Contract Marriage with the Devil Duke - Chapter 18

Ankedo, swallowing dry saliva, quietly moved to a place where he could burn the letter. He always immediately burned and disposed of his clients’ letters.

Whoosh!

The letter burst into flames.

Quite excited, Ankedo called for a priest who knew his identity. The priest with fluffy hair looked at Ankedo with a very tense face.

“What’s the matter?”

“I have something for you to do. That heiress of Armenica who came yesterday. Do some background research. Whether she’s a dangerous person or not.”

At the mention of Olentia, the priest made a puzzled expression.

“Why is she…?”

“You don’t need to know that. I’ve just become a bit interested.”

In fact, it was as if Olentia had touched him first.

Ankedo was very suspicious by nature. That’s how he had been able to hide his true self and perform perfectly until now.

He didn’t shy away from sacrifices for his act. A month ago, rescuing a child from a burning house was just a play he had planned. He set fire to the farthest place from the room where the child was and then safely rescued them.

Continuing to do good deeds was extremely boring, but once done, it certainly elevated Ankedo’s reputation. More and more people sought him out, he gained subtle power, and it was also convenient for concealing his smuggling business.

No one suspected that Ankedo was an embezzler.

Ankedo leaned deeply against the chair’s backrest and recalled Olentia with her clear, pure skin, sparkling platinum blonde hair, and golden eyes.

She boasted a much more elegant and beautiful figure than his ex-lover, Moring.

Ankedo unconsciously licked his lips.

“I’m secretly quite tempted.”

The more he thought about Olentia, the more Ankedo’s dirty desires boiled. He stuck out his tongue and licked his lips. He was very much looking forward to how sweet Olentia’s taste and scent would be.

In the banquet hall of Count Odor’s mansion, Dimidius sat leisurely, observing Jack Odor’s appearance.

He had a stiff face, just like yesterday evening.

When he had investigated Count Odor, he was said to be quite sociable and cheerful. Why was he so tense?

He was being overly polite, too much to be just because of negotiations.

Still, seeing that he wasn’t shaking much, it seemed he had become somewhat accustomed to being with him. Of course, this was possible because Dimidius was greatly suppressing his aura.

“…Is the food to your liking?”

Dimidius nodded at the Count’s question.

“The quality of the lamb seems good.”

Count Odor’s face brightened for a moment at his compliment. The Count had negotiated with many people before, but it was his first time with someone as important as Dimidius. That’s why he was somewhat stiff and nervous.

Unaware of this fact, Dimidius returned to the main topic.

“Let’s forget about the differences of opinion we had yesterday, shall we? It would be good to start anew with a fresh mind.”

It was also a subtly pressuring statement.

Count Odor swallowed dry saliva and asked him.

“Your Highness still wishes to exclusively sell the fantasy herb, right?”

“Yes. I’ll match the unit price as much as you want.”

Dimidius was willing to match the unit price within a reasonable range. But Count Odor still seemed deeply troubled.

“But on our side, we’re still a bit reluctant to make an exclusive sales contract all at once.”

Dimidius, casually brushing up his hair, recalled the fantasy herb in his mind. That mysterious flower like a white sunflower. Looking at the flower that emitted bright light with holy power, one would feel with their whole body how evil a demon’s existence was. It felt quite strange, as it was a denial of existence.

“I understand. The value of the fantasy herb might increase further in the future. There might also be other unknown effects.”

“Yes. That’s right!”

“But you should know that as time passes, the value of those effects might decrease.”

Dimidius’s voice grew colder towards the end. The atmosphere was also serious, as if to remind him to keep that fact in mind. It felt like a cold wind was blowing around him.

Count Odor felt a chill and firmly grasped his shoulder with one hand. Dimidius was a man with such a palpable presence. With his strong physique and a mask hiding his expression, and being half-human and half-demon, he exuded an enormous pressure different from humans.

A moment of silence passed between the two.

Dimidius closely examined the Count’s face, whose lips were trembling slightly. He had been wondering why he kept examining Jack Odor’s face since earlier. It seemed he somewhat resembled Olentia Armenica.

Especially the soft hair with thick volume and the gentle eyes.

‘Lady Armenica must take after her mother.’

As Dimidius was lost in thoughts completely unrelated to the negotiation, Count Odor spoke.

“…How about promising exclusive sales only for the current quantity produced, Your Highness?”

Dimidius, finally coming to his senses, cleared his throat slightly.

“Ahem! So you’re suggesting we contract for a short term for now?”

“Yes. Since we don’t know whether the value will decrease or increase, that seems like a good method too.”

In fact, Dimidius thought that the value of the fantasy herb was unlikely to decrease easily. For now, its effects were as excellent as the holy artifacts passed down from ancient times.

Of course, it was unknown how long the holy power of the fantasy herb would last. It had been less than a month since the effects of the fantasy herb were discovered. So if the holy power disappeared too quickly, it would be no different from simply becoming a consumable item.

But Dimidius was a person who had used many holy artifacts until now. His feeling was that the fantasy herb wouldn’t end up as just a consumable item.

‘I will definitely monopolize the fantasy herb.’

Recalling the information he had gathered before coming to Odor’s territory, he said to the Count.

“By the way, I know you’re looking for a northern route for your perfume business. As you know, the north is tightly held by other brands, so it won’t be easy. But if I help you, the story would be different.”

“Ye-yes?”

Count Odor was surprised. He hadn’t thought that Dimidius would know even such things.

Seeing Count Odor’s eyes shaking severely, Dimidius spoke again.

“Especially the Crystal line you’ve released recently seems to suit the cold weather of the north well. I should try it myself too.”

While Odor perfumes were quite famous in the south, they couldn’t exert much influence in the north, including the Belial territory.

Count Odor, who had always found that regrettable, couldn’t help but be interested in Dimidius’s words.

If he helped, it wouldn’t be difficult to find a way forward.

At the end of the negotiation, Dimidius made an offer that was hard to refuse. Moreover, he seemed to know well about the recent trends of Odor perfumes. That was subtly touching as well.

Count Odor, thinking his strategy was quite good, extended his hand.

“A-alright, Your Highness. I promise exclusive sales of the fantasy herb until next year. If I find a northern route, I might fulfill my long-cherished desire.”

In fact, he was still inwardly measuring the value of the fantasy herb, but Count Odor was in a hurry. He thought he might be able to receive more help than expected from Dimidius in the process of finding a northern route for the perfume business.

Moreover, if he could get closer to Dimidius, who had absolute power, through him. He could gain enough harvest to make it worth exclusively selling the fantasy herb until next year.

While many people were wary of Dimidius as the Demon Grand Duke, there were quite a few like Count Odor who wanted to get closer for business.

Dimidius Belial and Jack Odor continued their meal, each somewhat satisfied with the negotiation.

Enjoying the lavish banquet prepared by the Count, Dimidius said casually.

“…You should bring your niece to the main building. That villa in front of the daisy field doesn’t seem safe either.”

Not only was there no guarantee of safety, but it looked very dangerous to him. He couldn’t leave Olentia in such a place any longer.

Count Odor opened his eyes wide in surprise.

“How did you know that my niece is at the daisy field villa?”

“I saw your niece that evening and inquired separately. It seemed strange that she was staying somewhere other than the Count’s mansion. I apologize for the intrusion.”

Count Odor fanned his flushed face with his hand.

“This is quite embarrassing.”

“You don’t need to be embarrassed.”

“Then… is it really alright to bring my niece to the main building? I was just getting worried about it too. Although that place is a forbidden area where not just anyone can enter, and I’ve stationed knights there… but still.”

“Bring her in immediately.”

Dimidius urged before the Count could finish speaking.

‘Not just anyone can enter? I entered. There’s no guarantee there aren’t others like me!’

Dimidius was worried about her safety after all. He had been since the moment he saw her walking into the forest in front of the daisy field.

‘Why am I?’

For a moment such a question arose, but there was nothing strange about it if he thought it was because she was a necessary person. Olentia was an important person with holy power, after all.

Count Odor rose from his seat, saying he would call for his niece, Olentia, right away.

Only then did a sigh of relief spread from Dimidius’s mouth.

A maid working at the villa approached Olentia, who was resting in the living room.

“Um, Lady Armenica. The master has arrived.”

“Huh? At this hour?”

As it was quite late, Olentia looked at the entrance with wide eyes.

The Count entered the villa with a very happy face. Even his eyes were twinkling as if filled with starlight.

“Uncle? What’s the matter?”

To her question, Count Odor smiled brightly with a face resembling her mother’s.

“My niece! Let’s go to the main building quickly. I came all the way here to tell you in person.”

‘What is this about?’

As Olentia was just tilting her head in bewilderment, Count Odor quickly pushed her back.

“Embarrassingly, Grand Duke Belial knew everything. That you were here.”

“So, so what?”

“He seems to be a person with a broader mind than I thought. He told me to bring you to the main building right away, as if he was worried about your safety.”

“Eh? That can’t be…”

‘The Grand Duke is worried about my safety? Why?’

It was just puzzling that he, who usually only said mean things, was worried about her safety.

Did he even say that openly to Count Odor?

Olentia felt strange and hugged her shoulders with both arms.

An Indifferent Woman is the One Men Desire the Most

One-line summary: The female lead is actually cold-hearted and extremely rational. She has stage-by-stage relationships and won’t two-time, but there will always be someone who secretly likes her.

This novel has the following triggers, so if you’re sensitive to these, please don’t read:

1. The female lead has had many relationships, but she treated each one seriously and broke up properly.

It’s just that the men unilaterally pestered her incessantly. For the female lead, when she doesn’t like someone anymore, she simply doesn’t like them.

(This applies to her relationships with Male Lead 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well, but she’s loyal in each 1-on-1 relationship!)

2. In this novel, Male Lead 2 and the female lead kiss in a car, and Male Lead 1 sees it and beats up Male Lead 2.

The female lead calls the police and sends both Male Lead 1 and 2 to the police station! Male Lead 1 begs the female lead not to break up with him.

3. Male Lead 1 has a gentle appearance but an obsessive personality.

Male Lead 2 has a delicate and soft appearance, slightly green tea-like (two-faced).

Male Lead 3 is a youthful college student and a smart person who has secretly liked the female lead for a long time.

Male Lead 4 is the female lead’s father’s special assistant, a business elite with deep, hidden thoughts.

4. At the beginning of this novel, the female lead has already broken up with Male Lead 1 (Chapter 4) and gotten back together with Male Lead 2 (ex-boyfriend).

5. Enter with caution if you have triggers!!!