Every time the shadows shifted slightly, sweat beads on her temples appeared and disappeared repeatedly.

Mayana took a short breath.
“I will never share a bed with you. If that happens, I won’t be able to take care of Lady Ariante anymore.”

“I don’t see how sharing a bed with me has anything to do with taking care of Ariante.”

“Do you really not know, or are you mocking me with this? I have no intention of entering your bedroom. I don’t want to become a mistress, and I don’t spend my nights thinking about being in your bed. Are you suggesting that during the day, I should play with Lady Ariante, taking walks or playing with dolls, while at night, I should share your bed?”

She deliberately chose explicit words while confronting Cedeloy.

She was revealing her inner thoughts, questioning him about what possibilities he was presenting to her and how difficult he was making her situation.

Cedeloy responded, “There’s a lot to say, but firstly, I never joked once since you entered this room. The reason I asked if you wanted the position of the Duchess is, in fact, quite simple when you know. It’s because Ariante likes you and follows you. And you, too, cherish Ariante. My only daughter.”

Cedeloy emphasized the word ‘daughter,’ and before Mayana could speak, he continued.

“People often say that love is not necessary in noble marriages. In many cases, that’s true… It’s not a union of individuals but a combination of households. The merging of lands, properties, and the messy intertwining of blood. Yes, noble marriages are often determined in that way. So, naturally, there are very few nobles who want to marry someone of ‘non-noble status.’ It brings them no benefit.”

Parenting would be so much better if it were this quick. At that moment, Mayana oddly had such a thought. Perhaps, due to the overwhelming shock and the subtly surprising appearance of Cedeloy, she felt the need to somehow lighten the weight of this situation.

When dealing with Ariante, she hoped for diplomacy rather than the awkward negotiation she was currently facing…

Mayana, who was staring at him intently, said, “But you don’t need to seek such benefits, is that what you’re trying to say?”

“Yes.”
The overly neat agreement was slightly irritating.

Cedeloy, with his hand that had been under his chin, loosened it and changed his posture a bit more leisurely.

“I don’t need to scrutinize conditions and find a marriage partner. As you said… there’s no need to increase wealth, expand land, or raise status.”

He paused for a moment, looked at Mayana, and then smirked.

“It’s written on your forehead, ‘arrogant, ruining the taste of the food.'”

Although she knew it wasn’t true, Mayana momentarily touched her forehead with her palm and wiped her face with a tight expression.

“I didn’t even think about ruining the taste of the food.”

“But you did think I was arrogant.”

“That’s true. Because of what you just said. Take a moment to reconsider.”

“My words are also true. Well… let’s forget about that issue. What’s important is this. I am in a position to be free about marriage because I don’t need any of those things. Even if I continue to live without marrying, it won’t collapse the duchy. Becoming a bride from the most influential household in the kingdom, excluding Valternminster, doesn’t turn the duchy into a kingdom. If I were to consider marriage, there’s only one condition to contemplate. Whether it poses a threat to Ariante or not.”

A threat. Mayana thought that the word sounded very cold.

If he actually said that in front of his prospective marriage partner, there would undoubtedly be either a slap or a spilled drink. Given Cedeloy’s personality, even if the person sitting in front of him was not a mere servant but the daughter of a duke, the same words would have been uttered.

Cedeloy added, “In your eyes, I must be a pitiful father. I admit that. I didn’t know how to examine Ariante’s heart as much as you did. I couldn’t think about what that child truly wanted and needed. Even thinking about it was painful. But, as I said from the beginning, that child is my everything. If there is something I must protect at the cost of my life, it’s only Ariante.”