The Villain Protects the Lady!

“That’s right.” 

Hermia blinked slowly. 

 

‘What did I just hear?’

 “Well, um, that.” “You can take your time. I’ll give you a couple of hours. “……?” 

That’s what he means, he’s trying to get her to calm down, to come to a conclusion quickly.

 “Marriage.” “Engagement.” “Oh, engagement. Contractual engagement.” 

Hermia panics and gets it wrong, so he corrects her like a knife.

 “An engagement for show.” 

The Grand Duke says, holding out his handkerchief.

 “The term is three years.” 

Leaning back in his chair, the Grand Duke stared at her and spoke slowly.

 “After that, I will reward you with a great deal of money and a new name, so that Miss Tekins can lead the happy life she so desperately wants.” 

Words flowed from Grand Duke Leandro’s lips that should have made her ears prick up, but she couldn’t concentrate.

 

Her mind was filled with questions.

 

‘Why is he offering me this?’

 

Yes, she wanted to know why, aside from coveting the fruit in front of her.

 

‘Why would he offer her a contract when she’s known to be the worst kind of girl?’

 

‘What if I really am a bad person?’

 “Wait. I thought you said three years.” 

She clutched the handkerchief tightly and did a quick mental roll.

 

At this point, there were only three years left to the original starting point.

 

Hermia remembered Grand Duke Leandro’s situation.

 

She thought he had been mentioned briefly in the original story…

 “I see.” 

She felt a candle flicker in her mind.

 “You are being targeted.” 

The Grand Duke’s lips parted as if to respond to her sudden outburst.

 

Leandro glared at her.

 “You have just returned from defeating the demon army. There are many who would covet your position, your exploits and the spoils you brought back, but few you can trust?” 

Grand Duke Leandro had spent over twenty years on the battlefield.

 

When he finally returned, his parents were dead and his only sister was long gone.

 

Too many of his men had died in battle.

 

All that remained were his relatives and friends, who had grown too big for their britches in the safety of their own homes and now wanted their share.

 

Enter Belloa.

 

A fragile, vulnerable child.

 

At the same time, she was the Grand Duke’s weakness.

 

It was all too obvious what would happen next.

 “I know what I have to do. I know what you want me to do.” 

Hermia nodded, mesmerized, and raised her eyes to meet the Grand Duke’s.

 “You want me to become His Highness’s false fiancée and protect Belloa.” 

Her mind raced as she tried to formulate a new response. She spoke as if she were pouring.

 “More specifically, you want the eyes of the people on me, don’t you?” 

Grand Duke Leandro has returned.

 

But he has no children, no fiancée.

 

When he dies, if he dies at all, his vast wealth will be poured out from under him.

 

And then came Belloa.

 

The niece, the one who would inherit the most money, power, and even the title of Grand Duke upon the Grand Duke’s death.

 

Naturally, those who wanted what the Grand Duke had would set their sights on Belloa.

 

But if the Grand Duke suddenly became engaged.

 

That is a different story.

 

A sudden engagement, and a close enough relationship that they live in the same house.

 

And if she were to become pregnant and have a child.

 

A child of Grand Duke Leandro.

 

Her chances of getting his inheritance would be nil.

 

And the Grand Duke’s already unstable position would be further cemented.

 

All eyes that would normally be on Belloa will be on his betrothed.

 “Besides, Your Highness will be free from the pressure of the surrounding engagements, which will be even more beneficial.” 

At her words, the Grand Duke looked at her in mild surprise. His lips, which had been set in a straight line, parted.

 “Yes, I will not deny it.” 

Nodding slightly, the Grand Duke leaned toward Hermia.

 “I wanted to use you as a shield instead of my niece.” 

His golden eyes swept over her observantly.

 “Are you disappointed?” 

She dropped her gaze, uninterested.

 “You can refuse. There are plenty of replacements.” 

His tone was nonchalant, as if he wouldn’t catch her if she left now. No, of course they would catch her.

 

They’d have to put her in jail.

 “But none of them would be as perfect for the job as me.” 

Hermia shook her head slightly and looked at Grand Duke Leandro.

 “Belloa is well-behaved, and Your Excellency has his weaknesses in hand.” “……” “I don’t think it’s a bad situation.” 

She shook her head, her chin resting lightly on her forefinger.

 “If anything, I’m more comfortable with you saying it openly, because I’m more comfortable with an alliance for a reason than an alliance for no reason.” “A partnership for a reason?” “Yes.” 

She snorted and nodded slightly.

 “It’s nice to have a relationship where you both hold hands, not a one-sided one that ends when one of you lets go, don’t you think?” 

Of course, it was Grand Duke Leandro who gave her a little more leverage in this situation.

 

Now that she’d realized her usefulness, she could more or less ask for what she wanted.

 “Besides, you won’t let me die so easily, even if you say so.” “I see.” 

Hearing my words, Grand Duke Leandro rose to his feet. He leaned forward and the distance between them closed.

 “Does it not occur to you, Miss Hermia Tekins, that I could kill you?” 

In an instant, she was enveloped in a huge shadow with molded eyes staring down at her.

 

A huge hand looked as if it would strangle her at any moment.

 

But…

 “You wouldn’t do that, would you?” 

Hermia lifted one corner of her mouth and tried to smile lazily, even though it would have made her look like she’d just cried herself to death.

 

Because he just realized I’m very useful.

 

If he wants to use someone else, he’ll have to find them.

 

But he won’t be able to find someone as suitable as her. Besides, it’s Grand Duke Leandro who’s making this offer, not anyone else, and he has his own reasons for needing to fill his fiancée’s place as soon as possible.

 

‘So I’m safe here until I’ve outlived my usefulness.’

 “I know His Highness would not be foolish enough to kill me when I am useful…” 

Besides, he won’t harass her like the Count of Tekin’s people did.

 

He’s basically a tolerant man when it comes to his people.

 “…Isn’t that right?” “…….” 

What the hell, that nasty face.

 

He’s offended that she knows him inside and out.

 “I’m glad it’s not a long story.” 

The Grand Duke rang a bell to have a piece of paper delivered and placed it on the table.

 “Read it.” 

She did.

 

What the Grand Duke was holding in front of her was a contract for a “contractual engagement.

 

It was freshly written, and the ink was barely dry in places.

 “This is a document of what we talked about earlier.” “Sure.” 

The document, with its fancy seal, contained the Grand Duke’s words from earlier.

 

“Three years, a sham engagement to protect Belloa, and if she performed her duties well, Grand Duke Leandro would give Hermia Tekins a new castle and a large sum of money.”

 “The most important of these is this.” 

The Grand Duke’s finger pointed to a piece of paper.

 

On it was written:

“Never fall in love.”

 

Before Hermia could finish reading the words, the Grand Duke spoke.

 “And never say another word once the engagement is over.” 

He lifted his gaze and fixed her with a reminder.

 “And finally, don’t forget that I have my eyes on you, Miss Tekins.” 

She guessed he meant don’t say anything before he cleared his throat.

 

Hermia nodded, and with a swagger in her hand, she pulled out her quill.

 “Good.” 

No falling in love, no bullshit three years later.

 “I’ll play the role of a fake fiancée well!” 

‘Leave it to me!’

 

Loyalty, loyalty!