“If you’re grateful, now try to consider me.”

Ariel, who had been staring at him intently, blinked and raised her head to look at the sky. As she gazed at the blue sky and white clouds where the snow had stopped falling, Ariel was lost in thought for a moment, then nodded as if she understood something.

“I understand.”

The eyes looking at him seemed even determined. Did she really understand what he meant and readily agreed? This woman who knew nothing. If only she wouldn’t act as stiff as a log. But he was also somewhat expectant. What kind of odd thing would she do this time to try to please him?

Ariel unwrapped her arms and took his large hand. At that movement, Kaius’s Adam’s apple moved slowly without him realizing it.

“Starting from lunch today, we can eat together. Shall we do that?”

Kaius nodded slowly and opened his mouth.

“We’ll be going out to the Tris town, so prepare accordingly. We’ll eat out.”

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere you might want to visit.”

“Alright. Let’s do that then.”

Ariel glanced around once to confirm no one else was there, then turned her gaze back to him.

“By the way, when will you see the baby dragons? You don’t know how cute they are. I’m sure you would like them too, Your Grace. The red dragon is a girl named El, and the blue dragon is a boy named Kai. It’s like having twins all at once.”

Kaius gazed deeply at his wife looking up at him and chattering away.

***

Having recovered in the bathtub, Ariel began preparing for their outing.

“Anna, what kind of gifts do men usually like?”

Ariel asked as she put on a dress with a light pink velvet skirt split on both sides over a skirt with layers of lace made of soft fabric.

“Well, I think anything with sincere feelings would be fine.”

“What did Lemon like?”

“Hmm… I think it was a lucky bracelet. Seeing that he still wears it on his wrist. But would His Grace like such things? And I… I’m sorry, but I’m not sure if His Grace deserves such a special gift.”

“Why do you think that?”

As Ariel sat down at the vanity, Anna’s eyes grew slightly fierce.

Anna desperately held back from retorting, ‘You’re asking because you don’t know?’ The innocent Ariel, who had never even dated, wasn’t properly aware of her situation. Not only that, but even the people in the mansion knew nothing. Listening to their chatter made her so angry.

They often gossiped about how the Duke took quite good care of the Madam and their relationship must be good since they slept together every night. Anna thought things had changed too. At least until a month ago when the marks on her body gradually faded.

Anna knew very well what kind of education Ariel had received and how she had been protected since childhood. Even the relatively open-minded Queen was not so when it came to men’s issues, so Edward, Anna, and the guards always blocked the approaches of noble youths. Only Ariel herself was still unaware of this fact.

It was the Queen’s deep love that would make life after marriage a little smoother for the princess destined for a political marriage. Not to mention being a princess of a poor country with nothing.

Anyway.

Even now, without fail, Ariel’s body was severely marked after days spent with the Duke. No matter how generously one looked at it, it seemed more like satisfying lust rather than caring for her.

Moreover, if Ariel’s heart belonged to the Duke, she wouldn’t be taking contraceptive pills every day like this. She even asked for a larger amount this time, saying she had taken all that was procured before. That only added certainty to her suspicions.

Ariel’s face reflected in the vanity mirror was smiling freshly, waiting for her answer.

‘I’m not sure if the Duke is a good person anymore. I know it’s much better than indifference, but I thought he would treat me preciously as time passed. I guess I had too high expectations.’

“It’s nothing. I was just saying. Rather, what do you think, Lady Ariel?”

“Hmm… I think it’s a good idea. The Duke really needs some luck.”

Ariel’s eyes shone brightly as she nodded slightly. Watching her, Anna began to gather her hair, which was slightly braided on both sides, and tie it together at the back with an inaudible sigh.

“Lady Ariel, you know I’m always on your side, right? If anything difficult happens, you must tell me without hesitation.”

“I’m fine. Anna, you don’t need to worry.”

Ariel quickly added to Anna’s worried gaze.

“Still, don’t endure alone, you must tell me.”

Ariel ended the conversation with a quiet smile. It was because she knew well what Anna was worried about without saying it. Meanwhile, a pink bonnet settled on her beautifully arranged hair. Just as she finished tying a thick ribbon prettily to the side, a knock sounded at the door.

“My lady, Duke Ludvian Beloas of Letiana has arrived and is now in the reception room.”

It was Butler Raymond’s voice.

At the mention of Ludvian, Ariel and Anna looked at each other with surprised eyes.

“I wonder what business Duke Ludvian has at the Duke’s mansion?”

The oil deal was still a week away, and last time he came secretly in the dead of night, so what wind blew him to come so openly? Since he had come, there was no way not to meet him.

“Alright. I’ll go down now.”

***

Ludvian received surprising news from a newly acquired spy.

Ariel had tried to leave Kaius von Elbartan, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter when he heard those words.

It was concluded that she had gone out on business and got stuck due to heavy snow, but the spy said the truth was clearly not that.

[Lord Ludvian, it seems Lady Ariel hasn’t given her heart to Kaius von Elbartan. Why don’t we try to bring her to our side? She might listen obediently then.]

Kitra’s words made Ludvian realize many things. She only followed because she was bound by marriage; the Duke meant nothing to Ariel. Therefore, the owner of her heart was not yet decided.

Marriage.

After chewing on that word for a while, Ludvian shook his head with a snicker.

He was soon to become the Demon King. He shouldn’t marry a mere human woman, nor would the demon race stand by and watch.

From then on, Ludvian thought a lot. The reason Ariel disliked him was because he had threatened her with the lives of those around her. More precisely, with the lives of her parents. Such a thing was not the least bit hesitant for him, a demon, and that was still the case now.

But if the reason for her dislike disappeared, wouldn’t she perhaps treat him differently? Couldn’t she come to him of her own accord, not by force? That’s why. The reason he urgently sought her today. He wasn’t going to do anything right away, but he was curious about Ariel’s feelings.

As he sat on the sofa waiting for Ariel, a maid who kept glancing at him while bringing tea motioned for her to come closer. The maid, her face flushed red, approached him hesitantly.

“I heard rumors in Letiana that the Duke and Duchess have a good relationship. Is it true?”

“Huh? Ah, yes, that’s right. But…”

As the maid trailed off hesitantly, Ludvian smiled gently at her, who was staring at him in a daze.

“But?”

“It hasn’t seemed that way for the past few days.”

“Oh? How has it changed?”

“They haven’t eaten together, and at night…”

Before the maid could finish speaking, the door to the reception room opened and Ariel entered. As Ludvian’s gaze turned to Ariel, the hesitant maid stepped back slightly. The maid’s gaze remained fixed on Ludvian as if entranced.

He rose from the sofa and strode towards Ariel. Unable to ignore him as he bowed at the waist according to etiquette and extended his hand, Ariel placed her lace-gloved hand on top of his.

“It’s been a long time, Princess Ariel.”

Without taking his eyes off her face, he brought his lips to the back of her hand. Recalling the soft texture of her lips that had touched his fingertips in the past.

“Yes, it has been… a while, Ludvian.”

As Ariel tried to withdraw her hand, he gripped it a little tighter and whispered softly.

“Dismiss the people. So we can be alone.”

Ludvian, who had been staring intently at Ariel, released her hand and stepped back obediently. Ariel turned towards the guard who had followed her in. Anyway, Kaius was in the mansion, so there wouldn’t be any particular problems, and she was also curious about why Ludvian had suddenly come all the way here.

“Everyone please withdraw. You can wait outside the door. Anna, you too.”

Her gaze passed over Ostian and Victor in turn before moving to Anna’s face. Seeing Anna’s worried eyes, she nodded once more, and Anna also quietly left the room holding Ariel’s bonnet.

***

“Looks like you were about to go out?”

Ludvian asked as he sat on the sofa drinking tea.

“Yes, so I can’t spare much time. What brings you all the way here?”

Ludvian’s brow furrowed at her attitude that always became stiff when she saw him. But today, he wasn’t in a position to be leisurely either. Because the Duke was staying in the mansion.

“Ariel, I wanted to ask you something. From now on, about your parents…”

As the topic of her parents came up, obvious wariness filled Ariel’s eyes. As he was wrapped in a strange anticipation of how she would react to his next words, the door to the reception room opened and Kaius entered.

“Send him away. If you want to hear more of what I have to say.”

Ludvian, who had spoken in a whisper, stood up and smiled at Kaius approaching him. It was a smile that seemed casual at a glance.