Chapter 4

In the end, Nicol and Nathan didn't last for even half a year.

Three months ago, he proposed to me again, saying that he wanted to re-engage with me as if nothing had happened with Nicol.

During this time, I had turned eighteen, and my parents were busy searching for a suitable match for me before it was too late.

For the first time in my life, I showed a refusal, but my parents did not support me as expected.

Instead, they pushed me to re-engage with Nathan before he changed his mind.

They probably thought it was easier to find a match for the beautiful sixteen-year-old Nicol than for the eighteen-year-old me, who lacked charm.

The more I rejected Nathan, the more Nicol seemed to enjoy it, and she told my parents with a fake tear, "I envied my sister for being loved by Nathan, but it seems I'm not good enough."

She even joined in the re-engagement with Nathan.

I never had a say in anything, but this time, I couldn't just obediently follow.

If I returned to Nathan, who had been rejected by my sister and was becoming increasingly unstable, I didn't know what kind of treatment I would receive.

The charming Nathan had no outlet for his frustration over being dumped and was eager to use me as a punching bag.

Every time Nathan came to the Villiers family to propose re-engagement, the gleam in his eyes grew more intense, and by the time two months had passed, I felt my life was in danger.

A formal engagement and marriage required my signature, and forging it, even by my parents, was not allowed.

If it were discovered, the title they had bought with money could easily be taken away.

Therefore, my consent was absolutely necessary.

Tired of my refusal, my parents finally declared that they would cut ties with me.

I knew they disliked me, but being abandoned by my family just because I tried to assert my opinion once was a shock.

They probably thought I would give in if they went that far.

In fact, I almost did.

If I was going to be abandoned by my parents, I thought I might as well return to Nathan.

To me, who had grown up without knowing the outside world, family ties were that important.

They gave me a month to reconsider. If I reconciled with Nathan by then, they would reconsider the severance.

My father said this with the certainty that I would give in.

And he must have told Nathan as well.

Nathan's obsession became even more intense.

He must have realized that now was the time to act.

Nathan himself was under intense pressure from the Baring family due to this scandal.

His poor noble family would immediately fall into ruin if they lost the Villiers family as a source of wealth. They were desperate.

Under the pressure from his family, Nathan's obsession turned into something close to madness, and he began to appear before me wherever I went.

But even if he said, "I'll be kind to you, so come back to me," I couldn't trust him anymore.

When he said, "I've realized that I truly love you," with a face that looked ready to hit me, it was just scary.

Being stalked, threatened, and whispered sweet nothings to, I felt like I was going mad.

Whether I was cut off or reconciled, hell awaited me. I had nothing left to lose.

Five days ago, I fled the house in a state of near-desperation.

I sold the few valuables I had, took a series of carriages, and spent five days traveling from the capital to the Bradbury estate.

I might have already been mad, not just on the verge of it.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have taken such a rash action.

Nathan was deeply religious and extremely afraid of anything mysterious.

He avoided the Bradbury Earl, who was rumored to be a vampire, and would leave the room if the topic of the Earl came up.

If I could get the Earl on my side, the stalking might stop.

It was a reckless bet based on uncertain information.

"So, that's why you're pretending to be my lover."

Finally, the Earl understood why I had come here and murmured.

"I beg you. It's enough if Nathan is scared off and gives up."

I bowed again and repeated my unreasonable request.

I knew I had no right to ask such a bold favor.

But I had no kind relatives to turn to, and the few connections I had were not strong enough to stand up to my parents' money.

Sadly, I had no close friends due to the restrictions my parents had placed on me.

So I had to do something myself.

I had to think hard with the brain that my parents had always called useless.

Then I remembered.

The thing that Nathan feared.

He believed more than I did that the Earl was a vampire and avoided him.

If the Earl acted with me, Nathan might think I had become a vampire's servant and never come near me again.

Of course, the rumor was likely false, and the Earl was probably human.

But the truth didn't matter. What mattered was that Nathan believed it.

However, if that were the case, it would be a bit problematic.

"…Is there any benefit for me in this charade?"

He expected something in return.

I immediately realized this and slowly raised my head.

His expression had a hint of amusement.

Yes, the problem was how to pay for his cooperation.

My family had more money than I could imagine, but I didn't have a single copper coin to my name.

Freya Villiers, eighteen years old.

Second son of a viscount.

Worthless.

That was my title, and it was now on the verge of disappearing.

I had nothing to offer in payment.

He must have realized this from our conversation.

If he were human, I would have tried to appeal to his conscience and pity.

It was a low method, but I had no choice.

I was willing to work as a maid without pay, to do any kind of labor, clean or dirty.

If that didn't work, I would have to give up immediately.

But if he wasn't human…

There was one thing I could offer.

So I wished he was real.

And when I was convinced he was real, I was both terrified and overjoyed.

If the rumors were true, he seemed to prefer the blood of young, pure maidens.

Would I be to his liking?

I already lacked confidence, and seeing the beautiful woman who guided me only made me feel worse.

He might not be interested unless she was as beautiful as her.

I hoped he would be broad-minded enough to accept a virgin, regardless of appearance.

"Um, I'm a virgin, so you can drink as much delicious blood as you want!"

I closed my eyes tightly and said it with a resolve to die.

I came here, literally, to offer myself.

It was the only way to get my worthless wish heard.

When I heard about the Bradbury Earl, there were no stories of dead girls, which were common in vampire rumors. Instead, it was said that he worked diligently in his mansion.

If being drained of blood didn't mean death, there was hope.

If I could escape my ex-fiancé, I could endure having my blood sucked.

A silence followed.

I was afraid of the silence, thinking he might attack me the moment I offered my blood.

I cautiously opened one eye to check the Earl's reaction.

He had a deep frown on his forehead, making him look even more terrifying.

I might be torn to pieces for my audacity.

I was prepared to die.

"…Huh"

At the same time the Earl pressed his hand to his mouth and looked down, a sound came from his throat.

"Ha ha, ha ha ha, ha ha ha!"

The sound gradually grew louder, and soon a loud laugh echoed.

I stiffened at the uncontrollable laughter.

Was it joy or mockery?

I thought he was laughing at my foolish actions, but it didn't seem to be that.

His laughter was pure and even had tears at the corners of his eyes.

Confused, I turned to the woman, who was also covering her mouth and looking away.

I could see her shoulders shaking slightly.

"…Um, well…?"

Not knowing how to react, I was finally able to look at the Earl, who had stopped laughing but still had a joyful smile on his face.

"Ha… Sorry. I didn't expect that."

"I'm sorry… I spoke out of turn…"

I was the one who didn't expect this reaction.

I was completely taken aback by his unexpected response.

"Nothing, it's fine. …Hey Mira, how long are you going to laugh?"

The Earl shifted his gaze and said with a sigh.

"Ahem, I'm sorry… ……ha ha"

"You're still laughing."

The woman called Mira removed her hand from her mouth and returned to a serious face, but I no longer thought of it as expressionless.