Legalis asked a question that was too obvious. Olentia turned around and looked at him for a moment. Legalis’ face was strangely stiff, and his brows were furrowed. He seemed slightly angry.
‘Of course it bothers me. After all, I’m a married woman.’
Olentia thought Legalis’ behavior was strange and said,
“I’m a married woman, so I want to act cautiously. That’s why I asked you not to call me out. You know what I mean, Your Highness.”
But then Legalis dropped a bombshell.
“I wish my wife would divorce and become mine.”
Olentia was startled and froze on the spot. Her mind was jumbled, wondering what on earth was going on. It would be nice if she had misheard, but Legalis’ face was only serious. Even the corners of his mouth that were usually raised high were quiet.
‘Does he really mean it?’
Swallowing her dry saliva, she quickly shook her head. At times like this, she had to keep her mind straight.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Your Highness.”
Seeing Olentia’s pupils trembling greatly, Legalis approached her closer. Olentia only breathed roughly, and Legalis kept moving his steps while examining her.
“I mean it literally. If you just become mine, I can do anything for you.”
The vibrating scent of flowers and grass inside the garden suddenly felt dizzying. In the midst of the confusion, there were too many things to think about.
Before she knew it, Legalis was close by. Olentia was so startled to see Legalis approaching that she pushed his shoulders.
Thud!
Perhaps she pushed too hard, Legalis stumbled and fell to the dirt floor. His clean white suit was stained with dirt, and Legalis looked at Olentia with a dumbfounded expression.
“Duchess? Do you think I’m a pervert?”
Hearing his voice full of disappointment, Olentia fidgeted around him. Only then did she seem to come to her senses.
“Are, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
It was partly Legalis’ fault for coming close, but it was clearly her fault for pushing him away.
Olentia watched blankly as he got up from his spot, dusting off his hands. Fortunately, Legalis didn’t seem to be hurt anywhere, judging by his movements. But what was a bit strange was that he was grinning while looking at his ruined suit.
Laughter kept leaking out between Legalis’ neat teeth. That laughter sounded more sincere than any of his smiles she had seen so far.
Olentia clasped her hands together and said to him,
“I’ll have my maid wash the dirty suit well. Please don’t be angry.”
Legalis put his hands in his pockets and took a slanted posture.
“Do I look like I’d get angry at my wife over such a thing? How do you think of me?”
“No, that’s not it… I mean, why did you say something so absurd! That’s why I was surprised.”
“What’s so strange about it? I just confessed to the person I like.”
Olentia, afraid that someone might hear his voice, quickly turned her head to look around. Fortunately, no one had entered the greenhouse garden yet. But it seemed like they would soon be caught alone with Legalis.
This place was the Duke’s castle in the Belial territory. It was full of Dimidius’ people.
Of course, it was just a contract marriage, and Dimidius was not in a position to say anything.
‘But somehow I feel conscious.’
The thought of Dimidius seeing this scene made her spine chilling and her hands tremble. He already disliked the prince, and there was no telling what he would do.
Olentia advised Legalis, who boldly confessed his feelings for her.
“Confessing to a married person that you like them. You’re being too forceful. Please don’t say that again. I have no feelings for you, Your Highness.”
Legalis tilted his head in a quite provocative posture.
“Why on earth? Why don’t you have feelings for me?”
Legalis really looked like he didn’t understand. Such people were difficult to deal with. He might keep confessing without understanding the situation. Just thinking about it was terrible.
Olentia said firmly once again,
“I may not have feelings. I hope there won’t be any more uncomfortable situations in the future. Why don’t you stop hunting for new prey and go back?”
“Are you trying to drive me out? I can’t do that.”
He was really willful. Olentia ruffled her hair in frustration. Her platinum blonde hair was tangled this way and that.
“Hah… really! If I say I don’t like it, I don’t! I’ll get going now.”
“Duchess!”
Legalis kept calling from behind, but Olentia left the greenhouse garden as it was. Only then did she breathe in the cool air to the fullest of her lungs.
“This is driving me crazy, really.”
Olentia muttered in a low voice and returned to her room. It was really troublesome that the prince didn’t seem to leave easily.
[This is the timeline separator]Legalis devised a plan to monopolize Olentia, who seemed close to the guard knight. He bribed the maid to feed Podion cookies containing laxatives. Podion stupidly ate all the cookies and immediately got diarrhea, leaving his post.
But when he finally had her to himself, Olentia turned out to be a very determined person.
She disliked being alone with him and was not swayed at all even when he confessed his feelings.
Legalis couldn’t understand at all. What was so good about a half-demon monster that she believed he wouldn’t betray her? Of course, he didn’t think Olentia loved Dimidius. She had silently agreed at the founding festival ball that it was a hasty marriage without feelings.
Although it was difficult to change her mind, Legalis did not lose interest in Olentia. That was quite amazing.
In his mind lingered the touch of her hand as she pushed him away in a panic. Olentia looked very flustered then, and yet she kept rejecting him.
Her face turned red as she rolled her eyes.
It seemed a little cute.
Legalis chuckled and went up to his room. He felt the need to change his clothes quickly because he felt dirty.
But he ran into Dimidius right in front of the first floor hall.
For some reason, Dimidius spoke to Legalis first.
“Where are you coming from?”
Legalis, who had been with Olentia until a moment ago, lifted his head boldly and said,
“The greenhouse garden. Well, it wasn’t bad.”
Then Dimidius clenched his fist and said,
“From now on, you shouldn’t set foot in the greenhouse garden.”
“What do you…”
As Legalis tried to refute, Dimidius left the mansion as it was. It seemed like the couple was ignoring him in pairs.
Legalis cursed and went up to his room.
[This is the timeline separator]“Argh! Damn it! Why do things seem to be getting so complicated?”
Olentia returned to her room and pulled her hair. Platinum blonde hair stuck out between her fingers. That’s why it was difficult for Bobby.
Bobby tried several times to stop Olentia’s hand.
“I told you to leave your hair alone?”
“Is that important right now?”
“Then what’s important.”
“No, that’s! I can’t say. Just go up to His Highness’ room quickly. Wash the dirty suit for me.”
“His Highness’ suit got dirty?”
“Yeah. I accidentally pushed him and he fell.”
Bobby was startled, widened her eyes, and left the room.
While doing that, Podion, who said he was going to the bathroom, returned. Podion didn’t look well and was still sweating.
“Sir Podion. I’ll call a doctor. It doesn’t seem okay.”
“No, no. I’m fine.”
Podion stopped Olentia, saying it was absolutely not necessary. Since he said his stomach was just upset, she had no other choice.
Podion seemed to have good patience or was really okay, as he steadfastly kept his post afterwards.
And when Bobby returned from washing, she wiped her wet hands on her apron and whispered to Olentia,
“What on earth happened? Huh?”
Olentia took Bobby’s hand and shook her head.
“I just pushed him by mistake. That’s all.”
She really wished that was all.
Olentia was resting in bed when she heard that Dimidius had come to her door, and she jumped up from her spot. She quickly looked in the mirror, tidied her hair and clothes, and carefully went out to the door.
Before she knew it, it was evening, with the sunset glow.
The beautiful sunset light pouring through the corridor window completely enveloped Dimidius. She squinted for a moment because of the glare, and Dimidius said seriously,
“I think it’s today. The consummation day.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“If we keep sleeping separately, won’t the people of the Duke’s castle or the guests find it strange?”
The prince and his friends didn’t seem to know that fact. Because everyone was busy going to their rooms at night.
But it seemed like the people of the Duke’s castle would find it strange.
Olentia told Dimidius, pretending to give in.
“All right. Tonight.”
She found herself whispering while caring about the eyes around her for no reason. Even though no one was there.
After sending him off, Olentia went into the room and had dinner first. Even while eating dinner, she could only think of Dimidius and was worried about tonight. She didn’t know why she was getting nervous when they were just sleeping in the same room for show.
It’s not like she was going to do anything with Dimidius.
Olentia was out of it until night. Even when she got into the big bathtub to wash her body, she stayed in the hot water for too long and almost had a big problem. Olentia’s face and body remained flushed red and didn’t cool down easily.
__________
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.