CH 6.1

Cherryl decided to show a little more courage and settled herself carefully on the chair opposite him.

“You look fierce, but I know it isn’t true.”

Cherryl glanced at Cade, and she noticed that the man’s eyebrows appeared dark and delicate.

He looked so cold up close.

Cade’s eyes were as sharp as a beast, yet the shallow double lines in his inner lids made him appear languid every time he lowered them.

He was the man from that tragic novel she read in her previous life who Cherryl wanted to be so happy.

It was Cade who broke the short silence.

“Are you aware of the marriage talks between us?”

Cherryl nodded. “I am aware of it, Your Grace.”

“Marriage seemed rather far-fetched. The Marquis actually asked me for money in exchange for you, Lady Cherryl.”

“I expected just as much. How much money did my father ask for?”

“It’s more or less the amount of tax collected from the Marquis in ten years.”

“Ten years”?

Cherryl clutched her round forehead in shock.

The madman had dared to do this even if she had prayed that it wouldn’t happen until the end.

“I couldn’t believe that the Marquis is willing to sell her own daughter to a madman.”

She was so angry that her thoughts had spilled out of her mouth in front of said madman.

“I understand that you are angry, but how could you say such a thing in front of me?”

“I don’t know if this will comfort you a little bit, but I didn’t mention you directly.”

Cade’s calm voice came to her ears.

“The Marquis said we shall be wed once the house I bought at the Capital is finished.”

She wasn’t consoled at all.

This wasn’t a simple deal where someone could just buy someone’s daughter off after acquiring a finished building.

What the hell was he talking about?

Cherryl pressed her hand on her forehead again.

“I’m sorry.” Cade apologized on behalf of her mixed emotions.

“It’s not your fault.”

But did he understand the situation she was in?

That little consolation didn’t mean anything.

Cherryl shook her head with difficulty.

“No, you don’t have to apologize, Your Grace.”

“That isn’t a bad suggestion—-”

Cherryl interrupted him with a laugh and he waited for her to stop.

Alert at the sudden, shocking remark, Cherryl made eye contact with Cade.

The male lead’s gaze looked serious as if he was a beast that had reigned at the top of the food chain.

His unsmiling countenance ruined the playful atmosphere she was trying to achieve.

He might not have initially considered that as a joke like she did.

It isn’t a bad offer but I still don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Cherryl felt so confused that he might as well be spinning right in front of her.

“Do you mean the new house I had built at Hindel for us, or you can’t….”

Cade trailed off.

Instead of continuing that, he asked again, “What do you think, Miss Cherryl?”

“What about?”

“Marrying me.”

The walls around Cherryl’s bright mind started crumbling down.

Did this cold-blooded killer in front of her just propose?

No,

Can she rightfully consider this as a proposal in the first place?

“If I’m not mistaken, I think you want to marry me, Your Grace.”

“Of course.”

“Then why would you ask me what I think about it?”

“I wanted us to agree and work together on our marriage. Can we do that? Would you mind if I ask for your doctor out of courtesy?”

What did he mean ‘out of courtesy’?

However, this didn’t deter Cherryl from asking questions one after another.

“Sorry, Your Grace. But are you serious?”

As soon as she asked, he immediately replied. “If you are alright with it, we can get married right away.”

Cherryl settled her  palm on her fluttering chest to calm herself down.

Why?

What the hell is happening?

“Your Grace.”

Cade stared at her still.

With bated breath, Cherryl spoke carefully, “Marriage means that a man and a woman had to live under one roof for the rest of their lives, right?”

“Yes.”

“We shouldn’t decide hastily on this matter, Your Grace.”

“I have thought this through well enough—-”

“—but I don’t. Wouldn’t it be ideal for us to be wed based on the trust and affection we have nurtured from slowly getting to know each other?”

“Can’t we deal with that after the wedding ceremony?” He suggested boldly, which made Cherryl delirious.

Love marriages were extremely rare, even in the modern era, so his words weren’t entirely wrong.

Besides, who wouldn’t mind being linked to a man with power, wealth, and beauty?

The problem was that he was Cade.

Cherryl knew that this man had never loved a woman in his entire life, let alone be married to someone.

Moreover, no man would want a girl who came in along with his fancy new house like a ‘buy-one-take-one’ bargain sale.

This man’s insistence, which came off somewhat strong, was entirely directed at her.

Therefore, there was more to be said.

“I don’t know why you wanted to wed me enough to pay my father such a huge amount. I’m not someone to be bought or sold like this.”

“I understand how you feel, but it would be advantageous for you if you marry me.”

Indeed, she would be the unluckiest wife in the world if it weren’t for his mouth-watering handsome looks.

Cherryl shook her head.

“No. I don’t want to turn this marriage into a business deal. This arrangement is too difficult for me, Your Grace.”