The Past Life of the Arrogant Archduke - Chapter 8
Raymond’s hand gripped the hilt of the sword hanging at his waist. He wanted nothing more than to erase that woman’s existence from the world right this moment.
However, what if, by the slightest chance, he was wrong?
Unlike himself, who had awakened to his past life through the family’s artifact, that woman was very likely an ordinary person, completely unaware of her previous life.
What if she’d said ‘Ray’ referring to someone else? Then he would become a lunatic who murdered an innocent woman at his own coming-of-age celebration.
‘Stay calm. This isn’t a battlefield. You can’t shed blood here.’
Fwooooh.
Raymond took a deep breath and, with all the willpower he could muster, suppressed his killing intent and cooled his emotions.
And then, beneath the weight of his violent feelings, the self he had built as a knight surfaced and asked,
‘Even if she remembers her past life, would it truly be just to hold her accountable?’
His long-tattered noble pride, his fragmented humanity, sneered.
‘Just? Of course not. Not from her perspective. But does that even matter?’
Raymond fell into brief contemplation.
He would hold her accountable. That woman could never be innocent in his eyes.
But, he would not kill her. He would make her Grand Duchess and keep her within reach.
After all, just the fact that she came to this party must mean she was aiming for that position, wasn’t it?
‘You ruined me like this and expect to live happily ever after with someone else? You turned me into a broken man… so shouldn’t your life be just as broken?’
His noble self. His human self. Both smiled.
The knight said nothing.
That was the reason Raymond chose to dance with Yulia. Her awkward attempts to avoid touching him while trembling pitifully, unable to hide her discomfort, amused him.
That innocent, harmless-looking face. Oh, how detestable.
Because Raymond remembered her moans, her twisted expression in the throes of pleasure. Not only that, he remembered the exact feel of the most secret, innermost part of her body.
How tormented would such a lustful woman be if she spent her whole life without a single night in bed? He would ensure she never had a lover. Not even a toy.
As for an heir, he could just adopt a capable child from a branch family.
‘Should I put a chastity belt on her?’
Even the thought alone filled him with satisfaction.
Raymond’s eyes never left Yulia’s face, twisted in discomfort. Even after she barely finished the dance and fled the ballroom, he watched her retreating back.
So thrilled by what was to come, he hadn’t even realized that—for the first time—he hadn’t felt a hint of nausea during the dance.
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess watched on in tears of joy. To see their son encounter his destined partner moved them deeply.
Clearly, their son had not avoided women because he was impotent or preferred men, but because he had been waiting for his fated match all along.
“Who is that young lady?”
“She is Lady Yulia, of the fallen baron’s household under Her Majesty the Empress’s patronage. This is her final year of sponsorship.”
“Not much time left, then.”
As the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess spoke with the butler, Raymond appeared before them.
“I fell for her at first sight. Please prepare the proposal as soon as possible.”
The noble ladies who had been waiting for a chance to speak with Raymond collapsed in shock. Raymond, sweeping a glance over the flustered nobles, promptly exited the ballroom.
Elated by their son’s bold declaration, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess ended the party early and summoned the retainers to prepare the formal marriage proposal.
The retainers, well aware of the cruel rumors about the heir, were moved and eagerly began preparing for the wedding.
Since the young lady had participated in a party clearly intended for noble matchmaking, they didn’t even consider the possibility of her refusal. Fearing someone might steal away the one woman who captured the heir’s heart, they cast aside etiquette and tradition, focusing on speed above all else.
And so, the wedding was held on the very last day of the year.
Everything had gone exactly as Raymond had intended.
…Or so he thought.
But when they exchanged rings with bare hands. When they shared their vow’s kiss.
That was when Raymond realized.
Something had gone terribly, terribly wrong.
