A sneer flowed from Kaius’s lips in the darkness.

Around the time he judged the Marquis Beloas had been given enough time to realize the current situation, he began to move as expected.

There was no man who would stand by and watch quietly while the woman he liked was alone with another man in a room, especially with the lights off.

He would either barge in immediately or leave.

The fellow left. It would have been in the same context as just watching this woman before he arrived.

“Fortunately…”

Kaius smiled at the thought that a troublesome matter had disappeared, and shifted his gaze to Ariel, who was still asleep.

For generations, no scandal or rumor was allowed for the Duke of Elbartan. All the previous Elbartans had lived that way, and so had Kaius. And the Duchess could not be an exception to that category. So Ariel had to be the same.

The perfect Elbartan.

It was a reputation that had been maintained for over a thousand years since the Klardeus Empire was founded, and it was as natural as breathing.

Divorce was a big flaw, but it wasn’t unprecedented. However, Kaius was willing to show some kindness if she didn’t neglect her duties and responsibilities as Duchess for a year.

Letting her continue to live as the Duchess without divorcing.

While it wouldn’t be a huge problem for a princess of a country to get divorced, it was different for the poor Letiana. Anyone could predict that all sorts of unfavorable speculations would run rampant.

As long as he allowed her to become Ariel von Elbartan, he intended to embrace her if possible. Kaius’s hand touched her braided hair.

It wasn’t bad to watch her sleep, but since they had agreed to write a contract, it was time to wake her up.

“Wake up now.”

The soft baritone voice shook the air of the dark night. Seeing no signs of waking, Kaius shook her arm and called again.

“Ariel.”

Still asleep, she turned towards where Kaius was sitting. At that small movement, the soft touch of her body against his hand made his breath slightly uneven. Lying defenseless, and the fragrant scent he had been smelling since earlier was more than enough to stimulate a man’s desire.

What made him even more shaken was the fact that she would soon be his wife.

However, he had no desire to do anything to a woman lost in sleep. Kaius got up from the bed and sat in a chair by the window. His eyes slowly closed as he stretched his legs out.

Ludvian, who had been watching the darkened room, admitted frankly.

She was a human who would become useless after Kaius von Elbartan died.

A woman who was merely a means to become the Demon King.

That he, the Demon Duke, desired this insignificant human woman.

But if he had to choose between becoming the Demon King and this human woman? The answer was already decided.

Fearing that his year-long effort might go to waste if he stayed any longer, he hurriedly left the palace. However, shortly after, he found himself in an absurd situation.

A barrier formed around him, and before his eyes, insignificant demon beasts glared wildly, not recognizing their master.

This was the symptom of demon beasts going berserk after eating Lilas. It meant that he himself had been poisoned by Zapharos.

He couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at the sheer absurdity. Ariel. This impudent woman had fed him Zapharos flowers. He had clearly told her that the flowers could only harm demon-kind, so she couldn’t have known what she was doing.

Chuckling, Ludvian began to eliminate the demon beasts attacking him one by one. Being in the early stages of poisoning, the beasts were weak, allowing him to deal with them without a scratch, but if it progressed further, even he wouldn’t be able to avoid getting hurt.

After the barrier was lifted, Ludvian pondered over his meetings with Ariel.

It was the tea.

He hadn’t eaten anything but tea when meeting her. Ludvian, who had already left the palace grounds, turned his head to look at the road leading to the palace.

But he soon headed towards his own mansion. There was no point in going now, as the two of them would be together.

In the human world, even he would have to risk his life in a battle against Kaius.

Waking from her sleep, Ariel blinked her eyes and recalled the situation before falling asleep. She had clearly been waiting for Kaius in the annex to write the contract.

Sitting up in bed, Ariel sighed softly.

“When did I climb into bed and fall asleep?”

Muttering as if to herself, Ariel found it strange that the lights were off, but thinking it was no big deal, she turned on the bedside lamp. As she looked around absently, she discovered Kaius sitting by the window and was startled.

Quickly muffling the scream that was about to burst out with both hands, Ariel looked at him again and felt relieved. Fortunately, he had his eyes closed with his head resting on his arm.

Calming herself, Ariel was about to put on her shoes under the bed but changed her mind and decided to wait for him to wake up.

Just as he had waited for her.

Quietly observing Kaius, Ariel soon found herself tiptoeing towards him without even putting on her shoes. It was to check if he had any injuries.

As she approached, a cool scent seeped into her nostrils.

She thoroughly examined his body, arms, and legs, but there seemed to be no injuries. Ariel’s gaze, which had started from his legs and moved upwards, settled on Kaius’s face.

The strong jawline, lips that were red in contrast to his pale skin, quite unlike his cold nature. His long eyelashes were as dark as his hair. Just as she was sincerely admiring his sculpted face, Kaius’s eyes opened.

In an instant, his hand grabbed Ariel’s arm. Feeling as if she had been caught doing something bad, Ariel unconsciously swallowed dry saliva.

Relieved by his hazy gaze that seemed not fully awake, Ariel freed herself from Kaius’s hand.

It was then that Kaius’s hand, which had let go easily, cupped her cheek. In a flash, her face was pulled towards him, and his lips gently touched Ariel’s. Shocked almost to the point of fainting, Ariel instinctively twisted her head to escape his grasp.

He must not be fully awake yet.

Having fled far from him, Ariel carefully called out.

“…Your Grace?”

He had been awake since she started tiptoeing towards him, not having fallen into a deep sleep. Wondering what she was up to, moving like a cat, he had remained still, but her fragrant scent had fueled the desire he had been suppressing.

Kaius, who hadn’t expected her to refuse at all, found the current situation so absurd that he wondered if he was dreaming.

There had been countless women throwing themselves at him, but for the woman who was to be his wife to run away from him.

Looking at her with narrowed eyes, Kaius laughed softly. It was because he confirmed the wariness heavily painted in her eyes as she looked at him.

He had agreed to her nonsensical suggestion to write a contract only out of kindness, thinking that if it made her feel more comfortable, he would do it.

It seemed that it wasn’t just her who needed a contract.

“Come here.”

Seeing Ariel still fidgeting and watching him cautiously, Kaius laughed softly once more.

“Aren’t we going to write the contract?”

“Ah… Yes! Of course we should.”

Ariel sat in the chair furthest from him. At this sight, a deep sigh escaped Kaius’s lips.

“Closer.”

The low voice was somewhat commanding.

He couldn’t help but laugh at her stubbornly shaking her head and keeping her mouth shut. A helpless sigh also escaped as he watched her keeping an eye on him even as she pulled the paper closer and grasped the pen.

What had he done?

“I’m sorry, we’re late because I fell asleep. So I’ll hurry a bit.”

Her eyes were still uneasy, but her words were composed.

“First, let’s write down the clauses we each want.”

Kaius nodded briefly and leaned back deeply in his chair, crossing his arms and staring at the table, or more precisely, at her hand holding the pen.

First, maintain the marriage for 1 year and then divorce.

Second, Ariel will treat Kaius if he is injured.

Kaius’s gaze, which had been watching the pen tip move across the paper, gradually moved upward. Passing over the loose hair that had fallen to her collarbone, it settled on her face. Every time she blinked her downcast eyes, the shadow of her long eyelashes flickered around her eyes.

Staring at her intently, Kaius eventually shifted his gaze back to the paper. Ariel, focused on writing the contract clauses, didn’t notice his gaze at all.

Third, allow building a greenhouse in the ducal estate. The greenhouse is off-limits.

Fourth, guarantee freedom for outings or meeting people.

Having written down all the contents she had thought of, Ariel stretched out her arm and handed the paper to him, as if asking him to review it.

By now, the wariness had disappeared from her eyes.

“Please read it and give me your opinion. And if you have any clauses you want to add, please tell me.”

Taking the paper, Kaius quickly skimmed through the contents.

“Let’s change it to ‘Maintain the marriage for 1 year and then divorce by mutual consent.’ ”

Ariel raised her eyebrows and was about to say something, but thinking that he wouldn’t oppose anyway, she nodded in agreement.

“Why is the greenhouse off-limits?”

“That’s because the prophetic plant I mentioned before is dangerous. And, do you have any reason to enter it anyway?”

Kaius nodded, agreeing to the third clause, and handed the paper back to her. After Ariel modified the first content and looked up, Kaius spoke.

“Fifth, any action that tarnishes the honor of the ducal family is strictly prohibited.

Sixth, fulfill the responsibilities and duties of the Duchess.

Seventh, maintain confidentiality about the contract.

If the contract is breached due to one’s own fault, pay a penalty of 1 million Luman (about 10 billion) to the other party.”

Ariel, who had been dutifully writing down the clauses flowing from Kaius’s lips, let out a short gasp of “Huh” at the last words. It was because the amount of the penalty was considerable.

So far, the income that Elia Company had earned in 6 months didn’t even reach 50,000 Luman (about 500 million). Now, with employee salaries and the need to build accommodations for them to stay in. If the income remained the same, it meant that 1 million Luman was an amount she would have to work for more than 20 years to earn.

Holding her breath, Ariel looked up to ask him about the penalty.

“What’s wrong? Is the penalty too small?”

Too small, you say?

“No! Absolutely not!”

Ariel, filled only with the thought that she must never violate the contract, didn’t notice the amusement in Kaius’s eyes.