Chapter 1

Baldwin stared at the woman who was looking straight at him with sharp, cat-like eyes. Surprisingly, her gaze didn’t feel rude at all.

The woman carefully moved her lips. Baldwin could tell she was trying hard to speak clearly, so he could read her lips. She was being considerate, knowing that he couldn’t hear.

“Have you thought about my proposal?”

Baldwin opened his notebook and started writing neatly.

[Before that, I have something to ask. Do you know the rumors about me?]

Anais paused and thought for a moment.

Rumors about Baldwin? It was true that he couldn’t hear. But other than that…

Anais spoke carefully, looking a little troubled.

“Are you talking about the rumor that you can’t have children, Your Grace?”

It was clear she had chosen the most polite and proper words possible—especially out of all the rude and dirty rumors surrounding Baldwin.

Baldwin smiled smoothly. He wrote again with his elegant handwriting.

[That is included as well.]

“Hm. Other than that, I haven’t really heard any big rumors.”

Anais murmured in a small voice. It wasn’t something she meant for Baldwin to hear. Realizing she had spoken to herself, Anais looked a bit embarrassed and lightly bit her lip.

She seemed to feel sorry for speaking to herself in front of someone who couldn’t hear.

Baldwin added another note to his thoughts about Anais.

She was a rational and graceful person. The way she didn’t get swayed by silly rumors proved it.

—

Of course, Anais also knew the rumors about Baldwin.

They said he liked men.

They said he brought men into his bed every night.

They said he only kept men around him.

There were also other kinds of rumors.

Some said he was impotent and liked watching others instead.

Most of these were the kind of dirty rumors that had no proof.

“I’ll tell you what I think first, Your Grace. I don’t care about any of those rumors. Because what I’m offering is not ‘marriage.’ This is clearly a ‘business proposal.’”

She spoke clearly and firmly.

Her voice stuck in his ears, word by word.

The food on the table was getting cold, but neither of them cared.

Anais kept her eyes on Baldwin’s fingertips,

and Baldwin watched only her lips.

—

Her full lower lip stood out. When she smiled, her lips curved into a heart shape.

Baldwin had a habit of observing people’s lips and had seen many, but it was rare to find someone with such noticeable lips like Anais.

“I believe you already know my situation, Your Grace. Not just my ex-husband, but all kinds of random men are showing up and demanding marriage. Even my lawyer suggested that the best way to protect myself might be through marriage.”

Anais spoke with a hint of sadness.

“No matter how much society has changed, status is still very important these days.”

Only then did Baldwin remember that Anais was the daughter of a baron. She carried herself with such elegant grace that it was easy to forget she was from a lower-ranking noble family.

“And I also need someone to stop the bullying of Marquess Egbert Graham. For that, having a husband would be very useful.”

Does she see having a husband as nothing more than a shield?

It was a fresh and unexpected approach. Baldwin moved his hand to write:

[I understand what you will gain from this. But what will I get from this marriage?]

“A shield to block the scandals surrounding you, Your Grace.”

Anais’s eyes sparkled.

“And honestly, there’s no one in this capital richer than me. People naturally take their husband’s side, don’t they? Wouldn’t I do the same?”

Anais, known as the “Gold Coin of the Finance World,” was betting herself in this deal.

It was definitely an interesting offer, even for Baldwin.

“I’ve already prepared everything, Your Grace. All you need to do is sign here.”

Anais blinked her cat-like eyes and added,

“I can’t promise to make you happy, but I can promise to protect you.”

It was a very clean and straightforward proposal—just the kind Baldwin liked.

—

Six months ago.

A loud, sharp voice filled the dull dining room.

“Oh my, I’m so full. Egbert, look at this. The Marchioness really doesn’t know how to enjoy good food, does she? To just pick at such a delicious meal like that—maybe her taste is too refined.”

It wasn’t that her taste was refined. She just had no appetite.

I quietly scooped up a spoonful of well-cooked potato salad. It seemed the chef had worked hard to match my preferences—it was very soft. I figured I could at least get this down.

But seriously, how can I eat right now?

I had thought there must be a reason when they insisted I join them even though I said I’d rather eat alone.

Sophia’s high-pitched voice felt like it was piercing into my ears.

Could you eat if your husband’s mistress was sitting right in front of you?

That’s what I wanted to snap back.

My husband. His mistress. Their illegitimate child.

And finally—me.

—

With this crazy group sitting in front of me, do you think I wanted to eat breakfast?

This ridiculous life had already been going on for three years now.

And of course, this wasn’t the only absurd thing I had to deal with.

My husband, Egbert, was the type who couldn’t resist any woman.

And yet, he also had the “strong will” to never once enter my bedroom—just to go against his grandfather’s wishes.

“You’re boring and no fun. My grandfather chose someone exactly like himself.”

“A woman like you is probably boring in bed too. Like a piece of wood. That’s why no one loves you, Anais.”

“You’re just a baron’s daughter. What did you even do for my grandfather to be chosen as a marchioness? What, did you warm his bed or something?”

He was the kind of shameless man who could say all those terrible things like it was nothing.

—

Maybe I had become numb over the past three years, because now I could just let comments like that pass without reacting.

“The Marchioness really doesn’t know how to appreciate things. Tsk. Egbert, Sophia would be so happy if she could eat like this every day.”

Egbert, with that woman agreeing beside him, let out a lazy chuckle with glazed-over eyes.

What did he even do last night to look like that?

At this rate, he’s definitely going to die in bed one day.

Just imagining that disgusting scene made me lose even more of my appetite.

I dropped my spoon as if I were throwing it down, and Egbert said to me:

“Did you hear that, Anais? That’s what she said. Try to eat with a better expression on your face. Just seeing your face like that pisses me off.”

Egbert muttered in a slurred voice.

As if I wanted to be here.

If that shameless woman hadn’t barged into the bedroom and started yelling early in the morning, I wouldn’t even be at this table.

“Why are you so quiet today?”

—

Egbert squinted his eyes and smirked.

“So, are you finally giving in to me? Good, that’s how it should be. A wife is supposed to obey her husband!”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I slowly stood up.

Chris, who had been quietly eating with his head down, suddenly lifted his head.

The boy, just 8 years old, snapped angrily:

“What are you doing, lady? You got stuff on my clothes! Do you know how much this costs?”

He’s just like his parents—same nasty attitude.

I pushed against the table and stood up completely.

“I’ll take my leave now. I really have a lot to do today.”

I walked out of the dining room, ignoring all the noise behind me.

The head butler and the head maid followed me with worried expressions, but I didn’t want to deal with anyone anymore.

Today marked exactly three years.

The late Marquess of Graham had made me promise to stay married for three years.

“After that, you may do whatever you want. If you get divorced after three years, I’ll give you everything I promised.”

Now, even those shameless people would be out of my life.

I returned to my bedroom and took out something I had hidden deep in my vanity drawer.

[Divorce Agreement]

For the past three years, I had held onto it like a resignation letter—close to my heart.

The most ridiculous part was… maybe Egbert didn’t feel the same, but for me, it had started as love.

“You know what, Anais? If we get married, I promise—we’ll have a really happy family.”