Chapter 9

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 09
Chapter Title: An Unreasonable Demand
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Was it because we were on a bed that this strange atmosphere enveloped us, even though we both knew this was just practice?

“Croire, Alloje.”

Diello said my name again.

“Why add Alloje? It feels so distant.”

I’m an Argenta now, not an Alloje.

I tried to ignore the strange sensation on my index finger as I spoke again.

“Try saying just Croire, Diello.”

I couldn't understand why he was so awkward about it now when he'd said it just fine before.

My words made Diello’s mouth move a few times before he spoke softly.

“...Croire.”

Perhaps it was the dim lighting, the warmth from the alcohol, or maybe the sweet aroma of the wine.

His voice sounded so sweet, like something you would only hear on a newlywed couple's first night.

“Good. You pass.”

I took my hand from his lips.

A peculiar sensation still seemed to linger on my fingertip.

Afraid I might start blushing for no reason, I subtly turned over to lie on my back, facing the ceiling.

“As promised, I won't try to seduce you. But we do have to spend our nights together so it doesn't look strange. Like tonight.”

And practice like this. I gave his hand a firm squeeze.

“I suppose we must.”

Diello replied in a soft voice and moved a little closer to me.

He must have still been looking at me, because I could feel the tickle of his breath on my neck.

It was even more stimulating than before.

…In the end, I turned back to look at him. That’s when I realized something important.

“Ah.”

No matter how orchestrated our first night was, there was something we had to do, just in case.

I turned my body completely toward Diello.

“I have a favor to ask.”

As part of our practice.

“What kind of…?”

I whispered to him as he tilted his head.

My little plan.

“...!”

After hearing my plan, Diello’s eyes widened as he stared at me.

“Are you sure you’ll be okay, Croire?”

I nodded willingly in response. Still, Diello seemed a bit conflicted.

But I had to see this ‘plan’ through.

So I whispered a little more earnestly.

“There’s a saying in Argenta, isn’t there, Diello?”

I held up my hand.

“‘Either do it, or don’t.’”

Diello’s eyes widened slightly at my words. I even nodded.

“So if we're going to do it, let's do it right.”

Once I finished, Diello seemed to cast aside his conflict. He let out a short breath and finally nodded.

Then he gently pushed my shoulders, moving to position himself above me.

Trapped between his arms, my vision was instantly plunged into shadow.

* * *

After the first night.

It wasn't difficult to act out the part of a sweet, newlywed couple.

Above all, Diello Argenta was an affectionate person to begin with.

All I had to do was be a little more proactive in matching his energy, so the acting wasn't hard.

“Being in a quiet place has its own charms.”

When I leaned against him as I said that, he would blush but still wrap his arms around me, the very picture of a shy new groom.

Besides, it seemed he had made some firm resolution after our first night.

*Peck.*

He even gave me a soft kiss on the forehead.

He was gradually becoming a more skilled actor.

As he did, the people of Argenta began to grow more hopeful.

Once we completed our three nights together and Diello’s lily disappeared, they too would receive the bloomed power and become stronger.

Furthermore, as Diello and I grew closer faster than expected and I didn't throw any tantrums, contrary to the rumors of me being a villainess, they stopped being so wary.

And so, on the third day of our sweet honeymoon.

Today was also the last day the Alloje maids would be staying.

After today, the Alloje maids who were here to take care of me—or rather, to watch me—would all be gone from this mansion.

Of course, you can never know what’s in a person’s heart, so I couldn’t forget to keep up the act in front of the Argenta staff, but it would be a breath of fresh air compared to being openly monitored by the Alloje staff.

*Trickle.*

“This is a lightly brewed Rorayle tea. It should help with your fatigue.”

I was looking at the garden, which was remarkably well-tended for having been put together so quickly.

Diello was in his office for a moment, attending to Argenta business.

‘I’ll be down soon, just wait a little longer.’

I smiled faintly, recalling the apologetic look on his troubled face as he left my side.

“Thank you. Could you bring a cup to Diello as well? He must be tired from work.”

“Yes, Madam.”

Pielle called me Madam now.

The wedding had taken place, and I was now officially the mistress of the Argenta estate.

Just as Pielle was calling another maid to give the order…

“Waaaah…! Mommy…!”

The voice of a child drifted from a distance.

“…Is someone crying?”

I turned my gaze in the direction of the sound.

I could see a small child trudging between the neatly arranged flowerbeds.

“Oh…!”

Perhaps the child saw me through their tears, because they ran toward me with a tear-streaked face.

Pielle quickly intervened.

“She is not someone you can approach so carelessly. But you…”

Judging by Pielle’s reaction, the child didn't seem to live in the mansion.

Well, of course.

Why would a child be in a place meant only for the servants attending to Diello and me?

“Help me, miss!”

But the child struggled against Pielle’s hold, trying to run to me.

Pielle’s gaze swept quickly over the child.

She was clearly checking for any weapons.

Ever the Argenta ‘cleaner,’ she was no doubt checking if the child was an assassin harboring murderous intent.

Seeing no apparent threat, Pielle finally looked up at me.

“What should I do?”

It seemed the child had followed one of the servants here.

I beckoned to the child.

I felt we needed to calm them down first.

“Come here. Why are you crying so much, hmm?”

At my words, Pielle released her hold, and the child immediately ran into my arms.

I knelt to meet the child’s eyes.

From their puffy face, it looked like they had been crying for quite some time.

“Mommy… Mommy’s gone.”

“Your mommy?”

“We came together… *hic*!”

I tilted my head at the child’s words.

“Are there any servants who brought a child with them?”

“Certainly no one from Argenta,” Pielle answered immediately.

Meanwhile, the child’s crying grew louder.

“Mommy…!”

The child clung to me, shouting, and showed no intention of letting go.

“Waaaaah!”

“I think they’re just scared…”

I stroked the child’s head and looked back at Pielle.

“I don’t think there’s any other way.”

I stood up and gently cupped the child’s cheeks to soothe them.

“I’ll take this child to the main road. It should be easier to find their mother from there.”

“Madam, for safety reasons—”

“It’s fine.”

I spoke in a clear voice to the hesitating Pielle.

“Because I trust Alloje and Argenta.”

When I said I trusted Argenta, I looked Pielle straight in the eye.

Alloje had no reason to harm me, as they needed to use me, and of course, no one from Argenta would harm me, as I was known to be the head’s Pero.

In other words, all the knights guarding the mansion were there to protect me.

“Still, just in case anyone worries, don’t tell anyone else.”

I gave Pielle a wink and said.

“I trust you, Pielle.”

Pielle’s eyes widened when I winked.

“Besides, what could a child possibly do?”

“*Sniffle*…”

Finally, Pielle nodded.

“Very well. You two, go and attend to the Madam—”

She was about to order the maids present to follow me.

“Waaaaah!”

The child started crying loudly again.

As if they didn't like strangers, the child buried their face in the folds of my dress, their body trembling.

“Just to the main road. I’ll go alone and be right back.”

At my words, Pielle dismissed the maids.

Only then did the child’s crying begin to subside again.

“Shall we go?”

I stroked the sniffling child’s head and started walking.

I didn’t know my way around the mansion very well, but I could find the main road and hand the child over to an Alloje maid or knight.

*Step, step.*

As we moved farther away from Pielle and the maids, the child stopped crying.

Around that time, I let go of the hand that had been stroking the child’s head.

Then, the child began to slyly tug at my dress.

Up until now, I had been leading the way, but this was a distinct change in behavior.

“Hmm? Is something over there?”

I asked, feigning ignorance, but the child only continued to pull at my dress.

That just made me more certain.

This child was sent to me by someone, intentionally.

1. A child getting this far alone despite the tight security, and happening to latch onto me.

2. The mud on the child’s shoes, even though there was nowhere nearby to get muddy.

3. Most importantly, the Alloje crest visible through the slightly parted collar as we moved away from Pielle.

That alone was enough to raise suspicion.

Naturally, there was a chance this child could harm me.

Even though Pielle had checked the child over, not all weapons are visible to the naked eye.

Besides, in a world where people could freely move wind, water, and fire, there was no reason to believe magic that changed one’s appearance didn’t exist.

Meaning, this might not even be a child.

Either way, I wasn’t worried about my safety.

Because Pielle, the Argenta ‘cleaner,’ would be following me stealthily.

In an emergency, her sword would flash out.

*Rustle.*

The child led me naturally to a secluded spot.

Then they spun around to face me.

The childlike demeanor from before was completely gone.

“Lady Croire Alloje.”

The child’s cold voice rang out.

Naturally, the voice, devoid of any trace of tears, was gradually changing into that of an adult woman.

It seemed she was a spy who had transformed into a child.

On the wrist of the woman who had revealed her true form, the Alloje crest gleamed.

Moreover, a strong Alloje power emanated from the crest. This meant the Duke himself had engraved the crest and sent her.

While I was processing that, the woman asked.

“Last night, did you spend the night with Duke Argenta?”

…I can’t believe they would send someone to check on this.

I parted my lips slightly in disbelief.

“…Of course.”

I couldn’t very well say, *Actually, we just held hands and slept*, so I answered right away.

It’s not like they watched us spend the night, anyway. Only we knew the truth of what happened.

But the woman, to my astonishment, held out her hand and demanded.

“Then, the proof.”

She was demanding proof of our first night.

My eyes widened.