She had asked for time, but this wasn’t something to simply brush aside.

The Duke insisting they should marry just because they’d spent a night together was still surprising to think about.

‘So conservative.’

She knew that if she retorted with, “Marry just for spending one night together?” she would be the one looking bad.

Really, you never know with people. Imagine having such worries against a villain.

Walking and thinking, they soon reached a familiar space.

A space just for Duke Hart and Nelia, the library.

Nelia sat tensely on the sofa. Today, even the plush sofa felt rather hard.

“Nelia, you don’t have to be so tense.”

The Duke offered a faint smile to comfort Nelia. He often knew her emotional state too well.

“I have no intention of rushing into marriage.”

He seemed to know her thoughts too well.

Yet it was strange.

Just yesterday, he was pressuring her about marriage, but his attitude had shifted significantly in a day.

Could the Duchess have said something?

“Just like you said, Nelia, marriage requires caution.”

“…Yes.”

“Yes, I was too hasty. I shouldn’t have brought it up so abruptly.”

“Then… Are we forgetting what was said about marriage?”

“It’s more like we’re putting it on hold for now.”

A delay… While ambiguous, it was welcome news for now.

Nelia found his shift in attitude in just one day to be somewhat suspicious, but for now, she felt relieved.

As long as she didn’t fall for Duke Hart’s tricks and spend another night…

“Then, Nelia. I’m counting on you for tonight as well.”

“Excuse me…?”

Duke Hart quickly uttered something alarming.

“I’m counting on you tonight too…?”

As if understanding her thoughts, he calmly added an explanation.

“We need to test whether I’ll return to human form. We’ll be going to the imperial palace from next week, you know.”

“Ah… I see.”

He should’ve said so. For a moment, she almost remembered the thrilling night.

She had to be careful not to fall for the Duke’s temptations from now on.

“Yesterday, when you were patting my head, I returned to human form.”

Nelia remembered the moment yesterday when Duke Hart had returned to human form. She had patted the sorrowful, serpentlike head and he had returned to human form.

“Yes, that seemed to be the case.”
“Let’s try the same way today.”

Nelia nodded her head.

It wasn’t a difficult task; if it worked out that easily, it would indeed be fortunate.

With a lightened heart, Nelia replied.

“Alright.”

(This is a time separator.)

After finishing work, Nelia and Duke Hart had their dinner.

Tonight, veal steak and oyster dishes were served, and they were truly delicious.

The plates were emptied quickly thanks to that.

The capital of the Andrian Empire was inland, making it hard to get seafood. Oysters were particularly luxurious.

Yet, in the Duke’s mansion, oysters were more accessible than rolling stones. Nelia sometimes wondered if they had some kind of magic pouch to make them appear.

Although she knew Duke Hart was wealthy, sometimes she felt she couldn’t fathom the depths of his wealth.

Being a guest in this mansion had taught her that sometimes there are outrageously expensive items. She wasn’t an expert on luxury goods, but she had heard guests marvel at them.

Even now, climbing the stairs, there were paintings hanging here and there on the walls.

While admiring the paintings, Nelia asked Duke Hart.

“Do you collect paintings as a hobby?”

“It’s not a hobby, but… I regularly buy them at auctions.”

If he regularly buys them, wouldn’t that make it a hobby…?

“I don’t particularly like paintings, but if something seems valuable, I tend to acquire it.”

“Is it like an investment?”

The Duke shook his head.

“No. If I had to explain, it’s more like… instinct, perhaps?”

Nelia thought about the vague explanation.

…This sounds more like a shopping addiction.

Still, it’s his capability, so it doesn’t matter.

Reaching the fourth floor, Nelia quickly put aside thoughts about the Duke’s wealth. And just before passing her room, she grabbed his arm.

“Duke, let’s stay in my room tonight.”

She didn’t have the confidence to be alone with him in the room where they had spent a hot night yesterday.

It bothered her to be alone in a room, but her own room seemed like a slightly better option.

The Duke, seemingly indifferent, nodded without hesitation.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

Nelia nodded and opened the door. Seeing another room with a bed made her tense again.

She sat down at the table in the corner, trying to act nonchalant.

She had waited for the Duke to turn into a snake in bed yesterday, but on reflection, there was no need to be in bed.

However, it seemed the Duke didn’t share her opinion.

“Why aren’t you in bed today?”

“I prefer it here. You don’t mind either way, do you?”

Perhaps sensing her guard, Duke Hart obediently took a seat across from Nelia.

A moment of silence flowed.

Not wanting to be in that silence while waiting for the Duke to turn into a snake, Nelia hurriedly spoke up. The topic was a continuation from earlier.

“I’d like to hear about your family’s previous generations, Duke.”

It was a curiosity that had arisen when she saw the paintings earlier.

What exactly had they done to amass such wealth?

“The ancestors of the Hart family?”

“Yes, for example, how did they receive the title of Duke?”

She couldn’t directly ask how they became rich, so she awkwardly asked about the history of the dukedom, thinking she could get related information that way.

While she wasn’t intensely curious about the Duke family’s wealth, it was a suitable topic to pass the time.