“Speak quickly. Do not test my patience.”

Swallowing words that seemed familiar, Clea ignored Grit’s piercing gaze.

At first, that gaze triggered a seizure in her.

Inwardly, against her will, she kept repeating phrases like “Don’t upset them” and “Don’t be hated.”

But before long, Clea eliminated all the irritating inner voices.

She had never craved their affection or sought recognition as a member of the same family in the first place.

A heart without even expectations naturally overcame the pressure that poured out.

Now she no longer tensed up even when she saw them.

‘Rather, it’s annoying.’

When Clea didn’t say anything, Grit slightly raised his voice.

“If you keep acting like this, I’ll have no choice. I’ll tell the Percy family to nullify your engagement with the young lord.”

Grit always emphasized to Clea.

How much he had sacrificed to arrange her engagement to Lloyd Percy.

He claimed to have offered an enormous family fortune as a precondition for marriage.

While brainwashing Clea that she must become the lady of the Percy family by any means.

The innocent Clea in the original story always felt grateful to Grit and thought she must unconditionally follow his words.

Obsessively so, in order to marry Lloyd and maintain that relationship.

However, knowing the inside story now, Clea felt like laughing mockingly.

‘Actually, the Grand Duke and his wife didn’t impose any conditions on the Odoi family.’

Rather, they were pleased that a marriage proposal came from a ducal family, as they were displeased with Lloyd associating with lower-ranking ladies.

It wasn’t that they liked Clea, but that they liked her family, the Odoi ducal house.

Until the time when the previous duke was alive, the status of the Odoi ducal family was only one or two steps below the Percy grand ducal family.

The only ones who were reluctant about this marriage arrangement were Grit here and the fiancé Lloyd.

As soon as the marriage talks began, the Grand Duke and his wife tried to marry Clea and Lloyd right away.

But Grit, who was displeased at the thought of his daughter suddenly rising to a higher position than himself, and Lloyd, who didn’t want to be unexpectedly tied down by marriage, joined forces.

To use Clea Odoi’s existence.

While delaying the marriage as much as possible, one side would pick up the crumbs falling from the grand ducal family.

The other side would try to change plans to marry Aria somehow by persuading his family.

When Clea remained silent without answering his question, Duke Odoi ordered with an irritated expression:

“Go write an apology letter right now.”

It always ended up like this when he threatened to break off the engagement.

Having to write a letter filled with hollow apologies, detailing how she had done wrong.

Until now, Clea had done as he wished.

Because there was so much she could gain by doing that much for him.

Though no one looked at her kindly, she could sleep comfortably without worry, and though she couldn’t taste it, she could still eat meals every day.

If she got sick, a doctor would come examine her, and necessary daily necessities were provided.

Even if the quality was low, she was very pleased as it meant one less thing for her to worry about.

But now things were different.

“Why should I do that?”

“Are you defying me now?”

“Yes, if that’s defiance.”

“How dare you speak to your father that way, Clea!”

She was just waiting for death anyway.

If not loved, the curse would eventually manifest and bring death.

Clea first learned of this fact because of the mark that appeared on the back of her hand.

A mark that looked like a clock appeared, and the second hand of the clock kept moving without stopping.

As if it would kill her without hesitation the moment it stopped.

A very grateful moment that made her realize even her family before her eyes did not love her.

Clea laughed emptily for a moment.

‘Even if I wanted to fix it, it’s not visible unless you’re the cursed person.’

Even if she appealed to others right now, they wouldn’t believe her at all.

Rather, it would be fortunate if she didn’t hear that Clea Odoi, who had been craving her fiancé’s affection, had finally gone mad.

Even if the curse was lifted, Clea, who was growing tired of life here, rather welcomed it.

Rather than thinking she should break the curse, she thought it was finally an opportunity to disappear from this place.

Now there was no reason to write forced apology letters thinking of what she could gain.

She recalled her thoughts at the imperial banquet.

That it’s better to face someone you want to meet than to see someone you don’t want to meet.

Clea raised her head and looked at Grit and Steve.

Steve looked at her with an expression close to shock, while Grit further furrowed his brow and raised his voice at Clea.

“Go in right now and write an apology! If you don’t, you’ll be kicked out of the Odoi family!”

At the words that she would be kicked out of the Odoi family, Clea flinched.

She clicked her tongue and thought.

Does she still have that much emotion left in her?

The thought that even a little of the original Clea’s feelings, which she had long since killed with iron and hammer, remained made her mood worsen.

On the other hand, Grit, thinking Clea had become frightened, smiled and urged her:

“If you go upstairs now and write an apology by tomorrow morning, I’ll give you a light punishment. The young lord said he would forgive you if you ask for forgiveness, so if you go apologize, it will be handled well.”

“Stop this pointless rebellion and quickly sit down and eat what you’re given. Useless stubbornness will only ruin you.”

She frowned deeply at the words reaching her ears.

Then a good idea occurred to her and she stood up.

Grit and Steve thought Clea had finally come to her senses. But that was a mistake.

Clea smiled and asked them:

“So if I abandon the Odoi name, that would be enough?”

“Clea?”

As if hearing something completely unexpected, Steve stared at her with wide eyes.

But Clea completely ignored Steve and turned her gaze to Grit.

Grit met her gaze with a stiff expression, like someone having trouble accepting the words Clea had just uttered.

The beautiful girl with silver hair and blue eyes showed no emotion towards Grit with an icy expression.

It wasn’t that she was hiding it. She truly felt nothing towards him.

“Then I’ll do that.”

“What are you doing now!”

Hearing Clea’s answer, Grit was stunned for a moment before coming to his senses and asking.

He clearly thought he had misheard.

He never expected such easy words of abandonment to come from the mouth of the girl who had been obsessed with blending into the family.

However, she didn’t even want to give room to think he had misheard, so she kindly explained once more.

“I will leave the house.”

“Clea! Do you really think you’ll be safe if you do this?”

Steve angrily exploded at Clea’s attitude.

Grit also frowned at her arrogant attitude.

He felt a strange unpleasantness at her attitude, as if she would eat well and live well even if she left.

Recently, there had been frequent incidents of rebellious children running away from home among the nobility.

But they soon realized the preciousness of home and returned. Their tempers were dampened by the not-so-easy life outside.

Thinking this situation fit perfectly, Grit smiled arrogantly.

“Father, we must lock that child in her room right now…!”

“Then leave this house.”

“Father?”

“Yes, I will do so.”

Steve looked at Grit with a dazed expression.

Grit looked at Steve pitifully and then turned to Clea.

That attitude still without any hesitation.

He thought. She may act like this now, but before long she’ll be back to being the child who obediently listens to them like before.

While imagining her transformed appearance, Clea ignored the two of them and headed straight outside.

‘I probably won’t ever return here again.’

There was one difference from Duke Odoi’s thoughts.

Clea never felt this place as her home from the beginning.

She only thought of it as a place she would stay temporarily and leave someday.

If Grit could read her thoughts, he would have imprisoned her in the mansion now as Steve said, while she was still visible.

But he was still hoping for Clea’s former appearance while thinking of dedicated personnel to assign to her just in case.

* * *

“You’ll have to explain why you let her go on her own, Oberon.”

Admund’s mood was at its lowest point.

For the first time, he expressed dissatisfaction towards his aide Oberon, who had never shown him a disappointing side before.

As soon as he woke up, he searched everywhere for Clea Odoi.

Surely someone with silver hair and blue eyes wouldn’t be common, yet she had melted away like snow on a spring day, completely out of sight.

It was only after a long while that he found the note left in his room.

An absurd note telling him to forget last night and think he had been bitten by a dog.

Not long after, Oberon proudly presented a contract in front of him.

He immediately grasped the entire situation.

“Your Highness, surely that young lady must have used some kind of trickery.”

“And so.”

When different words came out of his mouth that had been rebuking him until just now, Oberon rejoiced, thinking he was finally recognizing his loyalty.

But that was nothing more than a huge misunderstanding.

Admund was curious to see just how far-fetched his words would be.

Just how much he could say under the pretext of acting for his sake.

“Wouldn’t it be to tarnish Your Highness’s honor for the sake of her fiancé? Your Highness is currently in an opposing position with the Odoi ducal family.”

“So you’re saying she tried to give me the dishonor of coveting a woman with a fiancé.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

It was a somewhat understandable statement.

If the duke had ordered to create a scandal, it could have happened.

However, that was only possible before spending a night with Clea.

At least for that time, she was sincere.

With her blue eyes, she thought of no one else.

She was busy biting into Admund’s flesh, containing only him.

As if a person on the verge of death was trying to leave their traces somehow.

Swallowing, Admund ended his brief reminiscence and said to him:

“What if I wanted it?”

“Your Highness?”

In that one night, numerous emotions passed between them.

His heart, always rational and prioritizing principles, moved in confusion.

“I want to get some fresh air for a moment.”

“Your Highness! It’s getting dark!”

Admund looked at his neck in the mirror hanging in the office, along with an emotion he had never felt before.

With the memory she left, Admund bit his lip slightly and thought.

For some reason, he felt a strong desire to see someone.

Others might say it’s simply curiosity, but Admund was certain it wasn’t curiosity.

He thought as he rubbed his face dry.

If they met again, would he be able to understand what this feeling he harbored was?

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.