Contract Marriage with the Devil Duke (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9

At that moment, two men who had been hiding in the lounge revealed themselves. One emerged from behind a large armchair, the other from under the table. Both moved with remarkable agility.

The man gripping Orentia spoke to her in a chilling voice.

“I told you to stay quiet. Do you really want to look like you’re playing house?”

“What… who are you people?”

‘How could anyone possibly think I’m playing house? If it were you, wouldn’t you scream too? I was so shocked!’

Tears welled up in her eyes from sheer fright. She tried hard not to let her emotions show outwardly, but inside, she felt like she was going mad.

She never dreamed in her wildest nightmares that she’d end up in such a terrible situation. She must have stumbled into something deeply, deeply wrong.

‘Ah, I should’ve just stayed quiet! Why did I have to come in here? All because I couldn’t control my curiosity…’

But regretting it now was pointless. Orentia gulped and sealed her lips shut. For now, she decided to stay quiet, just as the man had ordered.

If she cried out again, he looked ready to stab her throat with that silver dagger.

She had absolutely no desire to die that way.

Just then—

The front door opened, and in walked someone accompanied by the men in black uniforms she’d seen moments earlier.

He was twice the size of the knights and exuded an unmistakable aura of intimidation.

A white bauta mask covered his face.

A man who seemed capable of striking fear into everyone present.

He was unmistakably Grand Duke Dimidius Belial.

Why on earth was he here?

Why did he appear in this place?

It made no sense whatsoever.

Orentia stared at him with trembling eyes. Dimidius’s sleeve was torn, revealing blood dripping from a wound on his arm.

‘Huh?! What happened to him?’

Amidst her panic, the cold sensation against her neck made her limbs shake uncontrollably.

‘What should I do? I’m so scared!’

It was a miracle she hadn’t fainted yet. Tears and snot streamed down her face as she took a ragged breath. She couldn’t afford to relax for even a second.

At that moment, the man holding her spoke to Dimidius in a weary voice.

“You actually killed them all? Now there are only three of us left, including me… You damn mad demon!”

Dimidius ignored him and simply looked at Orentia.

“…My lady?”

That single word, spoken in a voice so unlike his usual silent demeanor during combat, instantly made the man sense that Orentia and Dimidius knew each other.

The masked man felt a surge of excitement and pressed the dagger tighter against Orentia’s throat.

“Oh? So you two know each other? Perfect. If you don’t surrender quietly, I’ll slit this woman’s throat.”

Dimidius replied in a flat, emotionless tone.

“She means nothing to me. So you won’t be able to do as you please.”

The man seemed taken aback and coughed awkwardly.

“Cough! Even if she’s just an innocent citizen, do you really think I wouldn’t kill her?”

He finally made a small cut on Orentia’s neck.

“Eeek!”

The sharp pain made Orentia panic—any wrong move, and he might pierce her carotid artery.

‘Seriously! Why are you doing this to me? Just fight each other!’

Terrified she might die, she even cursed inwardly.

She was utterly clueless about what Dimidius was thinking. He was the only person she could possibly rely on right now.

‘Coming into the first-class carriage on my own was a mistake… but it’s not like I did anything bad enough to deserve death.’

While lost in her despair, Dimidius suddenly coughed up blood, then without hesitation stepped forward, his hands stained crimson.

The knights nearby were startled.

“Y-Your Grace! Let us handle this!”

“That’s right. There’s no need for Your Grace to shed more blood. It’s dangerous!”

‘Why is he suddenly coughing up blood? What’s going on?’

Orentia bit her lip hard and let silent tears fall. The dagger at her throat prevented her from speaking.

But soon after, her mind cleared slightly, and Dimidius’s solemn voice reached her.

[My lady. Close your eyes for just ten seconds. Trust me.]

It was as if he’d sent her a divine message.

How on earth?

Had he used demonic power?

But that wasn’t important right now.

Desperate to live, Orentia squeezed her eyes shut and began counting. He’d asked her to trust him, so she decided to do just that.

‘One… two!’

[This is the timeline separator]

From the moment he saw Orentia, Dimidius resolved to give everything he had. Until now, he’d fought them using only his sword, but it seemed he’d have to unleash his demonic power.

His attempt to buy a little time resulted in Orentia being wounded on the neck.

Seeing the cut on her delicate throat, Dimidius frowned—it felt entirely his fault.

Without hesitation, he forcibly unsealed the demonic power he’d been suppressing. As the dark energy surged through his meridians, his mouth tore open and his internal organs trembled violently.

This was the first time since the attack on the Grand Duchy five years ago that he’d unleashed his demonic power. To maintain his human form for so long, he’d sealed away that strength, and using it now placed unbearable strain on his body.

A tremendous wave of magical energy crashed over Dimidius. His crimson eyes grew deeper in hue, and his hair whipped wildly around him.

Though he’d already lost much blood, he couldn’t bring himself to ignore Orentia, who stood trembling in fear.

When the demonic aura enveloped his entire body—

He first sent a telepathic message to Orentia.

[My lady. Close your eyes for just ten seconds. Trust me.]

Orentia, startled, obediently squeezed her eyes shut and began counting, just as he’d asked.

Now, only the masked man remained to be dealt with.

Dimidius appeared behind the man as if by magic, knocked the dagger from his hand, and struck his vital point in one fluid motion.

Clang!

The dagger that had held Orentia captive clattered to the floor, and the masked man collapsed without a sound.

Using demonic power made it that simple.

The other two were subdued by the knights.

“Your Grace! They’ve been subdued!”

“Are you alright?”

Amidst their voices, Dimidius cared only about Orentia’s condition. The wound on her pale, slender neck clashed horribly with the sheltered life she’d clearly led.

But was Orentia truly unharmed?

He’d unleashed demonic power—enough to give even his trained Belial knights splitting headaches from the agony.

Yet, just like their first meeting, Orentia calmly counted numbers without apparent distress. She must indeed possess strong holy power.

“Huh-huh! Six… seven, eight!”

Still gripping her legs tightly, she suddenly felt her whole body float upward.

Dimidius’s voice reached her ears.

“Seven, eight? You must have been in quite a hurry.”

Only then did Orentia open her eyes and look up at Dimidius’s white bauta mask. For a brief moment, it felt like a dream.

Then, as her mind slowly cleared, she realized she was in his arms—and shuddered. Though his embrace was broad and steady, she had no desire to stay there.

“How long exactly do you plan to keep holding me…?”

So before he could finish his sentence—as he had last time—she quickly sat up. Blood rushed to her head, making her wobble slightly, but luckily she didn’t fall embarrassingly.

Orentia stood straight and looked Dimidius in the eye.

“Do you think I’ll fall for the same thing twice?”

At her sharp retort, Dimidius merely shrugged.

“It seems you learn well enough. That’s fortunate, my lady.”

Still catching her breath, Orentia glanced at the masked men lying on the floor and flinched, her body trembling again. Dimidius’s knights were removing the bodies somewhere, yet she couldn’t bring herself to move.

Her mind was a jumble—what exactly had just happened?

At that moment, Dimidius pointed toward her neck and asked,

“…Is your neck wound alright?”

His voice was unusually grave. The way he inspected her injury showed clear concern.

Wincing from the pain, Orentia touched the wound with her hand but forced a brave front.

“I-It’s nothing at all!”

“Is that so? Then perhaps I should’ve left it longer.”

But Orentia knew well that her minor wound was nothing compared to Dimidius’s injuries. His arm was badly hurt, and just moments ago, he’d even coughed up blood. Was something seriously wrong with him?

They weren’t close enough for her to pry into personal matters, so she had no choice but to let it go.

After wiping the blood from her neck with the clean cloth Dimidius offered, Orentia took a moment to steady her breathing. She still couldn’t believe she’d been caught in such a horrifying scene—where murder ran rampant.

‘This is… an assassination scene, isn’t it? But who? Who would dare attack the Grand Duke of Bonus Empire?’

Fear made her head feel hot. It was like she’d seen something she shouldn’t have.

Still, Orentia gathered her courage and spoke to Dimidius as he bandaged his arm.

“I believe I have a right to know. After all, I’m a victim too.”

“Then please state only the essentials.”

Dimidius’s voice was slightly weary, lowered and subdued.

“Who were the attackers? You must know, Your Grace.”

“I have very complicated circumstances.”

“Yes. I have complicated circumstances too. Everyone does.”

“So can you tell me your complicated circumstances?”

“That’s…”

Her deceased parents, who’d died in an accident; her greedy cousin and his wife, coveting her inheritance; the Pieta bracelet through which she’d unmistakably heard divine whispers—exactly three times.

There was no way she could reveal any of that.

Orentia glared at him with sharp, accusing eyes.