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chapter 06
Honestly, she had come half in doubt—but to think the Grand Duke of Bavaria was really here.
More than that, with just a few words, he revealed that he was in the same situation as her.
After being guided to a room by the aide, evening came.
Ibel sat at the dining table with Victor as his guest.
“I assumed that since I returned, you might have returned as well. If not, I would have made other plans—but I needed you.”
“Why me?”
“Because I needed someone I can trust.”
The Grand Duke, pouring a drink while wearing only a white shirt, looked strangely—and dangerously—sensual.
The shirt draped naturally over his broad shoulders, falling loosely at his waist, and his sleeves were carelessly rolled up.
Stripped of his usual composed, cold demeanor as a commander, he seemed far more relaxed.
It was unfamiliar—she wondered if he had always had this side—but Ibel did not show it.
She still did not know how to process all the memories from the battlefield.
“Is it possible that someone besides you and me has returned?”
“That’s true. But if that were the case, they would have definitely come to me. Since no one has contacted me, it means it’s only the two of us for now.”
“Ah.”
That made sense.
Among the rest, there were those with the status to contact the Grand Duke immediately.
Even if they couldn’t write directly to him, they could have gone through Lucas or Heinrich… there were many ways to get in touch.
“As time passes, memories may return, so we should wait. However, I plan to bring all twelve who remained at the end back to the estate.”
“I understand.”
Just as those final twelve were special to her, they must be the same for the Grand Duke.
‘Still… I wish at least one more person had their memories.’
But wishing wouldn’t make it so.
For that person, it might be better not to remember.
“After assessing everything, the reason I sought you out first is…”
Victor of Bavaria was not a man who rushed.
He always spoke after long pauses.
Knowing that, she waited without urging him.
“I once mentioned my nephews. I want someone who can properly take care of them—someone who won’t reveal anything they see or hear.”
The veins on the back of his hand stood out clearly as he set down the bottle.
Watching his hand slowly turn the glass, as if recalling an old concern, Ibel swallowed and asked casually:
“Do you have an illness?”
“In a sense. Whether of the mind or the body.”
A self-mocking smile briefly passed over his impossibly handsome face, then disappeared.
His deep blue eyes turned to meet hers directly.
“I intend to live differently.”
“Yes.”
“I want you to help me.”
“…Yes.”
A request, not a command—this felt unfamiliar.
The fact that she had the right to refuse—it was quite a luxurious kind of freedom.
“This is a contract. Review it carefully. If you agree, place your seal. If not, I will buy you a house wherever you wish. You deserve that much.”
Ibel silently examined the document handed to her.
It contained quite detailed terms.
“The bedrooms will be separate before marriage, but once the formal ceremony is held, we will share one. Of course, you will also be given a separate private bedroom if needed…”
“Although we are meeting like this, I intend to say that it was love at first sight.”
He spoke calmly, but Ibel nearly spat out the wine she was drinking.
Love at first sight?
Victor of Bavaria?
“…So, even though this is a contract marriage, it must appear like a marriage based on love?”
“Correct. You will also need to act as a high-ranking noble. At the very least, proper etiquette must be observed here.”
Ibel decided not to dig deeper.
After all, she needed money. And she had to keep it from being taken by her twin brother.
‘Even if I only accept the house, Abel might come looking for me. But if I enter the Grand Duke’s household, he won’t be able to threaten me.’
He was perceptive enough—he might connect her disappearance to the Grand Duke’s house.
But that was all.
What could he possibly do?
‘Once I have secure funds, I can go abroad and continue my research, and even work as a doctor.’
In some countries, it wasn’t strange for women to be doctors.
Time to prepare for asylum, money, and freedom from that unbearable family.
All of it was too tempting.
“After taking control of the household, you will also perform the duties of the Grand Duchess…”
As she skimmed the document, she realized there was no mention of heirs.
“Do I not need to bear a child?”
That was too direct.
Seeing the Grand Duke pause, she blinked—but the answer that followed relieved her.
“No heir is needed. I intend to pass the title to one of my nephews.”
“That’s a relief. I don’t want to have children.”
“You don’t need to try to love me. Just pretend. You seem quite skilled at acting.”
“I’ve been pretending to be a man.”
The Grand Duke gave a silent nod of agreement. Ibel let out a short breath.
“When did you realize I was a woman?”
“From the beginning.”
“…Pardon?”
Did she hear wrong?
She thought she had hidden it well.
Seeing her stare blankly, the Grand Duke raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t understand how one could fail to notice.”
“…You have sharp eyes. Did anyone else know?”
“Half and half. Your bone structure is different.”
That stung a little.
She had cut her hair short and deliberately chosen oversized clothes.
Grumbling inwardly, she turned her gaze back to the document.
“I have one condition.”
“Anything.”
“My twin brother knows my identity. Please send me to a place where I cannot return.”
“Anything else?”
He really would grant anything, wouldn’t he?
The Grand Duke nodded as if nothing was impossible.
“…Then, when the contract ends, please arrange passage for me. So I can safely travel to another country. Preferably somewhere without war.”
“That is easy.”
They shared knowledge of the future.
They knew which nations would go to war and which would remain peaceful.
The only difference between them was that Ibel had no money or power to change the future.
‘But at least my life… this will change it for sure.’
As long as her leech-like family didn’t find and cling to her again.
“One more thing. Please ensure my face does not appear in the newspapers.”
“I will take care of it.”
Just as she was about to relax, thinking everything was done—
“Since the contract is settled, why don’t we speak more casually?”
“…Pardon?”
“This isn’t a battlefield. And I am not your superior. Calling each other by name would seem more natural.”
For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
It wasn’t wrong—but the first thought that came to her was: ‘How could I dare?’
They were getting married, yes… but in her mind, the Grand Duke was still an overwhelmingly distant superior.
“During the preparation period, we can gradually adjust. I will make the effort first.”
“Ah… then, Your Grace—”
“If you find it difficult to speak casually, we can simply continue using formal speech. Wouldn’t that be more appropriate?”
Her chest sank as if she had done something wrong.
Even the way he addressed her had changed—from “you” to something more formal and distant.
Not how one speaks to a subordinate—but to an equal… or a lady.
“…Understood.”
“Then I will escort you to your bedroom.”
