TPOTLPIM Chapter 4

Bright summer sunlight burst into the room.

Cecilia lay face down on her bed, unable to bring herself to get up.

Her entire body felt as heavy as waterlogged cotton.

Three days had passed since Rosein's engagement ceremony, but the shock of that day still hadn't left her mind.

Her failure to stop Asen when she lost her composure, becoming an accomplice to something dangerous, being caught in a vulnerable position by that man Teros... she regretted it all.

Moreover, how many interrogating questions had she endured after dancing with Teros?

Even at this very moment, high society was probably making their own judgments about the two of them and gossiping away.

"Miss, a letter has arrived."

Cecilia heavily lifted her body and took the letter.

"Saturday at noon. I invite you to my estate. I'll send a carriage. -Teros Jeminick"

Good Lord. She had to see that terrifying face again!

Like a student who'd received difficult homework, Cecilia's face crumpled. If only Father were home at a time like this, she could have run to him for comfort!

Unfortunately, Count Serin was away for a month to obtain materials needed for developing new weapons.

Cecilia collapsed back onto the bed and pressed her throbbing forehead.

Just then, the butler announced the arrival of a welcome guest.

"Lord Hadel, the head of House Odik and royal researcher, has arrived."

"I'll be ready in a moment, please escort him to the drawing room!"

Cecilia ran toward the drawing room making a clatter clatter clatter of footsteps, quite unbefitting a noble young lady.

When she opened the door, she saw Hadel sitting at the tea table. He was a man with striking platinum hair that reached down to his nape.

"It's my first time meeting you, Lady Cecilia. I've come to apologize, taking the liberty to visit because my sister Asen committed a foolish mistake."

"Oh... you're so very welcome, Lord Hadel."

Cecilia was so happy that she grasped Hadel's hands with both of hers, her eyes glistening with tears.

Hadel Odik, who became head of House Odik at a young age, worked as a magic researcher for the imperial court with his outstanding magical abilities. Hope bloomed within her that he might be able to create an antidote for the love potion.

When Hadel made an uncomfortable expression and pulled his caught hands away from her excessive welcome, Cecilia gave an awkward smile.

"Oh, look at me. I was just so happy to see you... Let's have some tea and talk slowly."

Hadel lifted the teacup with his pale, long fingers, took an elegant sip, and immediately got to the point.

"I examined the love potion my sister made thoroughly. Asen has unusually created an effective piece of work."

"By effective, you mean?"

"Lord Teros must already be smitten with you, my lady."

At these thunderbolt-like words, Cecilia felt like spitting out the tea she had in her mouth.

"Wait, wait a minute! Do you know how terrifyingly Teros glared at me that day, giving me those fierce looks? He said he'd send Asen and me to a military tribunal! And what else did he say? That he'd make me regret it? How could someone act like this toward a woman he's supposedly fallen for?"

In reality, what Teros had said was somewhat different from 'making her regret it,' but in frightened Cecilia's mind, his words had been rearranged this way.

"People express interest in various ways."

Oh my. Cecilia pressed her forehead and asked again with her last hope.

"Isn't there a way to neutralize the potion's effects?"

"I'm sorry, my lady. I did consider creating an antidote, but the Asiyas flower required as an ingredient only blooms in March each year. By that time, six months will have naturally passed."

Cecilia sank back against the sofa with a deflated feeling.

Just then, Hadel carefully drew something from his pocket and placed it on the tea table.

"So, I brought this."

Hadel's previously gentle eyes suddenly gleamed sharply. Cecilia also leaned forward with curiosity to look at the medicine bottle placed on the table.

"What is this?"

"It's a memory-erasing drug. If the Marquis reports this incident to the imperial court, our family's position will become quite difficult as well."

An antidote would be one thing, but feeding him a memory-erasing drug to cover up this incident? What terrifying people!

Cecilia instinctively frowned and pulled her body back.

"I know how I must appear to you for making such a proposal. I can't help it if you see us as cold-blooded. The Emperor acknowledges our family's contributions while secretly keeping us magic users in check. If this incident becomes known to the imperial court, they'll use Asen as an excuse to grab our family's weaknesses."

"What crime has Lord Teros committed! And, and this is illegal, isn't it? You're saying to cover one illegal act with another illegal act?"

Hadel said nothing and simply grasped the medicine bottle with his pale, beautiful hand and pressed it into Cecilia's hand. His pleading expression looked so forlorn it was almost beautiful.

'What kind of honey trap is this? The siblings are working together in pairs to trouble me!'

"I made this myself. I guarantee there are no side effects, and it will cleanly erase memories from the point when he learned about the love potion. Lady Cecilia, your position is difficult too, so wouldn't it be good for everyone if the Marquis couldn't remember this incident?"

Cecilia's eyes, which had been wavering for a moment, gleamed coldly after some thought. She returned the medicine bottle Hadel had pressed into her hand back to him.

"Lord Hadel. Put away your honey trap."

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying I was beautiful?"

'Ah, I was only supposed to think that but ended up bringing up the honey trap!'

Cecilia panicked inwardly but cleared her throat several times and spoke composedly.

"What I mean is, I'll be the one using a honey trap on Lord Teros!"

Hadel tilted his head as if he didn't understand.

"I'll spend six months cleverly coaxing him so that Lord Teros absolutely cannot reveal this incident! If this matter becomes known to the imperial court, I'll be in trouble too!"

"For the six months he's smitten with you, he'll follow your words. But what if he changes after that?"

"If it really doesn't work, I'll use this medicine then! So keep it safe until that time!"

Cecilia, who had been speaking loudly, sent Hadel away dismissively as another headache came on.

Saturday. Cecilia ended up regretting the words she had blurted out to Hadel.

At first, everything seemed to proceed smoothly. Just as written in the letter, Teros's carriage came to the Count's estate, and Cecilia took it to Hasblue, a small town he owned on the outskirts of the capital.

And she ate lunch with Teros at the grand mansion located in the center of Hasblue.

'Right, I can accommodate this much to my heart's content!'

As long as he kept the love potion secret, what did a meal matter? She felt like she could go even if he asked her to dine together in hell.

Cecilia tried to think positively and boost her mood, but perhaps because her mental suffering had been severe these past few days, her shoulders kept sagging.

"Does the food not suit your taste?"

"Oh, no. I just have a lot to think about."

"Is there something worrying you?"

The casual question felt annoyingly smug, so Cecilia instinctively raised her head sharply.

"Are you asking because you don't know? After we danced together at Rosein's engagement ceremony, there's been so much talk about us two."

"Ah, that."

Teros chuckled while cutting his meat.

"That's not something to laugh about. Aren't you bothered by questions asking what kind of relationship you and I have, Lord Teros?"

A puzzled expression returned to her question, as if asking what she was talking about.

"No one asks me such questions. They know I won't deal with them. If they just speculate and gossip among themselves, it doesn't matter to me at all."

Cecilia barely suppressed her rising emotions and explained her difficult position.

"Well, it matters to me. A scandal with a member of House Jeminick at marriageable age. Who would court me now?"

"Is someone else's courtship necessary?"

Cecilia didn't catch what Teros muttered quietly.

"Even now, see? After giving me such terrifying threats, you suddenly invite me for a meal. What's your reason? What are you planning to make me do this time?"

At the stream of questions pouring out like arrows, Teros set down the knife he'd been using to cut his meat with a sharp sound. Cecilia had no choice but to clamp shut her chattering mouth.

"I was going to discuss this after we finished eating. But since it's come up, let's talk immediately."

Cecilia tensed for a moment and pricked up her ears for Teros's next words.

"You may have had a hard few days recently, but I've been quite comfortable. Especially watching Father in a rage was quite entertaining."

'Duke Jeminick was angry?'

"Ah, don't worry. Our Duke was only angry that I was acting on my own. Still, he won't be pushing those stuffy marriage candidates on me anymore."

A mischievous smile played on Teros's lips.

"You also said you were worried about this happening at marriageable age, didn't you?"

At the sudden question, Cecilia instinctively realized she shouldn't answer easily.

"I'll send a marriage proposal to Count Serin's estate sometime next week."

Cecilia just blinked, not immediately understanding Teros's words.

"Marry me."

Good Lord. Marriage as punishment for feeding him a love potion.

Nothing would come out, as if something was stuck in her throat.

"It wouldn't be a bad deal, would it? It's a happier ending compared to receiving a military tribunal, isn't it?"

"Marriage should be with someone you love!"

"Most of the nobility are people who had arranged marriages anyway. Love marriages like my older brother's case are extremely rare."

At the sudden mention of Dmitri, Cecilia's expression darkened. That love marriage he was going to have—I wanted to do that!

"It's embarrassing for me to say with my own mouth, but I'm the finest partner you could imagine when thinking of an arranged marriage. Marriage with me won't be bad for you either."

At his overly confident gaze and words, Cecilia was dumbfounded.

"Lord Teros. If I may be presumptuous, you don't seem to be in your right mind because of the love potion. You know the potion's effects are only for six months, don't you? After that, won't you regret marrying me?"

"It doesn't matter. I've never once been interested in women anyway. When the time came, I was thinking of marrying a woman from an appropriate family. I just didn't meet anyone because even that was a bother."

As he spoke with a serious face, Cecilia began to grow increasingly uneasy.

"Besides, the Serin family's conditions are excellent. Count Serin is the Empire's top weapons manufacturer, isn't he? I'm also quite deeply connected to war, so the Count and I should have plenty to talk about."

He's thought about even these parts? Is he really intending to marry me?

"What if I refuse your proposal?"

At those words, Teros's brow crumpled fiercely.

"You thought it was a proposal? I must have made my order too gently."

Before she knew it, Teros's atmosphere had become as cold and chilling as it was on the night of the engagement ceremony.

"You don't need to answer. It wasn't a question but a notification. The threat of a military tribunal wasn't some childish bluffing. I always repay debts to those who harm me, one way or another."

At his words like winter frost that seemed to seep into her skin, Cecilia felt a chill and broke out in goosebumps.

"If accepting marriage is difficult, think of this as my revenge."

He was driving Cecilia like cornered prey into a dead-end path with no escape.

Plop—

The tear that had been pooling in Cecilia's large eyes finally dropped onto her tightly clenched hands beneath the table.

"You seem to have no appetite, so let's go out now."

Teros wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up from his seat.

"Where are you going?"

Cecilia looked up at him with still tear-filled eyes.

"To Hasblue's famous spot."

"Where is that?"

Cecilia hastily wiped away the tears falling down both cheeks so Teros wouldn't see them and stood up from her seat. Beyond her confused feelings, she now felt like whatever happened would happen.

"It's hard to explain in words, so you'll see for yourself."

Teros approached behind Cecilia as she stood and pulled aside the chair she had been sitting in. As he suddenly came close, his low voice reached the ears of Cecilia, who had stiffened.

"You'll soon be the mistress of Hasblue, so it would be good to see it in advance."

Ah. She'd never even had a romance, and now an arranged marriage. She had wanted her first love to be with someone she really liked.

Sighs piled up in Cecilia's heart.

When they came out to the garden in front of the mansion, a butler was waiting with a well-built black horse and a small white horse.

Both horses were well-cared for, with beautiful luster flowing through their coats.

"How pretty they are."

Due to her nature of usually liking animals, Cecilia naturally approached the pure white horse and stroked its mane.

"If you like it, I'll give it as a gift."

"What? Such an excessive gift?"

Cecilia, who had been stroking the mane, was startled and removed her hand from the horse.

"It's not excessive. When you come here as a bride anyway, you'll need at least one horse to ride. Can you ride horses?"

Teros, who nonchalantly brought up marriage, swiftly turned the flow of conversation with a question before Cecilia could object.

"I can ride, though I can't go fast."

"That's good. Today let's each ride our own horse."

Teros grasped Cecilia's waist and helped her climb onto the saddle.

The two horses left the mansion, climbed a secluded hill path, then entered a forest road dense with trees.

Cecilia's head spun rapidly with various thoughts.

Even if she stubbornly opposed marriage now, it wouldn't work on Teros at all, so she should act like she was considering the proposal while buying time, then refuse.

And,

'I just need to endure like this for six months.'

If she outright refused, it would only fuel his obstinacy more, so she should act like she might accept or might not while dragging out time to endure.

Once the drug's effects wore off, Teros would also think normally.

"Lord Teros, please postpone sending the marriage proposal by one month."

"Why is that?"

"Father is currently away for a month. Even if you send a marriage proposal, he won't be able to see it."

"If it's for that reason, I can understand."