“It’s frustrating.”

Without hesitation, complaints burst out in succession.

What was I going to say today?

Gillian, with drowsy eyes, looked at Bianca, who was glaring at him, as if she were adorable.

“I’m sorry.”

“……”

“The timing was bad.”

“You invited me to dinner today to talk about this, didn’t you?”

“I received a report from the ice wall in the morning. I thought it would come soon, but it’s sooner than expected.”

“Soon……”

Bianca quietly muttered Gillian’s words.

The first knight escort that appeared today, and the recent knight recruitment.

All the sudden events now seemed to fit together one by one.

He was preparing to leave.

With realization, she choked up.

“What will you do with the story you haven’t finished yet?”

In front of him, who was about to set out, her tone sounded petulant, even though she thought it shouldn’t be like this, like a child.

“Not yet?”

Tilting his head momentarily, Gillian quickly found the answer.

“Ah, yes. You haven’t answered my proposal yet.”

Although he said ‘not yet,’ there was no sign of impatience in Gillian.

For a moment, thinking that his confidence in getting an answer was inappropriate, Bianca clenched her cheeks to stop the inappropriate thoughts from springing up.

‘How dare he!’

Gillian, the Duke of Barlock, never treated her badly.

On the contrary, he was so comfortable in front of her that his true feelings seemed to burst out.

To call that behavior childish.

Petulant.

It was naturally infuriating.

The taste in her mouth turned sour, and pretending to soothe it with a strawberry jamtopped sherbet, Bianca opened her mouth again.

“Considering the current situation, it’s not a good time. This,”

“No.”

Gillian was a clever man.

With just a single word or hint, he easily figured out what Bianca was trying to say.

“Your answer, whenever.”

“……”

“Whenever, any answer is fine.”

It’s not fair.

Bianca groaned silently.

On the face of the man who had been annoyingly relaxed, anxiety and impatience had quickly settled.

If any answer is fine at any time, why does he smile with that face? Isn’t it cheating?

“Until you accept, I will try as many times as it takes to satisfy you……”

“You mean you will propose again?”

“I will work to receive acceptance.”

A man who dislikes apologizing, yet always apologizes without hesitation.

Despite being in a superior position, he always portrays himself as a perfect weak person.

Bianca stared sharply at the Duke of Barlock, who always showed contradictory behavior.

‘Madam’

Since the day they had married and became a real couple, Gillian had never called Bianca ‘Madam’ again.

His playful tone.

The cold appearance he showed at their first meeting.

It had all vanished as if evaporated.

All that was left was a sweetness that felt like it would melt her brain.

“Actually, I have no words if you refuse.”

“Why?”

“Lately, it’s fashionable to propose with flowers and jewelry mines as gifts, you know? I pushed you into marriage without any of that, so it’s no wonder people were saying this is not a request but a command, and they worked eagerly.”

Gillian laughed at the end of his speech.

But Bianca didn’t laugh.

He was on the verge of departing on a Weive.

A time like today when terrible things flock in droves, meaning he must deal with them.

And he talks about flowers, jewels, mines? And he laughs, saying he didn’t give those and is being scolded for it?

Instead of the Aiden sense in her heart, Bianca was uncontrollably angry.

“Is that important now?”

“It is important.”

Bianca yelled with a voice as harsh as steel, without realizing it.

“I don’t care about mines or jewels. They’ve never mattered to me my whole life, and they won’t suddenly matter now!”

Both cheeks flushed with anger, her breath running hot.

Gillian, smiling, asked Bianca who was chattering.

“Then, what is important to you?”

“Your safety.”

A crack appeared on the smooth face of the man as a fleeting blue shadow passed over it.

Bianca looked at him and pronounced again, putting strength into each and every character.

“Gillian’s safe return.”

“……”

“Your safe return is the most important thing to me.”

“Bianca, we’re talking about a proposal gift right now.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s not a proposal gift.”

With a soft sigh, as if dealing with a child who didn’t understand, and eyebrows stretched out as if troubled, Gillian smiled gently.

Really, who knows nothing?

Tears welled up suddenly, and Bianca realized she couldn’t hold back her words any longer.

“Without you, who would propose to me?”

“Bianca!”

‘Shame of the royal family!’

‘Why did you survive?’

‘That’s a low way to attract attention.’

During the conversation, malicious words from her childhood surged up.

In the royal court, where even living was a burden, all she had been given was a place to die.

Bianca whispered to Gillian, her eyes full of tears.

“If it weren’t for you, who would want something like me……”