~Chapter 80~

“A… a proposal? You’re really proposing… here and now?”

Jeremy was more shocked than I was, stumbling and nearly tripping over the unconscious assassin.

“Ack!”

Thanks to him, the assassin got a steel-toed boot to the ribs and suddenly woke up in shock.

“W-Where am I? What is this…?”

“Yeah, I’d like to know too. What is this?”

Jeremy parroted the assassin with a stunned look on his face.

Karl didn’t even glance at them—his eyes were locked on me as he spoke again.

“Marry me, Elaine.”

“Oh my god.”

This time, it was the assassin who said that.

Thud! Jeremy stumbled again and, now completely red-faced, bolted out of the room.

“I didn’t hear or see anything! I swear!”

“Wait, hey! You’re leaving me behind?!”

The assassin shouted in panic, looking at us.

As I stood there in shock, it finally hit me.

Why is everyone reacting like this is such a big deal?

It’s just… a proposal.

…Just?

“…”

“…”

My mouth hung open.

Because it was a big deal. A huge deal.

My face was already burning red.

So… Karl just…

“This is… a proposal?”

“Yes.”

Just like that? Right here?

Well… I guess this is his way of taking responsibility. But still…

Wait. Elaine…

My rational brain knocked on the door of my thoughts.

Shouldn’t he have asked if we’re dating first?

We haven’t even kissed yet!

No, more importantly…

I still need to “break up” with the Grand Duke first!

Technically we’re not even a real couple, but I still have to “divorce” him.

Unless I do that, there’s no way things can move forward with Karl.

But strangely enough…

Even though I knew all that, I didn’t say any of it.

I didn’t even bring up the weird thing he said earlier that made me angry.

My whole body just felt like it was on fire—from the back of my neck to my fingertips.

Like I’d been dunked in red paint.

Karl’s hands holding my face were burning hot too.

Glance.

I looked up at him—his eyes were slightly trembling.

His lips parted and closed, like even he wasn’t fully confident in what he just said.

That made doubt creep in again.

“Is this… a joke?”

“No.”

“Then why are you nervous?”

“Because this wasn’t how I planned to do it.”

Wow. At least he’s honest.

No wonder the proposal came out so directly.

Now that I looked closely, his ears were red. His eyes were shaking just like mine.

“Elaine.”

The way he said my name… it sounded like he was asking for an answer.

Or maybe… like he didn’t want one—afraid of what I’d say.

He wasn’t acting cool and collected like usual.

Seeing that made it hit me.

This isn’t a lie.

Karl really…

A shiver ran through my chest.

My lips felt dry like I’d swallowed something hot, and my heart was pounding fast.

And yet, a strange, warm emotion stirred in me.

He likes me too.

The person I like… likes me back.

What a blessing.

I remembered noble ladies who had serious feelings but still couldn’t get engaged.

And all the heartbroken men who pined after them.

I was always an outsider to those kinds of stories.

In my past life, I was too busy surviving.

In this one, I was too focused on keeping my secret as a woman disguised as a holy knight.

Love, romance, sweetness—those things felt like a distant dream.

But now…

I don’t have to push them away anymore.

Karl is the first person I can love openly, without secrets or hurting someone else.

At that moment—sting.

Something poked my chest.

A sudden thought I hadn’t told him yet.

He doesn’t know I used to be a holy knight.

I didn’t tell him because I didn’t want to hear him criticize me.

I just wanted to stay comfortable.

But now it bothered me.

Saint Portou doesn’t have the best relationship with the temple.

What if Karl’s the same?

If we were just friends, maybe I could hide it.

But we might… become husband and wife.

Would Karl accept a wife who came from the temple?

My heart lurched.

For the first time, I was scared of upsetting someone.

There was a time I didn’t care what others thought.

I even used to mouth off to anyone who annoyed me.

And yet this man… He’s the first to make me feel like this.

How many “firsts” is he going to take from me?

My head felt like it was overheating, and I couldn’t think straight.

Then Karl gently spoke again.

“Elaine.”

“…”

I wanted to be honest… but I also didn’t want to talk.

First, I needed to deal with the Grand Duke issue…

“What the hell is going on here?!”

“…”

“…”

The assassin, now wide awake with a battered face, suddenly yelled.

He must’ve just now fully realized the situation.

“Where am I?! Why am I like this?!”

That finally snapped me back to reality.

I forced myself to turn away from Karl, even though every cell in my body wanted to stay with him.

“You’re in the underground prison of the Grand Duke’s estate. You tried to assassinate the Grand Duchess.”

“Assassinate?! I don’t know anything about that! What day is it?!”

“You’re not supposed to be asking questions—we are.”

He was freaking out, but we were the ones supposed to be interrogating him.

Even Karl was visibly annoyed. I could practically read the look in his eyes.

“I want to kill him.”

I sighed and spoke instead of him.

“Wait your turn. We’re having an important conversation.”

“What?”

“Also, if you die, I’ll kill you.”

“What does that even mean—”

“If you take your own life, you go to hell. Not that you’d manage it anyway.”

I was irritated, but uncovering the mastermind behind him came first.

I wanted to keep him alive long enough to interrogate him.

“Why would I do that?!”

“You’re an assassin, aren’t you?”

“I told you—I don’t know anything! What day is it?!”

Something was off.

He was trembling so violently it looked unstable.

“That doesn’t matter! What day is it?!”

His eyes were bulging.

I’d seen this kind of behavior before…

Addicts—people hooked on narcotic cigarettes or similar drugs.

But this seemed worse.

His skin was darkening unnaturally—almost black.

I could sense danger crawling over my skin.

“Wait.”

I stepped away from Karl.

“Elaine, it’s dangerous.”

Karl tried to hold me back.

My body wanted to stay with him too, but the strange, prickly air forced me forward.

Wait—prickly air?

No way…

I glanced around, searching for anything I could use as a weapon.

Karl noticed too and moved his hand toward the dagger at his belt.

“Tell me! Please!”

“It’s been at least three days since you were caught.”

“No! That’s too long!”

“Too bad. It happened.”

As we talked, the assassin started thrashing more violently.

His skin had turned from dark to pitch black.

He’s literally turning black.

Not a metaphor—literally.

Black smoke was seeping from his skin.

The stinging sensation in the air grew stronger.

The moment I feared became real.

Why do I feel a monster’s poison here…?

Even in panic, I tried to think.

The assassin started crawling on the floor, gasping.

“No… no! I have to go back in time! If I don’t…”

“Back? To who?”

“The antidote… I need the antidote from him…”

His words were disjointed, slurred.

I cautiously asked again.

“Tell me. Who is he? What did he ask you to do?”

“Guh… uh…”

“Why me? Because I’m the Grand Duchess?”

“Damn it… I have to go back… I’m sorry… please don’t kill me…!”

“Hey!”

“Guh—glurk!”

His whole body turned pitch black and started convulsing.

If he died now, we’d lose our only lead!

“Wait!”

I pinned him down and grabbed his collar.

“Elaine!”

Time seemed to slow.

The assassin opened his mouth—his teeth, gums, tongue—everything was coal black.

And then…

“Grrgghhh—bleh!”

Something thick, black, and sticky shot straight at me.

ADVANCED CHAPTERS OF TVGS FROM CHAPTER 81-85 ARE UPDATED AT OUR KO-FI ACCOUNT.