After finishing the contract with Olentia and returning to his room, Dimidius let out a deep sigh. It felt as if his soul was being drained from his entire body.

“Ah… Is this right.”

He sat on the bed, lost in thought for a while. His legs began to tremble involuntarily, and meeting Olentia and coming back felt like a dream.

The reason Dimidius changed his mind was because he didn’t like seeing Olentia together with Viscount Hermil.

‘It must be because she’s with Viscount Hermil! Haha!’

Olentia’s words that the tea tasted especially good today because she was with Viscount Hermil remained vividly in his memory. If that was true, he wanted to cut Viscount Hermil into pieces and get rid of him. Even though he had nowhere to go, he headed to the carriage house and kept an eye on them.

At this rate, it seemed like Olentia would really end up marrying another man. He didn’t like that. If Olentia was alone, it would be one thing, but he couldn’t bear to see her with someone else. Just thinking about it made flames surge within him. Throughout the day, his heart raced countless times due to anxiety.

Until he refused the contract marriage, he had forgotten the fact that she would have to marry someone else.

‘Then wouldn’t it be better to just go through with the contract marriage? I can just think of it strictly as a contractual relationship.’

Just as he had deliberately paced in the garden in a spot that was easily visible to Olentia on the third floor, Dimidius acted on his heart’s desires. He might come to regret it someday. Entering a contract marriage with Olentia could be a big mistake. But for now, he was relieved that he could protect Olentia.

He decided to only think about that for the time being.

The next morning, Dimidius left the Odor estate as scheduled. Olentia didn’t bother coming out to say goodbye. They would see each other again in Geranium anyway, so there was no need for a final farewell.

Olentia simply took her uncle and sat across from him in the first-floor hall, as she had something left to say to him. Count Odor had a puzzled expression, not understanding Olentia’s serious demeanor.

“Why? What’s the matter? You don’t like Viscount Hermil?”

Olentia felt sorry for Viscount Hermil but nodded her head first.

“Yes, Uncle. I didn’t like him.”

“Then I’ll find someone else for you…”

“No, there’s no need for that anymore. I’ve found someone to marry.”

At her words, Count Odor showed a surprised expression. He nervously tapped his leg and asked Olentia.

“Don’t tell me it’s him?”

“You’re probably right.”

Now that Count Odor had roughly guessed, the conversation seemed like it would be a bit easier.

But the count abruptly stood up from his seat and shouted.

“Olentia! Are you in your right mind? Duke Belial! He’s… He’s!”

He seemed to have no idea that it was a contract marriage, but it didn’t matter. She intended to let him misunderstand her relationship with Dimidius.

Olentia quietly looked up at Count Odor, whose face had turned pale.

“What about him? Uncle, you don’t really have anything to say either, right?”

“There’s no uncle in the world who would want his niece to marry a half-demon. Regardless of whether he’s a good person or not.”

“In the end, you’re opposed to it because he’s a half-demon?”

“The Armeniaca family has had sacred power for generations. Even if that power disappeared 100 years ago. Politically, we have close ties to the church.”

Thinking about how the priests of that church had turned their backs on Dimidius, who needed sacred power, Olentia somehow wanted to mock them.

It was also something that didn’t really resonate with her since she didn’t get involved in politics.

Looking at Count Odor, who sat back down, Olentia said.

“So in the end, you’re saying that it could put Elder Brother Sokol in a difficult position.”

“Yes, it would be very troublesome for him.”

“That’s actually what I’m hoping for.”

No matter how the relationship between the Armeniaca family and the church turned out, the person Olentia needed right now was Dimidius. She had no intention of being swayed by her uncle’s words anyway, and she didn’t have the time for it either.

With a resolute face, she said:

“If it’s a marriage that no one welcomes, then at least you, Uncle, should welcome it.”

If even her uncle supported her, she would be truly grateful.

At Olentia’s words, the count clutched his head with one hand and groaned.

“Ah… My head hurts. You really can’t be dissuaded, my dear niece.”

Seeing him call her ‘niece’ again instead of ‘Olentia,’ it was clear that his anger had subsided. Olentia looked at him and smiled brightly.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

Although her parents had passed away together in an accident, it was as if she had a family in her uncle.

“What is all this?”

Arriving at her house in Noctifer after leaving the Odor estate, Olentia tilted her head at the sight of gift boxes piled up in her room. Putting down her bag, she pulled out a gift package with a puzzled expression.

Inside the box was a gorgeous wedding dress adorned with beads. For a moment, it was dazzling enough to hurt her eyes even without sunlight. Along with it were a navy blue evening dress for the reception and various accessories.

It had to be from either Sokol or Kikozellia.

Olentia let out an incredulous laugh.

“Ha! I guess they asked the madam who knows my size… I want to tear it apart.”

It seemed they had asked the madam of the dressmaker shop that Olentia frequently visited to make the wedding dress and reception dress. At a glance, her craftsmanship could be seen.

Olentia put down the box and said to Bobby.

“Organize it well and put it away. For now, I’d like it out of my sight.”

With the wedding not too far away, she intended to wear that dress. But she didn’t want to see it with her own eyes right away.

Of course, if she wore the dress they prepared and entered the Bonus Cathedral with Dimidius, it would be quite thrilling. It seemed like not only Count Sokol and Kikozellia would be surprised. The marriage with Dimidius had a high chance of becoming the wedding of the century.

There were many rumors about Duke Dimidius. That his face was hideously ugly, that he was no different from a demon. Yet, because of his exceptional business acumen and power, there were also many people who wanted to get close to him.

Olentia recalled her uncle’s words.

‘There’s no uncle in the world who would want his niece to marry a half-demon. Regardless of whether he’s a good person or not.’

He clearly said he was a good person.

And for Olentia, it was enough if Dimidius was the kind of person who would uphold the contract well.

Viscount Luxus’ heart pounded because of Dimidius, who had suddenly arranged a meeting. In the furniture business, the influence of Belial, who had a grip on the raw wood market, was immense.

Dimidius didn’t even drink tea and went straight to the point.

“Let me be direct, Viscount. Back out of the marriage with Lady Armeniaca.”

The viscount never dreamed that the name of his soon-to-be bride would come out of Dimidius’ mouth. Viscount Luxus leaned forward and blinked his eyes.

“Wh-what do you mean by that? It’s my marriage, and you’re telling me to back out.”

Even as he said that, the viscount couldn’t stop trembling because of the overwhelming pressure exuded by Dimidius. It wasn’t usually this intense, but it was clear that the duke’s mood wasn’t very good.

Dimidius crossed his legs and let out a deep sigh.

“Hah… I’m giving you an opportunity, Viscount. A chance to turn everything back.”

“Pardon?”

“If you intend to share the lady’s inheritance with Count Armeniaca, it would be best to stop. I warned you.”

Dimidius had heard from Count Odor about the issue of Olentia’s inheritance.

‘…So in the end, Count Armeniaca and Viscount Luxus coveted the inheritance, and that’s how things ended up like this.’

Dimidius wanted to meet Count Armeniaca right away, but he thought Viscount Luxus should come first for now. If he could get the marriage partner to back out, Count Armeniaca would have no way to handle it.

Thinking that way, Dimidius gritted his teeth. Suddenly, anger surged within him at the thought of Olentia being caught up in this nonsensical marriage.

Then, Viscount Luxus clutched his chest, letting out a groan. Seeing him suffer from the overwhelming pressure, Dimidius even thought it served him right.

A moment later, Viscount Luxus spoke, breathing heavily.

“I-I’ll die at this rate. I will.”

“I got carried away without realizing it.”

“The marriage. Can’t we just not do it?”

Finally, the answer Dimidius wanted came out of Viscount Luxus’ mouth. Luxus rubbed his chest and continued speaking.

“If I get married, I risk falling out with Your Grace the Duke. Who would get married then? No one would step forward to do so.”

Whether it was because of business or because he felt his life was threatened, Luxus only wanted to solidify his relationship with Dimidius for the sake of the furniture business.

Of course, his relationship with the Armeniaca family was also important, but not as much as the Belial ducal family, with whom he had business ties.

Viscount Luxus quietly watched Dimidius leave after their conversation ended. What would he do now? He probably wouldn’t meet with Count Armeniaca in this manner again.

Meanwhile, upon hearing the news from Viscount Luxus that he would break off the engagement, Sokol clenched his fists tightly.

“Viscount Luxus. What is this nonsense!”

A somewhat rough voice escaped from Sokol. His chest heaved up and down. Sokol removed his glasses, placed them on the desk, and dusted off his clothes.

But Viscount Luxus’ answer didn’t change.

“I said I won’t get married. Don’t ask me the reason.”

“Then why are you telling me not to ask the reason? We need to know what you’re not satisfied with so we can change it or something.”

However, Viscount Luxus remained silent with a sullen face. He knew very well that honey-like words would flow from that mouth when dealing with women! Count Sokol didn’t like him being silent.

Count Sokol tried to persuade him once more.

“At least tell me the reason. I can’t accept this.”

Then, Viscount Luxus looked around and reluctantly spoke.

“I’m not doing this because I want to go against you, Count. I had no choice but to do so because His Grace Duke Belial threatened me.”

Upon hearing the unexpected name, Count Sokol frowned for a moment. He never dreamed that the duke’s name would come out of that mouth.