Chapter 11

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter Title: There is No Mercy 11

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"Read it."

Without any preamble, he told me to read it, so I reached out my arm.

Hiding my reluctance, I scanned the paper from top to bottom.

As my eyes landed on the period at the end of the last sentence, Aden's voice came.

"What do you think it says?"

"In summary, it's saying they can't fulfill the contract, so they want to postpone it or cancel it."

The Bozbon Duke's seal was stamped at the bottom.

I placed the paper back on the table, and Aden leisurely crossed his legs the other way before speaking in a low voice.

"He has an unusual love for his daughter, that Bozbon Duke."

"Well..."

The Bozbon Duke's singular, profound love for his only daughter, Bellieta, was a well-known fact among those in the know.

He always carried a portrait of her in his pocket watch, and if she fell ill, he'd rush to the capital in an instant.

Even entrusting her to me had been his timid hope that his daughter might make a friend.

In the end, though, it was no different from dumping a pile of crap on me.

"My father, the previous Bozbon Duke, left a will, and his devotion is so extreme that he's ignoring it."

He ground his teeth and covered his jaw with his palm.

"Thanks to that, Riplton has been struggling without support for the past five years, constantly begging for aid. We were dutifully taking the monster corpses until five years ago, and now they wipe their mouths clean and act like it's nothing. Does that mean they don't need us anymore?"

"I don't know the full details. But if Bellieta is fiercely opposed to the engagement and marriage, the Bozbon Duke wouldn't be pleased either. He's on her side, after all."

I let out a sneer as I pictured the father and daughter.

"For his daughter, he wouldn't even notice if millions starved or suffered."

As I looked up from the document on the table, golden eyes staring straight through me met my gaze.

Aden slowly opened his mouth.

"You seem to dislike them quite a bit."

"To be precise, the daughter."

I smiled faintly, and a subtle smile tugged at his lips.

But it was only for a moment.

The smile vanished, replaced by a hardened expression as his voice flowed out.

"Let me get back to it."

He tapped the table rhythmically with his nails.

As his mouth opened in time with the sound,

"Do you know what it means for me to become the lady's man?"

"I do."

"And if there's no need to hide it, I can use you whenever I want."

"As much as you like. And in return, I'll use you too."

He lifted the corner of his mouth as if amused.

"Mutual use, then. Not bad. But since the contract isn't officially terminated, the Bozbon Duke might get angry if he finds out."

"Do we need to worry about that?"

I looked at the paper on the table and spoke.

"The Bozbon family sent an official document postponing or canceling the contract. Moreover, I heard it directly from her."

"Heard what?"

"Yes. Bellieta told me herself."

I hadn't expected a throwaway joke to come in handy like this, but if it could be used, it would be.

"She said she has no fiancé."

"The engagement itself is a secret, so hiding it isn't strange."

"Then there's even less reason to worry. It's a secret anyway, so I can just play dumb and say I didn't know. Aden can say the contract was postponed five years ago and now canceled with this notice. Isn't that settled?"

Aden pressed the bridge of his nose, fell silent in thought for a moment, then chuckled and nodded.

I smiled back at him before speaking again.

"So, there's only one thing for Aden to worry about."

"What's that?"

"It's simple."

I opened my mouth briefly and continued.

"Just become a man that anyone would covet and desire."

"That's unusual."

"And one more thing."

He lifted his mouth again and tilted his chin as if to say go on.

I bit my lip slightly, pausing at his gesture.

This was the most important part.

No matter how much I made him my man, if he ended up going back to Bellieta, all my efforts would be for nothing.

I carefully studied him as he watched me expectantly with those golden eyes, then slowly spoke.

"Don't go to Bellieta."

"What does that mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. You'll see later, but once it's revealed that you and I have developed some kind of relationship, Bellieta's behavior will change. In some way or another."

He leaned back in his chair as if he couldn't comprehend.

Pressing his temple, he looked like someone suffering from a severe headache.

Aden rolled his eyes downward to stare at my toes, then lifted his gaze vertically.

"No need to worry; that won't happen. Even if that selfish woman looks my way again, it'd only be pathetic."

"Selfish, you say. Greedy too."

Bellieta's numerous flaws, the ugly sides invisible to others—I was the only one who knew them.

To everyone else, she was the flower of high society, an angel. What nonsense.

"I've noticed it since earlier, but you seem to harbor a lot of ill feelings toward Bellieta. Inferiority complex?"

"That's rude."

Of all the words, why did he have to pick that one?

"Do I seem lacking compared to Bellieta in your eyes? Like I'd be jealous?"

"Hard to say. You're both bold, but one acts like etiquette was thrown into a pigsty, while the other is at least somewhat tolerable."

"The latter is obviously me, right?"

"Who knows?"

I furrowed my brow at his softly rising smile.

Was this man capable of such words? He was so different from the first impression I'd had—it was disorienting.

"Let's end the conversation here. The supplies should be loaded by now, and it's late, so how about resting?"

I thought the surroundings had darkened because of the rain, but night had fallen outside the window.

It had taken longer than expected.

I nodded and replied in a tired voice.

"Sure. But before that, let's do the contract first."

"Thorough, aren't you."

"Of course. Even a simple piece of paper can topple a nation if the words within it are mishandled."

"A saying from Wilkin Max, I presume."

It was a phrase merchants held like a creed close to their hearts.

Surprising that a knight like Aden knew it.

"Without a contract, you could betray me later. With one, even if I'm betrayed, I can claim compensation. Good for me, good for you."

He thought for a moment, then nodded.

As soon as he agreed, I opened my bag, took out two copies of the contract, and handed them to him.

It already included everything we'd discussed.

The minor details could be adjusted later, so nothing difficult.

Aden took the contract, scanned it quickly, paused at one spot, and scowled deeply.

"The compensation amount is off."

"Nothing off about it. It has to be that high to prevent casual betrayal."

"Even so, ten million gold coins is excessive. Riplton would go bankrupt paying that."

"Why worry about bankruptcy already? Compensation is just compensation. Don't do anything that triggers it. Why? Already plotting betrayal?"

I stared at him as he frowned and grumbled about the contract.

I knew the amount was huge.

That was the point, after all.

After being betrayed by the man I'd called husband, how could I trust a man I'd met only twice? The contract was the only thing reliable.

I knew Riplton was suffering financially.

And money was the way to bind him—and to save him.

I was certain he'd sign despite being daunted by the enormous sum.

As long as he wasn't entertaining foolish thoughts.

The reason was simple.

"...No choice, then."

What he needed right now was stable food and essentials.

I put his signed copy in my bag and handed him the other.

"That's for you to keep."

"...Meticulous. Do ladies learn this sort of thing?"

"Ordinary ladies probably don't."

I gazed steadily at Aden as he signed with a serious expression.

The first time...

It was the first time.

Taking something from Bellieta.

A man I'd stolen from her, who always took from me while saying she wanted to be like me.

Even if it was someone she'd rejected and pushed away—it didn't matter.

No, it made it all the more delightful.

What face would she make if she knew I'd taken the man she'd refused? Disbelief? Panic?

I wasn't sure, but one thing was certain.

She'd try to take him back.

Acting like he was hers from the start.

It thrilled me.

I wanted to tell Bellieta right away.

And from this, steal everything from her, one by one.

No, take back what was mine.

Everything she had was mine to begin with.

"Done."

"Thank you."

I smiled, and he stood from his seat.

As I rose to follow, Aden said curtly,

"I'll guide you."

"Personally?"

He chuckled and nodded as if it were obvious.

He opened the door and turned his eyes toward me.

"It's nominal, but I have to play the loving fiancé. No need to hide."

Hearing Aden's words made it real.

I couldn't hold back the laughter.

I let the smile flow freely and said with emphasis,

"Thank you."

I'd stolen Bellieta's fiancé.