Salvation Through Delusion C102

Chapter 102

But you know, don’t you?

You know it was a lie.

Why are you doing this?

I wanted to snap back, argue, demand an explanation—anything—but I couldn’t.

And so the entire ride home became a suffocating journey endured by me alone.

“Since you’re busy, you really don’t have to—”

“Rue.”

He suddenly cut in, calling my name.

“You said you wanted something from me, didn’t you?”

Yes, I answered, wondering why he was bringing this up now, but his tone was light.

“You’d like me to do it sooner rather than later, right?”

“Of course.”

I nodded—then paused when I saw him.

He smiled at the corners of his lips, but there wasn’t a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Ah. Damn it. This is coercion.

As in: if you want something from me, behave.

It was not a moment to nod like an idiot.

Maybe my expression gave me away, because he looked satisfied as he tilted his head.

“My betrothed catches on quickly. Convenient. So—‘Since you’re busy, you really don’t have to…’ and then what?”

I swallowed defeat like a bitter pill and forced my mouth open.

“Since you’re busy… I am simply overwhelmed with joy that you would personally escort me, Your Grace.”

“I see. If you’re that pleased, then I’m pleased as well.”

My face twisted further, but he only smiled more broadly.

Just wait until after the contract is signed. Then I’m talking back to everything—everything.

He says hello? I’m arguing. He breathes? I’m complaining. I will become a one-person rebellion.

With dreams of revolution blazing inside me, I looked out the window—only for my one second of peace to be destroyed.

“But your form of address was wrong.”

“Wrong? Did you suddenly become a viscount while I wasn’t looking?”

“……”

“I was joking.”

“Not funny.”

“…Was it not?”

“It wasn’t.”

He fired the final shot.

While I was swallowing another gulp of humiliation, his corrections still weren’t done.

“When we’re alone, call me by my name.”

“And may I drop honorifics as well?”

“You want to?”

He asked in a voice so sweet it was almost dangerous.

I didn’t fall for it. His eyes were those of a predator sizing up prey to see if now was the time to bite.

A test. Obviously.

“I… do not. I wouldn’t dare.”

Only then did the tension leave his gaze. And he smiled again, bright and refreshed.

“I don’t mind, but if my beloved betrothed wishes for it, I’d be happy to oblige.”

His shamelessness gave me goosebumps, but what bothered me more was a certain word.

“Is there any need for such an adjective? People already assume I’m the only one hopelessly smitten with Your Grace.”

Drop the ‘beloved.’ It’s false advertising, buddy.

I gave him a forced smile that probably showed all my true feelings.

“I can’t let you carry that burden alone.”

Right. Of course. No matter how I glared with every ounce of insulted sincerity I had, he only seemed entertained.

He’s smiling again, see?

I swore again—just let the contract be written and I will fight him to the death.

“It’s not a burden at all. Please pay it no mind.”

“No, I must. If the Duke of Koon’s betrothed becomes the target of public scorn, it damages the Koon name. Besides…”

He stopped speaking and looked at me seriously.

“Those who believe I chose you because you’re the Savior will test you endlessly. I need another reason to protect you.”

“That reason doesn’t have to be love. Claim you need the Adeye family’s power instead.”

“I won’t borrow.”

“No, I didn’t mean I’d lend it—It’s not even mine anyway—”

“Adeye gold will not cross my threshold.”

Right. Sure. Dignified to the point of allergy, this man.

Well, fine. Saves Dr. Kim money.

I rolled my eyes back to the window—only to snap my head toward him again.

“The dowry isn’t needed either. Just come tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

I asked, baffled.

He explained with absolute ease:

“You’ll be moving into the Duke’s manor.”

“Yes, after marriage—”

“From the moment you’re engaged.”

What nonsense—

Wait. Hold on. Is that actually a Tuvine custom?

With Mo still offline, the only way to check… was the maddening man in front of me.

“That’s… probably not…?”

I asked weakly.

He shook his head.

“That’s the rule in the Koon family.”

Ah. So not Tuvine—just Koon.

Good. I straightened my back and resisted with confidence.

“Adeye does not follow that. I cannot move tomorrow—”

“You vowed to obey the rules of the Koon family. Forgotten already?”

Even without looking, I knew I must look absolutely idiotic—mouth open, eyes wide, frozen.

My face had to be comical, but I couldn’t mask it.

After forcing words out through clenched teeth:

“Still… tomorrow is too soon.”

“No helping it then.”

He accepted it lightly—opened the carriage slit—and gave a command.

“Turn back. We’re not returning to Adeye.”

You unbelievable—!

“N-no! It’s fine! Tomorrow is plenty soon!”

Rice, beef radish soup, dongchimi, assorted pickles, rolled omelet, namul.

Though plated in Tuvine’s western style, this was the closest thing to a full Korean table this world could offer.

Especially the brown paste sitting atop the namul—a fermented bean product Dr. Kim had hunted down from every corner of Tuvine.

It resembled doenjang enough that she used it frequent­ly in recipes.

Looking at the namul brushed with olive oil, I felt like home was just ten kilometers away.

But I couldn’t touch the food.

The meal was set on a small table inside Dr. Kim’s room. She was too unwell to rise from bed.

“The Lady is very curious to see how much you enjoy these dishes. Could you perhaps… show your reaction in front of her?”

The head butler had asked.

But who can eat with a pale, bedridden woman gasping beside them?

“Good job. I knew you’d pull it off. Now eat. Go on. Try it—cough cough—the gondre namul, and that vinegared salad—cough—quickly.”

Instead of sitting down, I frowned at her.

“Why are you collapsing again?”

“This doesn’t even count as collapsing. Ah, the soup is cooling—eat.”

I grudgingly sat and muttered under my breath:

“If you’re like this, how can I tell you good news?”

“Good news? Tyroc agreed?!”

Oh my god.

I dropped the spoon with a loud clatter.

“How is that good news?”

“Of course it is! Plan X is complete!”

I shot to my feet in horror.

“It is not Plan X! This is a contract marriage! More like… Plan K! Do not dream too big!”

“Contract marriage?”

She lifted herself halfway up, looking bewildered.

Since it was a long story, I slowly ate and explained everything that had happened with Tyroc.

Her eyebrows flew up and down the entire time.

“So all he wants from you is to faithfully abide by the Koon family’s rules? That’s it? Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he truly believes I’m the Savior. Otherwise it makes no sense.”

“No, there is… one other explanation.”

What?

I was sipping my dessert punch when her next words almost made me spit it out.

“He’s completely fallen for you.”

“Dr. Kim, that’s a classic symptom of victim-gaslighting.”

She bristled immediately, but I clicked my tongue.

“If someone is head-over-heels, they don’t smirk and flip my brain upside down every five minutes.”

At that, Dr. Kim’s fists clenched—clearly recalling her own traumatic history.

“That smirking brat. He does it to you too?”

“It’s terrible.”

I remembered my defeat in the carriage and swallowed another surge of indignation.

“I cracked a joke and he just stared at me—stone-faced—said it wasn’t funny. Do you know how humiliating—”

“Well… your jokes aren’t very funny…”

“……”

“Oh don’t sulk. What else did he do?”

Already sulking, I could only tattle on.

“He’s younger than me and still tries to win every argument.”

“That little punk. Every word out of that brat’s mouth is engineered to irritate people.”

“My point exactly!”

We both pressed our hands to our foreheads at the same time.

The Tyroc Victims’ Association met once again—and sighed deeply in unison.

 

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