Chapter 100

The heavy wooden door, darkened with a shade of black, stood before me. It was as plain as the one in Dr. Kim’s office, and perhaps that was why it reminded me of the moment I first fell into this place and met her.

I hadn’t trembled then like this—damn it.

I could more or less predict Dr. Kim’s reaction. But Tyroc’s reaction? Absolutely impossible to foresee—and that alone was making things worse.

Hoo…

I took in a deep breath, and just then, the door before me moved.

“Your Grace, Adeye Rue has arrived.”

Rick introduced me and stepped aside. Come in—I could feel the unspoken expectation in his gaze, but my feet refused to move.

Rick, still holding the door open, snapped his head toward me. His eyes screamed, Hurry up already. That sharp reproach jolted me awake.

Right. I needed to do this quickly. Before Tyroc grew suspicious and tried to test me.

Without  mo, I couldn’t even read, much less decipher ancient documents. I couldn’t afford to give him any moment to delay the marriage.

The best thing was to secure a definite promise—something like a contract.

That thought appeared out of nowhere and quickly solidified. Yes, a contract.

The word consumed my entire mind. So much that when Tyroc rose from his seat and walked toward me, I barely noticed. I couldn’t even look properly at his face.

I didn’t see his expression. I didn’t catch the look in his eyes.

Thunk.

The sound of the door closing behind me signaled Rick’s departure. The moment I heard it, I bent at the waist—a perfect ninety-degree bow.

“Thank you for accepting my proposal.”

My grandmother always said that a proper greeting alone wins you half the battle. Hoping it would work here, I stayed bowed and waited for his answer—but silence followed.

Slowly, I lifted my head.

A blank expression greeted me. Why did he look so puzzled? Did he not expect me to greet him like this?

Well, that would make sense. Considering Rue’s infamous reputation in the past—

My mouth opened automatically.

“I nearly died and came ba—”

“Nearly died and came back, and your sense vanished with you?”

What? Of all things, I didn’t want to be criticized for lacking awareness. I straightened up, offended, and then he smiled.

But his eyes still held faint displeasure.

When it came to something like this, there was only one thing to do: ask directly.

“What do you mean, I lack awareness?”

“You don’t know why I accepted your proposal.”

Of course I knew—wasn’t it obvious? Annoyed, I raised my chin.

“I do know. You accepted because you believe I am truly the Savior(Salvation). That is why you agreed to a proposal you detest.”

His lips curved further. But it wasn’t a smile—more like something twisted, something faintly bitter.

I ignored it. I had to strike first, before he suspected anything and tested me with ancient documents.

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I will do everything to meet your expectations. In return, I need a promise from you as well.”

The smile vanished from his lips.

“A promise… So you’re saying there’s something you want from me.”

He tilted his head slightly, looking at me with a sharp, cold gaze.

“Didn’t you say you proposed because you were enamored with me?”

You didn’t actually believe that, did you…?

I was about to laugh it off when his eyes sharpened, slicing right through me. I flinched before I could stop myself.

Was it my imagination, or was he actually angry?

But why?

Would his pride really be wounded just because I wasn’t actually smitten with him?

No—that didn’t match him at all. Tyroc wasn’t the type to crave affection or popularity.

Then why?

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn’t find another reason.

I knew my guess wasn’t correct. But I didn’t have time to sit and search for the truth.

I had to answer. And the correct answer—the one that would satisfy him most—was obvious:

“Yes, I did fall for you.”

If I said that, I could hide my real motives, keeping the marriage on track.

I was already lying about being the True Savior—what was one more lie?

I knew that logically, but emotionally, it stalled in my chest.

To lie about feelings right under those predatory eyes—it felt cheap. Cowardly. Something inside me rebelled.

“It wasn’t true. I lied.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I wanted to squeeze my eyes shut.

…Fantastic. What the hell was I thinking?

He’d be insulted. He’d reject the proposal outright.

Even so, I didn’t retract the words. Calling myself the Savior was a lie about facts—but pretending to love him was a lie about emotions.

For that, I wanted to apologize sincerely.

Hands clasped behind my back, I bowed once more.

“I’m sorry.”

So—there went the marriage—

“Very well.”

…What?

His tone wasn’t angry. When I slowly lifted my head, I didn’t see a trace of irritation. Only a gaze far too intense, almost suffocating.

Why did it feel like being hunted?

He stared at me and murmured:

“But your posture looks like that of a trained soldier reporting to his superior.”

Ah. Without realizing it, I had straightened into a textbook attention stance.

I always apologized in front of superiors:

I failed the mission.

We lost several squad members.

We couldn’t reclaim the shelter.

Habits really are terrifying. I relaxed my arms awkwardly and lowered them.

“Sorry.”

“Because you don’t like me?”

“No, because I lied—”

“Why don’t you like me?”

…Why?

The question blindsided me. I blinked, wondering if he was being serious, when he suddenly smirked.

He looked like a completely different person when he smiled—almost disarming. Enough that I thought, Oh, he didn’t mean anything by that.

“My heart simply doesn’t lean that way.”

“I see.”

“…Yes.”

I muttered like a sinner again, then felt a sudden wave of indignation.

“Besides, you don’t like me either. Isn’t this better for both of us?”

“Me?”

“Yes. Am I wrong?”

He didn’t answer—just kept smiling. Watching me. Staring long enough that the air itself felt taut.

He smiled, yet the tension climbed steadily, wrapping around my throat.

I was just about to ask him point-blank whether we were getting married or not when he spoke first.

“So then, why did you lie just to marry me?”

Jumping straight to the heart of it… I swallowed reflexively.

For him to ask that meant he hadn’t dismissed the idea of marriage. If he had, he would’ve tossed me out immediately—he wasn’t the type to hesitate.

“There is one thing I wish to ask of Your Grace. I hope you will vow it as part of our marital pact.”

I answered and held my breath. He would ask what the request was, and I still didn’t know how to frame it.

I couldn’t say, Please close the Eye of Hell.

Ideally, I’d just gesture vaguely at being the Savior and skirt around the details.

But the man standing before me was anything but easy to fool. I’d need every bit of eloquence—

“All right.”

“Yes, so if Your Grace allows me to—wait. Pardon? What do you mean ‘all right’?”

“I’ll grant you that one request.”

He didn’t even ask what it was.

I barely stopped myself from blurting, Why aren’t you asking?

If I asked, he might ask in return—and that would ruin everything.

Still, I couldn’t understand. I couldn’t hold back.

“Why?”

He smiled gently at my obvious suspicion.

But his eyes—still those of a beast, cruel and sharp.

“You will make a vow as well. One for one. There’s no harm in that. But you must fulfill my condition, too.”

Ah.

So he really had something big planned.

Crap—what if it was something like give me all of Adeye’s assets?

My nerves tightened as I waited for him to speak.

“You will honor the rules of my household and faithfully uphold our married life. That is my condition.”

“That’s all?”

“That is all.”

“….”

Confusion swept over me.

Why?

Just as unease began fading, new suspicion grew.

But he shattered it with a small, taunting grin.

“Scared?”

“No.”

I answered instantly, forcing a crooked smile.

“Of course not. I fear nothing.”

“Then I’ll take that as your consent.”

It should have been good news. A massive win, really—he didn’t even ask what favor I wanted.

So why…

Why did it feel so unsettling?