Chapter 34: Plea

“Rexton, listen carefully.”

…Huh?

“Yes, Your Grace.”

That voice—it’s Viscount Rexton, isn’t it?

Something felt off.

‘I’m certain I left the ladies’ lounge and got into the carriage…’

My body was leaning to one side. Cautiously, I opened one eye and saw the side profile of Duke Xavier Auguste.

Startled, I immediately shut my eyes tightly. But, of course, a Swordmaster like him would notice.

“Awake?”

“……”

“I know you’re awake, so stop pretending.”

“Mm.”

Feigning sleep, I rubbed my face against the Duke’s shoulder.

“Mmm.”

“You’re cuter when you’re asleep. Perhaps I should kiss you.”

“……”

That was absolutely not happening.

“Ahh, what a nice nap.” 

I said, pretending to rub my eyes as I subtly moved away from the Duke. His gaze bore into me so intensely that my face felt hot, but what could I do? I needed to act shamelessly—like I had a 20-centimeter-thick steel plate on my face.

“Why am I sleeping in the carriage?”

“You’re asking me that?”

“Oh, I must’ve dozed off. Haha.”

Our gazes met mid-air—his teal eyes blinking slowly as he reached out a hand.

Specifically, toward my lips.

‘Wait, is this… a kiss? Now? With Viscount Rexton here?!’

Instinctively, I pursed my lips and pulled them in tightly.

“Surprisingly, you have a sloppy side.”

“Excuse me?”

The Duke gently wiped at the corners of my mouth with his thumb, left to right.

“You drooled a bit.”

“……!”

Oh no, please let this be a dream.

Why did I purse my lips like that?

Oblivious to my mortification, the Duke pulled out a handkerchief from his coat pocket and meticulously wiped each of his long, elegant fingers.

“My shoulder must’ve been comfortable. You were even snoring.”

“Ah….”

“Even when Baron and Baroness Graham tried to wake you, you wouldn’t budge. The Baroness said if they couldn’t take you in, they’d leave you on the roadside. So, I carried you into the carriage myself.”

“…I’m terribly sorry.”

I automatically bent at a 90-degree angle.

It hit me again—my biggest obstacle in avoiding the ultimate villain wasn’t the Duke himself, but my own mother.

Still groggy, I shook my head and timidly looked up, only to lock eyes with Rexton’s brown ones.

“……”

“……”

Rexton stood there holding a tray with a glass of yellow tea and another filled with ice.

‘Not only did I drool on the Duke’s shoulder, but I did it in front of Viscount Rexton!’

Ah, this was beyond humiliating.

Turning my upper body away from both of them, I grabbed my head in frustration.

I smoothed out my scrunched-up face with my palms.

‘This is embarrassing, but I can’t let it show!’

I decided to play it cool. Straightening my posture, I casually asked the Duke, 

“Did Miss Rosetta leave safely?”

“Melvin escorted her. She was quite worried about you.”

“Really?”

“Hmm, she was.”

The Duke’s voice carried a faint hint of amusement, but after glancing at Rexton, he didn’t laugh outright.

“Rexton.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Rexton placed the tray on his lap and poured ice into the glass of tea. The Duke took the glass and handed it to me.

“Here, oregano iced tea. It’s good for hangovers.”

The clear yellow tea rippled gently with the movement of the carriage.

Encouraged by the Duke, I took a sip. A refreshing minty aroma filled my senses, soothing my slightly unsettled stomach.

“This is nice.”

“I brewed it myself for you. Isn’t that right, Rexton?”

“Yes, of course, Your Grace.”

The Duke’s expectant gaze seemed to ask, ‘Well? What do you think?’ Reluctantly, I offered a compliment.

“You did well.”

A beautiful smile curved across his lips.

Bringing me tea like this—did he even involve his subordinate to serve it on a tray?

The thought made me chuckle involuntarily.

“Now, it’s time to decide.”

“Decide what?”

“Will we go to my residence or yours?”

Why was he even asking? Of course, it would be my house.

“My house, obviously.”

“Is that so? I thought we might spend the night at my residence discussing our marriage and contemplating humanity together.”

“Ah.”

‘I won’t run away. Of course not. Let’s solve this problem with a sense of humanity, shall we?’  

‘That’s an excellent suggestion.’

The conversation we had earlier on the way to the banquet flashed through my mind.

“I-I’d love to visit your residence, but I’m just too tired.”

“Hmm… I see.”

The Duke furrowed his brows for a moment but, surprisingly, didn’t press further. Instead, he fell silent, staring intently out the opposite window with a serious expression.

Relieved, I exhaled deeply and leaned back against the seat.

Neither I, the Duke, nor Rexton spoke another word. The carriage was enveloped in silence until we reached the Graham residence.

Finally, we arrived.

“Thank you.” 

I said as I accepted the Duke’s assistance in stepping out of the carriage.

Was it just my imagination, or did his hand tremble slightly as he held mine?

“How’s your stomach?”

“Thanks to the oregano tea, much better.”

At his signal, Rexton bowed and stepped away with the carriage, leaving us alone.

“I’d like to see your garden. Would you show me around?”

“Our garden?”

The Duke’s teal eyes shimmered softly as they met mine.

His gaze, still tinged with obsession, now carried a hint of sadness and resignation that tugged at my heart.

How could I say no to that?

“Of course.”

While smaller than the Graham estate’s main garden, this backyard was beloved by Baroness Naomi. The fragrance of rare plants she had carefully sourced filled the air.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Yes, it really is.”

The Duke glanced at me out of the corner of his eye and smiled faintly.

We walked in silence for a while. He didn’t say much, only pacing quietly beside me.

‘What’s wrong with him?’

When we reached a secluded bench, the Duke pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and laid it on the seat.

“Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

But he didn’t sit down.

“Your Grace?”

What I saw next was unbelievable.

Duke Xavier Auguste knelt on one knee before me, looking up at me.

A gentle night breeze carried the scent of flowers. The fragrance filled my lungs, making my chest feel full.

“Yuria, will you accept this?”

From his pocket, he produced an old ring box.

With a soft click, the box opened to reveal a diamond ring gleaming with brilliance.

“This is…”

“It was my mother’s. An heirloom of the Auguste family, passed down for generations.”

“Oh!”

“Will you accept it?”

The hand holding the ring trembled ever so slightly. Seeing it, my heart began to tremble as well.

What was the right thing to do? I couldn’t make sense of my own feelings.

‘Ah, I don’t even know my own heart.’

While I hesitated, his hand slowly began to lower.

Though the garden was lit by lamps, the moon had hidden behind clouds, casting shadows on his face.

“Will you go to the Crown Prince instead?”

“……!”

“Even though I kneel and beg like this?”

The moon emerged from behind the clouds, illuminating his face. His expression—so unlike him—was filled with sorrow, his eyes heavy with persistence and pain.

“I…”

“Yuria, you said you don’t love me anymore. That’s fine. As long as you stay by my side, I won’t ask for anything more.”

Duke Xavier pulled my hand to his forehead, pressing it there.

Then, he kissed the back of my hand fervently.

“Your Grace, please…”

His breath sent shivers down my spine, slowly consuming my heart. The mighty Duke Xavier Auguste was kneeling at my feet, pleading for me.

But this was also the man who could destroy me.

The man who could take away my family and my Pins region.

If he weren’t the ultimate villain, what would it have been like? I couldn’t help but wonder.

‘Maybe I would’ve seen him as a man… Maybe I would’ve even liked him.’

For a moment, I nearly said, “Yes.”

“……”

‘Rosetta must have nerves of steel to reject such a confession.’

To think the Duke would throw away his pride and cling to someone like this. Was the Saintess’s existence truly this vital to him?

I hadn’t expected to feel so conflicted myself.

My heart was pounding wildly, beyond my control. There was no hiding my expression anymore.

But I knew what I had to do.

‘Get it together, Yuria.’

No matter my feelings or how moved I was, rejecting the Duke here would mean the original story truly beginning.

When I first entered this world, I only wanted a peaceful and enjoyable life.

I thought if I could just pair Xavier Auguste with Rosetta, I could avoid the original plot. But now, I became the Saintess in Rosetta’s place. Now, the Duke wanted me, and the original story was watching me closely.

I had to admit it: there was no escaping the original story. Rosetta’s role had become mine.

‘A war will break out. I have to stop it.’

Strangely, my thoughts cleared. With the hand not held by him, I reached out and gently touched his cheek.

“Don’t be anxious.”

“……?”

“You’ll put the ring on me yourself, won’t you?”

I smiled brightly and asked calmly.

“Ah…”

The Duke’s statue-like face, bathed in moonlight, came alive with emotion.

“Thank you.”

Duke Xavier Auguste smiled radiantly and clasped my hand, the one touching his cheek, with both of his.

“Thank you for choosing me.”

Then, his large hands wrapped around my waist, and he leaned his upper body onto my thighs.

It was as if he was surrendering himself entirely to me.