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Chapter 9
Lerazier stepped back with a low chuckle.
“My foot still hurts like hell from when you stepped on it back then.”
‘Damn it.’
Why is it that bad premonitions are always spot on?
Calliope cursed inwardly but feigned composure.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Still pretending, are you?”
‘Of course. Why would I admit it and give you something to use against me?’
She could bet Lerazier’s glossy black hair that if she admitted it, she’d end up in a humiliating mess.
“If you’re just going to keep babbling nonsense, I’ll be going.”
“Is that how you’re playing this? You’ve gotten petty since I last saw you, Verdi. Though I suppose it suits you.”
At his blatant sarcasm, Calliope shot him a sideways glare.
As if you know anything. You’re just a pretty-faced, broken mess inside.
“State your business already.”
Then Lerazier looked at her intently.
The sharp golden eyes staring holes through her made Calliope slightly uncomfortable.
‘Since when could Lerazier Dion Arenfrit make a face that serious?’
But before she could dwell on it, his expression changed in an instant.
‘Did I imagine that?’
While Calliope doubted her own eyes, Lerazier grinned mischievously and said,
“You’re looking for a husband, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. But what’s that got to do with you…”
She couldn’t finish the sentence.
It was because a completely unexpected suggestion hit her like a freight train.
“Marry me, Calliope Verdi.”
Silence descended.
Calliope blinked in a rare moment of shock, then muttered,
“Am I hearing things from lack of sleep lately? Where’s that dogshit coming from…?”
Lerazier, kindly, repeated the words for her benefit.
“You said you needed someone to marry. So marry me.”
“Are you insane?”
That snapped Calliope out of her daze. She slammed both hands on the desk and stood up abruptly.
“Why the hell would I marry you?”
“Why not?”
Unlike Calliope, who was so flustered her face turned red, Lerazier remained completely calm.
“You still haven’t found a suitable man, right?”
Bullseye.
Calliope lost the perfect moment to respond.
“…I’ll find one soon.”
“Sure. But if there were still any decent guys left, don’t you think your aide would’ve contacted me already?”
Damn bastard. A spoiled playboy whose whole life revolves around fun, yet annoyingly sharp at times like this.
Calliope glared at him fiercely, but Lerazier just smiled, eyes curving with amusement.
“You don’t want to admit it, but come on, Calliope.”
“Shut it, will you?”
“I’m the only one who meets all your conditions.”
“……”
So infuriating and smug—but she had no rebuttal, which made her even more irritated.
“You and I don’t get along, remember? Did you hit your head recently and forget something this important?”
“Forget? Not a chance. I remember everything, down to what you did at graduation, and how you bolted right after using a teleportation spell.”
“I’ll say it again, I never—”
“Did I forget to mention? I had a magic recording orb with me that day.”
Calliope’s words caught in her throat.
‘He laid a trap on purpose?!’
Reading her thoughts, Lerazier gave a gentle smile, eyes crinkling.
“Don’t get me wrong. My aide gave it to me so I could make lots of memories on graduation day, you see.”
“Haha…”
Calliope forced a laugh. The situation was turning against her.
‘You idiot, Calliope Verdi. Digging your own grave like this.’
Her impulsive act out of excitement over graduating had come back to bite her hard.
“The penalty for insulting royalty—or is it assault—is at least…”
“Alright! I get it!”
That damn grudge-holder! Calliope shouted and dragged a hand roughly down her face.
She needed to assess the situation.
Taking a deep breath, she calmly spoke.
“Let’s hear your reason first. Never mind me—why do you want to marry me?”
She redirected the spotlight onto Lerazier.
“I have to marry to inherit the count title, sure. But you don’t have to.”
She started ticking off her points, folding her fingers one by one.
“You’re still young, you’re the seventh prince so you don’t even have the burden of succession. Isn’t your life goal to live easy and carefree? Marriage would only be shackles for you.”
“You really have a way of dressing up the fact that I’m wasting my life.”
“I didn’t say that exactly. But if you’re the one admitting it, I won’t argue.”
She added, being someone who couldn’t stand a lie—even if it was flattering.
“Anyway, there’s no way you’re doing this without some kind of gain. So why marry me?”
“Does it matter?”
“Of course it does. I’ve laid all my cards on the table. You can’t keep hiding yours. A deal requires trust.”
“Trust, huh. Nice word.”
Lerazier smiled playfully as he curved his lips.
“Calliope Verdi.”
“What?”
“I’m going to become emperor.”
“What?”
Calliope’s face twisted up, then froze in disbelief.
“Not right now, of course. But marrying the Marchioness of the Frontier will help me one way or another.”
Calliope stared at him, dumbfounded, before finally bursting into laughter.
“Pfft—Hahaha! You? Emperor?”
You, who only ever think about living the easiest life possible?
“Say something that makes sense. If you’re emperor, what, am I supposed to be empress?”
“Why not?”
“You think the throne is some kind of joke?”
The way he spoke of such an unrealistic goal with such confidence left Calliope speechless.
“Never heard that you should dream big?”
“Forget it. I’m done talking.”
She already knew he lived without plans or seriousness, but she hadn’t expected this level of delusion.
“What, you heard some old hero’s tale and decided to cosplay? You better snap out of that fantasy quick.”
She gathered all her remaining patience and gave him one final piece of advice.
“And even as a joke, don’t say things like that out loud. People might think you’re plotting treason.”
At that, Lerazier’s golden eyes gleamed like a hawk spotting prey.
“Ohh? Calliope Verdi. Are you worried about me right now?”
Unbelievable. Calliope felt a vein pop in her forehead as she responded.
“Do I need to spell it out for you? I don’t want to live in an empire where you are emperor.”
“That’s cold.”
But despite his words, there wasn’t a trace of hurt on Lerazier’s face.
Calliope glared, realizing—as she’d expected—that he wasn’t serious after all.
“I’m busy, so enough with the nonsense. You weren’t serious about the marriage proposal either, right?”
“I was, actually.”
Lerazier replied lazily, propping his chin on his hand.
His gaze drifted sideways toward her.
“Royalty… they look great on the outside but there’s nothing inside.”
You either become an obstacle to the emperor or a tool for him.
“Even me. I’m nothing more than an expensive asset for my crown prince brother’s political marriage.”
“…So?”
“They’re trying to sell me off directly.”
His languid gaze fell on Calliope. His amber gemstone eyes took on a strangely persistent glint.
“To me?”
“To you.”
Calliope looked down at Lerazier for a moment. That expression, with all traces of mischief gone, was unfamiliar to her.
