After sending Archbishop Werbu away, Olentia became anxious. She had to meet Dimidius Belial right away and talk to him. Until now, Dimidius had always been there whenever she needed him, but not this time. Where on earth did he go?

Olentia paced inside the mansion and found his assistant, Killen, in the first-floor hall. Killen was holding a thick file in his hands. It seemed like he was working without accompanying Dimidius.

“Excuse me! Wait a moment!”

At Olentia’s call, Killen made a puzzled expression.

“Lady Armeniaca. What’s the matter?”

It was even harder to speak because his expression showed that he didn’t know the reason. She was afraid of seeming like someone who was interested in Dimidius for no reason.

‘There’s no choice now. Someone who is needed has to take action.’

Olentia brushed her long hair back and asked as naturally as possible.

“Where is His Highness the Grand Duke?”

She didn’t bother adding reasons before or after. She didn’t want to seem pathetic.

Then Killen raised one corner of his mouth slightly.

“He went to the Centmi River.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“Yes. I don’t know the reason either.”

“I, I’m not curious about the reason. Well then!”

It seemed like she handled it pretty well.

Olentia left the first-floor hall, not knowing that Killen was chuckling, and headed to the carriage station. She was anxious and curious about what Dimidius was doing at the Centmi River.

At that moment, Bobby blocked her way.

“Young lady!”

Olentia was startled and flinched for a moment. But Bobby seemed even more surprised, her complexion pale and unwell.

“Never leave me behind again. Wherever you go! Do you understand?”

Bobby’s chest rose and fell greatly. She breathed heavily as if she was excited. Her expression also looked very sensitive.

‘I made Bobby like this.’

Feeling endlessly sorry, Olentia nodded and opened the carriage door.

“I’m going to the Centmi River to find His Highness the Grand Duke. Let’s go together.”

Only then did Bobby look relieved and say to Olentia.

“We should take the knights too. You never know what might happen again.”

Olentia nodded. Although she was anxious, she was determined to listen to Bobby as much as possible.

The Centmi River sparkled again today. The strong sunlight made the entire surface of the river white. While her eyes were dazzled, Olentia focused on examining the people near the river. This was the first time she had searched for Dimidius so desperately.

Bobby and the knights also joined in the search for Dimidius.

How long had they been wandering around the river?

Finally, Olentia’s eyes caught sight of Dimidius. He was sitting on a bench, boasting shoulders as wide as the sea.

Olentia stopped the carriage and hastily landed on the ground.

“Bobby, wait here. I have something to discuss with him alone.”

At Olentia’s words, Bobby’s shoulders slumped, but she nodded.

“Yes. I’ll allow that much.”

“What? Well, thank you.”

“Don’t forget that I’m always on your side, young lady.”

Come to think of it, Bobby didn’t ask why she was looking for Dimidius on the way here. She seemed full of determination to follow her words unconditionally.

Olentia smiled brightly and approached Dimidius closely. The closer she got, the more she felt his unique aura, and for some reason, she became nervous.

Making the sound of her shoes, she arrived at the bench and cleared her throat for no reason.

Only then did Dimidius turn his head with a leisurely look.

“What brings you here?”

Seeing that he wasn’t surprised, it seemed he had sensed her presence from afar.

Feeling even more embarrassed for some reason, Olentia brushed her shoulders with both arms and spoke.

“I have something to talk to you about. Why are you here, Your Highness? Do you like the Centmi River?”

“I couldn’t see it properly last time. I wanted to see a sparkling and open river.”

“The river is surprisingly wide and large, so it’s nice. The rivers in Geranium are just trickling like streams.”

Now was not the time to just talk about the Centmi River. When Olentia set out to find him, she thought she would speak like a machine gun when she met him… but it didn’t work out well. She ended up loitering around the bench like someone who was originally slow to act.

‘By the way, he used to come and watch over me once a day when I was sick… Now he seems uninterested. Is it because I’m all better?’

Olentia was curious but managed to hold back. It didn’t seem like the right time to ask such a question when they weren’t even lovers.

Even when the conversation was interrupted for a while, Dimidius was still only looking at the river. His relaxed and leisurely atmosphere was somehow irritating.

‘No. Get a grip! Just say what you have to say properly.’

Olentia carefully sat next to him and caught her breath. Her heart was pounding like crazy as she was about to talk about the wedding in ten days. She was usually nervous in front of him, but now it seemed to be at its peak.

Finally, Olentia looked at him with a firm gaze and opened her mouth.

“We’re getting married in ten days.”

‘Aaaah!’

She screamed internally and gripped her dress tightly. She gripped it so tightly that her fingers turned white.

Olentia couldn’t tell what Dimidius’s expression was like, so she wanted to rip off his mask. It seemed like it would relieve her.

He didn’t say anything for a while and breathed evenly. He didn’t seem very surprised either.

Olentia bit her lips in embarrassment and closed her eyes tightly.

“Say something, Your Highness the Grand Duke. You’re usually good at it.”

Only then did Dimidius’s answer come.

“You mean talking nonsense?”

“So you do know that.”

“But what do we do about this? I’m not in the mood for that today.”

Olentia opened her eyes again and saw his eyes flickering red through the eye holes of the mask.

“Why?”

In response to Olentia’s question, Dimidius calmly replied.

“Because I knew you would ask me to marry you today.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Count Odor was asking around about noble men, so I asked him what was going on. Then he told me. He said you need to get married right away with a special marriage permit. It seemed like you would find someone who could compete with Marquis Luxus and ask me to marry you.”

Olentia suddenly felt a headache and rubbed her forehead. She thought her uncle had caused a big accident.

But something was strange. Olentia couldn’t understand Dimidius’s statement.

“What does that have to do with not being in the mood? Are you saying you don’t want to marry me?”

“……”

“We’re not saying we should live together for a long time after getting married. It’s a contract marriage. I’ll give you divine power. After we get married, you just have to help me find my inheritance. Just a contract relationship without emotions! Clean and simple.”

But Dimidius was worryingly silent. It seemed difficult to find such a good contract partner right away.

After a while, Dimidius’s low voice was heard.

“I don’t do things like contract marriages.”

She never thought he would refuse. She thought he would unconditionally do as she said because he needed divine power.

But that was a big miscalculation.

Olentia froze like ice in front of him. She couldn’t believe Dimidius had rejected her, and it even made her sad.

Dimidius quietly watched Olentia get up from her seat. Unlike when she was sick, she had vitality on her face and looked in good physical condition. It was truly fortunate that he only wished for Olentia’s recovery.

Olentia, who had been rejected, walked very roughly as if she was angry. It seemed like she might fall over at this rate.

However, Dimidius could not hold her hand.

When Olentia was sick, he felt scared and fearful emotions. It had been a very long time since he felt such emotions, except when demonization was progressing. And it was even more awkward to know the reality of those unfamiliar emotions.

‘Why am I like this? What on earth are my feelings for Lady Armeniaca?’

Confused, Dimidius always came to the Centmi River whenever he had time. He immersed himself in thoughts, reminiscing about the memories he had with her.

But no matter how much he thought about it, he didn’t have the courage to love someone. It was clear that Olentia would also leave his side someday like his mother Lilith.

So when he heard the story from Count Odor and Olentia woke up, he unknowingly avoided her.

A contract marriage.

It was very concerning that they had to get married, let alone just having a contract relationship. He wasn’t sure if it was right to continue being with her right away.

Dimidius stared blankly at the Centmi River. Looking at the river sparkling in the sunlight seemed to calm his mind a little.

“How could he do this to me?”

Olentia, who had returned to the mansion, huffed and puffed. She was shocked because she never thought Dimidius would reject her.

Uncle Count Odor approached such Olentia.

“Niece! Is something wrong?”

“No. Nothing’s wrong.”

However, Olentia’s face was stiff.

Count Odor made a puzzled expression.

“But why are you angry? Don’t be like that, and there’s someone I’ve wanted to introduce to you for a while, so meet him once. It will be fine.”

“What? Who?”

“Viscount Hermil! I mentioned it once before.”

If it was Hermil, it was a viscounty that had a sizable territory near the Odor Territory. She seemed to have heard that the Hermil Territory was so simple, peaceful, and beautiful.

Since she had been rejected by Dimidius anyway, she thought she should at least meet the person her uncle introduced.

Olentia hesitated a little and said to him.

“What… kind of person is he? I’m quite picky, Uncle.”

“Ah, just meet him once! If we contact him with a communication stone, he will arrive by tomorrow.”

“Phew! Why are you even using a communication stone?”

“You have ten days left until your wedding? Do you want to walk in holding hands with Marquis Luxus?”

“Oh, I got it! I’ll meet him.”

Honestly, even if she liked Viscount Hermil, she wasn’t sure if he would have the power to face Marquis Luxus.

Still, she thought she should meet him.

‘Because I was brutally rejected by His Highness the Grand Duke!’

Olentia clenched her fists and trembled.