Sir. Dereck escorted me all the way to the drawing room.
"Anna, I'm sorry but can you please give us some privacy"
"Of course, milady"
After Anna left Dereck glance behind him, signaling for his servants to go out as well.
If it wasn't for me wanting to live lavishly I wouldn't have dared to come here. It feels like he is ready to kill me anytime. This second potential male lead is such a maniac to begin with.
"Now tell me, what is so important for you to use your father's seal Lady Dianna?"
I handed over brother Roman's letter.
He opened the enveloped and read the letter carefully.
"I don't know what he said in the letter but I am sure it is regarding to the plan I came up with. What do you think? Is it worth the shot to try for the sake of your lover's heart?"
"By being engaged to you I would be able to communicate with Roman more often, huh"
"That is correct"
I wonder what brother Roman find so attractive about this man.
Other than his looks, he does have a charismatic aura emanating from him.
His behavior perhaps?
"How exactly are you going to make Nicholas as duke?"
"Do you know count Frenond?"
"I do"
"You see, that asshole is committing human trafficking as well as drug trafficking. The layout of their bases. The location of the warehouses. The nobles who buy the drugs and the slaves. As well as the merchants who bring the 'products'. I have all of it. Using that big brain of yours, surely you have already figured out what I am trying to say, right"
"While I do believe how you somehow obtained this information, I find it hard to believe how you even know that the count is doing something illegal"
"What do you mean?"
"For someone who just woke up, for you to obtained this information this fast means that you already knew the places and the things count Frenond does. You just collected all the evidence, no?"
'Does being the villain makes you smart, too?'
"No comment"
I can't just say that these guys are characters from a novel.
"How long will the engagement lasts?"
"A year. Any longer than that and all of us will have to face the consequences later on"
"Are you talking about the great divide?"
"Yes"
"There are three duchy in the kingdom of Loaten. Each of those three duchy supports a different faction"
"The Deltan duchy supports the empress. The Emond duchy supports the king, basically, the crown prince. Meanwhile, the Veulad duchy is a part of the neutral faction"
"Right, though we aren't going to be the head of our family, a simple connection would create some sparks in between in all of the factions"
Originally, the duke of Emond and the duke of Deltan are quite close so I don't think it would be too hard to persuade them.
"What do you get in return?"
"You see I want to live a lavish life, free from trouble. If I do this won't you guys be indebted to me?"
"....."
He clicked his tongue as he cannot admit that fact. The fact that this plan is the only way to restore their relationship that is beginning to crack.
He held out his hand and gave me a necklace.
"That is the necklace proving that someone is a part of the-"
I threw it back at him.
"There is no need for that"
"What do you mean? I thought that you wanted to get engaged to me for your plan to work?"
"Yes. But that doesn't mean it has to be you. Which is why..."
I stood up and knelt down in front of him.
I took out a box.
I opened it.
"Will you marry me, Sir Dereck Deltan?"
"....."
"My arms are starting to hurt you know"
"You do know that this is all an act, right?"
"Yes. It's not like its correct to say "Let's get engaged" at times like this"
Bam!
After hitting his head against the wooden table, he took the ring from the box with a bloody forehead.
After taking the ring, he pull out a paper and started writing.
He was writing with a mischievous grin as if he was about to do something he should not do.
"I expect that my fiancé would arrive by dawn tomorrow noon"
"I will"
I hid the letter and and went out of the room with Dereck.
"Yes, darling?"
"Not now~"
As we walk through the halls we were flirting with each other. The servants were not able to hold back their mouths that were wide open from shock.
"Oi!"
"This is all an act though"
"I would prefer if you give me a warning next time"
Before opening the door he took me onto his arms and carried me.
As he walk to the carriage many were whispering about what they were witnessing.
For them to see the third young master to carry the 'demon spawn' of the social circles in such manner with a happy face, it was indeed a shock.
For me it was entertaining.
"Do you not feel ashamed to be engaged to someone who is seven years younger than you who is also only fourteen?"
"No. I am doing this for Roman means that it is worth it"
Ah, how I envy these guys for having such pure love.
If I remember correctly, after Roman died Dereck despaired for three years. He then saw the heroine. The heroine comforted him for days, because of that Dereck fell for her but she was already in love with the prince.
Just like how other romance novel goes, he became jealous and became the villain of the story who wants affection.
I went inside the carriage after he put me down.
Anna who was following from behind the whole time got in as well.
"I will see you tomorrow, my love"
"I will wait for you!"