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Smack!
This time, the fan struck Raymond's lips, which had been spewing nonsense on their own.
"Can't you shut up? How dare you try to block my path."
At Yevgenia's low growl, Raymond's expression crumbled another level.
"...Why are you really like this? How can a person change this much? You said you loved me. That you longed for even a single glance from me so much you could die!"
It was the repertoire of love confessions Yevgenia had once recited endlessly.
Should it be said that Yevgenia, who had boldly said such things, was amazing, or that Raymond, who had memorized them again, was amazing?
Of course, either way, it was the worst for the current Yevgenia.
She frowned deeply and let out a hollow laugh.
"Yeah, that's right. But I'm not stupid enough to hand over our family to some kid I don't even know. Thanks to that, that so-called love or whatever got neatly sorted out too."
"...What? Over just something like that, your love faded?"
"Really unbelievable. Who would think we were passionate lovers, huh? What if my love hadn't faded? Should I go slap Lady Aer's cheek right now?"
Her voice was filled with absurdity.
Even as she said it herself, it was ridiculous, so of course she couldn't hide that feeling.
Stella, standing right beside them, looking at Raymond like a drenched puppy, was starting to seem pitiful.
'Really, how can a person be this kind? They're both cheaters...'
She shook her head at Raymond, who couldn't easily come up with a response.
Just as she was about to order the servants with a light chin gesture to chase him out, an unbelievable answer came back.
"...Okay."
"No, you're really a damn crazy bastard."
"...What?"
"You were promoting yourself as a loving lover with your whole body just 10 minutes ago, you crazy bastard. As someone who's seen you since you were 5, here's some advice: you need to become human first."
"..."
"You beast worse than an animal."
After spitting out the last word, she felt completely relieved.
With a short chin gesture, the servants' polite hands led Raymond away.
Whether because he was a well-raised young master, or because the one who had hurled those insults was Yevgenia.
Raymond was led out quietly for someone who had just been spouting crazy talk.
Stella's retreating back, hesitantly stepping outside the banquet hall while looking back and forth between the splendid hall and Raymond, looked too shabby for a female lead.
"Tsk..."
Yevgenia, frowning slightly, clicked her tongue loudly without realizing it.
Instantly, the atmosphere turned cold, and not even the usual sound of shoes could be heard.
Noticing the change, Yevgenia turned toward the nobles with an artificial smile.
"Now, everyone. Since we've chased out the drunkard, let's resume the banquet. First... it seems music should flow."
A small glance and one word.
That was all Yevgenia needed to fill the banquet hall with the sound of music.
Until now, she had been endlessly diminished before the name of love.
But after shattering that trivial illusion, such a clear reality unfolded.
Everyone couldn't even lift their gaze before her, lacking the courage to dare speak.
This was the position held by the only princess of the Artlux Empire.
Smiling sweetly, Yevgenia curved her eyes beautifully.
"Shall we dance, everyone?"
After the enjoyable(?) banquet ended, Yevgenia leaned her slightly flushed cheek against the carriage and closed her eyes.
As she slowly replayed the day's events in her mind, her gently relaxed expression suddenly crumpled.
'Raymond, you piece of trash. If I marry a bastard like that, Mother will definitely be crying her eyes out in heaven.'
Goodness, that guy who used to curse, calling it disgusting or creepy when I said I loved him so much, now says things like "how could your love fade."
I couldn't understand what kind of thought process could lead to telling someone to rather slap their own lover's cheek while having a lover who boldly declares they'll commit adultery by your side.
'...No, of course I can't understand. He's a crazy bastard, and I'm not crazy.'
If I have to cling to someone, wouldn't a madman be better than a crazy bastard?
Even though he's a madman who demands my body unconditionally, since that madman has weaknesses, rational conversation should be possible.
"He'll think we've seen enough of each other, so pretending to be sincere might work even better."
Perhaps because she had already visited Nox's office once within a short period.
Now, it seemed to be taken for granted that Yevgenia came and went here.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have let her into a room without its owner.
"Isn't the security too lax? What if important documents get stolen..."
"Why, are you going to steal them?"
"Ah, you startled me!"
The breath that brushed against her ear made goosebumps rise from her nape.
The sensation of the low voice digging into her ear was the kind that could never become familiar.
Hurriedly covering her ear, Yevgenia looked back.
"Nox, when did you get here?"
"A little while ago. Since I still only have one client, I get notified immediately."
"...Hmm?"
Something was strange.
In the original work, whenever Stella entrusted a request to Nox, there was always a scene where he grumbled about being busy to death because there were so many clients.
So I didn't think meeting him a little earlier than Stella would be a big problem...
"By any chance, am I your first client...?"
"Oh my. I'm disappointed you didn't know that."
Nox, whose eyes widened as if he'd caught something, exaggeratedly drooped his eyebrows.
Since he moved and thought, calculating every trivial action like that, it was creepy rather than cute.
"To think I was the only one who thought our relationship was special... Since you came the very next day after I decided to consider entrusting you with requests, I even thought we might be fate."
"N-nonsense. It's just a coincidence."
"Well, whether it's really fate or coincidence is something we'll find out gradually..."
The green eyes revealed between his beautifully curved eyelids darkened.
Nox was clearly smiling, but he couldn't hide his coldly chilled eyes.
'Ha, no wonder. I thought it was strange he agreed to meet so readily from the start.'
From the moment Yevgenia first came here, he had already been suspicious of her.
And in front of him, she had already revealed her trump card of knowing his weakness...
Suppressing a sigh, Yevgenia pressed her throbbing forehead.
Then, a cold touch reached the nape of her neck.
"Eek...! Wh-what is it?!"
"Quite sensitive. I just... poked, touched you a little. Like a joke."
"It's because you touched me suddenly, not sensitivity..."
"Is that so?"
Swish—
The fingernail that had lightly touched her nape scraped from her chin to her collarbone without hurting.
Perhaps because she couldn't see how his hand was moving.
The touch roaming around her neck felt excessively sensitive.
Unconsciously shrinking her neck, she subtly pulled her body forward.
But Nox's hand ignored her intention and followed right along.
"Why, do you keep, your hand..."
"Hmm? Isn't this why you came looking for me? I thought I made you understand enough during our last meeting."
"...Eep."
Struck right at the core, she was at a loss for words.
But still... she had no idea what this kind of... behavior had to do with erasing a name.
Maybe it was to cover the extreme pain that comes with erasing a name with added pleasure, or maybe this human was simply a horny crazy bastard.
In a situation where she couldn't see an inch ahead, Yevgenia knew only one thing.
'The lifeline to break off my engagement is Nox, no, precisely, his ability alone.'
Closing her eyes tightly and steeling her resolve, she grabbed Nox's hand.
"Nox, no, Yulan Artlux."
"...Usually, when a woman calls out a full name in this kind of atmosphere, it's a very wrong situation."
As Nox smoothly tried to escape the situation, more strength went into her hand holding his.
It was a level of strength he could easily shake off, but somehow his hand didn't move easily.
Biting her lower lip and hesitating for a while, she spoke in a trembling voice.
"Please, help me just once."
"..."
"I'll do anything you want, so please..."
It was a word that would never come from a proud noble, especially a high-ranking noble like the Martyr Duke's family.
It meant Yevgenia was that cornered, and it was no different from exposing her sincerity.
Yevgenia, tightly gripping Nox's stiffened hand with both hands, carefully looked up at him.
"My fiancé has someone he loves."
"..."
"And, I can't bear that fact anymore. So..."
"So, the princess is giving up?"
At his suspicious-sounding voice, she nodded emphatically.
"Because I think... I couldn't bear seeing the person I love become unhappy beside me..."
She didn't forget to slightly change the angle to show her trembling eyelashes.
Then, it felt like Nox's attitude softened a little.
"...So it's for the sake of your fiancé alone that you want to erase your 'name'."
Otherwise, this question wouldn't have come up.
Yevgenia, forcibly pulling down the corners of her mouth that were trying to creep up, nodded weakly.
When lying, do your best.
It was one of the life lessons taught by her father, renowned as a cunning politician.
And Yevgenia was a good student who quickly internalized lessons.
"If things continue like this, I might go mad with jealousy and really do something terrible. Of course, it's not that what I've done so far isn't terrible... But I think I might really become a monster. Before that happens, it's better if I cut it off myself."
"..."
"That's the path for everyone's sake."
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