What a truly unfortunate situation. Because of Duke Kalinos’s chilling voice, I couldn’t run away to anywhere. At last, the confrontation began.
“So, you’re the one who saved my father and all those people.”
With that single, concise summary from Duke Kalinos, Count Florette stood frozen, wearing the expression of someone who’d just heard something like ‘Giselle saved the world.’
“We should award our child a hero’s medal, but what should we do? Should we reveal that you’re Wot? Or should we just keep your powers hidden like this…?”
“Please, calm down for now.”
I could hear Count Florette’s voice, Garno’s sigh, and Neslan’s flustered breathing. But Neslan’s face looked strangely conflicted.
“Don’t tell me you used your life force to heal me?”
…Should this be considered using life force?
“I’m not sure. But whenever I use a lot of power, I end up coughing up blood.”
Neslan’s eyes reddened as if the sky had collapsed. “T-Then, the b-blood you coughed up was because of that…”
“And the nosebleed too…”
Suddenly, the mood in the room turned ice-cold.
“It was just a little blood, so why is everyone acting so grim?”
At my words, Count Florette stared at me, his face rigid. “Giselle. ‘Just a little blood,’ you say? You really don’t care about your own body at all, do you?”
“Well…”
“You may not realize it, but to me, you’re more precious than anyone. You’re a daughter born from my heart.”
“…”
“I wish you’d take better care of yourself. I worry about you.”
The sudden warmth in his words and voice caught me off guard.
Then Garno cleared his throat and chimed in. “And besides, you’re our most precious in-law.”
Wait, since when was I their precious in-law? But maybe it was because I could see so clearly how much they cared about me. For some reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to snap back.
Count Florette turned his head with a huff, but then looked back at me and gently patted my head. “So please, take care of yourself, Giselle. There are more people in this world who love you than you realize. When you’re hurt, everyone hurts with you.”
“Giselle.”
At the sudden call of my name, everyone’s eyes turned in that direction. Duke Kalinos’s firm voice followed.
“I’ve made up my mind.”
“About what?”
“I’ll make sure no one ever has to worry about you. I’ll protect you so you won’t get even a scratch.” At some point, Duke Kalinos’s intense gaze locked onto me. “From now on, I’ll protect you. Consider it my way of repaying your kindness. For the rest of my life.”
“Huh? You’re not a magpie [1] , Your Grace. Why would you repay a debt for life?”
“All you have to do is stay by my side. Forever.”
But this is just a contract marriage. What does he mean to stay by his side forever?! We hadn’t even properly discussed that elusive five billion yet, and he suddenly grabbed my hand.
“Father-in-law. I’ll do my best from now on.”
“W-What do you mean by do your best…?”
“I mean as your son-in-law.”
Count Florette, who had secretly hoped for a divorce, clutched the back of his neck at Duke Kalinos’s overly polite attitude. It was a stark contrast to the first time Duke Kalinos had met Count Florette and casually greeted him with, “Good to see you, Father-in-law.”
I couldn’t exactly jump up and shout in front of everyone that this was all a misunderstanding, that it was just a contract marriage!
* * *
When we returned to the Kalinos Mansion, I realized something with absolute clarity. Duke Kalinos had lost his mind. But what was even crazier was how I was swaying like a ship in a storm at the sight of him.
Lying side by side in the bedroom, I covered my face with both hands, avoiding Duke Kalinos’s gaze. He looked at me with a satisfied smile.
“I finally understand now.”
“About what?”
“That there are steps to appealing to you, Giselle.”
“Come on…”
“First, wear clothes that look ready to burst.”
“Wow.”
“Then approach closely. It seems Giselle likes my body, after all.”
It was frighteningly accurate, as if he had completely analyzed my behavioral patterns. I couldn’t keep my wits about me in the face of his seduction.
Duke Kalinos stared at me and said, “I’ll keep trying my best to seduce you from now on. So you have to find your will to live, Giselle.”
“Huh? My will to live? Out of nowhere?”
“Yes.”
It’s not like I’m terminally ill or anything. Why do I suddenly need to find my will to live?
“Okay, fine. I’ll work on building up my will to live.”
I wanted to bring up my precious five billion, like a rabbit slipping away, but… Bringing up the five billion when he’s completely lost his mind would only backfire. Honestly, even I had almost been swayed by him!
For now, I should at least try to research the lucky stone. Thankfully, since he was so dedicated to his research, it seemed like it would be easy to change the subject. I hurriedly brought up the lucky stone. “T-T-Then before that, we should talk about the lucky stone first. That guy had this stone.”
Now that he had discovered my secret, I had the chance to research the lucky stone with him. I explained its special properties and that it might even be Duke Reshaniel’s weakness.
Holding the stone, Duke Kalinos tilted his head. “So you’re saying this stone is really that special?” He stroked the stone a few times, brought it near a glass of water, and tried a few different experiments before quietly jotting something down.
[#Research Notes. When applying a grip strength of about 52.8: No abnormal phenomena observed. When soaked in 0.1ml of water: No abnormal phenomena observed.]
A few hours passed after Duke Kalinos and I started our research. We considered every possible approach short of damaging the lucky stone, but still couldn’t find an answer.
“How about we try seeking out a gem specialist? Of course, I’ll go with you.”
“Huh? You too, Duke?”
“Yes. I have an anxiety disorder.”
“Really? You don’t seem anxious at all.”
Despite my objective remark, he murmured quietly. “Giyet said so.”
For some reason, seeing that faintly lonely look on his face made my heart soften a little. What is it with this man…?
“And I also have a personal grudge against Duke Reshaniel.” His eyes flashed. It was as if he were ready to tear Duke Reshaniel to pieces.
“Lord Garno knows a gem specialist on the Eastern Continent.”
“Then this will be easy to arrange.”
* * *
Meanwhile, Duke Reshaniel was inspecting the sanctuary that had been completely destroyed. His expression was subtly twisted. “So… Duke Kalinos came here to rescue Wot.”
“Yes, that’s right. Because Wot saved the former Duke Neslan.”
“No, Duke Kalinos wouldn’t get involved over something like that. There’s not enough of a connection…”
“Pardon? Forgive me, but what do you mean…?”
His aide looked puzzled, but Duke Reshaniel turned his gaze away indifferently. He knew a great deal about Duke Kalinos, but he had no intention of sharing that with anyone else.
Duke Reshaniel stroked his chin leisurely as he thought. As far as I know, Duke Kalinos is terrible at expressing emotions and lacks any real sense of empathy for others. The man I know would never do something like this. Which meant that, to Duke Kalinos, ‘Wot’ was more than just a lifesaver. For a brief moment, the corners of Duke Reshaniel’s mouth twisted faintly.
“…It’s nothing. So, Wot has disappeared?”
“Yes. We have no idea where she went. Whether she sank into the ground or vanished into the sky. The sanctuary guards were unconscious, so there is no information. In any case, what’s certain is that she seems to have disappeared using teleportation.”
“I see. For now, let’s focus on restoring the ruined sanctuary. How pitiful.”
“That, what should we do with the sanctuary guards?”
Duke Reshaniel’s gaze sharpened, then softened again. “They’re weak and pitiable souls. Keep them in the mansion. There will naturally be someone to heal them.”
No, in truth, there was no one in the Reshaniel household who would bother to care for the likes of defeated dogs.
With a gentle expression that belied his cruel thoughts, Duke Reshaniel placed his hand on the scattered bricks of the sanctuary. Only he could restore the devastated sanctuary. But perhaps due to excessive use of divine power and mana while repairing it, magic that was usually easy for him to wield now felt twice as difficult, and his breathing grew labored.
If only Giselle were here.
Giselle’s feelings had withered, like a fickle flower. But he believed that her love would bloom for him again like a sunflower. If so, then before that…
“Come to think of it, there’s something I should check.” As he fiddled with his necklace, Duke Reshaniel smiled softly.
Giselle had to remain by his side. As fate intended.
“I’ll be hosting a small charity event.”
“Y-Yes?”
“I wish I could somehow get Duchess Giselle Kalinos to come outside.” Because more than anyone, he wanted to see her. He would win her heart back. And he wanted to hold Giselle, to touch her.
- 1. The magpie here is referencing the Korean folktale ‘The Grateful Magpie,’ which tells of a traveler who saves magpie chicks from a serpent and is later repaid by the birds sacrificing themselves to save him from vengeance.
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