The two people sitting across from each other with a tea table between them enjoyed an intimate date in the glass greenhouse that they do not usually visit often.

Diana gave a fake smile to the man who was subtly putting a ring on her hand and fiddling with the round jewel.

The curly-haired maid who was serving tea blushed bright red in the affectionate atmosphere and trembled with her hands shaking.

Perhaps she was one of the women who had been warming Arthur’s bed.

Diana turned her gaze away with a heart of mourning for the pitiful woman.

“We need some time alone, could you please give us a moment?”

“…Of course. I will just pour the tea and leave right away.”

“That would be good.”

The maid did not even notice the tea droplets splashing as she blatantly tried to make eye contact with Arthur.

It was a situation that was not laughable, with intense sparks flying between the two even though the fiancée was alive and well with eyes wide open.

However, Diana observed the situation leisurely as if she had not noticed at all.

Rather, she chose to let Arthur have a pleasant time with the maid by leisurely drinking tea with her other hand that was not being held.

He smiled mischievously like a fox, turning his irises red.

“The taste of the tea is ruined by the presence of a curious little rat lurking around. It would be nice if someone could find and chase it away.”

As he raised the corners of his mouth as if seducing the woman, the surrounding air instantly became hot.

The woman clasped her hands piously as if she would do anything Arthur told her to do.

“…A rat at a tea party, that doesn’t make sense….”

“If it’s not rude, would you chase it away? Beautiful lady?”

He spoke in a disgustingly polite manner, toying with the woman.

“Of course…. Definitely….”

“Ah, thank you so much. It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone so kind.”

“I will make sure not even a breeze blows around here….”

“May the blessing of the goddess be with you.”

As Arthur slowly rubbed his chin and delivered an insincere greeting, the curly-haired maid left the greenhouse with a bizarre gesture like a puppet on a string.

Diana watched the scene of the nine-tailed fox performing magic and swept her arm.

She wanted to return the diamond ring that was elegantly placed on her finger, but the two had to appear as a harmonious couple on the surface, so she had no choice but to leave it.

I have to endure this much, what can I do.

Arthur, who was savoring the rose tea, heard the sound of running away and recited in a good mood.

“It seems she has complied with the request.”

“Yes, that’s right. To be exact, it’s not a request, but an order.”

Diana said as she pulled her caught hand back. There was no need to act anymore.

A month ago, Diana sent a letter on a ship launched as a trial.

The letter enclosed with magic contained a rather bold and unfounded confident proposal.

I know your identity. …If you deal with me instead of my father, you will get what you want and be free from responsibility. If you want to get the ‘bead’ back, proceed with the marriage talks with my father. I will pass it on to you at an appropriate time without swallowing it. Also, to be on the safe side, I hope you don’t even dream of telling on me after reading this letter. My father is not the type of person who would be angry enough to kill or kick me out over this kind of thing. Rather, he will hand the bead to me and proceed with the marriage talks more actively. He is the kind of person who doesn’t care at all if you crawl under my feet to protect the bead as long as he can get what he wants. Of course, I don’t want that kind of life either. So, put aside any thoughts of ruining things and think positively about the contract engagement. We will proceed with detailed discussions when spring returns. If you agree to my deal, send the courtship letter now. I look forward to good news.

Fortunately, Arthur responded to Diana’s proposal.

Not long after, the courtship letter arrived at the castle, and my father summoned Diana and silently pushed a piece of paper that had come across the water.

〈If it’s okay with you, it wouldn’t be bad to proceed like this. He’ll be easy for you to handle as you please, so at least he won’t give you a hard time.〉

Diana hesitated for a moment and then lightly nodded her head as if she had no choice but to agree.

That’s how their contract engagement began, and this meeting was their first reunion after the engagement.

“I was surprised that you used a stiff tone that you don’t usually use. If you were going to make a proposal, you should have persuaded the other person with a softer and more noble attitude….”

“The important thing is that you responded to my proposal. Isn’t that enough?”

“Well, if you were trying to intimidate me, you succeeded to some extent. When I see how innocent and clumsy you are, I get scared that I might hurt you. I mean, I became a little afraid that I might hurt you. That I might strangle that small and pretty neck of yours.”

When Diana raised her eyes in surprise, Arthur, who was leaning back comfortably in his chair with his arms crossed, lowered his eyes.

Every time his pupils that grew bigger and narrower swept over her face, cold sweat flowed down her spine.

The opponent was a nine-tailed fox.

If he revealed his claws and tried to harm Diana, there was no way to deal with it.

Of course, he could use his seduction techniques to frame anyone, so it was Diana who was at a disadvantage.

“If you’re going to threaten me under the guise of a proposal, don’t show your impatience. It’s more interesting to act leisurely as if you have all the cards in your hand and are playing with them.”

Diana refuted as if it was nothing, loosening the tension in her raised shoulders.

“I’ll pass on that advice…. Because no matter what, you’ll want the bead. If I suddenly refuse the marriage, you’ll be caught by my father and never get the bead back, but are you okay with that?”

“I’ve lived a boring long life, so it might not be bad to fight with the duke with my life on the line this time.”

“…Don’t joke around.”

“Does it look like a joke to you?”

Diana bit her lip and suppressed her anger with an expression that showed she was fed up.

‘This man is completely toying with me.’

Diana calmed her raging heart and continued.

“Stop with the useless talk now. If you’re going to deal with me, I’ll present the conditions. It won’t be difficult for you.”

“Let’s hear it. It doesn’t seem like it will be more interesting than word play though.”

“Is that your answer to the contract conditions?”

Arthur, who had been listening obediently, asked in a bored tone.

“Yes, that’s right. Make people believe in my death. Provide a new identity so that I can live as a second-generation immigrant with a husband and child. These two things. No more, no less, just these two things. If you agree to just these, I will hand over the fox bead to you no matter what it takes.”

Arthur slowly rubbed his chin and said,

“The duke will try to kill me if he finds out.”

“I heard that nine-tailed foxes are masters of transformation. Deceiving others is your specialty….”

“There’s also the option of having a real wedding ceremony. Are you not considering that?”

“…A marriage without love can’t be happy. I… already….”

Diana trailed off her words and avoided his blatant gaze.

Surely seduction wouldn’t work on him, but he had the ability to make people restless because of his strong energy.

Arthur looked down at Diana, who was fidgeting like a rabbit, rested his chin on the table and said,

“I know. I didn’t know you even had a child though….”

Diana tried to deny Lugh’s existence but gave up because the child was too precious to her.

“So… what do you think? You also have a chance to gain freedom without marrying a woman you don’t love.”

Arthur laughed hollowly and muttered.

“How do you know my heart?”

“What?”

“Ah, I thought it was spring for a moment, but was it just a passing butterfly again?”

“What are you mumbling to yourself….”

“You even have a child.”

“Excuse me?”

He teased her for a long time after that and gave the answer she wanted. Of course, by then, Diana was as fed up as she could be.

It was a meaningful gain. Diana was able to finish her day’s work late in the afternoon after seeing Arthur off.

Although she had no strength to even lift a finger after being plagued by word play all day, it was right to show her face to Lugh even if it was late when she thought of him.

Diana dragged her heavy body and crossed the forest.

Then, she heard a familiar voice from far away.

“Mommy-!”

Diana reflexively raised her gaze and looked for the child.

“Mommy!”

At that moment, Diana was so startled that she started running at full speed.

“Lugh! What’s wrong! Where are you?”

She thought Angela was with him… Could it be that he was alone? Did he come out of the wall because he was lonely? She had all sorts of thoughts.

As she ran like a crazy person following the sound, she saw Angela holding Lugh far away and coming to greet Diana.

“Young lady…?”

“…Angela?”

“Wh, what happened? Where are your shoes?”

Looking down at her feet, one of her shoes had disappeared.

Under her dirt-covered soles, the scratches from the branches stung. All these sensations were vividly felt only now.

Angela took the dazed Diana to the annex.

Lugh also felt that the atmosphere was unusual and trembled like a pitiful wolf pup.

“M, mommy. What’s wrong? Lugh here. Hug Lugh.”

“Yes. Mommy’s okay. I was just startled for a moment. I was so afraid… that I would lose you, Lugh. That’s why.”

“I’m sorry, young lady. I couldn’t stop him when he ran out like lightning saying he was going to meet you.”

“I know. It’s not your fault, Angela.”

When Diana patted his back, the child clung to her like a cicada and made a crying sound.

Snuggling into the nape of her neck and curling his body round, that gesture felt just like a baby she had carried for almost ten months. He really felt like her own child.

‘You must have curled up like this too. In my womb, longing for your parents’ love like Lugh….’

Diana thought of the child she had lost and suddenly felt so precious and afraid of losing Lugh.

‘I will never lose you again. Our child….’

Diana confirmed the child’s existence by kissing his bulging forehead several times.

Angela, who was walking ahead and looking at Diana, wiped away some tears as she felt sorry for her trembling shoulders.

Because to Angela, Diana, who always loves those weaker than herself and faces the waves alone, is also a weak and precious person.