“I don’t know why you’re so persistent in asking.”

Fine, whatever. Let’s just answer.

After letting out an irritated sigh, I continued speaking.

“It was simply a request to educate the imperial grandson Raphanel.”

“Education?”

Lord Joseph’s face twisted fiercely.

“To be precise, I was asked to let him observe how the estate is managed.”

To sum it up, the emperor completely refused the gifts of mines and lands I had prepared.

Instead, he demanded something else, which was this.

“He asked to allow Imperial Grandson Raphanel to stay in the Daiern duchy until the next social season.”

“…So you accepted.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“…”

There was no reason or justification to refuse.

Moreover, it was an incredibly advantageous request for me and Daiern in every aspect. So much so that it felt more like a reward than a punishment.

This isn’t because I have grand ambitions.

Having the imperial family as an ally would be a trump card to overcome crises when needed, so to speak, it’s an investment and insurance for the children’s future.

For this reason, while some are desperate to curry favor with the imperial family, they’re offering connections on their own…

It would be foolish not to accept such a proposal.

“My lady…”

However, Lord Joseph’s face, who I thought would naturally understand these intentions, still showed no signs of relaxing.

Rather, I could almost hear the sound of teeth grinding between his tightly pressed lips.

“It seems you’re quite fond of Imperial Grandson Raphanel?”

…That question really.

“Fond of him, you say?”

It twisted my mood to an oddly extreme degree.

My narrowed gaze reflexively scanned his face.

The handsome man’s face, enough to make my heart skip a beat, was shadowed by a fierce obsession.

Thanks to that, I seemed to have unconsciously taken a step back.

In response, Lord Joseph took a large step forward, closing the distance I had retreated.

In that moment, my heart, sensing danger, sounded an alarm.

“Wait, hold on. Lord Joseph, stay where you are and speak.”

“…”

“Can’t you see what I’m wearing?”

Even though we were in the middle of a conversation, securing my personal safety came first.

The thin negligee I was wearing as sleepwear was an outfit that would expose my bare body if looked at closely.

I had to adopt a defensive posture, wrapping myself with my long, loose hair and shawl.

“…”

But.

Even though he should have looked away by now, Lord Joseph’s gaze wouldn’t leave my body.

Uncomfortable with his persistent stare that seemed to penetrate through my clothes, I quickly cleared my throat and continued speaking. Ahem.

“I… don’t understand what you mean by asking such a question, Lord Joseph.”

Only then did he take a long, hot breath, as if to calm himself, and continue the conversation.

“…The intention, it’s nothing much. I was just curious if there were any personal feelings involved, since you made the decision without saying anything to me.”

Personal feelings?

When asked like that, I couldn’t help but recall.

The imperial grandson, Raphanel Ordis Calant.

The oddball of the Calant imperial family who made my cheeks flush with his surprising words about wanting to follow me as his teacher.

At first, I was wary because he came with a marriage proposal, but when we actually talked, he was not only outstanding in appearance but also polite and modest.

His words about having no intention of actually proposing to me were also cute.

Rather, because of that, I think I might have seriously considered the marriage talks if Raphanel had been just ten years older.

In conclusion, he was someone good to keep close. Even until now, he had been helping Daiern by bringing various information.

So it was my turn to help him this time.

It would be perfect if the children could have a good influence on each other. So of course…

“Of course, I’m full of personal interest. I welcomed him with open arms when he said he wanted to come to the Daiern duchy because I liked him so much.”

I replied, shrugging my shoulders shamelessly.

“I even said it would be fine to send the luggage later, and that he could take a carriage with the children and leave at dawn tomorrow if he wanted.”

“…I see, personal interest.”

At that, Lord Joseph’s voice instantly lowered. What was contained in his sticky voice was blatant anger.

“I didn’t realize. That you truly had such feelings for Imperial Grandson Raphanel, my lady.”

His eyes fixed on me were so red it was chilling.

Not just the pupils, but even the whites of his eyes were bloodshot, as if he was about to shed tears of blood at any moment.

He was in an excessively excited state. Normally, I would have tried to calm him down first.

But I didn’t do that.

Rather, his intensity only ignited the childish emotions I had been suppressing so firmly.

‘Why are you getting angry?’

Shouldn’t I be the one expressing displeasure right now?

“Lord Joseph. I don’t understand why you’re taking such an attitude towards me. It seems you’re a bit oversensitive, so it would be better if you left this room now. This is quite unpleasant.”

“Ah… haha.”

However, what came out of Lord Joseph’s mouth was a mocking laugh that seemed to ignore my warning.

“Yes, I did force my way into your room. You clearly said you would tell me tomorrow, but I very arrogantly ignored your words and am standing here, so it’s understandable that you’re displeased.”

“…”

“And like this. Not listening to the warning you just gave.”

Thump, his steps towards me again. Opposite to before, this time I reflexively stepped back to avoid him.

I felt like prey being hunted.

And a weak herbivore at that, one that can only tremble in fear, unable to properly control its body.

I had clearly told him not to come closer. This time, I couldn’t even utter those words.

His arm that had already come right in front of me, behind me…

“Ah!”

“Careful.”

It was the moment when my heel, retreating without distinguishing friend from foe, finally stepped on the hem of my negligee.

His outstretched arms quickly supported my body as I lost balance.

On the back of my head, and my waist.

As if it were natural, his large hands firmly protected me, enveloping me.

“Then I sincerely apologize for my rudeness.”

…It was clearly a situation where I should be angry.

“But would you listen to my position, my lady?”

But I couldn’t.

Lord Joseph, with his burning red eyes lowered not far from my face, creating a shadow, felt like the most terrifying existence in the world to me right now.

“If I had obediently returned to my room after hearing your words?”

What would have happened then?

Lord Joseph asked like that.

“…”

Is it because I’m still under Lord Joseph’s shadow?

As if drawn by his voice, I imagined the situation he hypothesized.

Yes, if that had happened, Lord Joseph would have only found out about Imperial Grandson Raphanel going to the duchy at dawn the next day.

While seeing off the children’s carriage, he would have tilted his head at the sight of the grandson’s carriage following.

“I would be notified of all situations. Isn’t that right?”

…Ah, so that’s it.

‘Is he being sarcastic like this because I made the decision about Imperial Grandson Raphanel without any consultation?’

For something as trivial as me inviting the children’s friend to the Daiern estate?

I couldn’t help but feel dumbfounded.

My already low patience seemed to be depleting in an instant.

“First, let’s talk properly standing up.”

What’s the use of saying that? I immediately put strength into my tilted body.

Now was not the time to entrust my control to Lord Joseph’s arms and hands.

But then.

“Wait… What are you doing!”

“I was comfortable like this, but if you wish.”

The ground I should have been stepping on disappeared in an instant.

In my surprise, I even lost the slippers I was wearing from my toes. My body had floated in the air.

“I’ll scream.”

“If someone could have helped, they would have come already.”

“…!”

This crazy man.

He meant he had already blocked any sound from escaping.

How thorough, a strange irritation washed over me along with a sense of relief.

Ah! In the meantime, I finally regained my balance. But it wasn’t the place I wanted.

On top of a high console table.

Before I could wonder at this odd choice of location, not a chair or couch, Lord Joseph pressed his body against mine again.

Only then did I understand why he had specifically chosen the table.

With his waist straight, the place he had positioned himself was between my legs.

It was a truly dizzying posture. My mind felt like it had gone completely blank.

“Are you satisfied now.”

“Are you, are you crazy?”

At least thanks to our eye levels being matched, it was easier to push his shoulders away.

Of course, he didn’t budge an inch.

“Are you saying we should talk like this?”

“Is there a problem?”

How could there not be?

The console table is narrow in width. Even with my hips perched on it, the hard wall touched my back.

As a result, following his pushing movement, my legs had no choice but to spread embarrassingly wide.

Even trying to block his approach by tensing my thighs was limited due to the difference in strength.