"Will you, silly girl, marry me?"

As soon as I heard his proposal, I gasped. How did our conversation escalated to marriage again?

Sure, I finally realized now that his lordship had a different meaning of romance. He wanted to have a romance with his food, which I tried to forget about.

But why must he mention it right now? As if we would truly get married.

"Huh?"

Unlike my rapid trains of thoughts, that questioning hum was the only sound I did.

"Although I like you and want this marriage out of pure romance, there's something else I'll have to add to it."

Samael explained, still holding my hand.

"Something to add?" I asked under my breath. He nodded.

"The reason the King is wary about me is that my existence is a threat to him. Therefore, if I marry a peasant like you, he knew I won't make unnecessary move that could harm you. In other words, I'm parading my weakness."

Samael explained with a smile. He sounded and appeared as if he was just playing. But I wondered if that would work.

"Marrying me might put you in a tight predicament, but it would buy us time to do three things."

He added. Momentarily, I was rendered speechless. Samael let my hand go gently, and took a step back.

Raising his three fingers up, from his thumb to the middle finger, he began explaining,

"First. It will buy us enough time to fall in love based on the research I did last night."

Upon saying the first reason, Samael put down his thumb.

Research? That's what he had done last night?

"Second. Grimsbanne will finally enter the era of having the duchess."

Again, he put down his middle finger and continued.

"Last but not the least, you can actually make changes. I'm not saying you can do it overnight; it's harder than that. Alas, with someone like you in power, do you believe you can do better than those nobles?"

"…"

I stared at Samael in silence, my mind traveling elsewhere. Although I heard the three reasons I should marry him, my train of thoughts was in complete chaos.

Who wouldn't be in such a situation?

I was born and lived as a peasant. Therefore, the thought of suddenly becoming the duchess sounded more like a far-fetched dream.

"Will you assist me put things back in their rightful place?"

Again, Samael inquired. I only stared at him like a fool.

Blinking my eyes ever so slowly, my mind rewind the three reasons. Alas, no matter how many times I repeated it, it made little sense.

"What?" He cocked his head, blinking his eyes in puzzlement.

Without thinking twice, I took a step forward. I watched as he knitted his brows together while I extended my arm up.

When my palm reached his forehead while tiptoeing, I tilted my head to the side.

"Milord, are you gravely ill?" I asked.

His forehead felt cold — colder than his hands. Perhaps, since he just woke up from his hundred years of slumber, he wasn't thinking straight?

The three reasons were all utter nonsense. Even a peasant found it outrageous.

Holding his twinkling gaze, I slowly retracted my hand. However, Samael caught my wrist midair.

"Huh?"

"That's not how you check someone whose ill, right?" He smirked, and I didn't know what he meant.

Unconsciously, I stopped my feet from tiptoeing. Simultaneously, he slowly guided my hand down before his hands cupped my cheek.

Before I could take action, Samael slowly placed his forehead against mine. My breath instantly hitched and my entire body froze.

My shaking gaze glimpsed at his closed eyes. His breaths wafting my nose, slow and steady. My pulse flicked against my skin harder. And my heart… I could hear it pounding right in my ear.

What's going on?

"Your silliness is aggravating… and at the same time, rewarding." His tone solemn and warm.

My mind blank. This stance was how my father checked my temperature as a child. I picked this habit since then and used it to check the children's temperature.

However, I've only done this to those children. That's why…

That's why it felt weird that he had mimicked it with me. Samael was too close, I might choke to death or my heart would explode if its rhythm didn't stabilize.

With our foreheads against each other and the apex of our nose kissing, I remained silent. Fighting this silly heart of mine for beating for the wrong reason.

He should stop… I don't want to…

As if he had read my mind, Samael slowly retracted his head away. However, he didn't step back and kept his close distance. His hands still cupping my jaw, guiding me to look at him straight in the eye.

"Yes, I think I was gravely ill called insecurity. But now, I'm cured." He smiled subtly, his eyes brimmed with gentleness.

"Thank you, My Lady."

He added. I tried to force a smile on my lips, but as if my face was paralyzed, I couldn't.

I could only stare at him, being drawn by the irony and contrast flickering in his crimson orbs. Was he a kid to think he got cure just by that?

Don't be silly.

"So!" Whilst my silence, Samael smacked his lips and grinned.

"Did we agree to the same conclusion?"

He queried, but my mind couldn't process what he was pertaining to. Before I know it, I nodded.

Upon seeing my unconscious response, his smile grew even brighter than the torches. It still appeared as wicked as the first time I've seen him, but it wasn't as terrifying as I thought it was.

"Great! We're getting married!" He excitedly withdrew his hand from me and clapped his hands, nodding encouragingly at me.

Huh… we're getting married.

We're getting married…

We're getting…!

As soon as my mind processed those words, I snapped back from my trance. My eyes instantly widened as I blinked them countless times.

"What?"

"Let's tell everyone about it. Fabian will arrange our engagement! Come!" Elated, Samael grabbed my wrist and dragged me with him out of his underground dwelling.

Part of me wanted to pull my hand away. But I ended up being dragged by him, and I ended up not protesting.

"Milord," On the stairs going up, I called out softly.

He was holding me, leading the way. I glanced at his shoulder and noticed the side of his lips curved up.

It was not the usual smirk, nor it was a smile. It was something else. The next second, I heard him mutter,

"If you're going to change your mind, do it now, Lil." Without looking back, Samael muttered.

We didn't halt in our tracks. And I didn't look away from him.

"You're with a selfish man, Lil. Once we exit this long stairs, you'll be trapped with me… forever."

He added. My lips parted, yet no words came out. I should change my mind… but deep down, part of me looked forward if his first reason was possible.

Unconsciously, I balled my hands into a fist as I clench my teeth. Soon, the door came to my sight, but my initial urgency faded away.

"We're close." He announced under his breath.

He sounded like he wanted me to struggle and protest. His steps slowed-down, giving me more time to change my mind.

Alas, I had already decided.

"Mhm," I let out a low hum. "I'm in your care, milord."

Soon enough, we reached the end of this long stair and we're welcomed by the blinding lights in the mansion. Just like the end of the long tunnel, we came out together, leaving our sorrow, sufferings, and grievances along with the darkness.

When we're out, Samael cast me a broad grin while I looked at him silently.

"You're mine now." He announced happily.

If this was a dream… someone want to wake up.