“If you abide by the conditions I stated, I will help clear your name and reinstate you as a duke after one year.”
Of course, I had no intention of actually helping him. It was a complete lie.
Even while suspecting it might be a lie, Lucas would still promise me to keep his word.
I quietly watched the exact moment he became entangled in the spiderweb I had spun.
Lucas’s eyes widened in sheer shock, and he asked as if he couldn’t believe his ears.
“Why? Why are you willing to help me after one year?”
“One year to prepare. I am saying I will help you execute the plan after that.”
“One year to prepare? Do you mean I am to prepare within a year?”
I simply smiled without a word.
Since it was a lie anyway, it didn’t matter what reasoning I attached to it.
Lucas let out a breathless laugh that bordered on exasperation and ran a hand through his hair.
“Do you dislike it?”
“Fine. Let’s do it. In exchange, I shall also stake one condition.”
“I shall also decide after hearing it,” I shot back, throwing his own words right back at him.
Looking displeased, he glared at me with intensity before instantly relaxing his expression and speaking.
“The moment you fall in love with me, you are to help me immediately—right then and there, instead of waiting for a year.”
Is he insane?
Why on earth would I fall in love with him, and even if I did, why would that mean I’d help him?
I might have been fooled once, but I won’t fall for it a second time.
No matter how much of a fool I am, I am a fool who thinks.
I couldn’t understand why he still hadn’t abandoned that tactic. It was utter nonsense.
“Why would I?”
“Because you love me.”
“I don’t even like you.”
He just happened to have an absurdly pretty and handsome face; it didn’t mean I harbored feelings for him.
It was true that the time we spent together was nice, but that was the extent of it.
The moment he arrived here, he caused trouble and almost died, leaving me utterly exhausted.
“That can’t be true. You clearly liked me.”
Lucas was entirely confident, acting as though he were the god of love himself.
He even crossed his arms and spoke with an air of benevolence.
“Since you saved my life, I shall permit you to use me appropriately before tossing me aside. I won’t touch your family or your friends, so rest easy. How about it?”
“Do you even think before you speak?”
I criticized him, which made him glare at me again.
I had no idea where that immense confidence of his stemmed from.
He was like a cat that took it completely for granted that it was bound to be loved.
At least cats are small and soft.
Lucas made a grand declaration.
“I guarantee you, six months—no, three months is more than enough time for me to seduce you.”
“Do you really think before you speak?”
What kind of calculations was he running to confidently declare three months?
Just what gave him such confidence?
When I criticized him yet again, Lucas apparently lost his temper and bolted upright from the bed.
“I would appreciate it if you remembered that I am your master.”
At my reminder, he belatedly glanced at me and sat right back down on the bed.
The sight was rather cute.
Though he could hardly be described as small.
I spoke as if granting him a grand favor.
“Fine, do whatever you want. It’s never going to happen, but if it does, feel free to use me however you please.”
It was never going to happen.
Even if I truly were to fall in love, Scarlet would stop me.
She would bring me to a halt even if she had to strike my neck to do so.
That was Scarlet’s role.
“I already know you are weak to this face. I wonder if that will truly be the case?”
“Your face is the only pretty thing about you; your personality is completely twisted.”
My genuine thoughts slipped out unfiltered.
Lucas bolted right back up from the bed.
“As I mentioned just moments ago, I would appreciate it if you remembered that I am your master and the Count. There is a knight standing on standby right outside the door. The moment you cross the line, I will call the knight in at any time.”
I had been letting him off easy up until now.
Reminding him of that fact successfully subdued his temper.
“Understood, Count.”
“Make sure to pay extra attention to your conduct when there are people around. At those times, I cannot simply let it slide for the sake of my honor.”
Lucas nodded. It seemed he finally understood my words properly today.
What a relief. Hearing him use the title “Count” properly made me feel quite good.
Now that I was sending him back to his room, I needed to get some rest myself.
Having so many things to worry about in one way or another had left me completely exhausted.
“Now then, return to your room and rest.”
“Huh? Why would I do that?”
I had a bad feeling about this.
Lucas blinked his eyes prettily, as if deliberately trying to show off for me. It was dangerous.
“Ah… do you like this room? Then you can sleep here. I’ll sleep in another room.”
Desperate to get away from him by any means necessary, I turned around to leave without even waiting for an answer.
But Lucas stepped forward and grabbed my arm just as I was about to walk out.
“Are you going to keep pretending you don’t know?”
“I believe our conversation is over.”
“You need to fall in love with me.”
What on earth did that have to do with this?
I forced my stiff neck to turn and look at him.
Lucas smiled as radiantly as a blooming flower.
“They say when bodies grow closer, hearts do too.”
“Shouldn’t you obtain my consent first?”
“I intend to obtain it through your body. You’re a very honest person physically, Count.”
Using his free arm, Lucas wrapped it around my waist and pulled me toward him.
In a flash, the distance vanished, and our bodies pressed tightly together.
Terrified, I shrieked.
“W-what are you doing?! I don’t want to!”
“Why do you dislike it?”
“Because I hate being in pain!”
In my panic, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
Lucas released his grip on my arm, looking as though he couldn’t believe that was my reason.
I tried to bolt the second he let go, but he quickly brought both arms around to clasp me in a full embrace.
I had no idea what kind of trick he was using to catch me so flawlessly without missing a beat.
He wasn’t even using brute force to pin me down, yet whenever I tried to slip away, he skillfully intercepted and caught me this way and that.
Lucas spoke in a voice as soft as a lover whispering sweet nothings.
“Only incompetent fools cause their partners pain. You don’t have to worry about that, Count.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“I’ll make it so the only words coming out of your mouth are begs for more. It’s going to feel incredibly good.”
“Did I somehow damage my ears without realizing it? I feel like I’m mishearing things.”
