Chapter 6

His claim was supported by a book as the basis.

In an old book about the Ancient Devil and curses, a devil’s symbol similar to Duke Mayhard’s patches was recorded in it.

‘But it was just similar. If you look at it closely, it’s a different shape.’

However, generally, people were not interested in the accuracy of the information.

How amusing it was.

How stimulating it was.

Sadly enough, that someone’s claim satisfied both conditions—

And from then on, people started whispering that Duke Mayhard was a monster cursed by the devil.

‘On top of that, an unfortunate accident happened afterwards…’

If it weren’t for that accident, maybe Duke Mayhard wouldn’t be seen as a monster by the people as much as now.

At that moment, Yelena who was deep in thought got jolted awake by Mielle’s voice.

“Why would you say that when you know why? Would you be able to give birth to his child?”

“Why wouldn’t I be able to?”

Yelena was perfectly calm.

She knew that, unlike the rumors being treated as the truth by the people, Duke Mayhard was not cursed by the devil.

‘How can the child of someone cursed by the devil be the Warrior?’

It would be a different story if they became the Demon King instead.

Her cousin Mielle, who didn’t know the truth, most likely just believed the rumors going around.

Yelena tried to reason with her.

“Mielle. You believe that kind of rumor?”

She got cursed at immediately.

“Are you seriously crazy? You’re just saying whatever because it’s not your business, aren’t you? Duke Mayhard’s face being hideous is not a rumor but a fact!”

“Ah.”

Yelena halted.

His looks. She didn’t consider that.

“…What if you turn off the lights? Intercourse is done at night anyway. How about turning off the lights so you can’t see his face?”

“Is that the problem?”

“Then?”

“If I have an intercourse with him, what if I get infected by the patches too?!”

“What?”

Yelena was surprised.

“If my face turned out like that, then I’d rather die!”

“Wait. Infected? Why would you get infected by it? Is it a venereal disease?”

The patches that no one could uncover for 20-something years were in fact a venereal disease?

“I don’t know! Anyway, just keep in mind that I will never give birth to something like the Duke’s child. Why would you suddenly come to meet me and say such nonsense? Are you that free?”

Mielle, who just burst out at Yelena’s stunned face, soon settled down and added calmly,

“And I’ve decided to bring over Sir Amber as my guard knight when I go to the Duchy later.”

“Amber… What? Who? That Sir Amber?”

The spaced out Yelena soon realized.

“Your lover?”

“Yeah.”

“Are you crazy? Who are you saying you would bring to where?”

“Why are you like this? It’s common for nobles to have lovers even after getting married. Rather than inconveniently getting a new lover, I’ll be keeping my relationship with my preexisting lover instead.”

Mielle said confidently as she crossed her arms.

“I was sold because of my father’s business anyway. It’s not a normal marriage to begin with. The Duke surely knows about it and will bring over a lover himself.”

‘No!’

Yelena opened and closed her mouth.

She wanted to correct that statement immediately.

No.

Even if his wife cheated on him, Duke Mayhard definitely wouldn’t play around with other women.

‘If it were the case, then he would’ve gotten at least one child in the future!’

Even if one was an illegitimate child, they would still be his child.

Yelena sighed.

So this was why.

The reason why the warrior was not born in the future she saw.

‘Mielle…’

She sighed, but she couldn’t actually blame Mielle.

Would she react like this if she didn’t know the future?

‘No way. I would probably make things worse by saying that Sir Amber alone wouldn’t be enough and telling her to get another lover so she can have flowers on both arms…’

Yelena knew that she had dim moral senses and didn’t care about others.

But that was when she didn’t know that Duke Mayhard’s child would one day become the Warrior and save the world.

Yelena bit on her lips.

A light of determination flashed through her eyes.

“Yelena. I’m saying this because I’m worried. You know you’re being kinda weird today, don’t you? Suddenly acting moral even though you aren’t usually like that or coming in and asking whether I’m going to give birth. Are you perhaps sick anywh…”

“Mielle.”

“Hm?”

“Your marriage proposal, how was it pushed forward? Why were you sold?”

“Ah, that? Uh, I don’t know the details either, but… I think Father and Duke Mayhard made an important contract. Something relating to the mine.”

Mielle frowned again, still feeling displeased when she thought about it, then continued,

“That’s why I need to get married to Duke Mayhard, he says. So the Duke can put his trust on Father.”

In other words, Mielle was the guarantee to prevent backstabbing that her father, Marquess Linden, prepared.

“It’s ridiculous. What kind of marriage occurs because of such reasons?”

“Mielle.”

“Why?”

“We might be cousins, but we’re just like real sisters, aren’t we? We constantly correspond with each other as a family, and we’re really close.”

“What are you saying suddenly?”

“Uncle also adores me quite a lot. To the point where he said he would adopt me as a daughter if anything ever happens to my house.”

“Father did say that… But why? Did something really happen to you?”

Yelena grinned.

She grabbed onto Mielle’s hands.

“Send me.”

“What?”

“I’ll go instead.”

Yelena’s jewel-like eyes sparkled determinedly.

“That marriage, I’ll do it.”

* * *

Marquess Linden rejoiced the moment Yelena told him.

He might not have shown it, but pressuring his daughter to a marriage she didn’t want also bugged his mind.

Of course, it wasn’t like sending his niece instead of his daughter was any better, but the circumstances were different.

Because Yelena was the one who wanted it.

“Please.”

But since he still cherished his niece, Marquess Linden hesitated for a moment. After Yelena’s persistent plea, he finally stopped hesitating and sent a letter to Duke Mayhard.

It contained a question of whether it was fine to send his niece Yelena Sorte as the bride instead of his daughter Mielle Linden.

In it, Marquess Linden also mentioned how much he loved his niece and fervently expressed how tight-knitted he was with his younger brother’s family.

The reply came quickly.

It said that he didn’t mind.

The Linden father-and-daughter clasped their hands together in joy, while Yelena went to face her father that day.

“Yelena, what are you saying right now?”

Yelena played innocent and said,

“I’ve been hiding it all this time, but I’ve actually had a crush on Duke Mayhard since a long time ago.”

“What?”

“I’ve always thought that I want to heal his wounded heart, as he’s always called a monster.”

At this moment, Yelena felt proud of herself for having the abundant talent to lie.

Yelena’s father, Count Sorte, looked at Yelena in disbelief before opening his mouth.

“Do you know why he’s called a monster?”

“I know.”

“If you know then why…”

“Father. I’m pretty sure you didn’t raise your beloved youngest daughter to be a dumb and dim-witted child who believes in rumors other people say.”

At Yelena’s words, Count Sorte shut his mouth.

Yelena didn’t miss this chance and said,

“This marriage will also be of help to this house. Uncle has already promised to give half of the earnings of the mine to you, Father.”

“What? Ha, seriously…”

“Please give me your permission, Father.”

Actually, it was a situation where he had no other choice but to give permission.

Changing minds once might be fine, but doing it twice would just be seen as making fun of Duke Mayhard.

Even with that knowledge, Yelena held her hands together as she looked up at the Count to show how desperate she was for his permission.

Count Sorte silently looked at the adorable face of his youngest daughter, who somehow had grown up this big.

Then a sigh came out of his mouth.

“…I get it.”

Yelena smiled brightly.

* * *

The marriage progressed quickly.

In no time, the day of the wedding came.

The exclusive maid, Merry, inspected Yelena’s dress and said in an uneasy voice.

“To think there would come a morning when Young Lady would get married…”

“Life is always full of surprises.”

She said it with a calm attitude, but Yelena was sincere.

Even she wouldn’t have guessed.

That she would get married to Duke Mayhard this way.