I Tamed the Black Duke as a Terminally-Ill Saint (3 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 9
Hades watched Angelica, who was flustered, with a hint of amusement.
Angelica’s wide blue eyes made her look like a startled little creature.
‘A mouse… no, perhaps a cotton rabbit.’
Her small, frail frame and knack for hiding in utterly unexpected places were reminiscent of a mouse.
Yet her round eyes, fluffy-looking hair, and tense posture—as if always ready to spring away—were unmistakably those of a cotton rabbit.
“I can’t do it!”
Her shout, utterly lacking in menace, was also very much like a cotton rabbit’s.
“I absolutely cannot do such a thing!”
“You seem perfectly capable.”
Hades replied seriously.
“Judging by how easily you’ve adapted to life here.”
“But that’s completely different from pretending to be your mistress!”
Angelica, still refusing to give up hope, tried to reason with him.
“I’d be found out right away! If I were your mistress, I’d have to act affectionate toward Your Highness in public.”
Hades’ brow furrowed.
He couldn’t understand at all why Angelica was rejecting his perfectly reasonable suggestion.
The reason she was mistreated was precisely because people saw her as a discarded mistress who had lost his favor.
Therefore, denying she was his mistress now wouldn’t solve anything.
For her own sake, she needed to play the role—properly, as a cherished mistress.
“What’s the problem with that?”
“What?”
Hades took a step toward Angelica.
As the distance between them shrank, Angelica visibly shrank back—not out of sheer terror, but seemingly out of reflex.
Hades reached his hand slightly downward.
“Saintess.”
His fingers caught a lock of Angelica’s tousled hair.
The maids must have done their work, for a faint floral scent lingered near his nose.
“If others saw us right now, what do you think they’d assume?”
“……!”
Angelica’s face clearly betrayed her inner turmoil.
Hades smiled faintly.
It was easy to manipulate a saintess like Angelica, who’d spent her whole life in a small village being used by others.
All he needed was to appear convincing.
“The truth itself doesn’t matter. As long as we maintain even this slight closeness, everyone will believe you’re my mistress.”
And along with a sliver of truth:
“You’re the first woman I’ve ever allowed this close.”
One thing was certain.
The emotion called “love-hate” was undoubtedly more harmful than beneficial.
If Hades had utterly despised me, he never would have commanded—no, forced—me to pretend to be his mistress.
It was precisely because he held vague affection yet vague resentment that this dreadful situation had arisen.
‘In Leodel, my favor rating shot up so easily! Why does it keep plummeting here instead?’
But upon reflection, I hadn’t really done anything to raise Hades’ favor.
In fact, I’d even used his treasured Holy Sword to peel an apple—perhaps I should count myself lucky his favor hadn’t dropped even further.
‘…I don’t know. Let’s just eat.’
I stared at the feast laid out before me.
Even setting aside the main steak, it was an extravagant banquet.
A fresh seasonal salad dressed with yuzu vinaigrette, clam chowder packed with finely minced clams, chewy white bread baked with cheese and onions, freshly fried icefish, and an assortment of fruits…
If not for the uncomfortable presence sitting across from me, I would’ve eagerly dived right in.
“Why aren’t you eating?”
I looked up to find Hades watching me with a puzzled expression.
“Well… it’s just so luxurious. I’ve never seen food like this before—I was momentarily awestruck.”
I grabbed a spoon as I spoke offhandedly.
Since I was already freezing in the thin dress I’d been given, a warm soup would surely help me feel better.
Besides, the sooner I ate, the sooner I could escape this awkward situation.
“You must be cold.”
Hades’ eyes narrowed slightly.
“Why didn’t you bring an outer garment?”
Because no one gave me one!
“I don’t have one.”
“Anyone would’ve given you one if you’d just asked.”
“I suppose I will next time.”
Just as I took a large bite of bread while giving a half-hearted reply,
I was savoring the perfect blend of salty cheese and subtly sweet onion when I heard a chair scraping across the floor from the other side of the table.
‘…?’
I frowned.
Hades had risen from his seat and was walking toward me.
“Your Highness?”
Just as I looked up at him blankly,
I felt a heavy weight settle on my shoulders.
More precisely, the distinct, stiff weight of a military uniform.
Hades bent slightly and whispered softly into my ear.
“Well, it’s like draping a pearl necklace on a mouse—but not a bad look.”
“…….”
Hades gave a quiet chuckle.
“Just keep it on until you finish your meal. Watching you shiver like that is killing my appetite.”
I glanced around discreetly.
Servants were visibly pretending not to see us with all their might.
‘…The rumors are going to spread everywhere.’
My appetite vanished; I set the bread down.
“Is the food not to your taste?”
“No.”
I waved my hand dismissively and took a sip of water.
Even the water served at the Grand Duke’s table seemed special.
It tasted far fresher and better than the water I usually drank here.
“Hmm.”
Hades tilted his head slightly, studying my face.
“You’re not avoiding the meat, I hope?”
“I eat it fine.”
“Good.”
Then, to my astonishment, he skillfully cut a piece of steak with his fork and knife and lifted it toward my mouth.
‘…?’
Unable to refuse with the fork already near my lips, I accepted the steak in bewilderment—and a faint smile appeared on Hades’ face.
“You seem to enjoy being fed by someone else.”
“……!”
My face instantly flushed hot.
He was the one who started feeding me—how could he say that?
I quickly swallowed the steak and shot back,
“If Your Highness insists on the trouble, I won’t stop you.”
“Your face is completely red, Angelica.”
“…….”
This time, regaining my composure was quite difficult.
How could anyone—love-hate or not—get under my skin like this?
‘I really shouldn’t have accepted that proposal.’
Of course, I hadn’t foolishly agreed right away with a simple “Yes, I will.”
I’d genuinely tried my best to persuade him.
But what choice did I have?
He wanted me.
At least I’d managed to secure a promise: once my goal was achieved, he’d guarantee my lifelong safety even if I stopped playing mistress.
‘But this—this is too much!’
I brought my lips close to his ear.
“Do we really need to go this far?”
Hades replied in a low murmur.
“If you dislike it, you’re free to leave the castle anytime.”
This man…!
A fleeting thought crossed my mind—maybe his kindness in letting me stay in the castle had been part of his scheming all along—before vanishing just as quickly.
“…Your Highness, I can feed myself. Could you please return to your seat?”
“As you command.”
Hades answered in an unmistakably teasing tone.
‘What?’
I blinked.
Instead of returning to his seat as promised, a small crease formed between his handsome brows.
“You’re… far too thin. You really ought to eat better.”
Strangely enough, those words sounded completely sincere.
Fortunately, Hades didn’t add anything more and returned to his own seat, allowing me to focus on my meal.
Seemingly satisfied, he too began eating normally.
‘Whew.’
Just as I finally relaxed enough to enjoy dessert,
the ornate ebony door of the dining room swung open abruptly.
“Welcome, Sir William.”
Hades greeted his guest calmly.
“What brings you here?”
Sir William glanced once at me, then once at Hades.
The seasoned knight’s face—which had seen countless battles—was deeply disturbed.
“…I had something to say, but it seems this isn’t the right time.”
“There’s never a wrong time to hear your counsel, Sir.”
Hades replied evenly.
“Speak.”
“No, I’ll bring it up later.”
“You must have had a good reason to interrupt our meal.”
“It’s a matter best discussed without many ears around.”
“Then you would’ve requested a private audience in my office.”
“…….”
Sir William inhaled and exhaled so deeply that his chest visibly rose and fell.
“Your Highness… is it true you’ve taken a mistress?”
‘I didn’t expect such a swift reaction.’
Hades fixed his gaze firmly on William.
William, who had taught him swordsmanship since childhood, was a moral and exemplary knight—but also stubborn.
It was understandable that he’d find it hard to believe Hades, who’d always kept his distance from women, had suddenly taken a mistress.
“What do you think, Sir?”
“I—!”
Sir William clenched and unclenched his fist.
“I didn’t believe it… but seeing this, I have no choice but to.”
“A sound judgment.”
“Your Highness!”
“Spread the word: anyone who dares harm Angel in any way should prepare to lose their head.”
Hades observed Angelica flinch across the table.
She reacted precisely to the nickname “Angel.”
Had it been anyone other than Sir William, she likely would’ve demanded why on earth he was using such an odd pet name.
“First you gave your sword to a woman of unknown origin—and now you’ve taken her as your mistress? Your Highness, forgive my boldness: how can you be certain she hasn’t infiltrated the castle to harm you?”
“Ha.”
Hades let out an exasperated sigh.
“Sir, look at Angel. Do you truly believe she could ever harm me in any way?”
“…….”
Sir William seemed momentarily speechless.
And for good reason—Angelica appeared so delicate and frail she might topple over in a gentle breeze.
Especially just moments ago, when Hades had stood beside her chair and looked down, he’d been struck by how painfully thin she was—her entire frame seemed too fragile to bear the weight of life itself.
“She needn’t overpower you physically. She could still plot to poison you…”
Hades suppressed a laugh inwardly.
William had no idea how close his words came to the truth.
“Sir, you know better than anyone that poison has no effect on me. If you insult Angelica further, I’ll have no choice but to consider it excessive—even coming from you.”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
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.
_____
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