I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 42

Sky’s gaze was surprisingly serious.

Eleanor, who had been speechless for a moment, pushed the fingers from her chin away and took a step back.

“If the Count finds out about the offer you made me, I don’t think he’ll be pleased.”

“What can he do, even if he hates it? He must be far away from the capital by now.”

“Are you aware of where you are right now? This is the Count’s mansion.”

“The only reason you can’t leave this mansion is because of the Duchess of Floyd. Lian’s knights won’t stop you from leaving voluntarily.”

Given Lian’s character, it was unlikely he would restrict her movements through a guard.

Still, I’ve never confirmed this myself.

Just how much does this man know?

Feeling a shiver, Eleanor subtly changed the subject.

“Are you taking a woman across the border just to warm your bed?”

“I never said I would treat you as a one-night stand.”

“I have no intention of becoming a concubine.”

No matter how well-off she was, a life confined to the palace, waiting for her husband’s footsteps, was far less appealing than a life flitting through high society.

No sooner had Eleanor finished her sentence than Sky readily amended his offer.

“In that case, I’ll make you my empress consort.”

The shocking words made her flinch for a moment, but then Eleanor said flatly,

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

There was no record anywhere in the world of a baroness of commoner origin becoming a grand duchess.

Such things only happen in fairy tales.

That’s why she remained skeptical of Lian’s kindness.

Sky seemed to acknowledge that he had spoken too rashly and subtly shifted his approach.

“Alright. Then how about I take you in and never take another consort?”

“His Royal Highness the Grand Duke would never allow that.”

“Unlike some, I don’t need to be concerned about what others think when I act.”

Sky replied with confidence.

Indeed, the dissolute Grand Duke Robert had taken dozens of consorts, but the position of empress consort was currently vacant.

Even when they met before, he had a “whatever works” attitude as long as he had an heir.

The Grand Duchy of Phaedra had completely taken over the Phaedra Duchy, and given the loose and somewhat debauched atmosphere of the Grand Duchy, there was no fear of a legitimacy dispute even if the heir was born to a concubine.

“I promise. I will take full responsibility for everything.”

Sky looked at her with an expectant gaze, as if urging an answer.

The movement of his Adam’s apple, visible through the loose folds of his clothing, looked as if he was tense.

As she continued to look at his sea-colored eyes up close, a hot sensation spread from her ears to her face.

‘Could he be serious?’

Eleanor bit her lip, feeling stunned.

No, there’s no way a man like this would reveal his true feelings.

“I don’t believe in such promises from men.”

‘Especially if it’s coming from you, I won’t believe a word you say.’

Just as she was about to say that, a surprising phrase came from Sky’s mouth.

“Then, would you believe me if I make a vow?”

A vow?

Eleanor, who had been avoiding his gaze, involuntarily looked at Sky.

“There is a ‘Vow of Truth.'”

When she showed interest, Sky slowly began to explain.

“It’s a spell that prevents a person from ever breaking an agreed-upon matter. If I vow that I will never take anyone as a consort other than you, I must keep that word for the rest of my life.”

“That’s… absurd…”

Her mouth hung open in shock, and the words wouldn’t come out properly.

Sky took Eleanor’s fumbling hand with his large one and pulled her toward him.

Unlike his languid, aristocratic appearance, his sturdy palm, calloused in places, could be felt through her skin.

“I’ll hold your hand and draw a magical pattern on a piece of parchment. You just have to repeat the words I say and agree. Then an inscription will be etched on my skin, and you can confirm it right away.”

Sky’s voice was already as hypnotic as if he were reciting an incantation.

“I’m a complete stranger to magic. How can I agree to what could be some suspicious vow?”

“You don’t have to worry. Vows aren’t reciprocal.”

Sky fluidly countered the problem Eleanor had found.

“The caster always receives a one-sided benefit, and the one who makes the vow must abide by it. If two people want to make a vow together, the only way is to make two separate vows at once, where the subject and the object are different.”

His explanation aligned with the little knowledge she had learned from the library.

As his words increasingly proved to be true, Eleanor became even more flustered.

“Why on earth are you going to such lengths?”

“I told you I like you.”

“But you’re not so naive as to show up and offer to pluck out your heart, are you? We’ve only met a few times.”

Having learned firsthand how terrifying magic could be from watching Biancasta, she found Sky even harder to understand.

But Sky’s next words left her speechless.

“It’s the same with Count Calabria—you’ve only met him a few times, too.”

“That’s…”

Sky’s point was valid.

As he said, the situation wasn’t all that different.

“Didn’t he also promise you his heart? What makes his sincerity different from mine?”

Sky continued to speak coaxingly to Eleanor, who had her lips sealed.

“You’re beautiful, intelligent, and lovely. I just want to take you with me, even if it requires a somewhat unreasonable vow.”

“You only want me because Count Calabria wants me.”

“It may have started that way, but it’s your charm that has captured me.”

Sky tried quite hard to persuade her.

In his eyes, the probing gaze she’d first seen was replaced with a strange passion.

Is this really affection?

Eleanor, who had been through so much recently, had become extremely sensitive and wary.

“Your Grace knows nothing about me.”

“I know enough that you have no shortcomings that could disappoint me in the future.”

She stubbornly shook her head, but no matter what she said, Sky responded without hesitation as if he had prepared for it.

“Unlike that stuffy prince, I’ve met many people and have been looking for a partner for a long time. I’m not being stubborn; I’m trusting my eyes and my intuition.”

The more he talked, the hotter her wrist felt in his grasp.

She tried to pull away, but he held on to Eleanor, not letting go.

“Don’t avoid me. Just give me an answer.”

Eleanor reluctantly looked up.

Sky brought his handsome face, framed by long eyelashes, closer and asked with great earnestness.

“Do you hate me so much? Or is there a reason you can’t accept this?”

Apart from a slight sense of unease, Sky was certainly charming.

He had a beautiful face, a solid body, and a deep, low voice.

With his languid, mysterious eyes, his exceptional insight, high status, and eloquence, it was hard to find a flaw.

Even the most wonderful man would be meaningless if she wasn’t physiologically compatible with him, but that wasn’t the case here.

She normally detested a man’s touch without her permission, but the fact that she didn’t feel unpleasant being with him now was proof of that.

“I… I can’t…”

Eleanor refused in an uncertain voice.

She felt somehow wrong for not completely hating him.

“This is unexpected.”

He frowned his handsome eyebrows and let out a low click of his tongue.

“Judging by your changed attitude, it seems Count Calabria must have offered you some sweet temptation.”

He must have known Lian had come to the mansion because he had people watching, but she couldn’t understand how his every guess was so accurate, as if he had been watching them the whole time.

“Since that man’s looks are such a low blow, maybe I should use a slightly underhanded method, too.”

Underhanded method?

Eleanor flinched and put her guard up.

“Don’t worry. I’m just going to say a few bad things.”

Sky chuckled, reassuring her.

“Bad things about the Count… You’ll need a good deal of creativity to do that properly.”

“No, I’m not going to make things up.”

Raising his dark eyebrows slightly, Sky paused for a moment as if he was about to say something important.

Then, his voice, rich with intonation, echoed through the spacious drawing room.

“Eleanor. Lian can never escape the Emperor.”

‘If that’s all he could come up with, his creativity score is zero.’

“You’re smart, so you’ll understand. A ruler never hands over immense power without any checks.”

It was a given unless the ruler was a fool.

Sky posed a question to Eleanor.

“Do you know about the ‘Vow of Subjugation’?”

She had never heard the term before, but the word ‘vow’ made her tense.

“It’s the most powerful vow, subjugating the one who makes the vow to the caster.”

Sky explained in a clear voice.

“If the Vow of Subjugation is activated, the one who made the vow can never refuse the caster. If told to die, they will die. If told to kill someone, they will kill them. It’s a vow that literally subjugates the one who makes the vow.”

Eleanor was looking down at the lavishly patterned rug, but she was listening to every word of his explanation.

“In my opinion…”

Eleanor thought carefully before she spoke.

“…it seems like the Count is already defying His Majesty the Emperor.”

Lian left for the subjugation to follow his own will.

It seemed like a clear enough evidence to the contrary, but Sky didn’t seem to care at all.

“This vow is only effective if it’s activated. His Majesty the Emperor hasn’t done that yet.”

“His prestige must have suffered a lot from this incident. Why wouldn’t he subjugate him?”

“The one who makes the vow becomes aware that they are being controlled and will turn into a doll over time. If Lian is to become the next emperor…”

“Do you think it’s absolutely impossible that Lian is under a spell?”

Just as she was about to answer that, a scene flashed in Eleanor’s mind.

‘A red line.’

The day he put the necklace on her.

She was wearing a string stone and her bare skin had touched Lian’s.

And…

She had a momentary glimpse of a red line.

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