Chapter 52

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 52

Chapter Title: Don't Talk About Other Men

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Arpad tilted his head.

"What do you mean, that I'm trying to gloss over it with my good looks?"

I shot back defiantly.

"Th-that squirrel thing!"

Arpad let out a short chuckle.

"Why would I need to gloss over that? Is there any reason to?"

"What?"

I glared at him, his tone implying he had nothing to apologize for.

"Well, yeah. I didn't do anything wrong, so there's no need to awkwardly smooth things over."

This guy!

I was about to explode in anger when Arpad suddenly leaned in close, his face right up to mine.

"!"

I froze in shock.

In that moment, he continued logically, drawing me right in.

I'd flinched for a second, and now I was getting pulled into his pace.

"I already told you. You asked me to draw everyone's attention, and I just chose the most effective way."

"...Ha!"

"If you're mad because I didn't draw attention properly, I'd get it. But that's not it."

I wanted to deny it, but I couldn't.

He was right, after all.

He'd fulfilled my request to draw attention—not just perfectly, but excessively so.

Arpad chuckled again and delivered his conclusion.

"See? You were just throwing a tantrum because you were embarrassed."

"That's...!"

Even if I denied it, it wouldn't get through.

In the end, I gave up on hearing an apology or a promise not to do it again from him.

I'd been asking for too much.

So I declared boldly.

"I'll pay you back exactly what you did to me! Don't regret it later!"

Arpad smiled radiantly.

"I'll look forward to it."

His overflowing confidence was utterly infuriating.

I vowed to myself.

'I'll shatter that smug attitude of his! Definitely!'

I'd make sure to see him trembling in shame and embarrassment!

As I burned with revenge, Arpad's smiling face suddenly closed in again.

"Eek!"

I'd been lost in thought and completely off guard, so it startled me even more.

His breath was so close that its moisture brushed my lips.

'Y-you're too close...'

Thankfully, Arpad didn't go any further.

He reached out and gently stroked my hair.

"Your hair color is fascinating. Like cherry blossom petals or cotton candy."

I finally managed to catch my breath.

'Phew. Thought he was gonna kiss me.'

But it was too early to relax.

Arpad twirled a strand of my hair around his finger and dropped a bombshell.

"More importantly, if it felt like I was using my looks on you... doesn't that mean you like my appearance so much that you misinterpret everything I do as charm offense?"

"...What?"

I shook my head desperately.

"No way! You're not my type."

Arpad's expression turned a bit serious.

"...Really? Then what's your ideal type like?"

My competitive spirit flared.

I wouldn't get swept up this time.

So I deliberately picked a style completely opposite to Arpad's.

"First off, someone too handsome is intimidating, so no."

"Hmm?"

A wrinkle formed between Arpad's brows.

"First woman I've met who dislikes good looks."

"It's my taste, my taste! And... shorter than you, more sturdy, gentle-looking... the diligent type!"

"......"

Arpad tilted his head this way and that, brow still furrowed, then asked.

"Isn't that... the knight you went out of your way to hire?"

"...Huh?"

I'd just picked something different from Arpad.

But in avoiding anything too weird, it ended up sounding a lot like Sir Beltein.

I admitted honestly.

"Oh, the similarity to Sir Beltein is just a coincidence."

"I ask every time, but don't you think that's a meaningless excuse?"

"I say it every time, but it's not an excuse—it's just the truth."

It really was.

There was nothing between Sir Beltein and me.

'Well, not nothing. There's the knight's oath.'

Just a loyal knight who'd sworn fealty and his lady.

That was when Arpad asked seriously for the first time.

"You're really... not lovers with him?"

His tone somehow sounded cautious.

"I told you, no."

I shrugged.

"If we were, why would I bother hiding it?"

"...Wouldn't that be obvious? I'm your official husband, after all."

Would he drop this official husband bit already?

I had no idea why he was hung up on it lately.

I stated the facts plainly.

"We're in a contractual relationship. I wouldn't care if you had a lover, and you wouldn't care if I did."

That was right. We'd even exchanged a contract.

I knew Arpad would eventually find a lover, and I was prepared to let him go when that happened.

I figured his jabs about Sir Beltein being my 'boyfriend' were just his usual snide way of teasing.

"......"

I expected Arpad to nod or agree right away.

But he stayed silent for a long time.

I looked up at him.

"Arpad?"

Arpad gazed down at me with narrowed eyes, his expression hard to read.

Before I could say anything else,

Arpad suddenly spoke.

"Remember our promise?"

"...What promise?"

"The one from when I abducted you."

Was it the abduction marriage contract? But that was in the catacombs the day before, and we signed it at the detached palace.

His clarification jogged my memory.

"The promise we made over that knight."

"...Ah!"

Sir Beltein was the only one who'd drawn his sword to stop Arpad back then.

In exchange for not charging him with treason, I'd agreed to grant whatever he wanted.

'Ugh, I was trying to forget about that.'

I'd overlooked it, but Arpad clearly hadn't.

'Of course. It's a promise that benefits him, so he'd remember.'

He wasn't the type to forget something like that.

Arguing would be pointless, and I didn't want him picking on Sir Beltein again, so I nodded.

"I remember. Why? Got something you want to ask of me?"

Surprisingly, Arpad nodded.

And made a request I never saw coming.

"When we're alone, don't talk about other men."

"...!"

I stared at him, stunned.

Wasn't this... like,

possessiveness?

I immediately dismissed the ridiculous thought.

'No way!'

It wasn't a hard request anyway, so it benefited me.

I started to nod quickly, then realized something.

"...But you were the one who brought up Sir Beltein first."

Arpad's eyes widened.

"Surprisingly, yes."

Why say it like that? So out of character.

Arpad tilted his head the other way and asked.

It somehow looked cute. Was I seeing things?

"Oh, so if I don't bring it up first, you won't mention other men in front of me?"

"Right."

I nodded readily, and Arpad beamed.

His smile looked oddly boyish, and satisfying in a way I couldn't explain.

While I was dazed by the unexpected sight, Arpad slyly added,

"Then I take it back."

"Pardon? What?"

What the hell!

"You said you won't mention them if I don't first. No need to waste my precious request right? Canceled."

You sneaky bastard!

The dragon bloodline must carry not just foul temperament and the risk of madness, but slyness too.

And two days later.

While being attended by maids in the powder room, I received a letter from the Black Mercenary Corps.

The contents were simple.

'The tea leaves have been delivered safely. The payment you gave beforehand is sufficient.'

It was utterly mundane and cryptic. Anyone glancing midway would get nothing from it.

Of course, it was in code.

'Tea leaves' meant Lady Solenu.

So the decoded message was:

'Lady Solenu has given a positive response using the method I told her about.'

Perfect. Now it was time for the next step.

I smiled confidently.