IBTHM Chapter 3

"I've heard rumors that Duke Ruvermonte has harbored feelings for a certain woman for quite some time?"

Ann whispered quietly as I sat lost in thought, mentally chewing over the novel's plot points.

Oh. This was news to me. My ears perked up immediately.

"Really?"

"Yes. No one knows who she is, but considering he couldn't openly give her the lady's position, perhaps she's a commoner or a young lady from a humble family? This is just my speculation, but maybe she's Young Lord Abel's birth mother..."

Mm, well. I knew that wasn't it. Abel wasn't Hades's biological child, after all.

I couldn't exactly announce that I knew this particular fact, so Ann remained blissfully unaware.

However, considering that Hades had been well past marriageable age even before meeting Abel and had kept the seat beside him empty all this time, Ann's rumor did carry a certain degree of credibility.

But then, really—why?

If he had feelings for another woman, did he seriously plan to accept me as his wife purely because my persistent devotion—following him around like a puppy—had moved his noble heart?

Ah, right.

Perhaps, as Ann had suggested, he intended to install me as duchess like some corporate figurehead while keeping his actual mistress on the side.

If that turned out to be the case, I couldn't help feeling slightly aggrieved.

From one perspective, I was being used—and no matter how insignificant my family might be, shouldn't I feel offended by that? Wasn't that only natural?

I finished wrestling with my brief moment of contemplation.

"I should go tell him there's been a misunderstanding and that we should forget the whole marriage business. He was practically ready to send marriage documents to our family immediately, so I can't afford to drag my feet any longer."

"You're not going through with the marriage?"

"Would you?"

Duke Ruvermonte might be impressive and all, but I had no intention of making such a monumentally life-altering decision as marriage in the time it took to roast beans over lightning.

The thought had occurred to me that I'd reincarnated for Abel, by Abel, in service of Abel—but still, having ended up living as Aisha Esclife, I had my own life to consider.

Setting aside all the tempting advantages this marriage would bring, this wasn't something I could simply nod along to easily.

I'd been utterly speechless before Hades when he'd announced with that aloof expression that he would marry me, but now that I'd sorted through my thoughts, this really wouldn't do.

Come on—trading away my entire life just because it would facilitate convenient fangirling? Wasn't that taking things a bit too far?

In this world, the path for a young lady from a humble noble family to advance in society typically involved marrying a successful husband and living appropriately as his supportive wife. But I had no particular need to volunteer myself as some Joseon-era model of feminine virtue.

Knowing the novel's contents was a rather significant advantage, and I could secure a comfortable gold-miss lifestyle all on my own without much effort at all.

I simply needed to enjoy life here reasonably well, occasionally indulging in Abel fangirling, and that would be perfectly sufficient.

So until I actually went to the duke's office to revisit the marriage discussion...

That's what I'd firmly resolved.

Meeting with the head of House Ruvermonte—reportedly the empire's busiest man—turned out to be surprisingly easy.

Managing nearly the entire northern territory including the ducal lands, he supposedly spent little time at the castle, yet coincidentally during my stay, his schedule had aligned perfectly and he hadn't ventured outside once.

Of course, that didn't mean he was idly lounging about the castle.

Even at the moment I sought him out, he was absorbed in reviewing documents piled mountain-high upon his office desk.

Upon seeing me arrive at his office, Hades set aside his paperwork and offered me a seat.

I approached him hesitantly and said:

"Um... Your Grace, about our marriage—I have something to discuss with you. I'm sorry to disturb you when you're so busy."

"Busy, yes, but I'm not the sort of man who can't spare time for my fiancée who's come to see me directly. Your apology is unnecessary."

Good heavens.

It was definitely close to a romantic male lead's line from a romance novel, so why on earth were goosebumps erupting all over my body?

Perhaps because I had zero romantic experience and no immunity, or perhaps because I knew Hades hadn't actually decided on marriage because he truly liked me... The reason remained unclear.

I smiled awkwardly and perched somewhat uncertainly on the seat he'd offered.

His butler quickly brought tea.

My lips stuck together as I tried to voice these difficult words, my gaze drifting pointlessly toward the innocent teacup.

Something suddenly struck me—the tea served every time was a variety rarely seen in the north.

Tea brewed from leaves commonly found in the central-southern regions, the kind we'd enjoyed drinking in our territory.

It was curious that this tea existed in the north at all.

I'd submitted my experiential learning application in advance, but surely he wouldn't have gone out of his way to prepare familiar tea specifically for me...

I was sinking into pointless speculation when Hades's deep voice snapped me back to attention.

"The marriage documents to send to the barony are currently being prepared. I'll process them without delay—is there something concerning you? I was planning to send a messenger tomorrow."

Hades asked, rubbing his brow with a somewhat tired expression.

Since I'd said I had something to discuss regarding the marriage, he apparently assumed I'd come because I worried he might back out.

My prediction was entirely correct.

"I don't go back on my word. Naturally you'd find it hard to believe that I've agreed to marry you, but it's not a dream—no need to worry anxiously that you'll wake up."

"Haha..."

Goosebumps. Actual goosebumps!

At this man's excessive self-regard—goosebumps!

"Actually... Your Grace. About this marriage, I—"

"Father!"

Bang—!

That's when it happened. Suddenly, Hades's office door burst open with a thunderous sound.

Simultaneously, an enormously excited, ringing voice.

"Good grief, what a fright!"

I'd never imagined anyone would rudely fling open the duke's door without warning, so I had no choice but to be thoroughly startled.

I let out an embarrassingly undignified exclamation as I clutched at my plummeting heart.

Hades looked as shocked as I felt.

He stared at me with a worried expression as we faced each other in mutual alarm.

"Ah... I, I didn't realize there was a guest. I'm s-sorry."

However, my startled heart settled quickly.

The moment I recognized whose voice came from behind me, my racing heart began pounding even more violently—but now with anticipation, excitement, and exhilaration.

Good Lord!

Heavenly Father!

This couldn't be!

Though only from a distance, I'd been fangirling over Abel from afar for over a year now, and I could tell.

That was our male lead Abel's voice—still unchanged by puberty!

Since arriving at the ducal territory, I'd caught a brief glimpse of Abel when he came out to greet guests, but that had been all.

As someone who was merely passing guest number one, and with Abel not yet properly announced as heir, there'd been no opportunity for us to meet privately within this vast castle.

For the sake of maintaining my cover, I'd taken every possible precaution and couldn't exactly go ransacking the castle to see Abel's face directly.

Some might think it odd that I was being particular now, having come all this way, but at any rate, going that far would have looked far too suspicious.

Having traveled this distance with only a modest entourage—one guard and one maid—as befitted a properly dignified noble lady, I'd finally achieved results after a week and four days, and the thought sent instinctive tremors through me.

So... what did that feeling resemble...?

Being one step away from meeting the popular member of an idol group with a massive fanbase—privately and alone!

Of course, Duke Ruvermonte—an unwelcome intruder by my standards—happened to be present.

"Abel, what is the meaning of this frivolous behavior? Lady Esclife is an honored guest. You'd best come here and apologize for your rudeness."

Hades rose abruptly, fixing his gaze over my shoulder with fearsome eyes.

By then, his words barely registered in my ears as I sat trembling, unable to turn around.

'Abel! Abel! Abel!'

Ah, that name I could die languishing over.

With unrivaled abilities and proportionally handsome looks, impeccable character, political acumen, and the essential romance novel virtue of single-mindedly protecting and cherishing only the female lead—my life's male lead, complete in every way!

Abel Ruvermonte!

Step, step—sensing the approaching sound of those still-small, precious footsteps, I clutched my trembling heart and slowly turned around.