Chapter 6
Pointing at the Grand Duke with a playful V-sign, as if I were some flirt on the street, I met Axel’s icy gaze. His eyes, cold and unyielding, fixed on me.
“Lady Melberine, are you aware that your words just now were wildly inappropriate? Do you have several lives to spare?” he asked, his voice sharp.
“But I only say these things when no one else is around, Your Grace. You… you’re not going to throw me in a dungeon, are you…?” I tilted my head, letting my eyes droop pitifully, as if I meant no harm. I knew he wouldn’t go that far.
Axel dragged a hand down his face, letting out a heavy sigh. “Haa… Don’t you ever get tired, Lady Melberine? And those… bizarre comments—where do you even come up with them? I’d appreciate it if you’d stop.”
He really seemed to struggle with my over-the-top remarks. Maybe he just wasn’t used to them. I’d spent so long admiring idols who thrived on such flattery that his fresh, flustered reactions only made me want to tease him more. But now wasn’t the time for games—it was time to negotiate.
I flashed a bright smile. “Invite me to your office, and I’ll stop.”
“Haa…” Another sigh.
After days of trying to get close to him, I finally secured an invitation to Axel’s office. I’d been brushed off so many times, so stepping into his domain felt like a monumental victory. His aide, spotting me, hurriedly brought out tea. I gave him a warm smile. “Thank you.”
Axel, watching me quietly, spoke up, his tone laced with suspicion. “You’ve definitely changed. Are you aware of the rumors circulating about you lately?”
Thanks to my frequent appearances around him, gossip was spreading like wildfire. Word was that Lady Melberine had shifted her affections from the Crown Prince to Grand Duke Axel. And on top of that, some whispered that I’d lost my mind.
“You’re causing me quite a bit of trouble,” Axel said pointedly.
“There’s a simple way to avoid that trouble, Your Grace,” I replied, undeterred.
His eyes narrowed. “…And that is?”
“Make the rumors true! I’m serious, but you still think I’m joking, don’t you? I really do love you, Your Grace!”
I clenched my fists and declared it loudly, heedless of the curious glances around us.
“You have a knack for saying embarrassing things without a hint of shame,” Axel remarked dryly. “Fine, let’s say you do love me.”
“It’s not just ‘let’s say’—it’s true…”
“But do you really think it makes sense for someone’s tastes to change overnight?”
“Of course it does! Tastes can change in an instant!” I insisted. It wasn’t a lie. In my past life, I’d switched my celebrity crushes every time a new, handsome face appeared on TV. My old online friends used to tease me about it, begging me to stick with one for once.
Axel’s next question caught me off guard. “If we assume you love me, what would you do if I said I didn’t like you?”
My jaw dropped, and for a moment, I was speechless. The thought had never crossed my mind—not once. None of my favorite idols had ever rejected me like that. Stammering for the first time, I managed, “Y-you don’t like me? No, that can’t be right…”
“How can you be so sure?” Axel said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips as if he’d caught me in a trap. “You’re awfully confident, Lady Melberine. Your reputation among others isn’t exactly glowing.”
I faltered, genuinely thrown. There was a reason for my shock—Judith’s appearance was flawless. In my mind, beauty equaled charm, so it never occurred to me that someone might find her lacking.
“Well… because I’m beautiful?” I ventured.
“So, you think a pretty face solves everything?” Axel asked, his tone skeptical.
“Isn’t that how it works?” I replied, half-serious.
At least, that’s how my life had always worked. Tilting my head as if genuinely puzzled, I turned the question back on Axel. For a fleeting moment, his face betrayed a flicker of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.
“Well… you may think that way, Lady Melberine, but I don’t. Your appearance is striking, I’ll grant you that. But that’s hardly everything, is it?”
His tone now carried an air of confidence, as if he’d gained the upper hand. He was a formidable opponent, no doubt. I needed to shift my strategy.
So, the Grand Duke was saying that my only proven worth was my looks? He might think that from his perspective, but it wasn’t the whole story. I mulled over his words, and as soon as he finished, I spoke calmly. “Is that so? Regardless of my feelings for you, Your Grace, our marriage would undoubtedly benefit you.”
“How so?” he asked, his voice skeptical.
“You’re well past the age for marriage, Your Grace. Whether you like it or not, you’ll face pressure—both from within and without—to wed. Perhaps you’re already wrestling with that now. After all, your marriage is a matter of great importance to the stability of your domain.”
“And what does that have to do with anything?” Axel replied, crossing his legs with an arrogant tilt of his head, his gaze piercing. His effortlessly charismatic demeanor made me itch to snap a photo, but I suppressed the urge and pressed on.
“There’s no woman in the empire, aside from the imperial family, more noble than I am. And say what you will about my family, but House Melberine is undeniably one of the founding pillars of this nation. No amount of criticism can erase our honor or prestige. So, as a candidate for a strategic marriage, I’m the obvious choice.”
Axel listened in silence, his expression unreadable. A subtle tension hung in the air, and I swallowed hard before delivering my final point. “You must marry, Your Grace, and it’s highly likely to be a political match. Wouldn’t it make sense, then, for someone as noble and prestigious as me to be your partner? What’s more, I already love you, so the effort would only need to come from your side. I’d say it’s a marriage where you stand to lose nothing.”
Axel lifted his gaze to meet mine. For a brief moment, a spark of interest flickered in his otherwise impassive eyes. “Well… my retainers don’t seem to share your opinion.”
“…Pardon?”
“Your argument has some merit, I suppose—assuming the candidate isn’t someone as reckless as you, Lady Melberine. Your reputation, both among nobles and commoners, is far from favorable. Do you really think people would accept such a figure as the Grand Duchess? The role is a critical one. I wonder how many would trust you to fill it.”
His criticism was sharp and painfully valid, yet I couldn’t help the anger that surged within me. But that anger wasn’t directed at him—it was at myself. At Judith Melberine.
I ground my teeth. Why did she have to leave such a mess behind? The frustration was overwhelming.
Clenching my fists and pressing my lips tightly together, I glared silently. Axel, unfazed, gave a slight shrug and said casually, “Oh, and you’re wrong about one thing. I’m not interested in a loveless marriage. I may not look it, but I’m a romantic at heart.”
Liar!
I saw through his excuse instantly, and for good reason. His aide, standing nearby, gaped at him in disbelief, as if Axel had just spouted the most absurd nonsense. He just doesn’t want to marry me!
Truly, Axel and I were like a spear and a shield, locked in an endless clash.
