Confession of Love

Startled by an unexpected sound, I hurriedly turned on the magic lamp.

Then, I saw a woman curled up on the floor, trembling.

"Ugh... ugh..."

Red shoulders.

They were the marks from where I had struck her.

Surprised, I covered my mouth and took a step back.

"Hmm...."

What should I say?

She clearly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't look like an assassin.

For now, I lowered the club and checked who it was.

And finally.

The identity of the woman who lifted her face was....

"Lugner-yang?"

"Ugh... hel... lo?"

The star of today's party.

It was Sonia Lugner.

"What are you doing here?"

It was an unexpected encounter.

Why is Sonia here?

Ah, could this be.

Did the servant guide her to the wrong room?

However, Sonia had the answer.

"...I was preparing to pay the price."

"Pardon?"

"The price of poker... that is me."

"Hmm?"

At the absurd statement, I grabbed my throbbing temple.

No, seriously.

Lugner-hyeongnim.

Did you like me enough to give me your daughter?

"Phew~"

A sigh escaped me.

The sight of Viscount Silberg letting out a deep sigh.

I couldn't help but feel intimidated before him.

It wasn't because of the hit on my shoulder.

It was just because I felt pathetic for having underestimated Silberg.

"For now, please sit over there."

Seeing me hesitate, Leon Silberg pointed to a chair in the corner with the cane he was holding.

He had been holding a cane the moment he entered, and after the corporal punishment, he immediately started giving orders.

"...Yes."

But I had no choice but to comply.

This was no longer my room.

It was territory he had taken, no, occupied.

"So, did Lugner-hyeong... no, did the Count send you to me?"

"Yes."

I answered his question honestly.

Strictly speaking, while my own will played a part in coming here, in the grand scheme of things, it was Dad's suggestion first.

A little while ago, as the party was ending, Dad found me.

And he delivered news that was like a bolt from the blue.

'As of today, the Lugner Count family... will serve Viscount Silberg as our master.'

'What? Dad. What are you saying?'

'We were caught in a trap from the beginning. Sonia... I am truly sorry.'

What happened at the party.

I heard about the whole situation where we fell into Viscount Silberg's trap.

At first, I couldn't believe it.

I thought it couldn't be reality.

But seeing Dad shed tears in front of me for the first time in his life, I had to accept the reality that our family was ruined.

'I will document the land ownership, assets, and everything else to send to him. Since the Imperial Minister of Finance is here too... Ha. Could it be... was this also Silberg's plan? Ha. Hahaha.'

Dad laughing like he had lost his mind.

My heart ached at the sight of Dad, who had always appeared strong, collapsing.

So I gathered my courage.

My name is Sonia Lugner.

I am the sole heir to the Lugner Count family, and a lady who was once called a prodigy at the academy.

'Dad. Instead of doing that, why don't you offer me?'

'...What? What did you just say? Sonia! That is... wait, hold on... you don't mean?'

Dad understood the meaning of my words immediately.

Even while thinking it made no sense, he must have pictured the situation where it did make sense.

'I am the only blood relative of the Lugner Count family anyway. So if you offer me, Silberg will have no choice but to accept.'

'B-but...!'

'And think about it. The Silberg family is in the same situation as us. Leon Silberg... he is the only direct descendant. Then think of it differently. If I approach him and bear his child... I will become the mistress of Silberg, and the Lugner Count family will become in-laws to Silberg.'

'Gasp!'

Dad might have thought it was a crisis, but to me, it felt like an opportunity.

And I immediately ordered a servant to bring him to my room.

I made him take the long way around the hallway to buy time, and in the meantime, I finished my own preparations.

I let my hair down and sprayed perfume.

The situation was so rushed that I lacked mental preparation, but it didn't matter.

The family was on the verge of ruin, so it was right to put aside my personal feelings for now.

'Phew.... To think the day would come when I'd wear this before marriage.'

And I took out and put on the negligee my mother had left me before she passed away.

It was a standard dress type, but made of translucent thread, a nightgown that showed my body line clearly.

She had given it to me, saying a day would come when I would need it.

On top of that, I turned off the lights and lit scented candles to create a subtle atmosphere.

That was how I finished all preparations to seduce Leon Silberg.

But he was not a pushover.

A while after the door opened.

He, who had induced all the candles to go out with the wind that blew in, entered the room.

Leon Silberg grabbed the cane for corporal punishment placed at the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entrance the moment he walked in.

It was a cane usually kept in noble mansions for disciplining servants, but holding it while entering someone else's room was an act that defied common sense.

However, he held it and slowly approached where I was.

My heart pounded.

Anyway, the first impression was important for seduction.

It was my first time in practice, but from what I heard through the academy and other couples, there was no man who wouldn't fall for a woman like me when she seduced him with her body.

So I waited.

My plan was to embrace him and rub my chest against him the moment Leon Silberg approached.

But he approached to a certain point and then just stood there.

And he frowned.

With his eyes narrowed, making it impossible to tell if they were open or closed, he furrowed his brow, and for some reason, it felt eerie.

Could it be... did he notice everything?

And that thought.

━ Thwack!!

"Kyaaaack!!"

Was blown away by the intense pain.

Leon Silberg, who had figured everything out, had hit me.

And this current situation.

"You are insane."

Leon Silberg opened his mouth, as if scolding me while brandishing the cane.

No, he was definitely scolding me.

"Such a cheap trick; it seems Count Lugner doesn't know how to properly set a price?"

A chilling question.

Only then could I realize.

This wasn't a scolding directed at me.

It was a scolding for my father, Count Lugner, and by extension, our entire family.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠must not let him misunderstand like this.

If that happens, as Dad said, everything in our family will be stripped away.

"No, it's not!"

"...It's not?"

"That earlier... it was an excuse! This... this, I wanted this. I was the one who suggested it. It has nothing to do with Dad. I did it because I wanted to... it's the truth."

So I begged.

Whether he noticed or not.

It was my greed to end this whole situation with just me.

I wanted to tell him that I planned everything and that it was my fault.

So I confessed everything.

"I tried to seduce you! ...Because if that happened, everything would be solved. That's why I did it. Dad actually opposed it. But I was greedy... so...!"

Rambling.

I blurted out whatever came to mind.

I wanted to explain it more coherently, but because of my overflowing emotions, it wasn't easy.

"Hmm~ is that so? Interesting. Hahat. So that's how it was."

But fortunately.

Leon Silberg 'let himself be deceived' by my words.

Everything was contained in the sharp gaze visible between his eyelids.

He knew everything, but his heart, which acknowledged my courage and decided to 'let it slide,' pierced my heart.

Could it be... that I can be forgiven?

But just like Dad, I too had to pay the price for the gamble.

"Very well. Then come with me."

"...Pardon?"

"I mean, let's go to my territory and take some time to get to know each other. If what you say is true, shouldn't I verify it just as much? Oh, for the record, I'm not ready to accept you yet."

A gentle voice.

If I had heard it without knowing, it would have sounded like one of the many confessions of love I'd seen at the academy or blooming on the battlefield.

But I could tell.

That was a warning sent to me.

In exchange for letting it slide, it was a harsh warning that he would take me hostage to test the Lugner Count family's loyalty to Silberg.

"...I understand. Please... treat me well."

That was how I became Leon Silberg's.

And I felt it intuitively.

That he had probably thought this far ahead.

The next day.

After finishing breakfast, I slowly prepared to return to my territory.

Most of the other nobles had already left for home, and only a few remained, including me.

I could have left earlier if I wanted to go quickly, but I deliberately stayed to leave last.

Since I ended up in a situation where I was taking his daughter, I wanted to make sure they had time to say goodbye.

"Yawn~"

"Did you not sleep well yesterday?"

As I yawned from fatigue, Cecil, who was by my side, asked.

His gaze seemed to glare at me slightly.

I shook my head at the question, the intent of which was clearly visible.

"No, I slept well, but I'm just tired."

"Hmm? Is that so?"

Cecil was probably asking about what happened between me and Lady Sonia last night.

Well, he saw me coming out of the same room as her in the morning, so he must have been curious.

But contrary to Cecil's expectations, nothing happened.

I was surprised by the sudden confession, but it wasn't like I could just accept her feelings right away.

The room was spacious enough, and the sofa that could be used as a bed was big enough, so we just slept apart.

And that was something I had suggested first.

'Let's sleep separately tonight.'

'Tonight... ah... yes.'

Lady Sonia probably didn't realize it because it was her usual nightgown, but her nightgown was so see-through it was embarrassing.

If we had slept together, wouldn't I have lost control and caused a disaster?

No matter how dull I am in that regard, I am also a man.

Anyway. Thinking about it again, yesterday was truly shocking.

A woman who snuck into my room claiming to be the price of poker...

And the sight of Sonia, who had even shed tears to find her love while defying her parents' opposition, was honestly a bit heart-fluttering.

But I couldn't accept it.

That was because, judging by the situation, Lady Sonia seemed to have had a connection with Leon Silberg from before.

Surely, she wouldn't have confessed her love on the first day they met.

If so, the person she loves is, strictly speaking, not the current me.

I don't know what kind of love story they had, but the one she loves must have been the Leon Silberg from before the possession.

That's why I couldn't accept her confession as it was.

As long as I have possessed this body.

Regardless of whether there is a possibility of the past Leon Silberg returning or not.

I thought that accepting the confession without knowing anything would be an act of stabbing a dagger into her heart.

As felt from her desperate confession.

It seems Sonia truly loves Leon.

"I'm envious."

"Pardon? What is?"

"Nothing."

So I chose the best option I could.

I decided to spend some time together to get to know each other.

It was a calculation that if we got to know each other a little, both she and I would be able to sort out our feelings to some extent...

If her love was real, she would soon realize that I am not Leon, and even if not, she would be able to erase the past Leon through me.

"There she comes."

Anyway, while I was lost in thought for a moment, I saw Sonia coming from afar.

Behind her, Count Lugner was also with her.

"Please... take good care of me from now on!"

Sonia with a flushed expression.

Perhaps nervous, her trembling shoulders were quite cute.

On the other hand, Count Lugner had a dark expression.

In his expression, I could see the heart of a father who, unable to break his stubbornness, had to send his daughter to a stranger.

It's pitiful just to look at.

So, after much deliberation, I decided to say one word before leaving.

Lugner-hyeongnim.

Rest assured.

Your cute only daughter.

"I will take good care of her."

As I greeted him with a smile, Count Lugner staggered.

Perhaps his tension was released by my reliable greeting.

Hahaha.

That was how I left the Lugner Count family with Sonia in the carriage.

It was summer.

Northern Highlands.

Even in this harsh land where ice storms rage all four seasons, there were humans.

A man with a rough impression sitting on the castle wall, looking down.

And beside him stood a woman with red hair.

"Your Grace! A letter!"

At that moment, seeing a subordinate climbing the stairs and shouting, the man turned around.

His name was 'Derek Eisen'

He was the Grand Duke of the North.

"A letter? Where is it from?"

"The South!"

Derek looked at the subordinate rushing up and snorted.

It was because of the meaning the name 'South' held.

"The situation in the North is like this right now, so why bring me trivial news from the South? Just take it back down."

To him, who had spent his whole life in the Northern Highlands, the South was a word for sloth.

Derek, not even wanting to hear it, tried to turn away without looking at the subordinate.

But the subordinate did not turn back even after hearing the Grand Duke's order.

Instead, he shouted as if to make him hear.

"They say Silberg has moved!!"

"...What?"

At those words, Derek, who was about to turn away, looked back at the subordinate.

It was because he had heard something he couldn't overlook.

In the end, Derek walked down the stairs and unfolded the letter.

He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠looked very urgent.

At his unfamiliar appearance, the red-haired woman who was with him looked puzzled.

And through her alluring lips, she said this.

"Silberg? That... Viscount from the South who lent money?"

It was a remark that only someone from a different worldview could make.