17 An odd negotiation

"Conduct yourself as a proper human being. Hah! He should tell that to himself," I scoffed under my breath, pacing back and forth inside my small shack.

The sun hadn't set yet, and I could still see the knights outside. The usual quiet of the area had been replaced with the sound of knights building stables. But I couldn't care anymore. I didn't know what plans they had for this land or when they would ask me to leave this place.

After all, this land was not mine. I was merely living in this place illegally.

"Future duchess… he should give me more respect then," I mumbled, scoffing, as I couldn't let my brief conversation with Rufus go.

Although Samael frightened me to the core, he never truly belittled me to this degree. I perceived his bluntness more bearable than the words of that acting duke.

"Does it hurt his pride to be kind? The sheer thought he might kneel before a peasant if I become the duchess? What a jerk."

"Silly, you shouldn't badmouth Rufus. He's crazy!"

Just as I spat out my last remarks, I jolted upon hearing Samael's voice. I turned to the door as he entered the shack.

"You — milord, I'm not badmouthing the acting duke," I denied awkwardly, hoping he hadn't heard everything.

"But you're right. He should treat you with more respect since you're the future duchess." He grinned, casting me a knowing look.

My eyes widened as my soul nearly left my body.

He heard everything!

"Say, are you saying you're accepting my proposal?" Samael crossed his arms, still standing in the doorway.

"Wha — what?"

"Will you become the duchess, is what I am asking," he clarified, shrugging his shoulders indifferently.

"Heh, milord," I chuckled awkwardly, walking over to him.

To my dismay, as I foolishly approached him, Samael hopped several steps back.

Was he avoiding me now? I wondered, furrowing my brows as the distance we had before was still the same.

"Don't come close. You stink." With his usual playful tone, Samael said bluntly.

Ahh… now he was suddenly sensitive about my odor. Not that I care.

I cleared my throat, twiddling my fingers as I took a deep breath. "Milord, we both know you don't plan to really marry a peasant. But… can I make a request?"

I watched Samael furrow his brows as he remained silent. After my brief conversation with the acting duke, I found talking to this crazy duke more bearable.

Not to mention, he wouldn't kill me until I became the perfect meal. I might as well use his mercy to my advantage until then.

"You see… the people in the fields are like my family," I explained, hinting my request would be about these people. The longer he remained silent, my anxiety intensified.

"Will you promise you will protect them in exchange for my life?"

After mustering enough courage, I asked with my brows raised. I held my breath, waiting for his reply.

Since I would die, it worried me that everyone in the field would fall victim just like I did. Therefore, I wanted this duke to give me his words. I needed his reassurance that he wouldn't touch any of them.

"You make it sound like I'm taking you as a hostage." Samael frowned.

Are you not, milord?

"If I say yes, will you accept my proposal?" he asked, arching his brows suspiciously.

"Yes, milord. I will eat everything you prepare, embrace the title of being your reserved meal, and preserve my flesh the best I can!" I reassured him energetically — too energetic for someone who was on death row.

I had a lot of time to think last night and I figured that no one, not even the knights or the entire population of Grimsbanne, could help me.

At the very least, my death would do some good for the people I cared about.

"Really?" he asked suspiciously.

"You can cook me alive!" I blurted out to show my sincerity, digging a deeper hole for myself.

As soon as Samael heard my reassurance, his face distorted. "What?" 

After blinking countless times, the corner of his lips curled into a grin and a wave of laughter followed.

Why? Am I asking for too much? Wasn't my offer too tempting to lose? Even I was scared for a second.

"What a silly girl you are, Lilou!" After Samael recovered from his laughter, he intoned.

I bit my lower lip, thinking of a better proposal for this 'deal'. Although I knew I was not in the place to negotiate, I was going to die anyway.

"How did you know eating fresh meat is the best?"

My eyes lit up as soon as I detected the interest in his tone. I have a chance!

"I'm a peasant, milord. I know that simple housework," I explained with a smile.

"Haha! No, no. You misunderstood me." Samael shook his head, his grin still glued to his face.

"Huh?"

"I repeated it over and over about my intention and yet, you're so stubborn about accepting it! Your stubbornness is amusing to the point it aggravates me!" Samael exclaimed, still shaking his head as he looked at me helplessly.

I'm not stubborn. I'm merely being realistic!

"You would have been the duchess even if you were against it, and I could have taken advantage of you and told you that whatever I'm doing to you is your duty as my wife. However, do you know the reason why we're still here, talking?" Samael asked. His nonchalant tone returned as he looked me straight in the eye.

I shook my head as an answer.

"It's because I want you to accept me willingly!"

"Am I not willingly accepting his lordship's orders?" I blurted out almost instantly.

As soon as I realized what I said, I bit my tongue. I should stop terrorizing myself while asking someone a favor.

"You are, but not that kind of way," he said, waving his hand in distress as if he found it hard to explain it to me.

Should I kneel? I wondered, glancing at the ground. Alas, just as I thought of kneeling, I halted as Samael spoke irritably.

"Ay! Not that kind of method," he said while scratching the back of his head.

"You know, romance, right?" he asked. I looked at him, blinking. Obviously, I know romance. Father used to tell me how he and my mother loved each other dearly.

Even when Mother passed after giving birth to me, Father never blamed me. Instead, he poured all his love and lived his life to give me a better one.

I desired that same love. The same pure romance that my mother and father shared.

"I want that," Samael uttered, and I knitted my brows.

He wanted romance, right? He told me about it, but he couldn't get that from me.

"You're marrying me because you want romance and food?" I asked, tilting my head to the side, as everything sounded so complicated now. Yet, I clapped and praised him. "You're so efficient, my lord. That's hitting two birds with one bread."

"You know what, Lilou? You're stressing me more than I thought." Samael cast me an eye full of disdain.

"Tsk. That innocent look on your face is infuriating, just in case you don't know," he added, clicking his tongue in annoyance.

"My patience is too short for this," he grumbled, but I barely heard what he was mumbling about.

I frowned. I already praised him. So why was he suddenly so annoyed?