Ending The Wicked Love

Not even a minute after we made the deal, Duke Lysander came to ask Alina to meet her brother in the reading room. Because Alina won, I promised to give her the prize after she finished her business. Now I’m left alone with Duke Lysander.

“Do you know me?” he asked, glaring at me.
“Hmm… what do you mean?” I asked.
Just what is this man doing?
“Look at my face while I’m talking.” he said as he walked closer to me then turned my face so that we made eye contact.
He looked angry, but I don’t know why.
“Sorry, but could you take a step back?” I asked. I don’t understand why he had to stand this close to me.
He sighed and put some distance between us.
“Fine, now can you stop your ridiculous acting?” he said.
Excuse me, acting? He is the one being ridiculous.

It seemed like he couldn’t hold back his anger anymore. Ok, I won’t back down. When I was in Korea, my friends often called me a ‘girl crush’. It’s time for the other side of me to step forward.
“Speak, you think I can read people’s minds?!” he said annoyed.
I couldn’t take it anymore, “Excuse me, sir. I don’t understand why you’re acting like this, but I’ve not been acting, not for one single moment. I just didn’t act like I knew you because you seem like you don’t want anything to do with me after we met yesterday.” I said.
“It turns out you’re brave too huh.” he said, grinning and approaching again.
“What exactly did I do wrong to make you treat me like this, Duke Lysander? Recalling yesterday’s events, I don’t feel like I did anything wrong.” I said.
“Then why did you follow me yesterday?” he asked, getting closer.
“I already said, I just wanted to say thank you.” I said.

He is really testing my patience, which is now growing thin. Why does he keep repeating his words again and again. Does he have ear problems? Or maybe a mental disorder? I really want to snap at him.
“And you said you would do anything to return the favor. Why would you do that? Are you a spy sent from Duke Monrence’s family? Answer honestly.” he ordered.
Why is this person so rude to someone he just met? Very impolite. What kind of Duke is he, so annoying.
“I am not a spy. Isn’t it normal to be grateful to someone who helped you and offer something in return?” I said in a louder voice.
“Are you really telling the truth?” he asked once again, still looking at me sharply, his brows furrowed.
“I’m not someone who can lie. Every time I do, it just shows on my face. Do I look like I’m lying?” I move forward slowly and stare at his eyes.

At the same time, Alina returns. The wind suddenly blew, dust entered my eyes and made my tears flow out. Alina saw my tears and hugged me, her brother right behind her.
“What have you done, Duke Lysander?!” Alina shouted, angry, annoyed and sad mixed into one.
Huh, it seems there was a misunderstanding, but in order to avoid Duke Lysander, I will use this opportunity. It turns out that the acting lessons I took for a year were to be used for this moment.
“ What did Leah do to make you treat her like this?” Alina.
“What happened, sir?” Austin asked.
Duke Lysander snickered, trying to hold his laugh. He glanced at me, who was acting as best as I could to get Alina and her brother to believe me, then walked towards the main house. I felt relieved because I was finally free from Duke Lysander’s gaze that seemed like it could burn a hole in my head.
“Please forgive the duke, Leah. Alina, take Leah to your room, I will go meet the duke.” said Austin, then ran after his master.
“Come on Leah, let’s go to my room.” Alina took me to her room.

When I arrived at Alina’s room, I thought. No wonder he’s not the main character, that’s just the way he is. I can’t stand his impoliteness and arrogance. It seems like I have to give up on him, but at this rate, how can I change this story?
“Leah, let’s change into a more formal clothes, my family invites you to eat with us.” invite Alina.
I changed to a yellow dress decorated with lace, while Alina changed to a dress that had the same design but was light green.
“Now we are ready to eat with my family, although it seems we are a little late.” said Alina.

I followed Alina to the dining room. There were Marquess and Marchioness Hartbow, Brother Austin, a boy who was Alina’s younger brother named Arthur, and also Duke Lysander.
“Good afternoon, Marquess and Marchioness Hartbow, and also Duke Lysander.” I said.
“Welcome to our home, Eleanor, it doesn’t feel like it’s been long since we met. Come sit.” said Marchioness Hartbow.
“Thank you, Marchioness.” I said with a smile.
The Marchioness smiled back, “How is your family, Eleanor?”
“Everyone is healthy, just Now mom often goes to the park to drink tea and read, dad has found a new hobby, and Ethan has always excelled in academics.” I said.
“In that case, good. Oh right, there will be a debutante party soon, will you attend?” he asked.
“I will try to attend.” I said.
“I hope you can attend. If you can’t, I will definitely be sad.” said Alina.
“I’ll talk to Countess Blanca so you can attend.” said Marchioness Hartbow.
“Thank you, Marchioness.”

This lunch together went smoothly, Marquess Hartbow discussed work-related matters with Duke Lysander, while the rest ate quietly. After everyone finished eating and dispersed, Alina and I walked back to her room, but Duke Lysander stopped me.
“Lady Eleanor, can I talk with you for a second?” he asked.
Alina put on a worried face.
“It’s okay, Alina, you go first, I’ll catch up with you.” I said.
Alina hesitated, but in the end she left, leaving me alone with Duke Lysander again.
“Sorry,”
I looked at him with a confused look.
“Ok, that second is up.” I said as I turned around and started walking away.
“Hold on!”
I felt a hand holding on my wrist. He was holding me back.
“You’re not done yet? I thought you literally meant a second because you were being so serious all the time.” I said as I looked back.
I heard him sigh.
“I apologize for misunderstanding you. I thought you were a spy, but there’s no way a spy would be so bold in front of me, instead, a spy would definitely act nice and seduce me.”
“Well, what’s the point of holding a grudge anyway. If you have nothing else to say, I will go now,” I said, bowing to him before I walk towards Alina’s room. I really want to quickly run away from this person. He’s weird.
“I’m not done yet.” He said.
I stopped walking and turned to face him, “What else do you want to say?” I asked.
“I feel guilty, and also maybe… I’m going to need your help.” he said, shyly and averting his gaze.

Help? What does a duke like him need to ask for help from me who is only from a count family. And by the way, there’s no way that cold duke can turn into this shy, cat-like man all of a sudden.
“What kind of help?” I asked.
“That… Will you be my fiancé?”
What? Did I hear him right?
“Sorry, I think I heard wrong.”
It’s almost impossible for a duke to say something like that to me, considering my status was not comparable to his. Moreover, who wants to be the fiancé of someone who was threatening her just a second ago.
“No, you heard that right. Would you-”
“Excuse me, I will go first.”
Before he spoke further, I ran towards Alina’s room.

Duke Lysander’s POV
Why did she reject me? Was I too harsh on her? I had no other choice to suspect her because it seems like ‘that person’ has started making his move.
Anyways, I don’t have any shortcomings. I have money, power and good looks. This is also an opportunity to have a higher status. So why does she still reject me? Are the standards in the other world different? Ah, I shouldn’t have acted like that in the first place. It seems that I have given a bad impression. What should I do? If she really is ‘the one’, I need her by my side…