Chapter 7
I hid my nervousness and answered as calmly as I could.
“Your Highness, if I may ask… would refusing have any effect on my duties?”
“Of course not.”
“Then I refuse.”
As always, he was wearing a shirt carelessly left half-unbuttoned.
At this point, my suspicion that he had some sort of exhibitionist tendency had practically become certainty.
‘Maybe being the incarnation of the sun makes him hot.’
In this Empire, the Imperial Family was often compared to the sun.
According to history, the first Emperor had once kept a dragon as his companion.
His descendants inherited the dragon’s power, along with distinctive crimson hair like Jackal’s.
That power was known as the Power of the Dragon Bone.
It granted a dragon’s stamina, physical strength, heightened senses, and exceptional talent with weapons.
Rumor also had it…
That the Imperial bloodline possessed extraordinary stamina in that department as well.
‘No wonder this novel had such a strangely suggestive atmosphere.’
No other abilities had ever been explained in the original story.
Still…
I assumed they were superior to ordinary humans in every way.
Meanwhile, Jackal took a single step back.
“Where shall we conduct today’s work?”
“I was actually waiting outside because of that.”
…
You came out here personally…
Just to tell me where the office was?
As if.
“I normally work in this office. During the year you’ll be serving here, simply report to this room every morning. Your days off are yours to use as you wish.”
“I doubt I’ll be taking many.”
“Haha. I see.”
Jackal smiled faintly.
“Do you have some reason to finish your work in such a hurry?”
His tone sounded gentle…
Yet there was a distinct chill beneath it.
“Not at all. It is simply my duty. As a noble loyal to His Majesty the Emperor and to the Empire, I believe it is only natural.”
Maybe it was because I’d prepared myself this morning.
The words flowed out effortlessly.
“I see.”
“That reminds me.”
“Something special is happening today.”
“…Something special?”
Jackal nodded.
“I was waiting because what lies inside must be introduced personally.”
…
What’s inside?
At that moment, I remembered something from the original novel.
‘There was that scene where he claimed he had prepared a special gift for the heroine… and displayed the severed heads of everyone who had approached her to steal her heirloom.’
Hell difficulty on my very first day of work.
I silently braced myself.
“I wasn’t sure what your tastes were…”
“So I chose something myself.”
“I do hope you like it.”
…
The way you say that only makes me more nervous, you bastard.
Whenever I thought about his taste…
Only images of red…
Ominous…
Run-for-your-life kinds of things came to mind.
“Shall we go inside?”
Trying to hide the way my legs trembled like a raccoon walking toward a trap, I stepped forward.
A hand lightly brushed against my back.
Startled, I looked up.
Jackal was staring directly at me.
“Allow me to escort you.”
“No, that’s quite alriā”
Just open the damn door already! Better to get it over with!
As we approached, the waiting attendant quickly opened the door.
Without thinking, I squeezed my eyes shut.
“This way, Duke.”
Guided by his hand, I cautiously opened my eyes.
Before me…
Instead of the blood-soaked horror I’d expectedā
White?
My jaw dropped.
A scene beyond anything I could have imagined unfolded before me.
Huh…?
The entire room had been transformed into pure white.
White, crimson, and colorful flowers decorated every corner.
Their arrangement was flawlessā
Elegant, harmonious, obviously crafted by the hands of a master florist.
The brown desk that had stood there yesterday had vanished.
In its place was a white ceremonial platform.
And somehow…
They had even brought in…
A gazebo.
…W-Wait.
Can you even put one of those indoors?
It was smaller than the ones usually found outside…
But it was an adorable white pavilion.
White flower petals drifted softly from the ceiling.
I opened and closed my mouth soundlessly.
Then lowered my gaze.
A pristine white carpet stretched across the floor.
Honestly… I’d have understood this more if it had been covered in blood.
Then a horrifying realization struck me.
Wait…
Doesn’t this look exactly like a wedding hall?
Jackal had already walked to the end of the white carpet.
Standing there…
Smiling like a painting.
Exactly where the groom would stand.
“Do you remember my proposal yesterday?”
“After hearing your opinion, I realized perhaps my sincerity hadn’t been conveyed properly.”
“So…”
“I prepared this.”
He spoke with the shy nervousness of a man about to confess his love for the first time.
I couldn’t even laugh.
“What do you think?”
“Do you like this proposal?”
…
If I run away right now…
Will they arrest everyone in House Arcrux?
As if to answer that question…
The door closed behind me.
Aside from the attendants bowing with their heads lowered…
Only Jackal and I remained inside the enormous room.
He walked toward me.
His cheeks gradually turned pink.
“Although…”
“My face may not be your type…”
“…”
“Will you marry me, Duke?”
You insane bastard!
Now even his ears had turned bright red.
As if embarrassed, he covered part of his mouth with one hand.
How in the world are you controlling your ears?
How do they even blush on command?
“Ah.”
“You mentioned yesterday that you like money.”
“If you wish…”
“I can fill this room with eight hundred billion gold.”
“Just give me three months.”
…
Damn it.
For just a second… I was tempted.
“If something doesn’t work…”
“Then make it work.”
Rodemin…
I’m sorry.
I think I’m going to quit on my very first day.
…Should I just throw everything away and go live in the countryside with my sister?
Even if we had no territory…
No fortune…
As long as the two of us were togetherā
I hurriedly buried the thought before Rodemin could somehow hear it.
Now wasn’t the time to panic.
‘The original really wasn’t kidding when it said he’d do absolutely anything once he became obsessed.’
The more closely I looked…
The more impressive the wedding venue became.
Even the smallest details had been meticulously prepared.
This wasn’t something I could dismiss as the antics of a mere lunatic.
“There is no answer.”
“…May I speak honestly?”
Stay calm.
If I let myself get overwhelmed and accepted here…
I’d end up with a bad ending far worse than simply being imprisoned.
The key to dealing with this man is never letting him think you’re easy to handle.
Go on the offensive.
“It’s the worst.”
I expected those words to wipe the shy smile off his face.
Instead…
Jackal looked completely unfazed.
“That bad?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting!”
“What exactly makes it the worst?”
“…Excuse me?”
…
Why was he asking me for feedback?
More importantly…
Why was he actually trying to collect feedback?
“You seriously don’t know?”
“Who builds the wedding venue before even receiving permission to propose?”
“Doing something like this to someone who isn’t prepared only puts pressure on them.”
“Oh!”
“You’re absolutely right!”
“I have no intention of getting married in an office.”
“And those flowers aren’t my taste either.”
Neither are you!
“I see…”
Looking slightly dejected, Jackal nodded with complete seriousness.
“I endured the smell of those unpleasant people while arranging all of this.”
Then…
He smiled as beautifully as a flower.
“I gladly accept your feedback!”
…
He really was completely insane.
Wait…
Surely that doesn’t mean he’s going to try again…?
“At the very least, I’ve learned your preferences today.”
“That means I’ve taken one step closer!”
No, it doesn’t!
…
Actually… knowing him, maybe it does.
“Haha!”
“Now then…”
“Shall we get to today’s work?”
