unyielding.
Warning!
Aidan’s Affection has decreased.
Affection: 25% → 22%.
With his affection dropping, Aidan’s grip only grew tighter. Fleur’s carefully composed face finally began to twist in pain.
“I will never let you break our engagement. The wedding will go ahead as planned—so stop dreaming.”
He wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her close. His face inched forward, as if ready to claim her lips at any moment.
“You’ll never escape me.”
