Chapter 5

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“You’re…. kidding?”

“Do you really think I’m the type to make meaningless jokes?”

The duke’s expression only displayed indifference.

As a merchant, she was deeply impressed by his unwillingness to take any damage.

Rose felt hesitant to answer his question and a frown appeared on her face.

“If it’s the duke….”

The words seemed to be stuck in her throat, but Rose presumed her straightforward way of speaking.

“It’s hard for me to say.”

Unlike the others who had stiffened for a moment, Casa’s entire body began to tremble.

His red eyes seemed to say ‘good one!’.

But Rose really meant it.

Even if the Duke’s words had been out of ridicule, there was nothing he couldn’t understand. Rose looked up at the man with a serious look. There was no self-interest in those blue eyes.

“But don’t worry. It’s not to my taste.”

The butler now looked uncomfortable, opening his mouth. However, the Duke burst into laughter.

Rose didn’t care what they thought. If the purpose of their deal is completed, it’s enough anyway.

Marriage, relationships, men etc were out of question for Rose.

There were absolutely no fantasies regarding such matters. The most important value in her life was freedom.

She didn’t particularly like this man, but she deeply agreed with one thing.

Human beings are meant to betray. As much as they want.

Even more so if they don’t know each other.

So the cold, dry sensibility behind this contract was much better.

“You’ve been somewhat unfaithful, but as the Duke has said, I need this contract as well. So there’s no way that I’ll be the first to jeopardise this deal.”

The Duke glanced at Rose for a moment, as she had sparked his interest.

“Is sexual attraction controllable? I wonder.”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve matured through my experience?”

“Experience?”

Rose wanted the conversation to end that way, but the Duke didn’t seem to give up.

She cynically revealed her past experiences.

“Because I’ve been there once.”

The duke’s brows furrowed. He didn’t seem to understand.

Rose sighed and responded,

“Divorce. That’s what I meant, your grace.”

He gazed at Rose as if he was seeing an exotic creature for the first time in his life. But there was no contempt or filthy flirtation in his eyes, unlike other aristocratic men.

“I see.”

He did not delve into her past any further. It was quite a gentlemanly response, but Rose was more attracted to closing this deal as soon as possible.

“Do you agree with the terms of refusing to sleep together without consent?”

The Duke nodded, as he seemed to reflect on her words for a moment.

“Yes.”

“Skinship should also be carried out only under mutual agreement in a situation where the role of a lover is required. Do you agree?”

“I agree.”

“Okay. I too agree with all these terms.”

She wanted to hurry up and finish the contract, afraid that the Duke would indulge in further nitpicking.

“It’s better to write an informal agreement separately with all the recorded details. Although the temple is a place where secrets are guaranteed, there are no complete secrets in the world.”

“You may do so.”

When the Duke looked at the butler, the grey haired old man handed her some paper and ink.

Rose immediately began to fill out the paperwork.

Kane’s expression looked cold as usual, but he never took his eyes off Rose, as if he was looking at the most interesting thing in the world.

‘She’s unusual.’

For Kane, women were delicate and precarious. But the person in front of her seemed to break that notion.

‘It’s an equal deal.’

He had never thought it would lead to a situation like this or the fact that it would be possible at all.

‘This is the first time a woman hasn’t….. fainted after facing me.’

Kane had never seen anything beyond his expectations. Be it people, things, or even the future.

Today was the first time. She had spiked his interest.

As his gaze did not deviate from Rose, the butler who had been observing him, began to tremble. People possess a lot of useless thoughts. It was funny, because Kane knew what the butler was worried about.

As Kane’s eyes sank coldly, Jack hurriedly lowered his gaze. At that moment, Rose handed over the documents.

“You can sign it.”

After a momentary glance at her smooth signature, Kane looked up.

“I’ll ask you one last time.”

“Yes?”

“Do you really want a contract?”

She couldn’t understand the meaning behind his words. All she noticed was a subtle nuance.

However, Kane could feel the butler’s shoulders wince since he had noticed the meaning behind Kane’s question.

Her turquoise eyes moved to find something hidden behind Kane’s dark eyes, but there was nothing to gain.

Rose’s curiosity disappeared as if washed away by Kane’s indifference.

“Yes, I want it.”

Kane looked at Rose with an unknown expression.

Silence ensued.

Although it didn’t last a long time, the Duke’s silence felt unbearable.

“Then… keep one thing in mind.”

His black eyes captured Rose’s eyes and commanded.

“Don’t betray me.”

A voice that seemed to whisper a sweet push, wrapped itself around Rose’s ears.

“If you want to protect your frail life.”

Rose grabbed her clothes with trembling hands. She was surrounded by the Duke’s deathly aura, as if he would slit her throat right away.

Kane could feel her fear. Her eyes trembled as if she would break any moment.

But the woman swallowed the emotions that had almost weakened her. Finally, her blue eyes dimmed.

“I promise.”

Kane glanced at Rose with a smile. Then he picked up a pen and signed the contract. One was a guardianship contract and the other was an agreement on the details.

The contract ended with the butler collecting the documents and sharing two copies each. Rose closed her eyes for a while due to her tiredness and turned towards Kane.

“After notarising the contract at the temple, I look forward to hearing from you later.”

Rose bowed deeply. Her group and butler Jack, who had been absorbed in their conversation, came to their senses belatedly.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

As she greeted and left the study with her party, butler Jack followed behind behind a grumpy face.

Just as the study door was about to close, the sturdy Duke stood in front of her.

“I want to ask you something.”

Rose looked up at him with a nervous look on her face.

“Tell me.”

“Are you a voyeur?”

<kbd>T/n: Voyeur is someone who gains pleasure from watching others naked.</kbd>

As Rose’s eyes widened, the Duke stared into her eyes and closed the study door.

As if the question didn’t exist.

Rose, who was left behind, felt bitter. As she turned her red face, she faced an angry grey and her red haired mercenary, Casa, watching her with strange looks on their faces.

Butler Jack seemed to be full of doubt as well.

“….It’s not like that.”

Sensing the embarassment and resentment in her voice, Jack coughed loudly.

“Guests, the exit is that way.”

Kane, who was reading the conditional agreement written by Rose, looked up at the sound of the door being opened.

Jack’s dissatisfied face came into his view. Although he wasn’t speaking, his displeasure was obvious.

But Kane had no interest in it. The cold young master then ordered Jack.

“Look into it again. This time, get to the bottom of the matter.”

The butler understood his words immediately. But the grey haired man still questioned back without realising it.

“Are you talking about starting over from the beginning?”

“Since when did you start asking me questions?”

“….I apologise.”

When Jack departed, Kane was left alone in thought.

「 Let’s be each other’s fake lovers and act as a shield in moderation. 」

It was a condition that had been stipulated on his terms and there was nothing wrong with the agreement.

But what does the Kaos Sect lack?

Money?

Supporters?

Not only did they not lack anything, but with their financial power, they could put all the mercenaries in the world under their feet.

But what they wanted was the ‘Duke’s grandson’.

At first, they had looked for his grandfather. But when he passed away, they targeted Kane.

It wasn’t too difficult to comprehend. Unless he hadn’t read the desperation in Rose’s eyes.

A divorced woman had achieved an impossible amount of financial strength and success that was difficult to reach even if one devoted their entire life to it.

What could be so fearful that a human with such a will would lower herself due to her want to protect herself?

This task could never be so simple. It could have been more troublesome than marriage with a landlord’s family.

Kane suddenly remembed the question from a while ago.

[ Are you a voyeur? ]

He couldn’t be wrong about the signs of the spies that he had felt. It was definitely Rose.

But the answer to the question of whether there was any force that would blind Kane and come close to him further confused him.

His eyes narrowed.

“Impossible.”

This was his answer.

Kane had tested her throughout their deal.

Rose would tremble or sweat at times. He could feel her body stiffening and moving at other times. If she could deceive someone like Kane, then she would have to be someone outside the human realm.

A woman like her was asking for protection?

“It’s hilarious.”

Kane’s eyes darkened.

Above all, Rose’s actions seemed very familiar.

Fear.

Kane had witnessed countless deaths on the battlefield. He had grown up looking at the gazes of those who begged for their lives, while he struggled to cut off their legs and arms.

Then he couldn’t help but smell fear.

Kane didn’t know humans, but he knew what humans were like better than anyone else. They were beings who live by their own desires.

But what he saw in Rose’s eyes was so simple and intense, that it was rather difficult to understand.

The will to live.

It was like a flame.

That seemed to burn in order to not lose despite the fear.

Nevertheless, she fiercely faced Kane for her survival. He didn’t hate it. The only problem was that her target was Kane. Besides, he’s never had so many questions in his life.

None of it was easy.

His drooping eyes headed towards Rose’s signature on the paper.

How to make the impossible possible?

Ironically, it wad a question that Kane had never encountered in his life.

Impossible will forever remain impossible and the possible simply needs to be achieved.

But today, he had met a woman who had denied it head-on.

A faint interest arose on Kane’s stark face, who had lived his without any lifelong curiosity or doubt.

Rose Von Isaac.

‘I can’t wait to see what’s hidden behind your name.’

Kane then looked at the detailed agreement in his hands.

A strange smile settled in his eyes.

「 Unless mutual cooperation is required, each person’s free sex life and privacy shall be guaranteed. 」

Below, the contents of physical affection shared with him were included.

He had never seen a contract that mentioned sex life and privacy on your face.

This deal was interesting in many ways.

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