Who gets married for that reason? - Chapter 3

“Marriage between us would be the most efficient way to aviod suspicion.”

“But why? Why would coming here arouse suspicion?”

Lydia didn’t know where to start. Now that she’d confirmed what she’d heard wasn’t imagined, she felt lost. She could only manage one thought:

“…And I don’t even know who my guest is.”

“Oh. We haven’t even been properly introduced. My apologies for that.”

He spoke as if introducing ourselves was more pressing than discussing marriage. He held out his hand.

“Let’s do it properly now. My name is Ilian Estoban.”

His name flowed easily like he was used to saying it.

Not knowing what else to do, she shook his hand without thinking.

A memory flashed through her mind, a rumor that had recently rocked the capital.

“That… that arrogant marquis.”

She clapped a hand over her mouth to stop the words that had slipped out, but he’d already heard her.

“Sorry. I didn’t know you were a noble…. I shouldn’t have….”

“It’s fine. I hid it, didn’t I?”

He chortled as she tried to gauge his reaction.

But in truth, all his attention focused on their interlocked fingers.

On silent nights when their mansion was as still as the grave, his sanity had been shredded by screams that drove him mad and by pain coursing up his arms, angry and throbbing. Now those screams faded like distant echoes.

Soon, all the pain had vanished without a trace.

This peaceful, calm state was utterly satisfying.

‘This is truly addictive.’

The moments of freedom from the agony that felt like it was gnawing away at his mind were incredibly sweet. He knew that if he let go of this hand, the pain would instantly return.

Still, he couldn’t reveal to her how desperately precarious his state was. Showing such weakness would only add to the carelessness he had already displayed.

Ilian threw on his coat while deliberately changing the subject.

“It seems you know me very well.”

“I doubt there’s anyone in the capital who hasn’t heard the uproar about you rejecting the youngest princess’s marriage proposal.”

“It seems people have nothing better to do?. Can’t believe all this fuss is about nothing.”

Marquis Esteban’s casual opinion matched his indifferent expression, but it didn’t sit well with Lydia.

“But still, she’s a princess.”

“So?”

His raised eyebrow showed he held no respect or loyalty for royalty.

Unfortunately for Princess Yurina, who was as innocent and beautiful as a young flower, it was clear he didn’t care for her at all.

Lydia rubbed her temples and returned to the main point of their conversation.

“But if you refused to marry the princess, why are you asking me to marry you?”

“Well, would you rather be my mistress?”

Lydia was both shocked and angry at this rude remark.

It was unthinkable to talk back to a noble like this. But she mustered her courage because he needed her ability.

“Just who’s in charge here? No matter who you are, you can’t treat me like…”

“If I visited you this often, it would surely raise suspicion. My presence is too conspicuous in many ways.”

He looked down at her and tilted his head slightly, as if checking if she understood his words.

“Better to leave it at that. If my enemies figure out the whole story, they might try to kill you to get to me. So, just in case, you’ll have to stay at my mansion. What other woman without any status would live there except my wife?”

As Lydia listened to him speak, her discomfort slowly vanished, and she suddenly realized something.

“So you’re doing this out of consideration for me?”

“Think of it that way if you want.”

He had such a way with words. It would’ve been easier if he’d just explained things properly from the start.

The problem was he’d reached his conclusion alone and was now treating her like she was being informed. Why couldn’t he share the thought process leading up to his decision.

“It’s a temporary marriage. Once the problem is resolved, we’ll part ways. There’s no better way to solve this issue than for you to stay in my mansion while we figure it out.”

“Who gets married for a reason like that?”

“Then why should we get married?”

Lydia was speechless. She had no idea where to begin correcting this absurd question.

The man’s idea of marriage was seriously messed up, to say the least.

But no matter how she felt, she couldn’t accept this ridiculous proposal.

Who would make such an important decision so quickly, without any thought?

“The Sollem family’s heirloom.”

“Huh?”

“I thought you were desperate to find it. This should be it.”

The marquis pulled out a small velvet box from his jacket and set it on the counter with a thud. Curious, yet suspicious, Lydia carefully opened the box.

Inside was a ring set with a amethyst stone. The unique feature was a delicate pattern engraved on the stone in gold.

At first glance, the symbol on the Sollem Crest looked like a brightly blooming flower. But it was actually meant to represent the shining sun.

“…How did you get this?”

The moment she touched the ring, it vibrated with magic, as if greeting its owner. Magic never lied.

In fact, the whole reason the antique shop existed was to find this lost piece of Sollem’s history.

“We’ve always been rich, generation after generation. One of our ancestors just happened to collect pointless junk as a hobby.”

“This is really, really important to me,” Lydia pleaded. “I really, really need it.”

She was desperate. She’d spent years searching and even drawing pictures of the ring. She’d come to this shop so many times, each time disappointed.

“Then it must be valuable.”

But Marquis Ilian Estoban insisted on placing the box back into his robes.

It was like missing out on the greatest
chance of her life after it was right in front of me. She looked up with a mixture of absurdity and emptiness in her eyes. He tilted his head and said.

“I promise to give this to you when I’m freed from my curse.”

“You think I should hand over my family’s heirloom like this?.”

“I’m only offering a fair deal.”

Why does this guy, of all people, have to hold everything that Lydia Sollem wants most?

“If you doubt me, let’s put it in writing.”

Marquis Esteban lazily pulled out his watch and checked the time before speaking, as if he’d forgotten something important.

“Ah, I already know you’re not married or engaged, so you don’t need to make any excuses.”

“How far did you go to check on me? And why?”

“Because I don’t trust people easily,” he said, sounding a bit annoyed.

Marquis Esteban continued in a relaxed tone, “So, will you accept my proposal?”

“And if I don’t?”

“If you have any specific requests, make them clear.”

“But listen… the marriage proposal itself doesn’t make sense. Why would you even consider marrying a commoner? Even if it’s temporary?”

He was once considered the potential match for a princess! And now, He orders me to take that position? Does he think that’s even plausible?

“I promise that you’ll be treated fairly as a marchioness during the marriage period,”

Marquis Esteban tilted his head, His golden hair flowing gracefully. He continued speaking in a monotonous tone.

“In exchange for lifting my curse, we won’t owe each other anything else. Once it’s done, We will be strangers.”

His offer and explanation were both based on the assumption that this marriage would take place. Lydia felt like pulling her hair out.

How did I end up getting entangled with this marriage-obsessed marquis.