Chapter 25
“I want to get married. As soon as possible.”
Celeret looked straight into Yuan’s eyes and said it firmly.
Yuan, hands in his pockets, quietly stared at Celeret. His expressionless face revealed no emotion at all.
Why is he not reacting? Celeret couldn’t understand Yuan’s lack of response.
At the mention of marriage, Yuan showed no reaction—no surprise, no joy. He should have reacted somehow.
“Let’s hurry up and get married.”
Unsure if he had heard her correctly, Celeret repeated her words clearly, emphasizing each one.
“Suddenly… marriage?”
Yuan asked in a detached tone.
“Yes. I think it’s better to get married quickly.”
So that we can get divorced sooner. A strong determination shone in Celeret’s eyes.
“I was thinking of marrying in about two years…”
“What? That won’t do!”
Celeret shouted, cutting him off. In two years, her father’s title and mansion would pass to someone else.
“That won’t do?”
Yuan tilted his head slightly, speaking in a languid tone.
“Of course it won’t. Then this…”
Celeret swallowed the words about delaying the divorce and cleared her throat. She continued in a calm voice.
“This is a conclusion I came to after careful consideration. I want us to hurry up and get married.”
“A few days ago, Miss Inohater demanded a breakup. To see such a sudden change in mood… it’s quite surprising. How am I supposed to take this?”
Yuan spoke, observing Celeret’s face.
“Of course, it may seem strange. But…”
Celeret paused, unsure how to continue. It wasn’t surprising that Yuan found it odd.
She had gone from demanding a breakup to now begging for marriage. Anyone would think it strange.
Meanwhile, Yuan stepped closer to Celeret. He quickly closed the distance and stood right in front of her.
The scent emanating from him made Celeret take a step back.
“But?”
Yuan prompted, urging her to continue.
“….”
Being so close to him, Celeret couldn’t think of the right words. She must look completely ridiculous.
She should have prepared some excuse before meeting him. Celeret scolded herself for recklessly coming to see Yuan.
“Did you suddenly start liking me?”
Yuan spoke in a low voice, barely above a whisper, tickling her ear.
Celeret lifted her gaze to meet him. His gray eyes met hers.
His expression remained neutral, but his eyes carried emotion. The feeling Celeret read in Yuan’s eyes was anger.
“That can’t be it.”
Yuan’s voice was sharp, cold.
Yet, despite his tone, Yuan gently moved a stray strand of her hair behind her ear.
Celeret flinched at the touch brushing her ear.
The intensity of his gaze and touch made her nervous. She had to handle this moment carefully.
After all, Yuan Fraxtuester needed Celeret Inohater too. There was nothing to tremble or shrink from.
“I suppose you’ve realized there’s no better husband than Yuan Fraxtuester.”
Celeret stepped back and responded. She tried to stay composed, facing him with a confident expression.
Yuan let out a faint smile, though there was a sharp edge to it.
“Do you really think that?”
“….”
Celeret stayed silent, unable to answer his question. Yuan could never be a good husband—he was the worst choice she could imagine.
“You shouldn’t lie, Celeret.”
Yuan reached out and stroked her cheek.
Even the gentle caress and the way he said her name was enough to make her nervous.
Celeret grabbed his wrist as he touched her cheek. His arm was heavy in her hand.
“I’m not lying.”
Celeret pulled his hand away and spoke.
“There must be a reason for suddenly doing this.”
“….”
“You don’t want to say?”
Yuan freed his wrist from her grip and held her waist, pulling her closer.
In an instant, Celeret was drawn into his embrace. She could feel his breath.
Reflexively, she placed her hand on his shoulder and pushed slightly, speaking up.
“What reason?”
Her trembling voice betrayed her tension.
Yuan leaned in as if to kiss her.
Celeret tried to step back, but his strong arms around her waist prevented her from escaping.
His breath brushed against her lips. Just as their lips were about to touch, Yuan pulled back and whispered into her ear.
“Try to make me understand. I don’t know how I should take Celeret Inohater’s whims.”
The breathy voice against her ear sent shivers down her spine.
But Celeret acted calm, meeting his gaze.
“How am I supposed to understand? As Your Grace said, it’s just a whim.”
“….”
Yuan didn’t respond, simply gazing down at her.
“Yes. I threw a little tantrum. Since Your Grace never paid attention to me, I thought that by demanding a breakup, you might show some concern.”
Thinking it better to act like a fiancée throwing a tantrum for love, she spoke.
Yet Yuan said nothing, only looking at her. Their eyes locked.
Celeret fell silent too. The library was quiet, but their exchanged gazes were anything but calm.
After a long moment, Yuan broke the silence.
“May I kiss you?”
He asked in a voice like a sigh.
“Pardon?”
Caught off guard, Celeret frowned.
It was such a sudden, unexpected request.
“I must kiss you. Only then will I…”
Before finishing, Yuan leaned down and kissed her.
His soft lips touched hers. The sensation was strangely familiar yet foreign. Celeret held onto his arm tightly.
“Will you allow me, Celeret?”
After a brief kiss, Yuan pulled back and asked again.
“What difference would it make if I allow it? Will you understand my whim then?”
“Perhaps.”
He stepped closer again, as if charging toward her.
Celeret closed her eyes. A mere kiss was nothing. In her previous life, she had endured far worse.
She had thought a simple kiss would suffice…
But as Yuan’s kiss grew more intense, she couldn’t keep her composure. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, clinging to him.
Before she realized it, her body touched the desk. Yuan lifted her onto it, their lips never separating.
“Mm…”
Celeret let out a soft moan.
His rough, consuming kiss and the way their tongues intertwined left her dazed.
Yuan slowly laid her on the desk. The lips that had claimed hers now trailed down to her neck.
Startled, she grabbed his shoulder. Regaining her wits, she pushed him away and sat up.
“That’s not your lips, Your Grace.”
Panting, she spoke.
“I see.”
Yuan’s expression was calm, his breathing steady, as if nothing had just happened.
Thinking back, it was always like this. After any passionate encounter, he remained unchanged.
Even now, only her ears were slightly red. Not a single strand of hair was out of place. Seeing him so composed, Celeret stepped down and faced him.
“Will you marry me, Your Grace?”
She looked him squarely in the eyes, proposing in her own way: “If you use me, I’ll use you too.”
“Very well. Let’s hurry and get married.”
Yuan answered, straightening her disheveled hair. Celeret accepted his touch, smiling bitterly.
So tender… for a man who had once planned to poison her, it was almost too warm.
Celeret passed by Yuan and headed for the door. As she reached for the handle, Lydia’s face flickered in her mind.
She turned to look at Yuan. Seeing him standing slightly askew, she spoke.
“Kissing a woman you don’t love must be very easy for men.”
Yuan looked back at her, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
Ignoring his answer, Celeret left the study.
“Kissing doesn’t matter. He’s a man who embraced a woman he didn’t love just to have a child.”
A bitter expression crossed her face as she muttered.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
Yuan leaned back in his chair, looking displeased.
‘Visited Mrs. Delabuying’s house… you know, the eccentric lawyer who encourages divorces.’
The memory of the coachman’s voice grated on his nerves.
After meeting Delabuying’s lawyer, Celeret suddenly proposed marriage. The meaning was clear without overthinking.
A marriage made with divorce in mind. Yuan chuckled softly.
If she continued to demand a breakup, he would force the marriage in exchange for returning the property deeds.
He would be the “bad guy,” but it didn’t matter. He wanted her. Celeret Inohater.
“I want to get married. As soon as possible.”
Her words tickled his ears.
He avoided being the “bad guy,” but it didn’t feel good. Even after marriage, Celeret would likely keep trying to run.
A woman wanting to escape only fueled his possessiveness. After kissing her, that desire intensified.
“This is maddening.”
Yuan let out a hollow laugh.
Lately, even he couldn’t understand his own feelings. All for Celeret Inohater…
A woman who was nothing, chosen only out of necessity.
Fine. If she wants it, he would marry her. But she wouldn’t escape. The moment Celeret Inohater bore the Fraxtuester name, she would belong entirely to him.
A crooked smile lifted one corner of Yuan’s lips.
