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After staring at him for a while, I opened my mouth again.

“Can I ask you something I’m curious about?”

“No, you can’t.”

“Why are you forgiving me?”

“I’ve never forgiven you.”

“But you’re giving me another chance, right?”

His transparent gaze met mine once again. Overwhelmed by his composed face, I tightly shut my mouth.

“Instead of having such a conversation, it would be better to think about the whereabouts of the object. If you don’t want to go to a place even worse than here in a month.”

“Tsk, what happens if I find that object? Will we not get divorced?”

“I’ll give you freedom.”

“What? That means even if I find it, we’ll still get divorced. Where does such a thing even exist! If it’s divorce whether I find it or not, then I won’t find it.”

“Turn the carriage around.”

“No, no! I’ll find it. I have to find it.”

I grinned, stretching my lips wide on both sides.

Fine. Even if it’s the same divorce, it’s better if it happens in a month.

He, who seemed ready to turn back immediately, leaned against the backrest with a displeased expression.

“Can’t we just not get divorced? I’ll do better.”

I cautiously opened my mouth again.

“If you don’t like it, couldn’t you just say so instead of giving me that look…? Do you hate living with me that much? Of course, I understand that you may dislike it because of my past… But from now on, I won’t even steal a single bite of food. So please consider it in a more positive light. It would be even better if you could love me.”

Etienne furrowed his eyebrows as if he had heard something extremely unpleasant.

“I hate it.”

“Why? I’m pretty enough, right? Pretty and kind… um, I’ll become even kinder in the future. Aren’t we a perfect couple? Huh? That’s what it looks like to me.”

Somehow, Etienne’s expression was becoming more menacing.

Does he hate me that much? Huh? Look at me again. The more you look, the more charming I become, don’t I?

I blinked my eyes as woefully as possible.

“You were the one who kept asking for freedom all year long. Why do you suddenly not want a divorce?”

“Freedom is good, but…”

Money is even better. I love money.

He stared at me silently. It was an intense gaze.

I wish that heat came from a gaze filled with affection, but instead, it resembled the eyes of a detective investigating a criminal.

“What?”

Uh… Am I being interrogated right now?

“Well, you see…”

I turned my head towards the window, avoiding his persistent gaze. Looking into those eyes made me unable to think clearly.

As if he couldn’t tolerate my behavior, Etienne grabbed my chin and turned my face back toward him.

We were so close.

His breath lightly brushed against the bridge of my nose. His scent permeated my senses, thick and intoxicating.

In that dizzying sensation, I felt like screaming like a rubber chicken. To resist the urge, I bit down hard on my lower lip.

Etienne held onto my chin and slowly moved his finger, releasing my tightly pressed lips.

The sensation of his finger touching my lips felt scandalous.

My lower lip involuntarily parted.

This is… insane. Isn’t this going too far? It’s violence against my heart. I should report this.

I couldn’t move my body. I couldn’t even breathe, let alone take a breath.

His eyes, which had moved to my lips, slowly trailed up my face, licking it as if savoring the taste. When our eyes met, I involuntarily trembled.

It felt like I was being sucked into his mesmerizing eyes, like a moth to a flame.

He opened his mouth.

“What’s your motive?”

Handsome.

His words passed by like background music, leaving me dazed.

No, what am I saying? Snap out of it! I need to think of a response… I should think of one quickly…

But it’s truly insane. His deranged appearance. Make me want to just crush his lips with a kiss.

Oh no, idiot! Stop blabbering and think about what to say!

As if my already blank mind wasn’t enough, his handsome face was tossing around as it pleased.

Unspeakable, trash-like thoughts flooded my mind.

“Dahlia, tell me.”

His crimson lips called out my name. I stared at those lips, feeling entranced.

Guilty, those lips are guilty, this voice is guilty.

“Well, um…”

I swallowed hard, unable to grasp my drifting consciousness.

“I love you.”

“…What?”

…? What did I just say?

His crimson lips slightly parted, and his bewildered pupils trembled.

Perhaps, my own pupils are trembling even more.

Why, you ask? Because I was much more taken aback.

Suddenly confessing my love? Past me… Why did I do that?

If I were Etienne, I might have said, “My ears have rotted to hear a love confession from you. Descend immediately and become monster food.”

I’m doomed!

However, the words I had already spoken couldn’t be taken back.

I found myself contemplating whether I should say I love money or I love steak.

Hmm, both options sound cheesy.

I made up my mind. I had to add more credibility with method acting.

I love this man. I love him. The ultimate brainwashing technique!

“I love you, Etienne.”

Silence filled the carriage.

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