CH 23

“Have you ever been angry at me for being rude to you, Senelia? I don’t think so.” 

There were many times when Benelucia had wronged Senelia, but it never compromised the first condition that Senelia asked for. 

He had never allowed anyone to belittle her or her status. 

“Your Majesty the Grand Duke is getting a new woman?” 

“Then Senelia Daphnen will become a kite with its string cut.” 

“Hey, what do you mean?” 

“I mean, the Viscount’s Young Lady had enjoyed herself for a long time holding onto the Grand Duke, so she has to go back to her place now.” 

Rather, Benelucia had wanted to make sure that no one could ignore or look down on Senelia.  

So, I had set rules in my home. 

Even when the misunderstanding caused by the first scandal occurred, the employees of the Grand Duke’s mansion did not change their attitude towards Senelia.  

Unless Benelucia revealed his rules to her, Senelia remained unaware. 

And Benelucia had never overlooked rude behavior towards her.  

With that, Senelia had remained entirely unaware that the only reason for her continuously peaceful life in his mansion was because of the Grand Duke. 

He had provided Senelia with the best he could. She was the only one who had been with him for so long.  

If it was anyone besides Senelia, Benelucia would have raised his nose to the sky a long time ago.  

[T/N: Raising his nose to the sky means they would have been beneath his notice.] 

However, Senelia had not reacted during that first scandal. On the contrary, she became more cautious and seemed more accustomed to lowering herself.  

You were the only lover of the Grand Duke of this empire, shouldn’t it be okay for you to get angry? Do something other than accept! 

Benelucia really hated that about Senelia.  

Because every time it happened, she appeared as someone who had nothing to do with him. As if she wasn’t his lover.  

Whenever they ended up in the same situation, Benelucia held back the rising frustration from being unleashed. He had never experienced such behavior from his previous lovers.  

It was true, he had only ever loved Lucalina, but he had treated Senelia differently from the other women.  

Hadn’t she ever felt that I treated her specially? 

She should have never said such words.  

“Why are you lowering yourself to me as if I’m about to kill you? Don’t do that, Sally.” 

How could I talk about such a subject at this time, I’m so stupid.  

After all, Senelia was right.  

But Benelucia decided not to put up with her submissive behavior any longer.  

“It doesn’t matter if you are rude, Sally. Don’t beg for forgiveness again.” 

Benelucia gently stroked Senelia’s red and swollen forehead.  

He didn’t notice that the more affectionate Benelucia became, the more Senelia alienated herself from him.  

Neither Benelucia nor Senelia were insane.  

Though, with their emotions out of control and their attitudes coming and going, they looked like crazy people in the eyes of others.  

Even more convincing was Senelia’s feelings towards the Grand Duke’s actions.  

You say that because I have never been rude to you.  

Senelia had to suddenly suppress her desire to speak sarcastically.  

Aside from her mistake of slapping his cheek out of anger, the Viscount’s Young Lady had never acted out of line with the Grand Duke.  

She assumed that the reason for his sudden tolerance of her was because this was her first act of rudeness. 

To her, he was a part of the Royal family, the Grand Duke, and the only male lead of the novel they were in.  

Senelia would never believe the thought that Benelucia’s forgiveness of her actions were due to his love for her.  

As she struggled under the weight of her thoughts and emotions, Senelia remained silent. So, Benelucia spoke again.  

“And I’m sorry for proposing hastily like this.” 

Again. Benelucia apologized again.  

The moment he spoke, Senelia had a hard time controlling her contorted expression.  

Every time he apologized, Senelia felt strangely uncomfortable.  

Even when she thought about it, she couldn’t figure out why.  

You came here even though Lucalina was by your side. Then that’s good, but… 

It didn’t matter to Senelia if he came out of love or need.  

She would still be the person who he was going to keep at his side.  

That was her ultimate goal. Unfortunately, if she commented about that uncomfortable feeling, she would make a mistake again, just like when she slapped the Grand Duke. Her goal would then be lost.  

Senelia couldn’t react.  

“But I want you to know this. Sally, I didn’t just randomly propose to you.” 

When she heard him, immediately, Senelia knew what she had to do.  

It was only then that she understood the reason for Benelucia’s visit at her distant mansion and why he had friendly overlooked her slap to his face.  

It brought peace to her chaotic mind.  

She answered before Benelucia could stir her mind again.  

“Sir, do you have need of me?” 

Lucalina had just returned to the capital.  

Cliff de Helios was always watching the relationship between Lucalina and his brother. 

Now is the time when the two of them need to be careful about their meetings.  

So, a smoke screen. That is what he needs. 

Senelia was convinced of her assumption.  

Otherwise, she had a hard time coming up with a reason for Benelucia’s sudden change. 

“What? That’s not it!” 

The Grand Duke flinched at Senelia’s unhesitant reply.  

He knew his attitude towards their relationship had been messed up, but he didn’t expect her to think so lowly of it. 

He hastily added in what he wanted to say directly, slightly afraid of her misunderstanding him further. 

“I love you, Sally.” 

It was Benelucia’s first confession to Senelia.  

His voice was firm, hardly trembling at all.  

“Your Majesty, you do not have to lie like this.” 

However, Senelia’s denial of his confession was even firmer.  

She pretended like it had nothing to do with her.  

Unlike his apology, Senelia had truly calmed down.  

Perhaps, no one but her could possibly know how much Benelucia loved Lucalina.  

She knew exactly how long he had waited for Lucalina throughout the novel and throughout the eight years spent with him.  

How could such a Benelucia love me instead? 

Senelia refused to be the woman who became stupid and naïve at the mention of love.  

“…Sally.” 

Her words were too adamant, it left Benelucia speechless.  

He realized it instinctively.  

Senelia will never believe me, no matter how many times I say I love her. 

In an instant, that deduction filled him with despair.  

It was a despair that could not be defined easily.  

You don’t believe my honest words, my love. Sally, you don’t believe me.  

No one could give themselves up to someone who they didn’t trust.  

Benelucia wanted Senelia.  

I want to have the true Senelia, not the woman who is always careful, taking a step back to protect her duties and without expression.  

But Senelia did not trust Benelucia.  

That meant that he could never fully have her in the future.  

“I am aware of the grace you have shown me at the capital, so, if you have any necessary orders, I will obey you.” 

Now that the female lead had returned, Senelia decided to change her plans. 

She had once thought that distancing herself from Benelucia would work in her favor, alas, it was only possible without Lucalina.  

If Lucalina hovered around the male lead, then Senelia’s vacancy would be erased soon enough.  

She refused to be forgotten like that.  

After all, Benelucia seemed to need her, so she had an excuse to linger at his side.  

And should Benelucia ever need a marriage, it was rather fortunate.  

Because Senelia desperately wanted to marry him.  

“As I said before, it is alright to use me as a smoke screen to hide your relationship with Marquis Elihan’s Young Lady.” 

“Sally!” 

The Grand Duke raised his voice. His lips trembled. 

Use her?! 

Benelucia stared at her in disbelief. How could she use such a word towards herself?  

His reaction was that of an injured man.  

Senelia didn’t think it was her or her words that had dared to injure that man.  

She assumed his reaction was due to his hidden intentions being exposed.  

“I’ve known from the moment I first visited the Grand Duke. The reason why Your Majesty has never loved us Young Ladies or kept by your side.” 

Since Benelucia said he would not be offended if she was rude, Senelia made the most out of it.  

She, herself, was unaware of how desperate she was. The desperation had broken down her composure and endurance.  

“I will accept your proposal, but don’t be concerned, I won’t misunderstand your reasons.” 

With the return of Lucalina, the planned outcome, which Senelia had painstakingly worked on for eight years, was destroyed. 

And in the meantime, she had lost her father as well. It was only natural that Senelia was nervous.  

I must not miss this opportunity today, Ben. You must marry me. 

So, Senelia altered her plan, just a bit. She had come up with that alternative after desperately churning her choices in her head. 

Marquess Elihan was a noblewoman. There was no way she would ever let her daughter fall in love with a married man.  

Right now, Ben is making such a bad decision just to protect Lucalina from Cliff’s hand.  

Senelia had concluded that the proposal from Benelucia was just a smoke screen.  

[T/N: Smoke screen means it’s used as a cover to hide. In this case, it is a marriage used to hide Benelucia’s relationship with Lucalina.] 

It didn’t matter. Her first role given to her by Cliff was to separate Benelucia and Lucalina.  

It’s okay if you think of deceiving me with this fake marriage and pretending it’s not.  

To be the person that Benelucia vitally needs, well, Senelia had been working for that one goal for eight years. 

She had become a person who knew nothing else but that one goal.  

So, in her mind, she was convinced that the method she had chosen to gain that goal was the right one.