My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 109

Chapter 55.1 — Night Getaway (7)

Cain had a very unusual way of comforting people. It didn’t even seem like he considered it comforting at all. Whenever he spoke with a tone as dry as desert sand, cutting out all unnecessary words and simply stating the facts, the emotions that had clouded her mind would be swept away by the wind as if they didn’t matter.

Riette, still resting her chin in her hand like a flower’s petal, tilted her head and smiled.

“Thanks, Your Highness.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Just, in many ways.”

What if she didn’t want to part a year from now?

‘For now, it’s important to keep myself from feeling that way. Hmm… but if I do start feeling that way, I’ll make sure to hide it, at least from him.’

She didn’t want to put him in an awkward position.

Riette smiled brightly, her large eyes squinting into crescent moons. She wasn’t drunk, but the alcohol had made her cheeks flush a soft pink.

“But, am I really turning into a bold woman?”

“…What exactly are you talking about?”

“I spent the night with a man I’m not even married to, then ran off in the middle of the night! And now, as soon as I get on the train, there’s wine? I’m like one of those governesses from a romantic novel with a mysterious past.”

Riette chattered playfully, and Cain replied in his usual indifferent manner.

“Nobody’s going to mistake the princess for a governess. Besides, we’ll be holding the ceremony as soon as we arrive in Katak, so it’s a completely different situation.”

“Are we really having a wedding? Even if it’s a small one, it’ll still take over six months to prepare.”

“I’ve already given it some thought.”

Half a year? It would be considered quick even if it took more than a year to prepare. This was the wedding of the Grand Duke of Acheron and Princess Chalonné, after all.

Unlike Bea’s marriage to a commoner, this union would have immense implications. Ambitious individuals, domestic and foreign nobles, foreign royals, and even retainers would all be scram bling to get an invitation.

What’s more, beyond the fact that Chalonné would benefit from Acheron’s wealth and military power, the real issue was that it would become unclear where Chalonné stood in relation to the heir to the throne of Helios. Would Chalonné break the unwritten rule of remaining neutral and back the princess? Or would they stay true to their close ties and persuade Acheron to support the prince?

In any case, the bottom line was that, in every way, this would attract massive attention.

“One year isn’t much. There’s no time to waste, so I propose we go with a simple wedding vow instead.”

The more memorable the wedding was to the public, the harder it would be to get a divorce. Looking ahead to life after this contract marriage, it would have been better to skip the wedding altogether.

Once he decided on something, there was no doing it halfway. If he started something, it had to be done meticulously and flawlessly to the end. His decisions were careful, but he approached everything with that same level of thoroughness.

“Wasting time…”

Riette muttered the word to herself, as if mulling it over.

As usual, there was nothing wrong with what he said this time. Juggling the role of a double agent and trying to uncover Narkissis’s weaknesses was already pushing it. Could she really spend a whole year preparing for a wedding and then walk away?

She had already received so much help from him.

Besides, hadn’t he never really wanted this marriage? If she hadn’t discovered Ian’s secret, he would never have chosen her.

She didn’t want to become so shameless that she’d burden him even more. He made it clear that he wanted a companion who could be a comrade, someone he could throw into the messy political battles of Helios without hesitation. Because if he loved his wife, he wouldn’t be able to risk putting her in harm’s way.

She had boldly declared that she wouldn’t fall in love with him and insisted on the marriage. So, she had to keep her word.

“Yeah, fine. As soon as we get there, let’s just get it done and over with.”

“How about we each write up the marriage contract before we arrive, and then finalize the details after the wedding? Clearly outlining the terms is essential to prevent any confusion over the next year.”

“Ung. I think that’s a good idea. No need to make things more complicated.”

Riette nodded, looking satisfied. It wasn’t a bad compromise. With three days left until they reached Katak, there was plenty of time to think it through.

Cain, who had been carrying on the conversation casually, suddenly let out a heavy sigh and turned to look out the window.

“You should probably get some sleep now. After you’ve rested, we can continue our conversation.”

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Riette adjusted to life on the train in no time. By the second day, she was living in her underdress and nightgown. Considering she’d spent her whole life in the palace, the cramped space of the room and lounge should have felt small to her, but her ability to adapt was almost impressive.

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