Chapter 31

 

 

For Riv, Lionel looking at her with friendly eyes was awkward and strange.

 

Lionel reached out and brushed the hair that was covering Riv’s cheek and tucked it behind her ear.

 

His hand was hot as he touched her earlobe.

 

Were her ears that sensitive? Riv’s body froze in an instant.

 

“Riv?”

 

He seemed too close to her face. She was the only thing reflected in his eyes.

 

Riv was shaken at the feeling that there were only two of them and they were cut off from the rest of the world.

 

“Are you going to refuse to marry me?”

 

“……”

 

“Even if you want to refuse, you have no choice. If you want to live, you will have to choose me.”

 

“Are you blocking my escape?”

 

She finally had the courage to say something, and then he smiled.

 

Riv couldn’t understand the meaning behind his smile. Lionel leaned in too close and whispered.

 

“Think about it, Riv, just as you saved me, I don’t want to see you die either. There’s no way you do not know that Queen Selina is aiming for you. Marianne also tried to kill you.”

 

“……”

 

“Think of it as a deal.”

 

A deal.

 

So feelings wouldn’t be mixed into it.

 

She could hold his hand to live, but she stumbled. She was somehow fine if it was only her fate and death. But…

 

‘Will this man’s future be fine with me?’

 

If Lionel chose Riv over Marianne, Lionel’s future would also change.

 

From the future in which he lived, to an unpredictable future, she did not know what damage she would do to this man.

 

“I.”

 

Riv had no words.

 

She didn’t want this man’s life ruined.

 

But at the same time, Riv wanted to live.

 

In front of her was the Duke of Sentoren, whom she had longed for. What if he really wanted her? What if she could have him for herself instead of Marianne? It seemed that it would be okay to be greedy this time. She was a witch. She died and came back to life. She had limited time left.

 

When she came back, she was told she only had 8 months left, so how much was left now?

 

And she escaped the palace. She achieved what she had hoped for.

 

‘Now it’s okay to live my life as I please.’

 

She wanted Lionel de Sentoren. That wish also came true.

 

Her wild and excited heart subsided.

 

If only she could be purely greedy this time. If the time remaining for her was really limited, and if it was difficult to survive this year…

 

“Lionel, why did you spread rumors of a scandal with Madame Katana?”

 

“I might have wanted to tease Marianne. I wanted to enrage such a childish princess.”

 

“Ah.”

 

She didn’t think Lionel would fall for her because he really liked her. His motives were rather impure and funny. Even so, here they were, together.

 

It was just as good as love.

 

As long as she was with this man, he would be able to protect her. She might even be able to protect him herself. Maybe they could be happy together.

 

“Your Grace, are you confident that you will not regret your marriage to me?”

 

“What?”

 

Riv faced Lionel. She held out her hand.

 

“You can choose me to avoid Princess Marianne.”

 

Lionel took her hand. But she also wanted to give Lionel a choice.

 

“If you want to reverse this decision, please let me know.”

 

“That’s not going to happen.”

 

Lionel answered firmly and lightly pushed Riv into her room. He sat her down on the bed and spoke again.

 

“Your complexion is not good. Are you nervous?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Then I’ll call Claudel.”

 

Before Lionel left her room, he dropped a b*mb.

 

“Now that you have made up your mind, you should prepare for the ceremony as soon as possible.”

 

Riv was bewildered.

 

“As soon as possible?”

 

“I plan to have the ceremony in a week. Until then, make sure you recover.”

 

Lionel left after kissing Riv’s forehead. Riv froze as she remembered the man who dropped that bomb and disappeared.

 

She fiddled with her necklace’s pendant which was placed on the table at her bedside.

 

“Am I really doing the right thing?”

 

In her hand, the pendant ring, warmed up and then cooled down.

 

Riv’s face was bright red. She muttered as she covered her face.

 

“I must be crazy.”

 

Lionel headed to his office on the third floor.

 

Even as he arrived to his room, the smile on his face did not disappear.

 

Michelle, who was sorting documents in his office, saw Lionel.

 

“You look happy.”

 

“Riv said she would marry me.”

 

“Riv?”

 

“Madame Katana.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Michelle looked a little awkward.

 

For Michelle, the time Madame Katana and Lionel knew each other was short.

 

Even if he didn’t have any malice, he couldn’t help but be concerned.

 

“Will you not regret it?”

 

“She asked the same thing.”

 

“The same thing?”

 

“She asked if I wouldn’t regret it either. She probably wants to delay the marriage more than me.”

 

Lionel paused for a moment.

 

Then the silence in the mansion greeted him.

 

Occasionally, only the sounds of wind and insects from outside were heard, but the inside of this old mansion was always like a tomb. He was an only child. When his parents were alive, they were gentle, but not very talkative.

 

A place where even his parents had disappeared. Lionel’s memories of his parents were uncomfortable to think about in this serene mansion.

 

He didn’t like the heavy silence in this place either. That was, until Riv came.

 

Why? The mansion seemed to come to life after Riv arrived.

 

He felt alive and energized.

 

Michelle pondered.

 

“At the palace, Madame Katana had a bad reputation. Still, one thing was certain. Madame Katana was sincere, making her a target of some of the maids.”

 

“Target? In what way?”

 

“Some of Princess Marianne’s maids deliberately passed their work to Madame Katana, and so did the princess.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“Princess Marianne released all her anger and cursed at Madame Katana. Word about it spread.”

 

“If it’s Marianne, then she’ll always stay that way.”

 

It was a fact Michelle and the other servants knew.

 

Lionel’s gaze towards Madame Katana was unusually soft and surprisingly gentle. What was it about her that attracted Lionel?

 

It seemed that this was about more than just saving Lionel’s life. She was deep in his heart.

 

Lionel’s behavior towards Marianne was markedly different.

 

During his time with Marianne, he showed an incredible dislike, but now he looked incredibly happy.

 

Lionel never did anything with Marianne unless the palace contacted him first.

 

But now he was moving first.

 

“Oh, please contact the bishopry so that we can hold the ceremony quickly.”

 

“Are you talking about the wedding?”

 

Lionel nodded his head.

 

“I want to get it done quickly.”

 

“Aren’t you being too hasty? If you are concerned that Madame Katana is pregnant.”

 

“That has nothing to do with it. This is what I want.”

 

Lionel was serious.

 

“I do not want any interference from the royal family. Make sure to crack down on the servants too.”

 

“Even if it doesn’t leak from us, it will spread from other places.”

 

There were many holes for leaks, such as the royal palace, boutiques, external gardeners, etc.

 

“I know, so get it done quickly, and if the main church doesn’t move fast enough, you can contact the cardinal.”

 

“His Eminence, the Cardinal?”

 

“In order to proceed with the marriage without interference from the royal family, like it or not, we must borrow the power of the cardinal.”

 

“Alright.”

 

It was a dark night. The silence in the mansion was broken at once.

 

Lionel enjoyed the turmoil and celebrated his little time alone.

 

That night, Claudel, who visited Riv, offered her congratulations.

 

“I was told that you have decided to marry the Duke.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Riv was cautious.

 

“Congratulations on your marriage. Soon you will be the Duchess of Sentoren.”

 

Duchess of Sentoren.

 

The name felt odd and awkward. But she had no intention of changing the choices she had already made.

 

Riv didn’t bother thinking about the confusion over her fate.

 

Knock knock.

 

She heard a knock.

 

Riv got out of bed and cautiously walked towards the door.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“It’s me.”

 

It was Lionel’s voice.

 

When Riv opened the door, she saw him holding sherry and two glasses. Riv’s eyes widened at his sudden visit.

 

“Why are we drinking?”

 

“To congratulate us.”

 

Lionel entered the room and took a seat. Riv sighed as she saw him already pouring the sherry into the glasses.

 

“I haven’t gotten better yet. I was told not to drink.”

 

“Then, just a toast.”

 

Riv sat down, facing him. Lionel filled her glass with the translucent liquid and handed the glass to her.

 

“You want to celebrate the wedding?”

 

“And if I do?”

 

Lionel looked happy. The two drank a little sherry as a celebratory drink. Riv toasted and drank a little.

 

Riv’s eyes were drawn to Lionel, who was reflected through her glass.

 

He didn’t seem to be in a bad mood, but she wondered what was going through his mind.

 

“Riv, I contacted the Bishopry.”

 

“The Bishopry?”

 

“We will be getting married soon.”

 

It was far earlier than she had expected. But Riv did not regret it.

 

The moment she faced this man, she thought she would regret it if she didn’t choose him. If Lionel hadn’t brought her here, she would have died.

 

“Cheers.”

 

Riv toasted with the glass Lionel held up. A clink was heard as the two glasses touched.

 

A night as calm as the sweet sherry followed.