Your Grace, It Was a Mistake! - Chapter 3

“One year?”

“I believe anything less would be far too short.”

Isn’t one year a bit… too long?

I was about to say exactly that, but I bit my tongue at the Grand Duke’s chilly gaze. Right, I was the one at a disadvantage! Of course! What power did I have?

‘I’m currently a Grand Duke-kidnapper, after all.’

Truly, I wanted to go back in time and beat my past self for being curious enough to open Marina’s bag.

“Fine, Your Grace. Let us be in a contract relationship for one year.”

“Then swear it, Vivian.”

“Pardon?”

Was a formal oath really necessary? Was this that important of a matter? Yes, apparently it was. Seeing the solemn look on his face, I nodded obediently.

“Then, I swear. I, Vivian Lewis—”

With my right hand over my heart and my left hand raised beside my head, I recited the vow.

“—swear to be the contract lover of His Grace, Lennox Glenn, for one year.”

Once the Grand Duke recited a similar vow, the covenant ceremony was complete. I felt a lingering sense of unease. Taking an oath to God for something like a contract relationship—was this allowed? Wasn’t it a bit blasphemous?

“Good girl, Vivian. Well done.”

“Um, why are you suddenly using formal speech?”

It wasn’t as if he had eaten something wrong. Had he inhaled the wrong kind of air? Why was he acting like this?

“We are in a relationship now. I will use formal language from now on as a sign of respect.”

“Ah, I see. That’s very considerate of you.”

“Of course. You are my cute Vivian, after all.”

Wait, what?

Did I hear that right? “Cute” Vivian? He even added a possessive pronoun in front of it? The Grand Duke must have definitely inhaled something strange. To think the air in my room was this dangerous! Shouldn’t I get him out of here as soon as possible? I was also getting embarrassed by the collection of paintings I had of him.

Unable to meet his eyes, I shifted my gaze around the room before finally speaking.

“So, what do we do now? The night is late.”

I was about to suggest he go home, but the Grand Duke seemed to completely misunderstand my intent.

“I wonder. What should we do? Shall we finish what you were doing earlier?”

“Oh, what I was doing earlier?”

What was that? How do I do it? I don’t remember! The Grand Duke gave a soft smile as he watched me play innocent.

“My shirt is off. Who do you think stripped it?”

“Well, I wonder. Did you take it off yourself?”

I subtly avoided his gaze. Surely, I wasn’t the one who stripped him of his shirt. Definitely not.

“Ah, I expressed that poorly. To be precise, it wasn’t stripped—it was torn.”

“Cough! What?”

A reflex cough burst out of me. As I thumped my chest, the Grand Duke pointed to the floor beside the bed. I looked down, and my eyes widened.

“Gasp!”

Scraps of torn fabric! What used to be perfectly fine clothing lay scattered on the floor, unrecognizable.

‘Did I… did I tear them? No way.’

Even as I desperately denied it, the evidence pointed directly to me.

‘Vivian Lewis, you’ve lost it!’

Overcome with self-loathing, I clutched my head again. Great, was I going to start losing hair at this rate?

“Vivian, you’ll go bald if you keep doing that. Of course, you’d still be cute even if you were bald.”

The Grand Duke gently caught my wrists. The smile he gave me was incredibly kind. I didn’t think he was the type of person who smiled often.

‘Wait, could it be? Is this a lover’s privilege?’

For a very brief moment, I thought, ‘Being the Grand Duke’s lover isn’t so bad.’ Though I quickly fell back into despair at the reminder that it was only a contract.

‘Privilege, my foot. He’s just a naturally kind person.’

The “stalker” side of me that lived deep in my heart tried to protest, ‘Hey, that’s not true,’ but I ignored it. Maybe the Grand Duke just decided to be kind starting today!

I said shyly, “I think you’d look handsome even if you were bald, Your Grace.”

“Thank you for that. Don’t worry about the torn clothes. Tearing them off isn’t a bad way to go, if that’s what you prefer.”

“Ha, haha. Thank you.”

Still, I couldn’t get used to this. Why was he being so sweet? The Grand Duke I knew wasn’t someone who smiled this much, nor was he the type to offer such gentle words.

‘I was so flustered I forgot. He was originally…’

Our Grand Duke was famous for being like a statue carved from ice. He was even given the cringeworthy nickname “The Ice Noble.” The ladies my age seemed to genuinely love that name, though.

‘For him to be this kind—could it be because of Marina’s magic tool?’

Asking to date me so suddenly, and now this. Could that black marble have done something to him?

‘What if that’s actually the case?’

I glanced at him, overcome with guilt, but he only gave a bright, clear smile.

‘And something has been bothering me for a while now.’

Hesitantly, I broached the subject. “Um, Your Grace.”

“Yes, Vivian. Have you decided to finish what you were doing?”

“Ack, no! It’s not that!”

I denied it desperately. What I was doing earlier? Surely, it wasn’t what I thought it was? To do that tonight would be too much! Isn’t our progress a bit too fast? I certainly think it’s too fast!

“It’s not that! I just have something to ask!”

“If it’s a question, go ahead.”

“Well, about my room.”

“This bedroom?”

“Yes.”

I answered in a tiny, mouse-like voice. Damn it, this was so embarrassing! To have the man himself see the results of my seven-year-long unrequited love!

‘There is probably no one in this world more humiliated than I am right now.’

I wanted to die. But since I had to ask, I forced myself to speak.

“W-what did you think when you first saw my room?”

I can’t believe those words came out of my own mouth. Is there a hole I can crawl into? I just want to hide!

“Hmm.”

The Grand Duke let out a meaningful sound, and I flinched. What did that “hmm” mean? He seemed to be contemplating the most appropriate answer, and the wait was agonizing. Oh, don’t think about it! Just be honest! Just say, “It was incredibly creepy!”

‘I won’t be hurt!’

“I thought…”

Finally opening his mouth, a soft smile played on his lips.

“I thought, Vivian really likes me a lot.”

What? Pardon?

‘What did I just hear?’

The Grand Duke actually looked quite proud. Your Grace, just what kind of person are you?

‘Wouldn’t a normal person be disgusted?’

The more I talked to him, the more confused I became.

‘He truly is extraordinary.’

He was one of only thirteen Sword Masters in the Empire and a Grand Duke to boot, so I knew he wouldn’t be ordinary, but still.

‘He keeps exceeding my expectations.’

He was terrifying.

‘Anyway, it’s a relief that he isn’t offended, right?’

But what was this lingering sense of unease?

‘It’s probably just my imagination!’

Yes, that was it. As I shook my head, the Grand Duke asked another question.

“Anything else? Is there nothing more you’re curious about?”

“Oh, well…”

Let’s see. I felt like there was something else I needed to ask.

‘Oh, right!’

The thought suddenly occurred to me, and I quickly asked him, “About the contract relationship!”

“Yes, Vivian.”

He gave me a melting smile and told me to go ahead. I had to squint my eyes for a moment. Your Grace, please stop attacking me with your beauty!

“Um, how much physical affection is allowed?”

Holding hands? Hugging? Kissing? I looked at him with sparkling eyes, and he met my gaze with a curious expression.

“Well, how far do you want to go, Vivian?”

“Pardon? Um, well, I…”

How far do I want to go? I’ve never had such shameless thoughts!

‘Since it’s a contract relationship, maybe just a wholesome hug?’

I glanced at him with unsure eyes. “A hug would be okay, right?”

“Hmm.”

Is that a no? Then, just holding hands?

“Actually, no! Just holding hands! A hug seems too intimate!”

“Too intimate?”

“Isn’t it?”

When I mentioned our contract status, the atmosphere around the Grand Duke suddenly turned cold. What was happening?

“Vivian. Even if it is a contract relationship.”

He gripped my shoulders with both hands and leaned in close. He was too near! I couldn’t even breathe with our noses almost touching. If I did, I felt like my breath would brush against his lips.

“A relationship is a relationship, so shouldn’t we do it properly?”

“Properly?”

“Yes, Vivian.”

He gave a thin smile. “Hugging is the basic requirement. We’ll kiss, and then move on to the next step.”

“The next hiccup step? What do you mean by—hiccup!”

I was so nervous I started to hiccup. I covered my mouth with both hands and stared at him. The “next step”? Isn’t that a bit dangerous? We’re both still single! And we both have people we’re in marriage talks with!

“Marriage talks?”

Gasp. I must have let the last part slip out loud. And I… I was so out of breath.

‘I can’t breathe!’

“Huff, huff.”

I clutched my chest and exhaled sharply. I thought I was going to die.

“Marriage talks? Who?”

The Grand Duke’s state was strange. He had been as gentle as a spring breeze just a moment ago, but now a cold wind was blowing. Did I say something wrong?

‘I just said we have marriage talks.’

Since we were born as nobles, it was perfectly normal to enter an arranged marriage for the sake of making the family stronger. My parents had an arranged marriage, as did Marina’s parents. I would too, and so would my brother Cassian.

‘And the Grand Duke, too.’

Since he was a great noble, he would marry a high-ranking lady or a princess from another kingdom. Since his mother was a princess, marrying into the Imperial family was out of the question. I was simply stating the obvious. But his aura was becoming increasingly fierce.

‘Should I make an excuse?’

As I tried to gauge his mood, he suddenly pulled me toward him. I was pulled close to him in an instant. I could see his sky-blue eyes in such detail that I felt like I was being sucked in, and his warm breath fell upon my skin.

‘Gasp!’

I felt like I was going to faint!

“Vivian.”

“Y-yes!”

“May I kiss you?”

What? Suddenly?

I froze in shock. Your Grace? Weren’t we talking about something else? Looking at him with a bewildered face, he gave a dangerous smile and spoke.

“Let’s kiss, take the next step after that, and then get married, Vivian.”

I blinked vacantly.

‘Your Grace.’

His eyes have gone wild! No matter how I looked at it, his condition wasn’t normal. What should I do? Should I hit him on the back of the neck and knock him out? Even as I panicked, his gaze was fixed on my lips.

I let out an internal scream and squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t bear the intensity of his gaze. But did he interpret my action the wrong way? I felt the tip of his nose touch mine, and then—

Hieeeek!

—our lips met.

I froze, unable to even open my eyes. My mind went completely blank.

‘Our lips… they touched. His lips and… mine.’

He even gave my lip a tiny, gentle nip. My face and neck flushed instantly, and my heart began to race wildly.

‘Wait, hold on a second.’

However, his actions didn’t stop at a mere nip. Slowly, a warm, moist sensation parted my lips and pushed inside.

‘Hiek!’

I felt like I was actually going to pass out. I was k-kissing the Grand Duke! This wasn’t just a peck; it was a real kiss!

“Mmph!”

As he delved deeper, I momentarily lost my balance and fell backward. He held me firmly as I collapsed, pinning me down. I was caught in his grasp, unable to move. I twisted my waist and my legs twitched, and he gently stroked my cheek and shoulder as if to soothe me.

The gesture was so kind—just like one would show a real lover—that my heart pounded. I relaxed and began to follow his lead. The heat enveloping my body grew more intense, and my consciousness began to blur as if I were in a dream.

‘Wait, if someone sees this!’

My hazy mind snapped awake, and I began to frantically pat his shoulders. Fortunately, he seemed to understand and pulled away obediently. As soon as our lips parted, I gasped for air.

‘I thought I was going to suffocate!’

“You’re allowed to breathe while kissing, Vivian.”

“Oh, is that so?”

He gave a short laugh, caressed my cheek, and kissed my forehead.

“Is this a dream or reality?”

I muttered that to myself without realizing it. I couldn’t believe this was actually happening.

“Vivian.”

The Grand Duke then pulled me into a tight embrace and whispered something that made me freeze in surprise.

“Since when have you liked me?”

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