“Haven’t we met somewhere before?”

Seeing Vincent asking with a serious expression, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

The tension that had been rising also melted away like snow.

‘What kind of old-fashioned pickup line is this?’

I rolled my eyes and answered nonchalantly.

“We probably saw each other at a family gathering or something.”

“When have we ever done such a thing?”

“Then we must not have met before.”

I tried to end the conversation with a firm answer, but Vincent didn’t seem ready to give up yet.

“No. I’m sure I’ve seen you before. You really don’t remember me?”

Finally, an exasperated sigh escaped through my lips.

I continued in an accusatory tone.

“Hey, why have you been speaking so casually to me? We’re clearly meeting for the first time, and I’m not your subordinate either.”

Cedric nodded in agreement with my words, as if he strongly sympathized.

“Vincent, show some respect to my wife. This is the human realm.”

Vincent shrugged and walked towards the marble table.

“Then Rebecca, you should speak casually to me too.”

“…”

“I don’t know or care about the boring etiquette of the human realm.”

He said while carelessly flicking a small ornament on the table with his finger.

His appearance, attitude, and behavior showed no trace of dignity befitting a grand duke.

The only thing that could be felt was a rough, wild charm.

If Cedric was a patient wolf, he was like a wild hyena untamed by anything.

Even now, Vincent was repeatedly stomping on the fallen ornament at his feet, as if he was bored out of his mind.

I let out a small scoff towards him.

“Fine. If that’s what you want.”

“…What?”

“Didn’t you say we should speak casually to each other? Let’s do that.”

Simultaneously, Vincent’s eyebrow, which had maintained a bored expression, arched high in surprise.

It seemed he hadn’t expected such a response from me.

Vincent eventually crossed his long legs leisurely on the table and chuckled.

“This woman is really interesting for a human.”

“…”

“I like her more and more.”

As Vincent muttered in a low voice mixed with laughter, Cedric’s brow furrowed slightly.

However, Vincent didn’t seem to care about the atmosphere around him at all.

Vincent, who stood up forcefully from his seat, immediately walked towards me.

“What are you doing…!”

“Wait a moment.”

Vincent, who had grabbed my wrist, slowly lowered his head.

Then he placed my hand on top of his head and moved it slowly as if to pat it.

“…!”

Soon after, I remembered something familiar about Vincent’s face.

The glossy bronze skin, the sharp golden eyes.

I had definitely seen something similar before…

“Could you be…?”

As my lips slowly parted, Vincent curved one corner of his mouth widely.

“Looks like you finally remember.”

Vincent slightly parted his nightgown and pointed to his lower abdomen.

On his bronze abdomen with clearly defined muscles, there was a wound that had not yet healed.

“Is it really you? That cat from back then?”

When I asked in astonishment, Vincent chuckled.

“That’s what I’m saying. Ah, I’m hurt. You were so fond of me back then.”

“…”

“You were touching me all over the place.”

Vincent pouted his lower lip and made a pitiful expression.

Vincent was handsome but had a rough appearance, and boasted an incredibly muscular body.

Making such an expression only made him scarier rather than cute.

Just as I was hurriedly withdrawing my hand with an expression of having seen something I shouldn’t have, Cedric rolled his eyes with an annoyed expression.

“Touch? You touched someone like him?”

“You touched various parts of Lord Vincent…?”

Adrian also had a subtle expression.

Seeing the expressions of the two men who seemed to be seriously misunderstanding, I hurriedly waved my hands.

“A cat! He was a cat back then, that’s why I did that!”

If it were someone else, they would have looked at me like I was crazy for making such an excuse.

Fortunately, Cedric and Adrian nodded as if somewhat relieved.

Vincent burst into laughter seeing their reactions.

“Vincent, stop talking nonsense and tell us why you came here.”

Cedric spoke in a voice trying to suppress his irritation.

Vincent, who had been laughing holding his stomach, waved his hand.

“Hehehe… Alright, alright… You’re always so impatient.”

Vincent wiped his tears and opened his mouth again.

“I felt an energy in the forest near Twins Castle. It seems some insolent fool dared to cause trouble here…”

“…”

“There’s no way the Lord of Twins Castle wouldn’t have known about it. I thought we needed to have a little chat.”

“…”

“My cousin, don’t we have something we need to protect together?”

As he finished speaking, a manic gleam flickered in Vincent’s eyes.

However, when there was no response from Cedric, Vincent let out a deep sigh.

“Look at you pretending not to understand again! You know, Lillian’s hea—”

“That’s enough.”

Cedric’s expression was cold as he cut off Vincent’s words.

“Let’s discuss the rest in private.”

Vincent made a playful face as he looked at Cedric.

“Don’t tell me you’re still keeping it a secret from your wife?”

“…”

“I knew you weren’t on good terms, but…”

Vincent let out a small scoff provocatively.

“So this is what it means to be a couple worse than strangers.”

At those words, a thick vein bulged on Cedric’s forehead.

Cedric, who had been ignoring him all along, seemed to be finding it increasingly difficult to endure.

However, Vincent didn’t seem to notice Cedric’s discomfort.

It was obvious just by the way he winked at me.

“Rebecca, why don’t you divorce him and find a new man?”

“Oh, a new man?”

“Yeah, that would be better. How about me?”

When I just blinked silently, Vincent smiled slyly, curling the corner of his mouth.

“I quite like you. You seem to have a crazy side, just like me.”

As Vincent’s words continued, thick muscles bulged on Cedric’s angular jaw as he clenched his teeth.

At that moment, as Vincent, oblivious to Cedric, was about to continue speaking excitedly.

“So you should throw away that boring guy and—”

Whack—!

With a dull sound, Vincent’s jaw was thrown back.

* * *

“Lord Vincent has come?”

Before heading to the Light Mansion for Vincent’s welcome banquet,

I was changing clothes after returning to the Grand Duchess’ quarters.

When I told her about what had just happened, Mina’s face was clearly surprised.

“That’s right.”

“Ah, so Lord Vincent… has come…”

Seeing Mina’s dubious reaction, I tilted my head.

“What kind of person is Vincent for you to react like that?”

Mina hesitated for a moment before slowly opening her mouth.

“He’s also a half-demon, but he doesn’t like the human realm very much. It’s closer to disdain. If that were all, it would be fine, but…”

“What else is there?”

“Well, how should I explain this.”

Mina tapped her chin with her finger as if searching for the right words.

“Ah! There’s a nickname they secretly call him in the demon realm.”

Mina came close and whispered softly in my ear, looking around.

“The Crazy Grand Duke.”

At those words, I let out a hollow laugh and asked back.

“The Crazy… what?”

Mina showed an awkward smile and continued speaking.

“He’s just so free-spirited and unrestrained.”

“If he’s called that even in the demon realm, what kind of person is he?”

“Ha, haha…”

I waited for an answer, but Mina just made an awkward laughing sound while forcibly pulling up the corners of her mouth.

Vincent had often flashed with madness in his eyes even while smiling brightly like a mischievous child.

It seemed I didn’t need to ask any more about that nickname.

“By the way, if he’s the real owner of the Dark Mansion, is it okay for me to keep staying here?”

Mina immediately nodded.

“Of course. The Norman family only owns it, but the management of the mansion is entirely left to the Twins family.”

“Still…”

“Lord Vincent must have already given permission for you to stay here, Your Highness.”

“That’s a relief then.”

“Yes. Don’t worry about that, Your Highness.”

Mina said as she put ruby earrings on my ears.

“But why did Lord Vincent suddenly come?”

“Something happened on the way back. He said he felt a strange energy in the forest near Twins Castle, so he came to check.”

“…”

“He said there was something he and Cedric needed to protect together.”

“…Ah.”

“What could it be that the two families need to protect together? Do you know what it is, Mina?”

At my question, Mina awkwardly laughed and stepped back.

“Haha, I wonder…? I don’t really know about that either…”

* * *

At the same time, in the private study of the Grand Duke of Twins.

Cedric poured aperitifs into two crystal glasses and walked slowly towards the sofa.

“Hold the cool glass to your jaw for a while.”

As Cedric held out the glass, Vincent chuckled while rubbing his bruised jaw.

“Giving me medicine after hurting me.”

“You shouldn’t have done something to deserve being hit.”

Cedric answered slowly as he sat across from Vincent.

“It’s been a long time since you hit me, not since we were young. I heard your relationship with your wife was extremely bad…”

“…”

“But you still get jealous?”

As Vincent wrinkled his nose playfully, the corner of Cedric’s mouth twisted irritably.

“What about you, do you want to get hit again?”

At Cedric’s words, Vincent burst into laughter, holding his stomach.

After laughing for a while, Vincent wiped the tears from his eyes and nodded.

“Alright, alright…”

But only for a moment. As Vincent licked his lips, a glint of madness flashed in his eyes.

“How does it feel to keep living in the human realm while hiding such murderous intent? With those cute species who are stupid and powerless but full of pride.”

“…Vincent.”

“Be honest. Don’t you sometimes feel the urge to kill them?”

Cedric exhaled a long breath, looking tired, but Vincent’s eyes sparkled, paying no attention.

Cedric, seeming eager to end the conversation with Vincent quickly, hurriedly changed the subject.

“Vincent, you came because of what happened in the forest under my jurisdiction today?”

“…Ah, right!”

Only then did Vincent seem to remember the reason he came here, tapping his head.

“I felt a suspicious energy nearby. Were you there too?”

Cedric nodded as he put his glass down on the table.

“Someone had placed a concealment barrier in the forest. Along with numerous straw dolls.”

“You mean cursed doll monsters?”

“Yes. It seems they were targeting the Grand Duchess.”

“The Grand Duchess…”

Vincent’s expression gradually turned cold as he muttered softly.

“It’s fortunate nothing happened to the Grand Duchess.”

“…”

“But Cedric, what if their real target wasn’t the Grand Duchess, but…”

The smile gradually disappeared from Vincent’s face.

Vincent, looking up at Cedric with sharp golden eyes, slowly opened his mouth again.

“What if it was ‘Lillian’s heart’?”