DPATV - Chapter 24

“Do you want me to kill him?”

Erencia read the sincerity in Euclid's face as he asked in a low voice.

Elber was a villain of the highest ilk who deserved to be killed.

However, she had no intention of commissioning a contract killing.

"No. Did he faint?"

Erencia recoiled as if pointing at dog poop on the roadside and pointed her finger at the sprawled Elbers.

“Does that matter?”

Euclid turned his body and looked straight at Erencia.

His dark eyes were blazing.

He kept his mouth shut.

Looking at his tightly closed mouth, she could feel his suppressed anger.

He opened and closed his mouth a few times.

He said, letting out sighs from time to time.

"Where were you trying to go?"

It was a sudden change of topic.

"Where would you go?"

Erencia glanced to see if Elbers was alive and let out a sigh of relief.

Euclid is considered one of the best in the empire for his physical prowess.

If he had really set his mind to it, Elbers would have been dead in a single blow.

"You tried to leave because that vermin was harassing you, didn't you? That's why you needed money."

"No!"

"I saw it clearly. He tried to hit you. He acts this way even with a guest like me here; if anything, he must usually be even worse."

The money she intended to borrow to start a moneylending business suddenly became funds for running away to escape family persecution.

"I'm not a woman with such a long, drawn-out backstory."

"Does it hurt your pride? I'll protect you."

“What do you need?”

"Your pride, too."

He scanned Erencia up and down.

It was not a sinister look, but a look checking to see if she was alright.

It's somehow touching

“You too.”

Euclid took a letter out of his inner pocket.

He placed the letter in Erencia's hand.

"Duke Novellita is in his provincial territory, and Lord Elbers, who is acting as his proxy, is currently unable to communicate. Aren't you the representative of the Novellita family right now?"

That's right. That's right.

Because we don't even know where the second one, Evan, is.

"Please open it. It is a letter written to the head of the Novellita family."

Euclid let go of Erencia's hand.

Then, stepping back a step, he placed both hands on the staff that had struck Elbers.

"You put a lot of effort into today, didn't you?"

"Conquest and staff?"

Euclid nodded once.

Did you stop by on your way somewhere?

Erencia tilted her head.

She hesitated, looking back and forth between the letter and Euclid several times.

“Why don’t you open it?”

Euclid gestured with his chin, telling her to open it quickly.

She felt quite uneasy about the rushing, but he said it was a letter to the Duke of Novellita's family.

She couldn't help but open it.

Erencia cut open the envelope and took out the paper.

"What is it?"

Erencia's voice grew louder as she read the letter.

The letter, beginning with "Dear Duke Novellita," was a whopping two-page "proposal."

A proper, formal proposal—one of a different caliber from the two-line letter Erencia sent!

“As you can see.”

Erencia read the letter over and over again, unable to believe what she was seeing with her own eyes.

"This is a proposal letter with a proper beginning, middle, and end."

It’s not that she asked because she doesn’t know how to read.

Erencia blinked in confusion, then lifted her vacant eyes to look at Euclid.

Need some explanation?

"It says Erencia Novellita here. Is this really sent to me? There must be some kind of mistake..."

"I clearly told you yesterday that I would propose."

"So, did I tell you that it's fine?"

Euclid shrugged her shoulders with a look as if she hadn't heard anything at all.

And then.

"Did you forget that you proposed to me first?"

Erencia left him speechless.

"I didn't forget. Me... isn't that strange?"

Of course, it won't look normal.

Would a woman seem normal if she sent a three-line proposal the day after their first meeting, only to ask to back out when the man actually sent a proper one?

"Not at all. I think that is possible."

No, come on! Just think of me as a weird woman! So I'm telling you to call off the proposal!

Erencia let out a deep sigh without realizing it, feeling frustrated.

Damn it. This man is generous in useless ways.

"Anyway, I'll pretend I didn't see the proposal. If you take it back like this, it will be as if nothing happened." 

Erencia neatly folded the proposal and handed it to Euclid.

"You were the one who proposed first."

"I thought you would refuse."

"I have already told you several times that I have no intention of refusing."

So I didn't know you meant it!

"You know, don't you? I was always sincere about your jokes."

Did you know?

Since Euclid mentioned it, it seems like I might have known.

But why have I been pretending not to know all this time?

"Is it even plausible for Novellita and Gredelus to get married?"

Novellita, who only did bad things, and Gredelus, who was like the embodiment of justice, getting married?

"What is there to stop it?"

Erencia shook her head with her arms crossed.

"I told you I needed money."

Euclid slowly leaned back.

"Why is that coming up here?"

“I have more money than I thought.”

Erencia frowned.

The wealthy Grand Prince's wife.

If it were her first life, she would have married Euclid without looking back.

If she could see a picture-perfect face every morning, she would have been happy even to be poor.

Novellita has plenty of money anyway. But she's rich too? And her thighs are even-toned!

However, Erencia is not a novice who has lived life only once or twice.

I'm saying I'm not foolish enough to impulsively get married just because I'm smitten by looks!

And since the goal of this life is to completely fail, she had to stay even further away from Euclid.

She could not bring Euclid, the next head of the Gredelus family and the sword and shield of the Empire, into her life.

She approached Euclid solely to use him.

The only ones who will be ruined are her and Novellita; she can't put the Empire in danger for the sake of her goal.

"You can do whatever you want."

Her gaze naturally falls on Euclid, with his sweet voice and a smile that seems capable of melting eternal snow.

Ha. If he tries to hit on me that blatantly, I want to just bow down and say thank you and let it slide, but get a grip, Erencia!

"What is the reason?"

"I fell in love at first sight."

"At least put some saliva on your lips."

His red tongue licked his plump lips and disappeared.

You wicked human!

Erencia pushed up her eyebrows and clenched her fist. She clenched it so tightly that her fist trembled.

Euclid smiled faintly.

"What you really want... shall we sit down and talk?"

It was impossible to tell who the guest was.

***

Sebastian hurriedly prepared to welcome the guest.

Sebastian's mind went blank upon hearing about Elbers's atrocities.

He was afraid that Elbers's misdeeds might eventually reach the Duke of Novellita.

But there was a bigger problem than that.

After Elbers woke up!

A loyal butler who had worked at Novellita for over 15 years, and a lifetime contract to work at Novellita until death.

Although he had signed a contract, at this very moment, he wanted to throw away his resignation letter, forgetting the contract and all that nonsense.

"Just leave."

Erencia waved her hand roughly as if swatting away a fly.

Light flowed from the back of Erencia's head!

Sebastian wanted to bow deeply in gratitude.

I'm glad I could get to Elbers's side before he woke up.

"Get out of here right now. If Elbers causes a scene, it's your responsibility."

Sebastian, like a fine servant, immediately followed Erencia's words.

As he left, the drawing room became quiet.

"You're asking me to marry you? Me?"

Erencia spoke first.

Euclid nodded and leisurely picked up his teacup.

"Why?"

"As I mentioned earlier, it was love at first sight..."

Bang.

Erencia slammed her palm on the desk.

At the powerful look, Euclid raised and lowered his eyebrows, then smiled broadly.

"It’s just because I’m a bit lazy."

“What is it?”

Euclid took a list out of one pocket and handed it to Erencia.

The names of noble ladies starting with the name Selvarena were listed one after another.

"What is it?"

"These are the young ladies I will have to meet if you do not marry me. Even if I meet just one a day, it will take a month; I cannot refuse after seeing them only once, so I will have to meet them two or three times, and since I cannot see them every day, if I meet them with a gap of two or three days..."

"It seems you have to spend quite a bit of time on this."

"Bingo!"

Looking at the name, she felt sorry for Euclid.

She saw that even men welcomed in the marriage market have their difficulties.

But you shouldn't just help anyone out of pity.

"Do I look like a kind person who would help you?"

Erencia snapped.

"I think you are a very smart young lady. One who can accurately calculate profits and losses."

Euclid took another piece of paper out of his inner pocket.

Just how deep is that pocket?

Paper comes out and comes out again.

“Is this a marriage contract?”

"No. It is an engagement contract. Isn't marriage burdensome for both of us? It wouldn't be easy to divorce later, and I've never seen anyone around me divorce after a contract marriage."

"That's true."

There wasn't even such a couple in novels.

"But engagements are easy. You can get them, and you can break them. And the things that bother me will disappear, and you'll get the money you need."

This man speaks well.

Above all, that man's face is persuasive.

"You must have a purpose for proposing to me. You will be able to get that, too."

How can he say 'you can get' what that is?

"...Huh? I wonder if I can get it?"

Erencia pictured the scene of declaring herself and Euclid as official lovers.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a grand official declaration.

What would happen if she and Euclid engaged in overly affectionate, cheesy antics at a crowded café or banquet?

"Sir Euclid, what happens to merchants who monopolize public goods?"

It was an unexpected lesson in economics

However, Euclid, who was the one courting, answered sincerely instead of taking issue with the abrupt change of topic.

"His Imperial Majesty personally confiscated the entire assets of the merchant guild and imposed forced labor as a penalty for the unjust profits."

That's it!

I think I can achieve this goal more easily than I thought.

To incur the public outrage of many by seizing Euclid, the Empire's public good, the position of official fiancée is better than pretending to be a lover. Then, naturally, I will be hated by the families who wanted to form a bond with Gredelos, and...

Erencia quickly scanned the engagement contract Euclid handed her once again.

It was an ordinary engagement contract.

There is nothing to lose.

"Yes. But be prepared..."

“Are you prepared?”

"I'm an incredible actor. Everyone will think we've fallen passionately in love."

“It’s what I hoped for.”

As Erencia rang the bell, Agnes came in.

Erencia covered the paper with her hand.

You must deceive your allies before deceiving others.

“I need a paper.”

Agnes quickly brought the items Erencia needed.

Erencia sat at the desk and signed without hesitation.

In the 'temporary engagement contract'.

***

"What is all this?"

Of the Duke and his wife who went out together, only the Duke returned.

While on a business trip to the countryside, Duchess Novellita decided to stay at the estate and look after its affairs.

It was called taking care of the estate's affairs, but it was no different from a declaration of separation.

Duke Novellita did not stop her.

He returned to the capital alone.

It had been a week since Erencia decided to get engaged to Euclid.

Duke Novellita's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of the boxes piled high on one side of the living room.

"Grand Prince Gredelus has sent it."

Sebastian approached and explained what had happened. Leaving out Elbers's misdeeds, he spoke at great length only about Euclid's proposal.

The fact that Euclid brings a carriage full of gifts every morning, changing the types each time, starting from the day after he brought the proposal letter.

Duke Novellita's face contorted.

As if that weren't enough, he had a bad experience at the place he went down for this business trip because of Duke Gredelus.

They competed with Gredelus until the very end for the right to build a railway in a small town.

The result was a crushing defeat for Novellita.

Duke Novellita was furious when things went awry, thinking he could have breathed a sigh of relief if this matter had gone well.

The Duchess, watching the scene, shook her head in disbelief and holed up in the estate.

Anyway, generation after generation, nothing has ever ended well with anything involving Gredelus.

'Those hateful bastards, pretending to be clean and acting all high and mighty!'

He was filled with rage at the thought of Duke Gredelus, who had looked down at him with his head held high, stiff as if his neck and waist were made of a wooden plank.

When he heard the story that Erencia had proposed, he considered it just a minor incident.

He didn't think much of it until Euclid stepped forward as a partner for the banquet.

Euclid, with his fine physique, was an ornament that suited Erencia well.

Knowing that Empress Lillie had her eye on Euclid as a potential son-in-law, he thought of it as just a casual romance.

He even liked the fact that Euclid had dealt a blow to the stiff Lillie.

But that was as far as it went.

He absolutely did not want anything more than that.

Yet, he was coming and going from the mansion while I was away, trying to pull a fast one?

What a devious fellow.

Judging by Sebastian's words, it wasn't just a casual whisper exchanged between lovers, but a real proposal.

"Sebastian, send Erencia up to the office immediately!"

A furious shout rang out.

Sebastian caught on.

"The thing is, the Young Lady is not home right now."

"What? She's not home at this late hour?"

The carriage carrying Duke Novellita had a problem along the way.

It arrived at the mansion much later than scheduled because a wheel had come off and needed replacing.

Therefore, it was now the middle of the night.

"Where did she go!"

Duke Novellita let out a furious shout.

Sebastian squeezed his eyes shut.

"Grand Prince Gredelus escorted her!"

"Bring out the carriage immediately!"

Duke Novellita shouted.

Previous                Next