The Duke’s Fake First Love - Chapter 9

Chapter 5.1

As we sat down after a brief exchange, the staff began setting tea and desserts. Louis had also just finished organizing the documents he’d been reading and passed them to his attendant.

“I remember you mentioned liking the tarts here, so I thought I’d invite you. I hope they’re to your liking.”

“Thank you for your thoughtfulness.”

He really had an incredible memory. He hadn’t even heard it from me directly, so he must’ve picked it up through his brother.

“Have you given it some thought?”

Watching him urge me for an answer with a faint smile, I fidgeted with my teacup.

‘…The reason he had proposed to me, and my answer.’

“I’ll accept your proposal, but I have one condition.”

I pulled out the letter Louis had sent me.

At the bottom, there was a short poem.

「 When the cold winter passes, a brilliant morning arrives.

In springtime, when the flowers bloom, we’ll meet there. 」

It was only two lines, but anyone who understood the meaning of that poem would be stunned.

‘After all, it was written by the person who plotted a revolution against the tyrant emperor of the ancient empire.’

That was the clue Louis gave me, a veiled way of explaining why he proposed.

“If what Your Grace wants from me is to help you take revenge against His Majesty…”

“….”

“Then, once you’ve had your revenge, please divorce me. That’s my condition.”

“Divorce you?”

Louis fixed me with a questioning look, so I repeated the answer I had prepared, just like I did with Diego.

“I already have someone I care for.”

“So?”

He seemed unfazed as if he didn’t understand why that was even a reason.

“I just don’t think it’s right to continue a marriage when my heart belongs to someone else.”

“It doesn’t bother me.”

“Well, it bothers me.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment.

While he stayed quiet, I picked up my fork and took a bite of the strawberry cake in front of me. I was so exhausted that I felt like I needed to put something in my mouth just to get my brain working.

“I thought I heard you liked lemon tarts and never touched strawberry cake.”

Louis slid the strawberry cake over to me as he continued.

“Seems like your preferences have changed.”

My sister was the one who liked lemon tarts and never ate strawberry cake.

“People are bound to change.”

But rather than making excuses, I replied calmly.

“It’s hardly surprising for preferences to shift as one grows.”

Still, just in case, I picked up a piece of lemon tart with my fork and put it in my mouth. The sharp sourness made my tongue tingle as it lingered unpleasantly in my mouth. Even though I didn’t like it, I pretended not to mind.

“I agree. People change—their tastes, their opinions and even their feelings.”

Louis smiled softly, his lips curving like a crescent moon.

“So, if you come to love me before the revenge is over, give up on the divorce.”

“….”

“That’s my condition.”

I sank into thought. No matter how I considered it, there was no downside for me. Even if I did fall for him like he said, I could always pretend otherwise and still ask for a divorce. So, while I didn’t know why he made this offer, there was nothing for me to lose.

‘It’s not like I have any other choice anyway.’

I nodded in agreement.

“Alright. But I think it would be best if we put it down in writing.”

“That won’t be difficult.”

As if he had been waiting, Louis called for his attendant and had a contract drafted.

“Is there anything else you want to include? Something you want me to promise or protect you from?”

“No, there’s nothing.”

I reviewed the contract thoroughly and shook my head. The contract he had prepared was flawlessly clean. There were no loopholes or ambiguities at all.

Rustle.

Just as I was giving it one final look before signing, his calm voice cut through the silence.

“I do have something.”

When I looked at him questioningly, Louis picked up the pen and added one more line to the contract.

“We both have to stay faithful to each other as spouses.”

“….”

“In other words, neither of us can get involved with anyone else.”

I can be a little possessive.

It sounded like he meant not to have any lovers or affairs, but the way he said it with that bright smile of his, it almost felt like he was just teasing me.

“I’ve no intention of tarnishing your reputation, Your Grace. Besides, I happen to detest infidelity as well.”

“Ah, I figured as much.”

Louis gave me a knowing smile, like he was thinking of Diego.

I was about to give a vague reply, but my stomach twisted uncomfortably.

‘Is it because of the lemon tart?’

I wasn’t feeling well, probably because I had forced myself to eat something I never usually touched, just to keep up the act as Alice. Although I tried to calm my stomach with some warm tea, it wasn’t helping.

“Excuse me, but could I step out for a moment?”

Louis didn’t seem fazed by my sudden request and just sent an attendant to escort me. With their help, I made it to the restroom and threw up everything I had eaten. I felt a little better after that.

‘Is this what I’ll have to keep doing from now on?’