TWOTCL༘ ೀ⋆｡

lV

⭑. ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭ ⭑.𖥔 ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭

That was right. Becoming this man’s mistress meant this. It meant being able to meet freely with a man standing at the pinnacle of power in the Pantheon Empire and reaching out to his wealth, honor, and power.

For a moment, Elysia realized with trembling hands just what kind of man she had approached.

“But I also have a condition.”

Hadeon interrupted Elysia’s words. Elysia immediately tensed up. There was no way the Duke would accept her proposal so easily. Surely, he had something he wanted too.

Imagining what kind of demand might come from the mouth of the notorious Red Lion ruling the south, Elysia’s face turned pale.

Hadn’t she been prepared for this? The determination that the place she fled to avoid the wild dogs might be a lion’s den.

There was no guarantee that Duke Hadeon Lark wouldn’t be several times more ruthless and ferocious than Baron Sabel.

Finally, Hadeon’s condition came out.

“While you are my mistress, you will not meet any other man. Swear to it here and now before God.”

Elysia doubted her ears for a moment.

“What…?”

Hadeon kindly elaborated.

“Don’t see any other guy while you’re with me. That includes any creature on land, sea, or air. Human or beast, any male is off-limits.”

For a moment, Elysia thought his tone had changed. As if… he was not a Duke of a nation but a street thug. However, the man was waiting for her answer with the same gentlemanly smile as always.

“Ah, understood.”

“No.”

Hadeon handed Elysia the veil he was holding and smiled brightly.

“Swear on it formally before the god there. Since we’re in a church.”

He pointed with his chin at the cross of God. The church was the religion of all the commoners of the empire, including the south.

“Swear…?”

“If it’s hard, repeat after me. Oh, and take off that ring. It annoys me every time I see it.”

Hadeon awkwardly placed the veil on her head and pointed to the ring on Elysia’s left ring finger. Elysia unconsciously did as he instructed. Hadeon watched leisurely as she slowly removed her gloves and the ring.

“Your eyes should be on the altar.”

“Yes, yes…”

As Elysia solemnly adjusted her posture, the creaking sound of an old chair echoed through the church. She unconsciously followed him.

“I, Elysia Pearlman.”

“…I, Elysia Pearlman…”

“From this day forward, accept Hadeon Lark, the man God has paired me with, as my illegitimate lover.”

“From this day forward… what?”

Hadeon winked.

“Strictly speaking, you are the married one, and I am single, so the mistress would be me, not you. Isn’t that the strict doctrine of the parish?”

Dumbfounded by the duke’s absurd sophistry, Elysia looked up at him. After all, what they were about to do was adultery that couldn’t expect any blessing from God. Although Elysia was not officially married, without pointing that out, Hadeon proceeded with the vow ceremony.