MPGF 10

Episode 10: Please Call Me Darling
Blandiche Hertian.

This is what I know about his background.

Hertian was born as the emperor’s illegitimate son.

However, it was difficult for him to survive in the imperial palace as a prince while relying on his humble maternal family of commoner origin. Moreover, he showed remarkable skill in martial arts, which made things even harder.

The situation worsened day by day. The empress, mother of Serdis, resented Hertian’s very existence.

Eventually, after a poisoning incident, Hertian was sent to live with the emperor’s younger brother in the duke’s domain. The duke, a general who commanded a massive knight order, especially doted on his nephew.

So a few years ago, when the duke passed away from a chronic illness, Hertian was quickly granted the title.

But once the duke’s protection disappeared, the shadow of death returned to Hertian.

The emperor had no choice but to send him to the battlefield. His first war began less than a week after receiving his title.

“It was an unavoidable choice to survive.”

This is what I know and what everyone knows about the duke.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter what kind of person he was.

But if there is one unusual fact—

He is… asexual.

“I remember this clearly.”

After the emperor died and before Serdis ascended the throne, Hertian appeared.

Hertian never had a duchess by his side, so he couldn’t aim for the throne. Meanwhile, Serdis broke up with Anette and met several women, building his own power and influence.

The duke’s retainers urged him to take a duchess and expand his influence, but he wasn’t interested in power or women. He just didn’t want to listen to their nagging.

After that, I got tired of crying male leads and skimmed through, so I don’t remember how the duke’s story ended.

Anyway, the important thing is that he has no interest in women!

I had to catch him.

“Your Grace, let me confirm once more. There’s no backing out of our marriage.”

I glanced around the mansion’s backyard and quietly said to Hertian.

“Of course not.”

And the duke also needed a mere figurehead partner like me. That way, the retainers wouldn’t pressure him to find a duchess.

“I like how straightforward you are.”

A husband who is asexual.

I barely held back a smile at this unexpected blessing.

A man with no interest in women and me with no interest in men.

Perfect.

Truly a perfect partner.

I decided to thoroughly ignore his secret.

“After marriage, I hope we can respect each other’s private lives.”

“Of course. Absolutely. I have no intention of interfering with Your Grace’s private affairs. So let’s just live as comrades.”

“Comrades… I don’t like that term. You too. Since we are married, please call me differently, as the lady said.”

Maybe because I knew he was asexual, and despite him being a duke, the conversation felt comfortable.

“If you want a specific title, please tell me. I’ll call you whatever you want.”

I could definitely accommodate that.

I smiled brightly at the handsome duke. It might be fun to find out who his secret lover is while living together.

“Whatever the lady wishes. But please don’t call me so formally.”

“I agree. Then how about this? Calling each other ‘Darling.’”

If we have to pretend, might as well make it spicy and clingy.

To get rid of Serdis, the best is to be the ‘darling’ he’s always wanted to call.

“Darling?”

“Yes. Darling or Honey.”

The duke would probably be embarrassed.

“I like that. Lady, or should I call you Darling too?”

Surprisingly, he didn’t show any embarrassment.

If anything, he seemed a little pleased.

“We might make great partners.”

“Agreed.”

We talked for a while. Although we hadn’t met many times, the conversation was smooth and comfortable.

At the end of the garden, I saw a large tree branch filled with white blossoms. It was a spiraea tree my father had brought back when he went on a diplomatic mission when I was young. I reached out to touch the branch.

“Have you seen this flower before?”

“I saw it on the battlefield. The name was unique, so I remembered it.”

“Hertian, you’re just like me.”

From now on, I decided to call the duke by his name. Special nicknames would be used only when needed.

“I really like this flower.”

“I like it too. It looks like snow, perfect for spring.”

I was surprised to see Hertian looking up at the blooming white flowers.

“Me too. It’s not snow, but it falls like snow and doesn’t disappear, which I like more.”

He liked spiraea flowers for the same reason I did.

In cold winters, my illness worsened, and my family wouldn’t let me go outside the mansion.

I always had to watch the snow falling from afar.

“I love snow so much.”

So the white petals felt like playing outside in winter to me.

“It’s strange. No one ever talked about this tree like this.”

And I had never said it out loud.

Except to one person.

“Maybe…”

I looked up at the much taller Hertian, narrowing my eyes.

“Kassian?”

My long-time pen pal, Kassian.

Every spring, I sent him branches of spiraea with a note.

“Is Hertian Kassian?”

I asked, recalling all those springs writing letters, even though I knew it wasn’t true.

There was no way the duke, who roamed battlefields, was the same Kassian who sent colorful letters.

But Hertian didn’t get my joke and stiffened.

“I’m joking.”

I smiled slyly and pinched his arm. Just a little, but he flinched and pushed me away.

“Did I make him uncomfortable by touching him?”

He stood still, staring into the air.

“Hertian?”

When I called his name, his sharp Adam’s apple moved down.

Seeing the beastlike nape, I immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry for touching you without permission.”

I heard asexual people might hate women but not necessarily touch, but maybe he disliked being touched altogether.

“I’ll be careful not to touch you from now on.”

Hertian instinctively turned his head.

“No need to be careful. I was just distracted for a moment.”

He said that and brought his arm close to me, as if inviting another pinch. But then he lowered his hand.

“Maybe it’s better not to touch me today.”

“Why?”

“Because it feels weird.”

It was clear he hated contact. His honest side made me burst out laughing.

“Really. Your Grace, we suit each other well.”

It was the first time I felt such comfort from a man.

Maybe because I was sure he would never love me.

This peaceful moment, walking silently in the yard, felt so calm.

“By the way, who is Kassian?”

After walking for a while, he asked.

“He’s a friend I’ve never met. We only exchange letters.”

I explained Kassian briefly.

“A friend?”

“Yes. A very close friend.”

Because we weren’t really married, I was honest.

He said he wouldn’t interfere with my private life, so he wouldn’t mind my letter exchange with Kassian.

But he seemed curious.

“Is he someone precious to you?”

Hearing such a question…

“Suddenly, we might be sending Anette off for marriage.”

The count and countess, who suddenly accepted Hertian as their son-in-law, held hands kindly and headed to the glass garden.

Anette and the duke seemed to have something to talk about, so we left.

The count and countess were also about to discuss how they saw Hertian.

Entering the indoor garden made of glass, a fragrant scent of flowers filled the air.

“This is my first time meeting the duke. He doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“I think so too. As Anette said, he’s handsome and kind. I think he will treat our daughter well.”

The countess Shwelli spoke, and Lucas nodded in agreement with a relieved expression.

Anette’s expression had been bad since she skipped the banquet and stayed out overnight. She had acted strangely — going to the guard post, waiting for the mailman at the mansion’s entrance. It turned out she was waiting for the duke.

When the duke came with a marriage proposal, her face brightened, and she was jumping happily. Only then did they feel relieved.

“I didn’t know Anette was so proactive.”

“Me neither. Hehe. She was so cute. When Anette said she fell in love at first sight, did you see the duke’s face?”

Shwelli smiled fondly, recalling the earlier events.

“The duke’s ears turned bright red, and he looked even cuter than Anette.”

From a third person’s view, Hertian looked like a man in love.

Lately, Anette had been obsessed with marriage, and they wondered why. Meeting the two of them directly, they understood.

“Don’t these two remind you of us in the past?”

A love ignited at first sight, burning fiercely.

They seemed blind to everything around them.

“When were we ever like that? At least I made an appointment and visited politely.”

Lucas stroked his chin with a dignified air.

“Oh dear, I prefer someone fiery like the duke. If you came straight to me, I wouldn’t have turned you down.”

She teased back and hurried ahead.

“Lady, that’s harsh!”

Lucas caught up, and the two laughed playfully like old times.

“The duke must have completely won the lady’s heart.”

“Isn’t she too excited? I’m so happy thinking about dressing up our beautiful daughter.”

Shwelli’s eyes grew moist with a bright smile. Lucas wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and from outside the glass door, a breathless voice called:

“Count! It’s me!”