Chapter 7: 7

Zion didn’t feel disappointed or find Hanette’s appearance repulsive.

Even without any special adornments and having just woken up, Hanette was still beautiful.

He tried to find flaws in that brief moment but ended up dismissing the thought.

‘She looks good no matter what.’

Her natural beauty, effortlessly maintained figure, and unique aura all combined to create a singular charm.

Perhaps she transcended ordinary conventions simply because she was a heroine in this world.

‘Being good-looking and beautiful is already half the battle won…’

“Oh… I’m sorry about that. Hanette showed herself in a less flattering state. She’s not usually like this…”

Yenid forced a smile, struggling to suppress her rising anger.

Even if it was just in front of her fiancé, Hanette should have hidden her true self.

She should have dressed up as prettily as possible and displayed graceful behavior to captivate her fiancé’s heart.

But Hanette had been sleeping until now, and upon waking, showed a disheveled appearance.

‘This foolish girl… how could she ruin such an important engagement…’

“Lady Adelaira, please don’t be too harsh on Hanette. She probably didn’t expect me to be here.”

Zion, noticing Yenid’s state, spoke up first.

Hanette often acted as she pleased, and Robbenz and Yenid allowed it, knowing this.

It was somewhat amusing and best not to escalate the situation unnecessarily.

“Thank you for your kind words, but my daughter was rude. If I don’t address it now, she’ll make the same mistake again.”

“If you scold her over such a small matter, Hanette’s pride will be hurt. For my sake, could you show her some leniency?”

“…”

Yenid fell silent, staring blankly at Zion.

Though his tone was calm, his eyes were clear and sharp.

It seemed as if he genuinely cared for Hanette rather than merely being polite.

“Alright. I’ll let it go this time.”

“Thank you. I’ll go to my room now.”

Zion turned the key and grasped the doorknob.

Yenid, after a moment of thought, spoke up again.

“… Before you go, can I ask you one thing?”

“If it’s something I can answer, I will.”

“Is there anything you like about Hanette?”

Simply having an attractive appearance wasn’t enough to excuse rude behavior.

Even as the Duke’s daughter, she didn’t need to be overly accommodating to a Marquis’s son.

Besides, they had only just met and gotten engaged, so strong feelings hadn’t developed yet.

Why was Zion being so considerate of Hanette?

“Well… I like that she surprises me. She’s quite intriguing.”

Zion gave a peculiar answer after a brief contemplation.

Apart from her looks and background, Hanette had little to boast about.

Thus, he incorporated her unique traits into a broader preference.

“Oh… is that so? I’m glad. I wanted to know why you seem to think well of her.”

“I can’t be swayed by rumors. I have to find my own path.”

“You’re right. You must be tired, so I’ll take my leave.”

Zion bowed slightly and entered the room.

A few maids followed, and those carrying luggage arrived at the door one by one.

‘She’s surprising… not a bad thing.’

Yenid walked away, pondering Zion’s answer.

It was vague yet rooted in truth.

Perhaps he was genuinely expressing his feelings for Hanette.

‘He might be completely taken with her.’

Yenid smiled faintly before returning to her usual expression.

Hanette was a daughter whose marriage prospects didn’t even reach the ears of earls, let alone marquises.

The unexpectedly successful engagement might have yielded surprising results.

‘Should I just leave Hanette alone?’

Zion might actually appreciate Hanette’s behavior.

Unlike other noble ladies, Hanette enjoyed drinking and gambling, acting without hesitation.

She was so far removed from conventional norms that she might have created a new charm.

‘This marriage… might be easier to finalize than I thought.’

* * *

Duke Adelaira’s residence, Hanette’s room.

Hanette hurriedly groomed herself with the help of the maids.

She washed her face, neatly combed her hair, and finally put on makeup and a formal dress.

‘… Why am I doing this?’

Hanette looked at herself in the mirror with a displeased expression.

She was hastily dressing up just because Zion Laird was at the mansion.

Normally, she would leisurely dress and then have breakfast, but her routine had been disrupted.

‘Should I just run away?’

Hanette sighed as she adjusted the collar of her dress.

It wasn’t easy constantly accommodating her parents’ demands.

Moreover, having gotten engaged, she would be under constant pressure until the wedding.

‘Why next door? They could have given him another room.’

She knew the intention even without asking.

They wanted to foster a close relationship by having her stay near her fiancé.

Perhaps it was a deliberate setup to secure the marriage.

‘Ugh, I should have stayed hidden…’

Hanette recalled the earlier encounter and hung her head low.

As usual, she had walked into the corridor without thinking.

She didn’t mind the butler, maids, or her mother Yenid being there.

But seeing Zion Laird next to them was something she couldn’t endure without feeling embarrassed.

‘Both he and Mother… ugh, this is driving me crazy.’

Hanette sank into self-reproach, worrying about what lay ahead.

Yenid would scold her harshly over this incident, and Robbenz would hear about it.

Zion Laird might bring it up every time they met, trying to mock her.

‘If I’d returned earlier, this wouldn’t have happened.’

Hanette had only left the gambling house at dawn.

She had an unusually good streak, making it hard to leave.

Fortunately, she had won some money and quietly returned to the mansion, finally falling asleep.

Then, she was abruptly woken up and encountered Zion Laird.

‘… No, why should I care what he thinks? I did nothing wrong.’

Hanette displayed a cold expression as she moved away from the dressing table.

It was just an arranged marriage, with both sides being used.

She would maintain basic courtesy, but there was no need to interfere in each other’s lives.

If things didn’t work out, she could always gather her belongings and run away.

‘I need to make this clear. I can’t let him drag me into this mess.’

Hanette opened the door before the maids could even react.

She immediately headed to the next room and knocked without hesitation.

When the door opened, she saw the maids organizing items and Zion moving around nearby.

“Oh, you’re here? You look good this time.”

“… Can we talk for a moment?”

“Sure. You all can take a break. I’ll be back soon.”

Zion instructed the maids and quickly stepped out.

The maids outside received instructions from Hanette and swiftly disappeared.

“Should we go outside?”

“Do as you like.”

Zion followed Hanette down the stairs.

They greeted the guards and maids as they left the mansion, eventually reaching a spot near the garden.

“… I didn’t get to say this earlier, but don’t interfere with me. I’ll do things my way.”

“Finally, we’re on the same page. I don’t want you to interfere with me either. I have a lot I want to do.”

“Really?”

Surprised by how easily it ended, Hanette took a step forward, momentarily at a loss for words.

Just as when they first met, he was firm in his stance.

He was someone she could reason with, but there was no need to get closer.

“Now, can I say my part? In front of others, I’ll prioritize you. No objections?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. In front of others, I should appear devoted to you, shouldn’t I?”

During the engagement period, Zion needed to build a good reputation and gain benefits in any form.

This would increase his value, and his family would regard him more highly.

Of course, he would also prepare to obtain the magic sword and consider acquiring a mansion or land to secure his own territory.

“You mean you won’t do anything that puts you at a disadvantage?”

“Right. If you don’t want to lose out, it’s best to go along with me.”

“That makes sense, but if we look too close, won’t the wedding be hastened?”

“That’s why we need to moderate it.”

“Oh… be subtle?”

“If we do it right, we can enjoy ourselves until the wedding.”

This plan was based on the assumption that Hanette would run away before the wedding.

Zion, knowing this, sought Hanette’s cooperation while planning his future moves.

If Hanette changed her mind, the plan would collapse.

‘That won’t happen. The future is already set.’

As long as the protagonist existed in this world, the future wouldn’t change.

Hanette and other characters would inevitably become involved with the protagonist.

Zion just needed to observe the process occasionally and build his foundation.

“Um… so…”

Hanette hesitated, glancing at Zion.

Zion patiently waited with a calm expression.

“If we… actually get married… what will you do?”

“I wondered what you were going to say. Was it that hard to ask?”

“Hey! Do you think marriage is a joke?”

“… It’s not a laughing matter. You’re surprisingly serious.”

Zion chuckled before adopting a serious demeanor.

He didn’t intend to marry, but if asked, he had to answer.

“I can do as you wish. But you’ll need to be considerate of me too.”

“You won’t interfere with whatever I do?”

“Hmm… just don’t cheat or commit crimes, and don’t stay out too late…”

“Hey! That’s obvious! What do you think I am?”

“Oh, really? I didn’t mean to offend you. I just wanted to be clear since you said ‘whatever.’”

Zion’s response was partly genuine.

Marrying someone you don’t love would lead to a chaotic life.

They needed to strike a balance to avoid harming each other.

‘Why is she asking this? She must be thinking of how to escape… does she actually consider marrying me?’