“It might be possible, but I don’t think so. Rather than that……”

He deliberately trailed off and looked at me. His eyes seemed to ask if I hadn’t already guessed.

“……”

Yes, that’s right. I had actually anticipated it.

I slumped my shoulders.

The children are anxious.

About the existence of an uncle who appeared right after the disappearance of the grand uncle who was targeting the Daiern duchy.

No matter how much I try to defend Sergei, there would be limits.

After all, from the children’s perspective, he’s someone they’ve never seen even once since they were born.

Especially Kardiel, he’s a clever child.

Just as I thought of a contract marriage to protect the children, he must have calculated that a contract marriage was necessary to protect me.

“……It seems Lord Joseph has quite a high level of trust from the children.”

“Originally, children instinctively distinguish well those who are harmless to them.”

Those words were quite meaningful.

I silently stared at Lord Joseph, and Lord Joseph did not avoid my gaze, as if to prove that there was not a shred of lie in his words.

“Does that mean Lord Sergei is not safe for the children?”

So I couldn’t help but ask this tense question.

Honestly, if I hadn’t heard about the cruel future for me and the children from Lord Joseph……

‘I would have accepted Sergei’s proposal without deep consideration.’

That’s how safe Sergei is to me.

Although I’ve known him for less than a year, I quite respected his character.

Diligent, deeply affectionate. Honest and upright.

It would have been perfect if such a person had been my spouse from the beginning.

‘Well, such assumptions are meaningless now.’

Anyway, what I was curious about was whether the children could rely on him a little as time passed, since he was someone I trusted so much.

……But Lord Joseph’s eyes deepened unsettlingly upon hearing my question.

“Why are you curious about that?”

“Pardon…?”

Perhaps because of this, a chill ran down my neck for a moment.

Lord Joseph tilted his head slightly and asked me again.

“If Lord Sergei is a safe person for the children, do you intend to marry him, Madam?”

“……”

“Then if I say Lord Sergei is not safe, will you drive him out of the mansion right now?”

What is this?

I was so taken aback by his suddenly changed atmosphere that I couldn’t even blink.

The distance between us slowly closes as he has risen at some point.

This feels a bit dangerous. I decided to calm him down for now.

Stretching out my arm to maintain the distance with him who had already approached closely, I said.

“I don’t know why you’re suddenly saying such things. Stay there and talk.”

Lord Joseph took my outstretched hand.

He intertwined his fingers with mine and slowly began to squeeze.

I felt like a fish caught in a net.

If he pushes past the line I’ve set…….

‘Where should I escape to?’

I felt the cold touch of the wall behind my back. I must have stepped back without realizing.

A chill ran down my spine for a moment due to anxiety.

“Shall I confirm it for you?”

“Confirm what?”

“If you’re so curious about what would happen if you marry Lord Sergei, I’ll confirm it for you. It’s no big deal for me to turn back time anyway. What’s so difficult about turning back 3 more years when I’ve turned back thousands of years?”

“Thousands of years…?”

My breath caught at that unimaginable number.

How many regressions must one repeat to live for thousands of years?

I couldn’t calculate it. The range of “thousands” was too wide.

So I didn’t know what to say to Lord Joseph for a moment.

Then, Lord Joseph’s eyes crinkled mischievously as he let out a breath.

“It’s a joke. Don’t make such an expression all of a sudden, Madam.”

The hand that had been held in an interlocked grip suddenly found freedom.

“A joke……you say?”

“I just got a bit sulky because you’re considering other alternatives besides me when I have no alternative but you, Madam.”

“……”

His voice had already brightened again.

The way he turned around and sat back in his original place as if nothing had happened was no different from usual.

Crossing his fingers and placing them on his knee, there was no trace of the previous atmosphere in his cheeks that smiled purely with ruby-red eyes glittering.

“Anyway, I’m serious when I say I’ll go check if you want. I know well that you keep me by your side only because this ability is helpful.”

“……”

That’s right. It’s correct, but strangely, I felt uncomfortable the moment I heard those words.

I narrowed my eyes and asked with my arms crossed.

“Lord Joseph. Are you perhaps angry?”

“Pardon? Do I look angry?”

Well, if you ask like that, it’s ambiguous. His face, expression, and tone are no different from usual.

‘Ah, thinking about it makes my head hurt.’

I’d better stop. I quickly emptied my mind.

I must have become sensitive due to tension from what happened earlier. I let out a held breath.

“If not, then it’s fine. And rest assured that even if I wanted to marry Lord Sergei, it’s become difficult because of what you and the children did today.”

“Ahaha.”

Saying that was certainly reassuring, Lord Joseph laughed out loud.

It’s a shame though.

Sergei really was a good alternative……

Of course, this is just my perspective.

If I had decided to marry Sergei after careful consideration, I would have naturally asked the children’s opinions as well.

But now there’s no need to ask.

To go so far as to request Lord Joseph to play the role of fiancé.

‘Well. Since Sergei resembles the children’s father a lot.’

Even I would find it detestable.

“But when you say marriage with Lord Sergei has become difficult, does that mean you won’t deny that I was just introduced as someone who will soon marry the Duchess?”

……Does it work like that?

I pondered for a moment, but could easily come up with an answer.

“The children seem to follow Lord Joseph quite well, and needless to say about the relationship between Lord Joseph and me.”

As I refined my thoughts into words, it became even more certain.

To be honest, the reason I’ve hesitated until now was because of the children.

If the children disliked Lord Joseph or disapproved of my contract marriage, it would be quite awkward to persuade them.

But now, there’s no need for that worry anymore.

Above all…….

It seemed like Lord Joseph’s words that I was his only alternative had pierced my heart.

“Alright. Be it a contract engagement or a contract marriage.”

I nodded.

“Let’s do it.”

Only then did Lord Joseph approach me again.

This time, I didn’t measure the distance.

I extended my hand to him as he approached, and Lord Joseph familiarly kissed the tips of my fingers.

Then, with a mischievous fox-like expression, he looks down at me and asks.

“But are you prepared to handle it?”

What preparation? I tilted my head as if perplexed.

“I didn’t know a contract marriage was something that required preparation.”

“Ah, is that so? Then……”

It was then that Lord Joseph placed his large hand on my back.

“Ah!”

There wasn’t even time to wonder why he was suddenly doing this.

The hand on my back instantly closed the distance between Lord Joseph and me.

No, it’s more than just closing the distance. It seemed there wasn’t even a hair’s breadth of space between us.

Lord Joseph’s firm body touched my cheek, shoulder, and even down to my lower back.

‘Suddenly what……’

There was no time to protest or find a chance to push him away.

Lord Joseph’s scent, which invaded my nostrils, seemed to send danger signals throughout my body.

For a moment, I felt dizzy enough that my heart seemed to drop.

“Just as we exchanged a verbal contract, from now on I can legally touch you, Madam.”

Ah.

His voice whispering in my ear sent a chill down my spine.

Now I understood what he meant by handling and what kind of preparation he was talking about.

Of course, it’s not that I had forgotten.

After all, what Lord Joseph had put forward as a condition from the beginning was physical contact with me.

So whether it’s marriage or engagement, from the moment I accept the contract, I have the obligation to provide skinship when he needs it……

I know that, but.

‘So from now on? Right away?’

What about time for me to prepare myself mentally?

At that moment, Lord Joseph’s fingers gently caressed my chin.

My chin is lifted, and Lord Joseph’s face draws closer.

“Now……”

“Wait…!”

I immediately thought it was too late.

The sensation of his hair tickling my nose bridge and cheeks was vivid.

My whole body froze at the thought that I could no longer stop the man now casting a deep shadow before my eyes.