It's Not A Childcare But A Contract Marriage - Chapter 3 Part 1

I prepared myself for a situation that might contain absurdity or discomfort as I faced my opponent.

“… …”

His hazy gaze struck me as if he had encountered ecstasy for the first time.

Where did that expressionless face disappear to, like a sculpture made of ice?

An excited look, as if meeting the lover of your dreams.

An eager gaze.

Something that can only be shown between the most intimate…

‘What is it?’

My cheeks burned as if I had witnessed something I shouldn’t have.

Before I knew it, the duke’s large hand, covering mine, emanated warmth.

And in that moment, it felt like the duke’s gaze, which had never left me, was closer than ever before.

“Duke?”

The sound of my cautious call only tightened his grip on my hand.

The hold on my hand felt like it would never let go, but it didn’t exceed the point of pain.

However, the issue was the duke’s gaze.

A persistent gaze, as if seducing a dream.

The red glare burned hot like a fever.

Even the onlooker seemed to be affected.

‘Ah.’

Hot breath escaped my mouth unknowingly, and…

Clank.

Unintentionally, the sound of bottles clinking in my tightly gripped hands snapped me back to reality.

“!”

Almost simultaneously, I hastily withdrew my hand, and the duke’s expression shattered as if he were shocked.

“…!”

The duke’s face hardened incomparably compared to before.

The energy that burst out of him in that moment resembled the life force of a beast snatching prey from its mouth.

I had no choice but to pull my body back, involuntarily flinching at the predator’s force that felt like it could devour me at any moment.

“This, this!”

Instinctively, I reached for something to offer as a replacement.

A glance.

The duke’s gaze shifted to the vial I had set down, then back to me, perhaps understanding what was required to keep receiving it.

After retracting his hand, the duke’s previously hardened face grew even colder and expressionless.

But one thing hadn’t changed.

‘No.’

The gaze he fixed upon me was still as scorching as ever.

Eyes filled with intense desire that could hardly be mistaken.

‘The duke must have fallen in love with me… It’s undeniable.’

Hmm. If it were love at first sight, there would have been a reaction the first time we met.

‘Could it be because of the sedative?’

Even if only a faint energy could be conveyed through the medicine bottle.

‘Perhaps it’s because our strengths differ? The extent to which we react to energy varies greatly.’

Maybe it’s because Duke Ivernum is said to possess the most powerful magic ever gifted.

In any case, as my stomach settled from the unexpected intensity of the reaction, I cleared my throat and spoke up.

“Duke. Judging by your current state… This is the medicine I’ve made. It has a sedative effect.”

“…A sedative.”

“Yes.”

Contrary to the duke’s outwardly calm voice…

‘The more magic he possesses, the stronger the reaction must have been. Perhaps he will be even more obsessive towards the energy that stabilizes him.’

The duke’s predatory gaze remained fixed on me.

Though I felt slightly embarrassed, it also made me feel at ease.

‘Well, with this level of reaction, convincing him with the sedative’s effect should be easy.’

The duke, who seemed to have calmed down slightly, perhaps because he now understood the contents of the vial, listened as I began explaining what he might be curious about.

I described the person who had sold the secrets of the Duke and what they were planning within the family that had come to know the secret.