# 4
### Chapter Four
“Young Master…?”
When I called out to him in surprise, I felt Harold squirm against me.
At the same time, he quickly retreated two steps.
“What just happened…?”
Harold's dark blue eyes were wide open, trembling in disbelief.
He looked like he couldn't believe he actually hugged me.
“Do you feel better?”
As I asked and cautiously took a step forward, Harold took a step back.
“Um…should I not come closer?”
“...No, it's okay. Sorry for hugging you so suddenly.”
"decent."
Harold ran his large hand back through his hair and wiped the surprise from his expression.
“So, it looks like you can heal someone else too, like you said.”
In an instant, a blue spark flashed in his dark eyes.
“What do you want from me, ma'am?”
“I would like ten thousand gold coins for your recovery. I want half of it up front.”
I said this with confidence since I had already proven my abilities, so I assumed that asking for this amount was reasonable.
“How long will the treatment take?”
“Well… as I mentioned earlier, it depends on the level of physical contact.”
“Hmm.”
Harold approached me quietly. I instinctively took a step back. His tall and massive body was approaching me with an emotionless expression, which was a bit scary.
My body hit the table, and he extended his arms to place me in the middle, leaning against the table.
His chest was close enough to almost touch my nose, so I instinctively leaned back. Then Harold tilted his head slightly.
“Why are you running away?”
"I'm the one who should ask that!? Why are you approaching with such a scary look!?"
Seriously, really!
"You became a coward while I wasn't watching. Or are you feeling guilty about something?"
“Don't you think about your size?”
I protested, feeling aggrieved, then glanced at him.
His expression didn't change much, but I was worried that he would get angry if I continued the discussion, so I quickly changed the subject.
“Then why did you come so close?”
Harold raised one eyebrow and looked at me for a moment before lowering his gaze. Following his eyes, I noticed my hand resting on the table.
“If I remember correctly from yesterday, you said that the quality of healing varies based on holding hands, hugging, kissing, and intercourse. How long would it take if it was just holding hands?”
“Um… even in the best case, it would take at least five years.”
Since the heroine of an adult novel has special powers, hand contact alone was largely ineffective.
In addition, treating someone dying from the disease was the most difficult challenge.
“How about a hug like we did before?”
“Hmm… If we take off all our clothes and hug each other, it will take at least three and a half years. If it’s like we did before, I’d say it will take at least four years.”
I felt embarrassed saying this and rolled my eyes. But how long do I have to keep talking like this?
If I tilted my head a little, his chest might touch my forehead. Considering my ability, I felt very embarrassed to speak in this situation.
“So, how long will it take to kiss?”
“Maybe it depends on how often and for how long, but about two years?”
“What about intercourse...?”
Well, since this is an adult novel, you only need to do it once.
“...No, you don't have to answer. I would never do that to you anyway.”
I smiled brightly and nodded.
“I expected you to say that, sir.”
Harold doesn't like Diana. Ironically, that's why I chose him as a business partner.
Before I took on this body, I had never been in a romantic relationship, nor did I even have any experience with men.
'Not to mention, I thought this guy would be safe after I revealed my ability.'
Harold protects his people carefully. I could trust him during this deal.
If he recovers, I will quietly flee to another country just in case.
"I think we should hold hands as much as possible. Even if my body doesn't react negatively to your touching, I feel too uncomfortable to allow any other kind of contact."
“Okay, we will do physical contact to heal in any way you prefer, sir.”
Now that I had proven that I could heal him, I was happy that discussion of the deal was progressing quickly.
*gulp.*
I swallowed, thinking of the money I would soon receive.
“But are you sure about this?”
"From what?"
“If I recover, Caiden, your lover, will not be able to become a duke.”
“Yes. I don’t care. The title of Duke already belongs to you anyway.”
Harold's gaze deepened quietly. As I felt myself getting lost in the enchanted depth of his eyes, I turned my head away.
But Harold grabbed my chin and made me face him. His grip wasn't very hard, but it was strong enough for me to feel it.
However, his handsome face so close was making my mind turn into chaos.
I felt like a butterfly caught in a net, completely frozen.
Harold stared at me for a while.
“Hmm. I don’t think you’re lying.”
“I'm serious. The experience of being kicked out into the street was traumatic, so I've sorted out my feelings for you, young master.”
"If I find out you want something other than the ten thousand gold coins, I'll make you pay ten times the reward. You'll have to return it, you know?"
“Sure! You can put that clause in the contract if you want.”
I agreed enthusiastically, my stomach rumbling loudly like thunder.
“…”
“…”
'Seriously, of all times my stomach would growl.'
Harold released my chin and took a step back.
“We will continue the rest of this conversation and review the contract after the meal.”
As he turned around, the corner of Harold's mouth seemed to twitch slightly.
I turned as red as a tomato.
* * *
Harold finished eating first and got up, while I stayed to finish my meal with a little greed.
After that, I went to look for him.
Since we discussed most things over dinner, writing the contract was easy.
Harold handed me the contract and a pen.
“Go ahead and sign.”
"certainly."
Since I observed the entire contract writing process, I did not hesitate and signed.
Harold took the necklace and pen from me.
“I will prepare five thousand gold coins within a week.”
"Yes! Oh, but what is my situation while I stay here from now on?"
It's not like I can stay at the Duke's Palace as a guest for years.
"my wife."
“…Did I hear wrong?”
Harold handed me a marriage registration form.
I thought I misheard, but apparently I didn't.
“It's more convenient, don't you think? A grown man and woman walking around holding hands for years… marriage makes more sense.”
“But don't you hate me?”
Could he really be comfortable marrying me?
Harold shrugged lightly.
“It's just a formal arrangement.”
He didn't seem to place any special meaning on the idea of us being a couple.
After a moment's thought, I signed the marriage form. It's not like I was going to live as his wife forever—I was planning on divorcing him and living under a new identity in another country, so it didn't really matter.
Harold handed both the marriage registration form and the contract to his assistant standing nearby.
“The servant and my assistant will take care of the wedding preparations, so don’t worry about it.”
"Good."
“There's only one thing you need to worry about now.”
I widened my eyes in amazement. Harold crossed his arms and pointed his chin toward the door.
"Go and buy some clothes. You can't walk around in shabby clothes like a duchess."
“I would love to, but I don't have any money right now. I'll get something later.”
“Ha, who said you have to use your money?”
Harold furrowed his brow slightly, laughing as if he couldn't believe what I said.
“Count it at the expense of Bison.”
I love you, Your Highness.
It seemed as if a sacred aura was radiating from behind him.
* * *
I found myself in the most famous dress store in the capital.
It seems that the Duke has already instructed the driver to take me here.
The staff told me that the private fitting room on the fourth floor wasn't ready yet and asked if I would mind waiting in the tea room for a bit.
I told them that was okay, and now here I am, sipping tea and enjoying myself.
'Is shopping with someone else's money always fun?'
I felt strange, but I couldn't deny how happy I was to be shopping with the Duke's rich money.
At that moment, a familiar woman entered the tea room.
She was the heroine, Ella Linomer.
“Diana? Oh my God, it’s really you! I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
Ella smiled innocently, as if seeing an old friend after a long time.
“I'm here to pick up a dress Kayden ordered for me, but I'm so happy to see you!”
Her golden hair and eyes, her pale skin, her delicate figure that made you want to protect her—as described, Ella Linomer was an incomparable beauty.
Although I usually have a weakness for visual beauty, I wasn't impressed when I saw it.
“Don't you think you don't belong here?”
I remembered her standing on the second floor, looking at me and smiling as I was being dismissed when I dressed up as a villain.
“If I didn't belong here, I wouldn't be here, Ella.”
“Are you sure you didn't sell yourself to some old marquis?”
Ella covered her mouth and looked at me with pity in her eyes.
It was as if she had already decided on the answer, and her golden eyes sparkled with fake tears.
“Poor Diana. Should I share some of my money with you?”
Just as I was about to respond, an employee from the dress shop entered the tea room.
“Sorry. I am very sorry to keep the distinguished guest from Basin waiting.”
The staff bowed to me.
“No problem. I didn't wait long.”
But it wasn't me who answered. She was the heroine, Ella.