INSDL| Chapter 6

Episode 6

The butler took a deep breath and, with perfectly formal movement, opened the grand front door. Everyone in the hall held their breath.

There—actually standing there—was Duke Cullen Lorvant himself.

“How have you been?”

He handed his cane and hat to the butler with an easy smile. Behind him, Count Jake Burndale blinked in disbelief.

According to rumors, the Duke of Lorvant was cold and emotionless—but the man before him didn’t seem that way at all.

Cullen strode forward and offered his hand.

“Count Burndale, I hear your wife is expecting. You look great—fatherhood must suit you.”

Despite the friendly greeting, his handshake had crushing force.

“…Thank you for visiting our humble home,” Jake managed to choke out, carefully pulling his aching hand away and clasping it behind his back. Cold sweat formed on his forehead.

Cullen spoke casually, without smiling.

“You should exercise more, Count. You’re about to become a father; you can’t appear weak.”

“I’ll keep your advice in mind,” Jake replied politely, lowering his gaze.

One look was enough to tell who held the upper hand in this meeting.

Cullen was shown to the drawing room and sat down as comfortably as if he owned the place. Jake cautiously perched opposite him and finally asked what had brought the Duke here.

“Ah, right. Let’s start with this.”

Cullen snapped his fingers. Harry, who had been standing behind him like a shadow, stepped forward and set a thick folder on the table in front of Jake.

Jake hesitated, picked it up, and began to read. A moment later—

“W-what…? Is this real? You’re giving me all of this?”

“The Lorvant seal’s on it, isn’t it? Of course it’s real.”

“But… why?”

“Ah, I forgot to explain that part.”

Cullen uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, closing the distance between them. His serious expression made Jake stiffen.

“You see,” Cullen said smoothly, “I’ve taken a liking to your sister.”

“…Pardon?”

“You probably don’t know, but I saw her at the debutante ball. The moment I did—bam, it hit me.”

“…Pardon?”

“So, if you’ve got no objections, we should set a date soon.”

“…Pardon?”

Jake just kept repeating the same word, stunned. Cullen folded his arms and smiled, amused.

“You repeat yourself well—must’ve been a favorite among the adults growing up.”

Harry coughed softly.

“My lord, perhaps now isn’t the time for jokes.”

Cullen’s eyes gleamed again.

“Right. I’ve laid my offer on the table. What about you, Count Burndale?”

Jake stayed silent.

“Surely you’re not thinking of playing games with me when your house is already sinking?” Cullen said lightly, though his tone made Jake’s stomach twist.

That snapped Jake back to reality. He looked down at the papers, then at Cullen, fear and disbelief flickering in his eyes. Cullen leaned back in his chair, smiling lazily.

“Well? Have you decided to marry your sister to me?”

Jake clenched his jaw, thinking hard.

The conditions were far beyond generous.

Jewels, gold, and rare heirlooms alone were an immense sum—but also included were estates near the capital, a manor with hunting grounds, mining shares, and even free use of one of the Lorvant family’s ports. It was enough wealth for three generations to live comfortably.

So this is what he’s offering for her…

Jake’s green eyes, identical to Lana’s, landed on the last clause—and twitched.

‘Upon successful completion of the marriage, the Burndale family shall not be permitted to…’

He swallowed hard. He could already imagine what might await his sister.

But any noblewoman faces risks when she marries, doesn’t she?

It was the perfect opportunity to solve every financial problem plaguing the family in one stroke.

Who in high society still believes in true love anyway?

Their mother had wanted her children to marry for love—but in reality, noble marriages were all about bargaining and gain.

I can’t let this go. We’ll never get another offer like this.

His decision settled, Jake’s face hardened.

Lana’s been living freely long enough. It’s time she fulfilled her duty as a Burndale daughter.

Meanwhile—

Lana once again stormed out of another failed blind date, swinging her handbag like a weapon as she trudged up the hill toward the Burndale estate.

“Lana, listen,” she muttered to herself, still fuming. “The man said he keeps a pet snake—bigger than a person! Fine, weird hobby, whatever. But then he said someone has to feed it rats and rabbits every meal, and he doesn’t trust anyone else, so I’d have to do it myself. And on top of that, he wants me to sleep with it twice a week to ‘maintain a bond’? Seriously? Imagine waking up in the dark, realizing it’s because the snake already swallowed you!”

She kicked a pebble down the road.

“He was so excited talking about it, but all I could think was: there’s no way I can live like that. So yes, I left again.

Maybe one day the Empire will let people marry their pets—then he can be happy.”

She sighed.

“I know our family’s struggling. I’ve wondered if I should help somehow. But still…”

She stopped, staring at the ground.

“I might have a title, but I’ve only been back for a few years. Jake never really let me out of the estate, never cared about teaching me anything. Even my debutante dress was one of Sophia’s old ones, altered to fit. That’s my reality.”

Her voice trembled, but she forced it down and kept walking, shoulders slumped.

“Jake probably has his reasons, sure. He used to adore me when we were little. Mom even joked my legs would stop working because he never put me down.”

Turning the corner, she finally saw the estate ahead, surrounded by tall iron fences. Once, it was her happiest place—now, walking toward it felt like stepping willingly into a snake’s mouth.

She sighed again.

“Still, my marriage should be my choice. That was Mother’s last wish—to live by my own decisions.”

Clenching her fists, she made up her mind: no matter how angry Jake got, she would tell him she didn’t want to marry.

That was the plan—until she saw him.

Right in front of the main doors stood a man who looked like he’d fallen straight from the heavens.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Burndale.”

He stepped closer and gently took her hand, brushing his lips near her glove. Lana froze.

He’s not a statue. He’s real.

She quickly pulled her hand back, mentally screaming, I’m keeping these gloves forever.

A smile tried to escape her lips, and she scolded herself, forcing it down. Her mother’s voice echoed in her head:

“Lana, you’re too weak for handsome faces. Just close your eyes and live.”

But Mom, you’re wrong, she thought. If I close my eyes, I can’t see that face. That would be a crime against life itself.

Apparently, she’d smiled, because Cullen let out a soft chuckle.

“Seems my face suits your taste. I’m glad.”

“If it didn’t, these wouldn’t be eyes—they’d be knots in wood—I mean… what do you mean, you’re glad?”

She almost blurted her thoughts aloud and quickly corrected herself, pretending composure while her heart hammered like crazy.

Calm down, heart. I know you want to see that face again, but that’s the eyes’ job, not yours. Stay put.

She placed a hand on her chest, smiling faintly, though her eyes were wide open, practically memorizing his face to carve it into her retinas forever.

Just then, her sister-in-law, Sophia, came down the stairs and hugged her.

“Lana! You’re home.”

“Sister.”

Sophia smiled sweetly, then leaned in to whisper in Lana’s ear:

“I almost fainted when I saw him—your exact type! Black hair, gray eyes, the kind of man you’d forgive even if he sold the country. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“You said men like that don’t exist—but look! He does.”

Sophia giggled.

“You were right. Apparently, they do exist.”

She pulled back, cupping Lana’s face affectionately. Lana glanced at the stunning man again and whispered softly so only Sophia could hear:

“By the way… why is he here?”