Chapter 16

As she mulled over his words, unable to shake the thoughts of the death that might still await her, he spoke again quietly.

“There’s nothing you need to worry about. I promise you.”

Gazing into his eyes, steady and deep like flames, Anais made her decision. Now that she knew of the Viscount’s crimes, she could no longer stay here bearing the Orelcian name.

Having lost the ability to trust anyone, Anais calmly vowed to herself.

‘After safely divorcing the Grand Duke, I’ll abandon the Orelcian name and survive on my own.’

She didn’t know what intentions drove the Grand Duke to pursue this marriage, but it was clear that he needed it just as much. That was enough for her. At the very least, she knew he wouldn’t call off the marriage because of her birth.

Seeing that certainty in his eyes, Anais spoke without hesitation.

“Then, would you mind turning around for a moment?”

“….?”

The Grand Duke, visibly puzzled, obediently turned his back and sat facing the opposite way as she asked.

Rustle.

Lifting the hem of her thin indoor dress slightly, she pulled out a hidden bundle of papers along with a pen. The Grand Duke stiffened slightly but, thankfully, didn’t glance back.

After quickly fixing her dress back into place, Anais said,

“I’m done. Would you sign this?”

He hesitated for a moment, then carefully turned around.

When he saw what she was holding out, his eyes widened in surprise. In her hands was a simple marriage contract she had created based on a prenuptial agreement she had seen in the book ‘Marriage Among Nobles.’

Shrugging her shoulders, she explained,

“I prepared this in advance to get your signature. There are two copies, so we can each keep one.”

The contents were simple. It skipped detailed terms and simply stated their agreement to a contractual marriage. Beneath that, Anais had added one more line.

Anais finished signing both copies of the contract first. Then, handing the pen and both contracts to the Grand Duke, she asked.

“Do you agree to this contractual marriage with me? Consider this my proposal.”

Remembering how she had outright rejected the Grand Duke’s proposal during their first meeting, Anais figured it was only fair she be the one to propose this time.

After all, it was just a contract marriage. It didn’t matter who proposed first.

However, the Grand Duke simply stared at her, as if he hadn’t expected this at all. His red eyes, catching the moonlight, seemed to glisten for some reason. Anais waited silently, and eventually, he parted his lips, curving them into a soft arc, and answered.

“…Of course.”

At the same time he gave his answer, he placed the pen over the document, but then paused and looked at her.

“Before I sign, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

Curious what could weigh on his mind at the brink of the contract, Anais nodded without hesitation.

The Grand Duke let out a long breath, then began to speak, his words deliberate and slow.

“…What about you?”

The question that slipped from his lips was asking about her true feelings.

“Setting aside the imperial decree, do you want this marriage? Do you want me by your side?”

For Anais, who had obeyed the decree without question, this was something she had never considered. The Grand Duke’s persistent consideration of her feelings, the lingering sweetness of chocolate on her tongue, and the warmth of his coat draped over her shoulders. Above all, his indifference to her illegitimacy.

Turning over all these memories in her mind, Anais met his gaze and answered.

“I don’t know about anything else, but this much is certain. Right now, I need you, and I need this contract.”

To escape the Viscount’s grasp. To twist the fate of a marriage that would otherwise end in death. For Anais, this contract meant everything.

And so, she decided to focus on that.

But the moment her words ended, the Grand Duke finished signing the papers, handed them back to her, and dropped to one knee.

“….!”

“Lady Anais, I wish to stand by your side. Will you let me?”

A moment later, the Grand Duke pulled out a case from within his coat, and nestled inside was a violet diamond ring, a jewel that resembled Anais.

“This is my proposal.”

Repeating her own words back to her, the Grand Duke curved his lips into an innocent smile.