The gatekeeper didn’t believe her at first. But when Daisy adamantly insisted, he reluctantly went in to find out.

If Daisy were, in fact, the marquis’s fiancée, he would be committing the grave mistake of disrespecting the marquis. He seemed terrified of that. Muttering, there’s no way, under his breath, he walked in slowly. But then he came running out.

“I’m so sorry for the way I acted. Someone will be here shortly to escort you in.”

Seeing how the gatekeeper’s attitude toward her changed completely, Daisy realized that the marquis was, in fact, the king of this place.

Soon after, a top-level servant ran out to her in haste.

“How do you do, Lady Philbern,” greeted the servant bowing his head.

“If you had sent me a message, I would have gone to pick you up. Come this way.”

Receiving the servant’s hospitality, Daisy once again walked down the lavish corridor.

“Isn’t the office that way?”

“Today, I will take you to the drawing room. It’s better suited for a lady.”

‘What was I yesterday, then?’ thought Daisy finding the change in the servant’s attitude a little curious. Soon the door to the drawing room opened, and Daisy was ushered in. Entering the room, the first thing that came into view was a huge chair. The black chair had an ornate embossed engraving on the back. Killian’s arm on the armrest of the chair was visible from the back. Daisy swallowed hard.

“Since you’re here, let me see you.”

Killian de Essel’s white hands appeared from the chair. The hand picked up a cigarette wrapped in paper from the side table. His figure, obscured by the high back of the chair, seemed to appear even bigger in one’s imagination. Daisy walked to the front of him to face him and curtsied briefly. The tall Killian sitting on the black chair looked like a young monarch sitting on a throne.

“Greetings, Marquis.”

“It’s nice to see you again.”

“…Yes. I came right away after receiving your message.”

Killian nodded to indicate that he understood and asked her to take a seat. Daisy quickly straightened the hem of her dress as she sat down.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Killian blurted, “I like it.”

“What?”

“I like your adaptability. The gatekeeper told me that you introduced yourself as my fiancée. I like how quickly you adapt to reality,” said Killian in a low voice.

“…”

Daisy looked at him with a blank expression. Killian seemed to have decided to refrain from smoking in front of Daisy. He put the cigarette back down on the side table.

“Actually, that’s why I came here. Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Propose to me!”

Daisy’s cheeks turned red. Daisy felt ashamed that her heart was pounding. She felt awkward and uneasy. She also didn’t like how a part of her was excited. Even now, she was thinking how handsome Killian was. But that didn’t mean that she wanted to marry him. She wanted to have nothing to do with marriage.

“Aren’t you the one who told me to get married? That you’ll make sure of it?”

“Yes, but not to me, with someone else…”

“Doesn’t it make sense? You get to settle your debt, and I get to have my title. You told me that you’ll give me what I desire. If you help me get my title, I won’t forget your contribution.”

“No, you promised me that you’ll get rid of my family’s debt if I tell you how you can get the title.

“I said I would think about it. I never promised you. For someone who’s afraid of me, you trust me too easily.”

“Ha…” completely stunned, Daisy’s mouth dropped.

Daisy had heard rumors that Killian was a heartless person, but people had also described the marquis of the future as a man of his word who always kept his promises. Daisy seemed to have relied on that assessment too much. She did act carelessly the first time she dealt with him.

“Why me? There are plenty of women in the world and many who desire you.”

“There are many reasons, but first of all, our relationship is my style.”

“What?”

Daisy grimaced.

“But we don’t have a relationship.”

“Sure we do. You volunteered to be my collaborator, and your family owes me money. You have no choice but to accept the proposal, but I can decide whether to propose or not. Relationships in which only I get to call all the shots are my preference. I like to be in control.”

Upon hearing that, Daisy’s mouth dropped. “What a…” Devil. Sadist. Control freak. Numerous descriptions befitting this handsome but evil villain came to Daisy’s mind.

In the end, he just wanted a bride he could control. The hair on her back stood up.

“And I’d like to say that’s all there is to it, but—”

“What?”

“But that’s not all. You and I have similar values. I like that about you.”

Daisy and the marquis were as similar as a fruit fly and a wild beast, as the desert and the vast sea, or as the moon and the solar eclipse. Daisy was hooked now as she couldn’t help but respond to his ridiculous statement.

“What do you mean? We have nothing in common.”

“Sure, we do. We have the same view on marriage as well as love.”

“I’m the type who doesn’t believe in marriage or love.”

“Exactly. That’s why we’re the same.”

“…”

Looking at Daisy’s expression, Killian smiled slightly. He put the papers he prepared in front of Daisy.

“Read this.”

Daisy quickly scanned the paperwork. Daisy’s eyes widened.

“Get married, then divorce you once you become the duke?”

“That’s right.”

And it wasn’t just a divorce. Upon completion of a divorce “in accordance with the conditions agreed on by Daisy herself,” she would receive a medium-sized mansion as well as a few buildings in affluent neighborhoods of the capital and 50,000 gold coins in cash, which was four times the amount of her father’s original debt. With that kind of money, she would be able to live comfortably and support Jasmine for the rest of her life.

“Isn’t your father trying to sell you off? Would you like to be sold off as a lowly wife with no dowry? Or, sold off to an island or something and be forced to work? If you get married to me now, you’d be my partner. Of course, it wouldn’t be an equal partnership since I’m your creditor. Nevertheless, it’s a better deal for you, but if you don’t like it, I won’t stop you.”

As Daisy listened to Killian’s sugar-coated threat, she swallowed hard. He did have a point. The sisters’ biggest threat was their father. He surely would have mentioned them when he acquired the private loan—telling the lenders that they could take one of his daughters if he couldn’t pay back the loan.

How could a father do such a thing? And not even once but repeatedly. Getting married now would at least free her from being her father’s debt collateral.

Daisy flipped to the next page.

‘The detailed terms of the marriage… and regarding the child…’

It even had a section regarding children.

If she were to have children during the marriage, Daisy would receive a diamond mine. It was a prosperous mine with a net profit of at least 1,000 gold coins per month. In addition, she’d also receive a fertile estate in the country. One thousand gold coins per month for living expenses was a good amount, even for an aristocrat, which would allow for luxury.

“Do I have to have children?”

When Daisy started asking about the terms of the marriage, the corners of Killian’s mouth curled up.

“Honestly speaking, I don’t really want children, but I’ve put a provision in there just in case. If you have children, I will take full responsibility.”

Killian was a meticulous person. He couldn’t seriously want children since this would be a fake marriage. He probably put that in there, just in case. Aristocrats did have a need for children since the titles were passed down. Perhaps for that reason, Killian seemed to have included a provision that promised Daisy a huge amount of money and that he’d take full responsibility for the upbringing of children.

‘With this kind of money… I can be independent. I won’t ever have to deal with men like Allen. And for Jasmine…’

Daisy’s heart ached when she thought of Jasmine. She really didn’t want Jasmine to have to work until her hands were bleeding. Daisy had promised her mother that she would protect Jasmine. Even if their father’s debt was settled, the future of the sisters didn’t look too bright. Daisy’s mind started to race.

Killian had been observing Daisy. Her wavy brunette hair flowed about attractively every time she moved her head. Daisy was in agony and her slender shoulders trembled. This made Killian realize that she was just a vulnerable woman.

He liked that she spoke her mind and tried to make a deal with him. But this side of her was also refreshing to see. From the first time he saw her, Daisy had caught his eye. Now he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

‘She’s not going cry at this, is she? She seemed strong.’

Is it because she’s afraid of getting married? Although she seemed intrigued by the conditions he laid out, she seemed frightened and looked as though she was about to cry. After some contemplation, when Daisy finally raised her head, the marquis was surprised to see how clear and sharp her eyes were. Daisy opened her pale pink lips and started to speak, “If I may, Marquis.”

“Yes, go on.”

“What shall I do when I want to get a divorce?”

“…What?”

“Assuming we get married, what should I do when I don’t want to live with you anymore?”

Killian grimaced his face as if he had been slapped. Daisy was innocently staring at Killian. Killian had never made a face like that because of a woman.

“Before the three years is up, if I decide that I don’t want to live with you, do I have the right to ask for a divorce? You’re going to put that in the contract as well, right?

“…”

“You said a little while ago that this deal wouldn’t be on equal terms, but if I divorce you before the three years are up, you won’t receive the title. So, we should actually be equal partners, no?”