My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 54

Chapter 27.2 — Best Bridesmaid (8)

Riette glanced down at Ian’s drooping forehead before she gently slid her fingers through the child’s curly hair. The sensation between her fingers was delightful. Ian, too, seemed to be in a good mood as he pressed his plump cheek against her chest. It seemed that the process of transformation was quite tiring as he soon drifted off to sleep, drowsy.

Cain furrowed his thick eyebrows as he gazed at his younger sibling, who was breathing heavily in her embrace.

“Ian. Right now…”

“Shh.”

She raised her index finger to her lips, pressing it firmly. Then, to ensure Ian didn’t wake up, she lowered her voice and whispered.

“Don’t wake him up. He’s sleeping so cutely…”

As she glanced down, she saw plump cheeks that resembled dough.

Indeed, he looked like a child who had been shrunken down to resemble the Grand Duke. Riette felt quite satisfied with the feeling of holding a miniature Cain, but the man in front of her remained displeased throughout. His mouth was twitching, wanting to correct his younger sibling’s impoliteness for daring to use the Princess’s arms.

“If you don’t want to wake him, please hand him over to me. I’ll move him to the sofa.”

“No, let’s go to the sofa. The bed is right here, so we can just lay him down and let him sleep!”

“….”

Even though his openly narrowed brow expressed displeasure, she paid him no mind and laid Ian down on the bed. The two of them then settled on the main couch, facing each other.

For a few seconds, an awkward silence filled the empty teacups.

“Um, Grand Duke.”

“…Yes, Princess.”

“Could it be that His Highness Narkissis already knows everything and gave me the birdcage as a gift? Even though there were other larks in it, too…”

“While we cannot rule out that possibility, it’s highly unlikely. If His Highness Narkissis had known about such a ridiculous genetic illness, he would’ve torn Acheron apart a long time ago. He’s no stranger to public opinion warfare.”

Furthermore, if he had known, he wouldn’t have resorted to such a complicated scheme involving her and wouldn’t have gone as far as to terrorize the opera house of another country’s royal family.

“However, we should still be prepared for it.”

He had mentioned that the eldest sibling was eighteen years old. To conceal such an astonishing fact for nearly twenty years made him even more admirable.

Riette glanced once more at the bed where Ian had fallen asleep.

The sons of Acheron suffered from a genetic illness that caused random transformations into animals…

“Maybe we should really get married this time.”

“….”

“The Grand Duke may be reluctant, but you know this is the best option, right? We don’t want to increase the number of people who know your family’s weaknesses. I understand what it’s like to worry about family…”

“….”

“I already know about His Highness Narkissis’s plot, the Grand Duke’s involvement in political affairs, and your family’s secrets. It would be difficult to find a woman as suitable as me, even if you turn Chalonné upside down.”

Cain, who had been silently listening to her words, finally let out a deep sigh as if the ground had been pulled from under him. He had never thought things would unfold like this.

It was reasonable.

It would be probability to consider a legitimate heir from a woman who was highly likely to keep the family’s secrets, as they had shared their vulnerabilities with each other. Where else could he find a contract marriage that allowed them to deal with each other so equitably under such fair conditions?

Well, actually, it wasn’t exactly fair on the scales. The Princess was rather disadvantaged, so…

“I will do it. Marriage.”

“It wouldn’t be so reliable to ask me to be a double agent, so I understand your reluctance, but… uh, huh? Yes?”

Riette’s eyes widened in surprise. Despite the fact that she had been the one pressing for this, she never imagined that the resolute Grand Duke, who had been so adamant like an iron fortress, would suddenly change his mind so readily.

He stared at her with his characteristic emotionless blue eyes.

Impulse.

Every time he looked at her, the sensation that had long since been carved from his soul consumed his brain.

The shallow impulse that corrupted her into a lustful princess every night, an impulse to stay by her side even though he knew it would drag her down into the abyss. Even though he didn’t know that Ian had been staying in the Princess’s cage… even if his brother hadn’t shown up, wouldn’t he have tried to confess anyway?

In his own words, the family’s weakness.

…At that moment, he was utterly defeated. He surrendered to his own instinct, treating her as if he were a loyal dog seeking its master’s affection.

“It’s a contract marriage. In exchange for the Princess bearing Acheron’s heir within the marriage period, I… I’ll certainly protect everything you have.”

Kaisaros Acheron.

He was a person who, once he made a decision, would never turn back.

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