Lucien couldn't believe what he just heard. She must be joking.

"Do you not want to do it right now? Do you prefer to do it in the morning instead?" Euphemia asked with an innocent look on her face.

"Do what exactly, Lady Euphee?" Lucien asked. He could hear his heartbeat pulsing in his ears.

"Healing you," Euphemia said. She cocked her head to the side. "Were you thinking of something else?"

Lucien could feel a wave of embarrassment flood him. He really was glad that the room was dark. He must look flushed already.

"Do you mean that you wish to try your healing magic on me?" Lucien asked weakly.

"Yes. I haven't tried my Saintess powers yet. The book I've read mentioned that you have scars on your body," Euphemia said. "You must have been injured a lot during your battles."

She was wrong. His scars were from his mother. He was kind of relieved that the Saintess's book did not mention that. He wasn't sure how to tell her what his Mother did to him. His Mother's cruelty was more painful than the wounds he received from his battles.

"You can try tomorrow, Lady Euphee. It's late already," Lucien said gently and he got up to leave.

Lucien opened the door and found Hansel standing outside. He must be waiting for him. Maybe he had something to ask.

"Let's do it tomorrow instead! Good night! " Euphee said loudly.

Hansel smirked at Lucien and Lucien grimaced. Lucien shut the door.

"It's not what you think!" Lucien whispered.

Hansel chuckled. "If you say so."

"Argh," Lucien groaned.

*

*

*

Sleep did not come easily to Euphemia. The day's events were overwhelming to her. Did she really just die and reincarnate?

Euphemia thought of her parents. Would they cry for her? They didn't think much of her because she wouldn't manage the family business anway. She was just a pawn to make the family business bigger.

Then there was Yuzan, her older brother. Yuzan was the only one nice to her but he was sent away to a prestigious school abroad to study. The last time they met was when she was ten years old. The main branch of the family business was located at the country where Yuzan was studying and he was not allowed to come back ever since.

Maybe Yuzan would cry for her or maybe . . . they wouldn't even tell him.

Yuzan never knew what she went through when he left. She wasn't allowed to contact him. They said that she would just distract him from his studies.

If given the chance, she would thank him for his kindness when they were younger.

Euphemia thought about Lucien. He seemed nice. Perhaps it won't be so bad.

She had a year to change her fate. According to the novel, the Saintess died after a year.

Could she avoid her doomed fate and not risk the lives of Aderlan's citizens?

Sleep eventually came to her tired mind. The clouds parted to reveal the moon. Its moonlight spilled into the room, her black hair shone under its brilliance. It was as if the moon was watching over her.

*

*

*

Euphemia awoke to the light. The sun was too bright. She opened her eyes slowly. She decided to close the curtains next time before going to sleep.

In the morning light, Euphemia could clearly see her room. The colors were light to the eyes. White bed sheets, a canopy bed with intricate light gold designs, a bedside table and a vanity table both in ivory white, and another door at the wall across her. That must be the bathroom.

Euphemia was about to go to the bathroom when her door opened and a group of maids suddenly went in.

"We bid you good morning, Your Grace. We would like to assist you in your morning ritual," a maid wearing a different maid uniform said.

She must be a maid with a higher status than the others. Were they waiting for her to wake up the whole time? Were they just outside the door listening to her?

"What's your name?" Euphemia asked.

The maid who spoke look surprised. "It's Helen, Your Grace. I have no last name."

"You're addressing me the same way the Duke is addressed. We aren't married yet so I think it would be presumptuous of me to be called the same way. You may address me as Lady Euphemia instead," Euphemia said.

The maids looked at each other. They looked unsure and worried.

"You have nothing to worry about," Euphemia assured them with a smile.

"As you wish, Lady Euphemia," Helen said with a bow.

Euphemia was assisted by the maids with her bath despite her initial reluctance. Surprisingly, it was nice to be attended to. The maids in Aderlan were very attentive and she was able to relax.

The maids brought different dresses for her to choose from. The dresses were ordered by Hansel on day the Duke arrived with Euphemia. The Duke's name was amazing. Everyone was scared of the Demon Duke so several dressmakers quickly sent out their best dresses to the Duke's residence.

Each of them were lovely. They had laces, ruffles, and ribbons that were uncommon in modern dresses. Euphemia chose a white dress with light blue ribbons. It made her think of pleasant days with clear blue skies and white clouds.

Euphemia went to the dining room. Lucien was already there. He was busy with writing. His table was filled with documents instead of food.

"Good morning, Lucien," Euphemia said brightly.

Lucien looked up and smiled. "Good morning, Lady Euphee. Please have a seat. I'll have our breakfast served."

Euphemia sat at a chair beside Lucien. The Duke rang the bell beside him and breakfast was served.

While Euphemia ate, Lucien was still busy writing on the document.

"May I know what you're so busy with, Lucien?" Euphemia asked.

"It's our contract, Lady Euphee. I'm amending the usual engagement contract that aristocrats use. I'm just removing the parts unapplicable to us," Lucien said.

"Like what?" Euphemia asked.

"Like how many times the fiancée can go back to her residence and visit her parents," Lucien said.

"Oh," Euphemia simply said.

Lucien stopped writing and looked at her. "I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me."

Euphemia shrugged. "It's fine."

Lucien looked at her worriedly. Did she miss her parents? There was no mention of them yet from her and he wasn't sure if he should ask. He wouldn't be able to bring her back to her world anyway so it would just make her sad if he mentioned them.

"On the positive note, I've finished amending the contract. We can now add our conditions. Afterwards, Hansel can make a clean version and send it out to the Civil Office," Lucien said. He was glad he had finished already so he could change the subject.

Servants cleared out their finished plates and they left the dining room.

"Should I write down my conditions?" Euphemia asked.

"I can write them down for you," Lucien said.

"One, our engagement will last for a year. If you will break up with me, please allow me a week to find a place elsewhere."

Lucien wanted to tell her that would be unlikely but he allowed her to continue.

"Two, if you will have someone you love during our engagement, please meet with that person discreetly so as not to damage our reputation. I would also prefer for you to tell me but I would request for you to make sure that we won't meet."

Lucien was baffled with her requests but he continued writing.

"Three, please don't . . ." Euphemia trailed off.

"Yes, Lady Euphee?" Lucien prompted.

"Please don't physically hurt me or force me," Euphemia said. She had a grim expression.

Those conditions weren't what he expected.

"Is that all? Do you not want to specify your allowance?" Lucien asked.

Euphemia shook her head. "It's up to you. I have no right to decide on that."

"I'll have Hansel open an account for you." Lucien made up his mind to give her a substantial amount without her knowing.

"That's all," Euphemia said. "May I know what your conditions are?"

"One, you will allow me to protect you. If you are in danger or if you will be in danger, you have to tell me," Lucien said.

Euphemia smiled, remembering their conversation in the carriage.

"Two, I would like you to . . . " Lucien felt his ears go warm again. ". . . call me by a nickname after a month."

Euphemia cocked her head to the side. "A month? Why? I can give you one now."

Lucien covered his face in embarrassment. "I'm not ready yet. Just give me a month."

Euphemia laughed. "Sure, Lu-ci-en."

Lucien's cheeks felt warm.

"Lastly, after a year, let's talk about this contract again. A lot of things could happen in a year and . . ." Lucien didn't finish his sentence. He almost said what if he wanted her to stay with him longer.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Lucien said.

It was Hansel. "A letter from the Imperial Palace arrived. It's addressed to the Holy Saintess."

Euphemia opened the letter. It was a summons from Queen Celestinia. The Queen wanted to speak with her.

For some reason, the thought of facing the Queen made her nervous. Euphemia chewed her lip.

"It's Her Highness. I have to go to the palace today," Euphemia said.

Lucien already expected that. The Imperial Family must have been outraged at the turn of events yesterday.

"I'll go with you. You may go ahead to prepare. Please tell the head maid that you're meeting with the Queen. You'll need a suitable attire," Lucien said.

Euphemia nodded and hurriedly went out of the dining room.

Lucien turned to Hansel. Something had been bothering him ever since Euphemia mentioned it.

"Hans, what do you think is the reason that she would add this condition?"

Lucien pointed to Euphemia's third codnition which he had written. It was the condition not to physically hurt her or force her. Hansel looked disturbed after reading it.

"It must mean that someone already did those to her in the past," Hansel said.