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Chapter 19
“I have already spoken to His Majesty the Emperor, but I wish to take this opportunity to make one mo
re request.”
What… what is he trying to say?
Uneasy, I turned to look at my father.
It was impossible to read his expression.
I didn’t know what the black-hearted duke was thinking, but I couldn’t read Father’s thoughts either.
“If we win this war, please grant me the honor of becoming Princess Yulia’s husband.”
I shot up from my chair in shock.
Why is it that my bad premonitions never miss?
I looked quickly to my father, but he didn’t seem surprised—he must have already known.
Perhaps that was why he had entered with the duke earlier—to announce it formally here.
“Yulia. If you don’t wish to accept this request, you can refuse.”
But the words were already out there. I couldn’t even bring myself to deny them.
And maybe… maybe this was a kind of opportunity.
A chance to finally be safe—if the villain died on the battlefield.
So there was no reason to hesitate.
After all, the main storyline couldn’t possibly change.
I knew this war wasn’t one that could be won.
All I had to do was accept.
Then why couldn’t I open my mouth?
Only after biting down hard on my lower lip did I finally speak.
“…I accept the request.”
It was already something decided in advance, wasn’t it?
So I shouldn’t regret my choice.
Maybe he already knew what I was thinking.
If things went the way of the original story, and the war—clearly doomed—was somehow won by the duke, he must have assumed I’d try to back out later.
In that sense, he understood me far too well.
Of course, the ideal ending for me would be if he died on the battlefield.
But he was the final villain—someone who wouldn’t die easily.
So I would have to be satisfied with his defeat and return instead.
“The princess has accepted the request. I see no reason to object. Permission granted.”
Why did I feel such a strong sense of dread?
Why this growing anxiety?
“Everyone, please enjoy the party.”
With Father’s words, the previously quiet hall filled with noise again.
Too many people—it was suffocating.
“I’ll step out for a bit of air. I’ll be fine alone!”
“Very well.”
I walked away, thinking it might be better if I went somewhere quieter.
At first I intended to go outside, but given my status, I turned instead toward the terrace.
The cold air hit my face, letting me finally breathe again.
Then I saw a dark silhouette behind me.
“Who’s there?”
“Yulia.”
It was him—the duke.
“Your Grace?”
“How could you come here looking so beautiful?”
“……”
“The thought that others might have seen you like this… makes me very displeased.”
“You have no right to say such things yet, remember?”
“I’m simply glad that I marked you as mine from the very beginning.”
He looked at me with an expression that was painfully tender.
Yet in those crimson eyes, jealousy, desire, and possessiveness swirled together.
“At least while I’m gone, the flies won’t dare come near you.”
“…I want to be alone. Please, leave.”
“I won’t be able to see you for some time… It’s a pity. I just want to keep you in my sight for a little longer.”
His words—so perfectly spoken—it was impossible to tell whether they were sincere or calculated.
No, they were so convincing that I almost wished they were real.
If he kept acting like this… maybe things really had changed.
Maybe the original plot had already been twisted.
If he no longer reacted to the heroine, perhaps that meant I and the royal family were no longer in danger.
That fragile hope took root inside me.
“Your Grace.”
There was only one way to confirm that hope.
Maybe the flow of the original story—and the fate of my family—had truly diverged.
I was still afraid, yes, but maybe I didn’t have to be anxious anymore.
“Please, answer me honestly.”
“What would you like to ask?”
“…Promise me you’ll answer truthfully.”
“Ask me anything.”
He took my hand, bringing it to his cheek and rubbing against it gently, smiling languidly.
“If it’s your question, I’ll gladly answer.”
Then he kissed my wrist and looked straight at me, his eyes gleaming with a seductive intensity.
Those crimson pupils reflected only me.
“Do you love me, Your Grace?”
I looked back at him, trying to see whether he was lying or telling the truth.
“Of course I love you.”
Could I believe that?
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
“…I still can’t believe it.”
“Yulia. How can I make you trust me?”
His arm slipped around my waist.
He bent down, bringing his face close—too close.
Our breaths mingled. It felt like he’d touch me at any second.
“I don’t think a piece of paper could ever give you trust.”
“And this kind of thing won’t, either.”
I quickly covered his mouth with my hand.
I could already guess what he was about to do, so I blocked it in advance.
But then his tongue brushed over each of my fingers.
“What are you—!”
I tried to pull my hand away, but he gripped my wrist, refusing to let go.
His lips touched each fingertip, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
“I’m giving you trust.”
“How is this supposed to be trust?”
“Then let’s call it giving you faith.”
Ugh—what nonsense!
“Yulia. Or… is this not enough?”
“…What do you mean?”
I didn’t know what exactly he meant, but I definitely wasn’t lacking anything right now—
Or maybe I had to tell myself that, because I couldn’t predict what he’d do next.
“If your doubts about my affection remain, I’ll make you certain.”
He released my wrist, grasped my chin, and lifted it.
Being this close to the villain meant that I had to tilt my head back just to meet his eyes.
He was smiling, but in those eyes was a raw, heavy hunger.
“In the most certain way.”
Before I could speak again, his lips pressed against mine.
I stepped back, but he followed.
One hand gripped my waist, the other held the back of my neck, making escape impossible.
I couldn’t breathe.
Our lips didn’t part, and it felt like I might suffocate right there.
He explored every corner of my mouth, relentless, until my thoughts dissolved.
Only when I pushed at his shoulder did I finally taste fresh air again.
“Ha… ha…”
I wiped my lips with the back of my hand.
I hated how forceful he was.
And yet I found myself worrying—were my lips swollen?
“Yulia. I hope my sincerity reached you.”
“…Seriously!”
“You asked if I loved you, didn’t you?”
Yes, that question had come from me.
He’d answered yes—but I still couldn’t believe it.
And he thought doing that would make me trust him?
With something so crude?
No. It wasn’t love.
He was acting like this because I wasn’t the heroine. Because he didn’t truly love me.
If I had been her—if I had been the one he was truly searching for—
would he have treated me this way?
Why did it feel so miserable?
“Yulia. Do I look like someone trying to marry a woman I don’t love?”
“…I can’t tell if you love me… or just want my body.”
He took a step closer and brushed his thumb across my lower lip—
no, more like wiping something away.
“Your lipstick’s smudged.”
“That’s not the issue!”
“Isn’t it? I think it’s very important…”
He smiled lazily, looking thoroughly pleased.
“If you go back to your father and brother with smudged lips…”
“You wouldn’t have had to if you hadn’t touched me!”
“…It’s hard not to touch you. You look too tempting.”
“……”
“You’re too beautiful, Yulia. I could eat you alive.”
Damn it. How could the final villain be this handsome?
A face that could make even a heart of stone falter.
My type was still my brother’s looks—but that didn’t mean the duke’s weren’t on par.
No, he might actually be the most handsome man in the entire world.
Since the main hero was destined to end up with the heroine anyway…
should I just take the villain for myself?
But he was far too dangerous.
Ideally, he’d just die quietly—but his role was too big for that.
He wouldn’t die easily.
I really didn’t know which choice was right.
“Yulia.”
“What?”
“When I say I love you, I mean it.”
If sleeping with the villain really had twisted the story’s course,
then maybe I could change the part where my family dies.
But that only worked if what he said—his love—was real.
If not… then I’d have no choice but to kill him.
Because that was the only way for me and my family to survive.
They mattered more than he ever could.
“Can I really believe you?”
“Yes. When I’m on the battlefield, I’ll miss you.
I’ll long to see you again.
The war itself doesn’t frighten me.
What terrifies me… is not being able to see you, even for a moment.”
