I Was Tricked into This Fake Marriage!

Chapter 10

I was alone when I woke up in the morning. It took me by surprise when I discovered that I felt miffed.

Couldn’t he have said a quick hello and good morning?

“I’m going off to work, honey”? Anything?

I guess we weren’t that close, but still...

I rang the bell, and Ann came in with a stony look on her face.

“Has something happened?”

“My apologies, my lady. There’s been some terrible news...”

“What is it?”

She hesitated as if she wasn’t sure if she should tell me. But she quickly broke down as her eyes filled with worry.

“My lady... There have been murders two days in a row at the imperial ball.”

“Two days in a row?” I repeated.

“Yes. Yesterday and the day before.”

“What about the killer?”

I was about to ask her whether the killer had been caught and what was going to happen to him if he had. But all Ann could do was open and close her mouth like a silent, trembling fish.

I had assumed that what had happened was the result of a simple lover’s quarrel gone wrong, a crime of passion, but it seemed that wasn’t right. And then it occurred to me.

The Mad Murderer Colliard.

“Ah...”

“A-apparently that monster arrived in the capital two days ago. They say he was murdering people left and right with a smile on his face from the very first day he attended the ball. He killed them with his bare hands...”

Ann’s lower lip trembled as she clutched at my sleeve.

“My lady, what if he’s there tomorrow too? What do we do?”

The man in question was a maniacal murderer and the enemy who had beheaded my king. At the same time, he had also spared my life and let me live.

Why had he slaughtered all the nobles traveling ahead of us but left the five of us unscathed? Because we weren’t worth killing? Because he’d felt like it?

Or because he simply had no reason to?

All of my blood relatives who had fought alongside my king, my father included, had managed to come back home alive from the war.

But if this man really did slaughter everything that moved on sight, then logic followed that reports of his savagery should remain unknown. Dead men tell no tales, after all.

“How many have been killed?”

“There were four on the first day, and yesterday there was one.”

Ann made a horrified grimace, then frowned as if realizing that the number of victims she had just given was actually quite small.

She ushered me into the parlor room. The madame had yet to arrive. Having no other commitments to engage my time, I waited for her by idly flipping through some books. The butler brought out tea.

“Thank you.”

We met eyes as I thanked him, but he looked at me as if he was regarding something of an oddity.

If I had to describe it, it was the look you had when you come home from work and find the bowl of food you had left out for your pet was still untouched.

A look that said, What is this still doing here? Something like that.

“Is there something you’d like to say?” I asked.

“Not at all. We anticipated that today you would be... I mean, I expected that you would have a late start today and informed the madame that her presence would be unnecessary. My apologies for making you wait.”

“Pardon? Does that mean she’s not coming?”

“By no means. I sent for her once I saw you were awake, so she should be here within the hour.”

“Is it because I woke up startled in the middle of the night?”

“Yes...”

“Does Delius... Does my husband often return home in the wee hours of the night? He didn’t even dry his hair off before going to sleep... If he often keeps such late hours, then we ought to adjust the schedules of the people who tend to him.”

The butler paled slightly at my words.

“My master prefers to avoid physical contact as much as possible. He doesn’t even keep a personal valet.”

“Really...?”

With that face? Looking like that? He looked like he’d ooze sex anywhere. He could give you one look and you’d be down for some hanky-panky in two seconds flat! He could have a rotating roster of willing women waiting to tend to all of his whims!

“He does not...”

I was about to say that he didn’t look like someone who would ever avoid physical contact, but then I locked eyes with Sir Heiden. He looked strangely pained, like a doting father who had walked his daughter down the aisle to get married. He couldn’t be that shocked about seeing me in bed with another man, right?

I lost myself in thought, but Ann, having completed my sentence in her own thoughts, let out a squeal that cut my reverie short.

Then the butler gave me a coy look as well.

Wait a second! I hadn’t finished what I was going to say! Did they think I was about to say, Delius does not avoid physical contact? Did they think that I was trying to say that he loved making physical contact with me?!

“I reckon that you are the only person in the world whom my master will accept in this way, Countess.”

W-wait, but no...

We’d even made a deal that we would never, ever touch each other. We agreed to impose a fine tantamount to a floor of a Gangnam high-rise building each time we touched... We hadn’t even held hands...!

Oops, scratch that. He’d caught me by the hand when I was falling out of bed last night.

The tips of my fingers suddenly felt as if they were burning. I drank my tea as I surreptitiously tried to rub the ticklish sensation of my fingertips out on the cup.

It didn’t seem that he had particularly disliked touching me when it had happened. I mean, what kind of person would I be if I labeled that a violation and demanded that he pay up? I was just honored that he had even held my hand, really.

I could just imagine Delius laughing in disbelief as I demanded he pay the fine. Mmm... A heartthrob’s laughter was truly the light and salt of the world...

I really loved how Delius laughed and smiled when we bantered and teased each other. It felt like I was being purified from the depths of my heart.

“What time did he leave the residence today? Does he ever manage to get some sleep?”

His superlative good looks brought me back to a time in a different world when I would fawn over pop idols with abandon. It was just like how I used to refer to these idol superstars as my husband, my boyfriend, my this or that.

“He never sleeps much.”

“What time will he return home today?”

“You should be able to dine together for dinner.”

The butler’s expression looked unsettled as he said this. He seemed strangely reluctant to be around Delius.

Hmm. I guess no one likes to be working on site with their boss around. And that goes double in this world, where even your basic human rights depend on the type of relationship you have with your superiors.

It wasn’t long before Madame Harinne arrived.

* * *

Madame Harinne greeted me the way a farmer greets a lone surviving rice stalk in a sunbaked paddy.

Hmm. To put it simply, she was happy to see me.

Today, we chatted about shoes and clutch purses, hair accessories, the latest types of trendy teas and their origins and methods of preparation. Before I knew it, the sun was about to set and she had to head back.

Grateful for all of her help, I invited her to stay for dinner. You would have thought I had invited her to roll around in a dung heap with me, the way she dropped her fan in shock.

She offered a litany of polite excuses, but there was no doubt about it: she was extremely eager to get away.

I didn’t blame her... I wouldn’t want to be invited to dinner with the married couple who owned my workplace either.

My bad. Sorry, Madame Harinne.

I may be a pig compared to Delius, but I still felt compelled to dress myself up and slap some lipstick on. All too happy to show off her skills, Ann paid special attention to highlight my features.

“Countess, my master has arrived.”

The butler delivered this news sternly, all business. His earlier discomfort at knowing his master would be eating dinner at the residence was nowhere to be found.

I checked my reflection in the mirror and, confirming that I indeed looked prettier than usual, strode downstairs to the main floor with all the confidence in the world.

Delius held a rolled smoke in his mouth as he balled up the robe he had been wearing and carelessly tossed it aside.

I thought I heard grumbling as a servant darted forward to pick it up. What was that? Something like, Master, why can’t you please just hand it to someone?

Based on that, he didn’t strike me as someone who was particularly hard on his employees. But I still couldn’t help picking up on a weird feeling when I spoke to the butler sometimes. It was almost like I was talking to someone being held hostage.

I approached my husband, and he turned his gaze on me.

Omigosh, I was blinded. Who was I kidding? So what if I looked a little prettier than usual? A pig with lipstick is still just... a pig.

Noticing that I had been nodding to myself approvingly as I ogled him like a piece of fine antique porcelain, Delius snickered. He took a deep drag of his rolled smoke and greeted me.

“Ley, I’m home.”

Now, that was a good husband. Nothing like a little fan service, calling me by my nickname to get the juices going. As the leader of an intelligence guild, it was only natural that he’d know the pet name my mother called me by.

It was presumptuous of him to use it without permission, but as a beauty to end all other beauties, Delius could be forgiven for anything.

Screw manners! Here’s my chance to call him by a pet name as well!

“Welcome home, Dell.”

Dell. Gosh. Oh dear.

I could hardly believe it myself after hearing the way I enunciated it coquettishly. I could barely even bring myself to fully say his name most of the time...

Delius’ eyes grew wide for a moment before he broke into a faint smile.

Awww, did you wike thath? Did you thwink thath was nice?

All I wanted to do was ask him to cradle me in a hug. It was all I could think about. But then I remembered, as a countess, I still had a reputation to uphold.

Delius extended his hand to me as I came closer. I placed my hand on top of his and noticed that our surroundings had become strangely quiet.

“Are you comfortable here? I basically just come here to sleep.”

“Very comfortable. It’s very well managed.”

We talked as we headed to the dining hall. Sir Heiden carried a stunned expression on his face when I saw him on the way. Ann simply followed Delius’ presence like a sunflower with hearts in her eyes.

“No work tonight?” I casually asked as Delius pulled out my chair for me to sit on, and he looked at the butler.

The butler shook his head.

“Not that I know of.”

As he answered, Delius tossed the butt of his rolled smoke into the ashtray the butler presented to him, then placed a fresh one in his mouth. The butler struck a match and lit it.

Wow... I guess those smokes weren’t self-igniting after all.

Then how was Delius lighting them?

“Those cigarettes. Do you always smoke them constantly?”

“I have acute senses, so only when necessary. Does it bother you?”

I watched the plume of smoke he exhaled dissipate in the air. It wasn’t acrid like tobacco smoke, and I found the aroma rather pleasant. Still, prolonged reliance on any kind of substance didn’t seem like a good idea.

“Only a little bit.”

“Would you prefer if I didn’t?”

The butler was transferring platters of food to the table from the maid’s tray when he froze at Delius’ words. The maid snuck a glance at me as well.

Delius gave me a mild smirk as he rested his chin in his hand.

“But what are you going to do if I quit smoking these, and you stop looking so pretty to me, Ley?”

That made it sound like I did look pretty to him when he was smoking those! I resisted the urge to ask him to clarify. Why ask something I knew he’d just deny?

Still feeling nonplussed, I pouted at Delius, and he started laughing as if amused by my reaction.

Fine. I glared at you just to make you laugh.

Oh, my, he is so pretty. That’s my man! Just look at him!

It was a pity I had him for a limited time only. The price of the lease was quite steep, but still, it was so worth it! Nice work, Ley!

He was a bit of an eccentric. There was something childlike about him. The way he behaved willfully in an attempt to garner attention. It was obvious from how he carelessly threw aside his clothing as he pleased. The nonchalant way he spoke. It was very... cool.

After he finished serving the food, the butler seemed to hesitate before he went and stood by the door. Delius gestured with a wave of his hand. Taking the hint, the butler left and closed the door behind him.

“Taking care of the state affairs and running your own business must take up so much of your time. It must be hard for you to find time to eat dinner like this,” I said.

“This is the first time I’ve ever eaten here.”

Was that why the butler had that odd expression on his face earlier?

“You have a fantastic cook.”

I delicately pulled apart a roll that was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, slathered it in butter, then took a big bite. Delius absentmindedly glanced at the food on the table, then looked at me.

“The cook is a commoner.”

Okay. And?

I stared back at Delius as I chewed and noticed he didn’t seem interested in touching his food.

“Aren’t you going to eat?”

“I’m not really hungry.”

“Then why did you come to the dining room? You should retire to your chambers and rest.”

Last night he had returned home long after I’d fallen asleep and had gone back to work before I’d woken up in the morning. Managing two occupations was clearly a full-time job. Wouldn’t it be better if he got some rest?

“So I could watch you eat,” he said.

“Like a husband would?”

Delius smiled at me in lieu of an answer.

It felt like he was feeding a pet and watching it eat. What kind of a pet?

Hmm... A teacup pig?

Sniffle.

You would think it would feel uncomfortable to have someone watch you during a meal, but I didn’t mind being observed at all. Especially by such a stunning specimen. In fact, it even helped whet my appetite, and it felt like it would aid my digestion too.

Just the sight of him was enough to satisfy me without taking a single bite, but I also felt like I could never be satisfied with enough at the same time. His presence tempted my taste buds, and my mouth watered with every bite.

Who was it that said hunger is the best seasoning? Boy, were they wrong, because being with Delius was making me ravenous.

After watching me eat for a while, Delius took a few bites himself. It really did seem like he didn’t have much of an appetite. He would take a single bite, wait a while, then finally take another.