IOTLYG – 4

‘The problem is that I can’t figure out her true intentions.’

Even though she was someone who would leave someday, it still felt unsettling.

That a princess from the Holy Nation would dedicate herself like this, not for her own country but for another.

“Couldn’t it be that Her Royal Highness genuinely wants to help?”

“You’re still spouting that crap after seeing all the hardships she’s been through? There’s no such thing as pure intentions. She’s obviously after something.”

Dervel scoffed coldly. His voice was laced with deep mistrust toward the Holy Nation.

The Holy Nation, thanks to the founder who sealed away the demons, was a place untouched by demonic beasts. They’d always looked down on other nations from a position of total safety.

But that was old news now.

At some point, demonic beasts started appearing along the borders and their attitude changed. They reached out to the Chrysian Duchy, the very House they used to scorn.

They’d tremble and beg for help when demonic beasts showed up, yet mocked them for being ‘just mercenaries’ behind their backs.

That’s why Dervel had zero trust in them.

“Since when did you become so stupid, Evan? She’s also from the Holy Nation.”

“But…”

“Besides, she was the one who first proposed this contract marriage.”

“That’s what’s so strange. She doesn’t look like that kind of person at all.”

 Evan’s words weren’t wrong.

With her colorful appearance and the way she busily scurried around the mansion, she seemed like someone who’d lived carefree in the Holy Nation.

As the First Princess of the Holy Nation, she must have grown up wanting for nothing.

Yet, it was surprising to see how she embraced even those of lower status.

The engagement was like that too.

‘Why don’t we get engaged, Your Grace?’

It was an unexpected proposal.

“So Her Royal Highness really was the one who asked Your Grace for a contract marriage? You didn’t threaten her?”

“Have you been living under a rock? Why the hell would I threaten her?”

“Well, to stop all the pressure you’re getting from the Duchy’s Elders, not to mention all the status boost you’d get from marrying a Princess…”

“The Chrysian Duchy is a founding House of Dioren.”

Dervel’s voice dropped.

Even as the Duke revealed his displeasure, Evan didn’t stop.

Though he pretended not to know in front of Lynette, but Evan was aware that the two were in a contractual relationship.

On the surface, it still seemed more plausible that the Duke had coerced her than that the Princess had suggested it. So even now, it was hard to fully believe.

“But it’s true that you’ve been criticized for mercenary work, isn’t it? Thanks to the princess, those voices have died down considerably.”

“It seems your head has gotten soft along with your body, Evan Barenche. I haven’t worked you hard enough, have I?”

“I’m plenty busy. And, soft? As if that could happen to me!”

As Dervel called his full name and started to rise, Evan quickly added while backing away:

“When do you plan to tell her that I know about the contract engagement?”

At those words, Dervel, who was about to stand up, leaned back in his chair again.

“…I’ll wait and watch a bit longer.”

After being lost in thought for a moment, Dervel answered indifferently.

Because he couldn’t trust Lynette Igraine just yet, he had no intention of revealing everything to her.

It would be good to have at least one card hidden up his sleeve.

Even if that card wasn’t particularly reliable.

Dervel clicked his tongue inwardly while glancing at his aide.

“Evan.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“I remember giving her a communication stone, but apparently, she says she never received it. How does that make sense?”

“That’s strange. I don’t think Her Highness lie about it… Should I look into it?”

“Call Jasper. We’ll know once we hear what’s happened so far. And…”

Dervel pondered for a moment, then lifted the corner of his mouth in a smirk.

“It’s been about a month, so it’s time to clean the house. We won’t be going out to subjugate demonic beasts for a while anyways.”

“A full-on deep clean, then.”

“Give everything a proper dusting. Let’s see what comes crawling out.”

“Of course. How could I possibly slack off when doing something for Your Grace’s beloved fiancée? I’ll dust it thoroughly…”

Dervel’s brow twitched at Evan’s words. With a sigh, he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and stood up silently.

Evan hastily changed tack.

“I mean—! I’ll make sure we find out exactly who messed with Her Royal Highness. I won’t leave a single speck of dust behind. Not a trace!”

But changing the wording and not the content didn’t do much to help.

When Evan saw Dervel’s hand start to move toward his sword again, he bolted. The last time, the blade had stopped just short of his throat, but who’s to say it would this time?

“Don’t worry. Just trust me, Your Grace!”

With that, he hurried out, lest Dervel call him back again.

Once his aide was gone, silence settled over the room.

And in the quiet, Evan’s earlier words resurfaced in his mind.

Contract engagement.

‘Make a deal with me, Your Grace. I’ll help you end all those marriage talks, so take me to your territory. And…’

She had nothing to her name, yet boldly proposed a deal.

‘You won’t be losing anything in this arrangement, I promise.’

It was only then he noticed her trembling hands, hidden behind her back.

Maybe it was because of those hands.

When he came to his senses, his mouth had already accepted it.

‘All right. Let’s give this contract engagement a try.’

Only then did her tension ease and the color return to her face.

‘You won’t regret it, Duke Chrysian.’

Lynette Igraine smiled as if everything was right in the world.

That was when he first thought: Maybe a contract marriage wouldn’t be so bad. When he first found himself wanting to understand what she was really thinking.

If only it had ended there.

That memory, as always, led to the subjugation of demonic beasts.

Lynette Igraine was inseparable from the Holy Nation, and the Holy Nation stirred up Dervel’s nightmarish memories.

Dervel began to sink into memories he wished to forget.

His jet-black hair melted into the darkening surroundings.

No one would notice him as he began to conceal his presence as if on a battlefield.

His eyes, which resembled clear skies, grew darker and darker. An inhuman light began to shine in his eyes, blazing blue flames like those of a demonic beast.

‘Your Grace! It’s a demonic beast! A high-rank demonic beast… Aagh!’

‘Get back! I said get back!’

‘It’s emitting demonic energy! If we’re hit by the demonic energy, we’ll become undead…’

Knights screaming and slashing away at the relentlessly charging demonic beasts.

The stench of blood that never left his nose.

Lives that were eventually extinguished, and those who became undead after being corrupted by demonic energy, unable to even receive a proper funeral…

After countless trials and errors, they finally became the strongest order of knights capable of slaying any demonic beast, but thinking of all the losses they faced along the way left a bitter taste in his mouth.

The deeper the memories went, the more brightly Dervel’s eyes glowed blue.

As if to hide it, he closed his eyes.

A moment later. When he opened his eyes again, the blue glow had disappeared without a trace, returning to his usual clear sky-blue eyes.

Tap. Tap.

Along with the sound of tapping on the armrest of the chair, the darkness receded and the outside air rushed in.

“Lynette Igraine.”

After a long while, Dervel called out the name as if rolling it around in his mouth.

The princess, cloaked in dazzling colors.

Indeed.

‘What are you really up to in my territory?’

Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to play along a little. While playing the role of a jealous fiancé who is displeased that his lovely fiancée is too absorbed in work.

Until he figures out what she’s up to.

After all, that’s what he does best.

* * *

The next day.

Lynette finished preparing for the banquet early.

She then said she would take a short walk before going to the banquet and left the room first with Gregorian.

“I’ll need your help even more from now on, Gregorian. Since you can go anywhere, you need to keep a close eye on places I can’t go.”

[Your Royal Highness…]

Gregorian was moved to tears at Linette’s words.

Watching the little mouse tear up, Lynette simply smiled slightly, lifting the corners of her mouth instead of answering. A mischievous light flashed in her sunset-colored eyes.

“For now, there will be a lot of people at tonight’s banquet, so stay close to me. Don’t move around carelessly and get caught by the Duke or the Aster knights.”

[Yes, I will never leave your side, Your Royal Highness.]

Lynette nodded at Gregorian’s answer.

It wasn’t an empty promise. From now on, the Duke and the Aster knights would be stationed at the mansion.

For the time being, she’d have to look for the Lucky Star in secret, without getting caught.

‘Not like it’s my first time doing this.’

When it came to sneaking around, there was no one more skilled than her. She’d been doing it since her days in the Holy Nation.

Lost in thought, she was walking along when she happened to glance out the window.

“Oh?”

Lynette stopped in her tracks.