* * *
If I attend, he’d have no choice but to follow.
But if I don’t go, he’d skip out without worry, like he always does.
“My father said… since you won the hunting competition, there’s a high chance you’ll participate.”
“Ah…”
So that’s why Willoy pretended to scold her and sent her to apologize.
If the winner of the hunting competition refused to attend a ball hosted by the Count’s family, it’d raise suspicion.
Whispers would start—maybe the judging was unfair, maybe the Count’s family rigged it.
None of those rumors would be good for Klen.
But in the end, the one who’d suffer most isn’t Klen or Madeline—it’s me, and my family.
In other words, they want me to show up, whip my frail body into compliance, and parade myself around.
Maybe even force me to watch Klen and Madeline dance in front of me.
If Willoy’s dissatisfaction toward me stems from this girl, I can understand, to an extent.
Love-blinded parents are a common enough story.
Once the oath is fulfilled and we’re legally married, it’s no longer the gods’ concern—it’s ours.
There’s no rule that says we can’t separate after that.
I stared at Madeline.
Feeling the weight of my gaze, she quickly looked away, anxiously sipping her tea.
Willoy clearly wants to pair her with Klen.
Sending her here to pressure me, even unintentionally, proves that.
He probably assumed things would work out if I weren’t in the picture.
‘But… that’s not how the story goes.’
The novel I read… In that story, set after my death, Klen becomes Count Valuncio.
And yet, he has no Countess.
Meaning, even without me, there’s no future for her.
Willoy’s schemes are pointless.
‘Still… I should be nice to her.’
A faint sense of pity welled up in me.
“Let me share… a little secret.”
“A… secret?”
Her ears perked up instantly.
The curiosity of learning something no one else knew clearly enticed her.
I deliberately leaned forward, locking eyes with her.
Even though she wanted to look away, the word ‘secret’ worked its magic, and she leaned in too.
“To be honest, I only pushed myself because I didn’t want to disgrace the family name. That first time we met… I almost collapsed. I could barely stand.”
“W-What? Is… is that true?”
“It’s hard to hide how weak I am… no matter how much I want to.”
The whole social scene was already buzzing with rumors about my poor health, but hearing it confirmed directly was something else.
Madeline’s eyes widened in shock.
I could see why people enjoyed teasing others like this—her reactions were entertaining.
And the way her eyes lit up, tinged with red, suggested a certain possibility.
“I do hope… you’ll make sure Sir Willoy understands there’s no need for concern.”
I softened my voice, lowering my gaze gently.
The image I conjured was one of pure sincerity and mildness—oddly resembling Klen’s acting face.
“Y-Yes… I’ll try.”
Her cheeks flushed as she mumbled, dazed like she was drifting in a dream.
That was all I needed to confirm my suspicion.
Madeline Berr—
She has a weakness… for handsome faces.
After dinner, when even the attendants had all left, late at night—Klen and I, both already changed into light sleepwear, lay down on the bed as usual, keeping a slight distance between us.
Just as I was about to close my eyes, Klen suddenly turned his head to look at me.
“I heard Miss Madeline came by.”
“…That rumor’s already spread?”
Unlike him, who looked straight at me, I slightly tilted my head, rolling my eyes.
It hadn’t even been half a day—how far had the rumors traveled?
“No, the attendants cornered me before I came in and complained. They got scolded again for letting someone visit when you’re still unwell.”
“Ahaha…”
As expected of our attendants.
I was almost jealous of how they could question Klen without fear.
No, if they had experienced the cold, sharp atmosphere he’s giving off now, they wouldn’t dare try to scold him.
“So, what did she say?”
“She came to apologize for her rude remarks.”
“Sir Willow seems to be teaching her some cunning tricks from time to time.”
“…Seems that way.”
Klen had seen right through it—Madeline hadn’t come just to apologize.
“You promised to attend the ball, didn’t you?”
“…”
And he already knew that her other intention was to drag me to the ball.
If I went, it was only natural that my partner—Klen—would follow.
Seeing me silent, his brows knitted together.
“…Don’t tell me, you actually promised?”
“Don’t underestimate my acting. I slipped out of it cleanly.”
“How?”
Klen turned his body to lie on his side, staring straight at me.
His amber eyes reflected the faint light from the magic orb floating nearby, drawing my gaze.
From this angle, the distance between us felt much closer than I realized.
“I told her I’ve been unwell since the hunting tournament. Asked her to understand.”
“Hmm.”
His hand reached for my hair.
His fingers gently brushed through it, then ran them up and back, letting the strands fall softly between them.
My short hair quickly tumbled over my forehead, tickling my skin.
Klen must’ve liked the sensation—he repeated it several times.
The soft, ticklish feeling lulled me to relax, and just as I was about to drift off—
“Then, is that why she left with a red face?”
“Wha—?!”
My half-lowered eyelids shot open as I looked at him in disbelief.
“The attendants reported that, too.”
I was ready to say things like, ‘What are you talking about? That’s nonsense. Who’s spreading those ridiculous rumors?’
But his one sentence shut me down completely.
The attendants always had my back, but they were also Klen’s loyal subordinates.
Most of what happened, especially things they thought were unfair to me, got reported straight to him.
They probably didn’t appreciate Madeline’s visit to begin with.
My gaze shifted instinctively. Maybe pretending not to know was the safest route?
“Well… I only asked her to kindly convey my message, that’s all.”
But before I could keep playing dumb, his hand gripped my chin.
It didn’t hurt, but the firm grasp locked me in place, leaving no room to escape.
In a swift, sudden motion, he turned my face toward him.
The closeness made my body tense.
His piercing gaze felt like it could reach right into my chest.
His hand, firm as ever, pulled me a little closer, leaving no room to back away.
Maybe because I’ve seen his true nature?
Whenever we’re alone, Klen throws aside any pretenses or performances.
His expression now was colder than ice.
“You probably know this already—but be careful.”
“Be… careful of what, exactly?”
“Madeline has a weakness for handsome faces.”
“…?!”
It was hard to take his words seriously when that chiseled, unfairly handsome face was right in front of me saying them.
Was he… bragging about his looks to me right now?
As I kept staring into his eyes, unable to look away, Klen’s lips curled into a smile.
A chilling smile, cold enough to make me feel like I’d just been splashed with freezing water, even in the warmth of the bed.
“Don’t go using your pretty face to seduce people carelessly.”
“….”
“Her feelings for me are practically brainwashing, you know. Sir Willow’s probably been feeding her that narrative since childhood. But those feelings? They’re not real.”
So, because she grew up hearing that Klen was her destined partner—and on top of that, because he’s so ridiculously good-looking—those feelings only intensified.
Maybe that’s why Madeline saw him as her fated love.
That could explain why she didn’t care much about me when I showed up.
To her, the two of them were meant to be together.
* * *
