She would’ve felt the same way even if her prospective partner had been someone other than Noel—Bernadetta had no desire to marry anyone at all. It was also inconceivable that she would marry an enemy. She had only agreed to entertain these talks because she wanted to get an idea of Noel’s true intentions.
Noel’s grin grew wider at Bernadetta’s inability to deny his words. “No need to worry. Your father loves you, but that is no reason for him to ignore your feelings.”
“My father fears that the coming of the Valiant will result in the collapse of society as we know it. He wants to set me up with someone powerful like yourself.”
“I am happy to hear that your father puts such faith in me, but his fears are unfounded. So long as I am here, the empire’s future is as good as completely assured.”
Noel spoke the words matter-of-factly, and the light in his eyes gave her the impression that he would cut down anyone in his path. Bernadetta understood then that Noel really believed what he was saying. He was not bluffing in the slightest; he believed with his entire being that he would beat the Valiant. No, not believed—he knew it.
What truly scared her in that moment was that, even as his enemy, she still found him capable of following through. This young man sitting before her was actually more frightening than the coming destruction of the world. His force of will was that overpowering.
“Would you be interested in being my fake lover?” Noel asked.
“Your fake lover?”
Noel nodded. “Neither of us is actually interested in marriage, but I am no longer in a position to turn it down. Similarly, you can’t reject this arrangement right away for fear of harming your father’s reputation. How about we continue dating for a time?”
“To fool my father?”
“Lying is not always an act of betrayal against those you love. That said, if such an act offends you, it’s probably best we cancel things immediately.”
“Won’t you lose my father’s investment if I break things off here?”
“I have already received a down payment of one billion fil, and he’s promised an additional five billion if our relationship goes well. Should you choose not to cooperate, I will receive less in the way of investment, but entering into this discussion won’t have been a complete loss.”
“But why would you tell me that? You know that I’m in a difficult position. If you said nothing at all, you would still get your six billion fil…”
“Let’s be clear: if you don’t put an end to our marriage talks at some point, we will be wed. And neither of us wants that, correct?”
“Ah, I see,” said Bernadetta with a giggle. “Please give me a moment to consider your offer.”
She put her hand to her mouth in a show of concern, but the truth of the matter was that she had no reason to turn down Noel’s offer—she merely wanted to avoid any suspicion that might come from her answering too quickly.
Was he really just after money, or was there some other reason he had approached her? Bernadetta still didn’t know for certain, so it was too early to cut things off. She wanted to draw as much information out of him as she could. In doing so, she could discern whether she could use him to help her kill Malebolge.
She could always kill him after that.
“Very well,” said Bernadetta. “I will be your fake lover.”
A farce though it was, Bernadetta and Noel became a couple.
The day after their first meeting, Noel contacted Bernadetta by owl post requesting a good day for them to meet a second time. He asked her to select a few open days in her schedule. After a handful more letters back and forth, they settled on a day for their first “date.”
“If the snake is planning something, today’s the day,” muttered Bernadetta as she did her makeup at her vanity.
The face that looked back at her from the mirror was taut with stress. Her father had been with them the first time, but today she would be on her own. It was impossible for her to calm her nerves.
If Noel had worked out Bernadetta’s true identity, he was going to do one of two things: use that information to extort her, or finish her off directly. But Bernadetta herself was more than prepared for battle. If Noel did try to attack her, she was not going down without a fight.
With her makeup done, Bernadetta gazed at her reflection.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “Even if he is the snake, I will make things work.”
She rose to her feet just as a corner of the room warped, opening a portal to elsewhere. A woman Bernadetta knew all too well emerged from within.
“Malebolge…”
The beast with her bewitching fox ears and Eastern-style dress wore a thin smile as she stepped into the room.
“Why are you here?” Bernadetta asked. “Didn’t I tell you my home is off-limits?”
Malebolge held up a newspaper. The front-page scoop was that Noel and Bernadetta had started dating.
“This is very intriguing, oh Lord of Flies,” she said pleasantly.
Bernadetta spat curses in her heart. She knew that she and Noel had become news. There was no avoiding it—he was a clan master in the regalia, and she was Ralph Golding’s daughter. However, the news broke far too quickly. It was possible that Ralph himself had leaked the information. No doubt he intended to put pressure on them in the hopes that it would secure their engagement.
“I never believed in my wildest dreams that you and the snake would fall in love.” Malebolge narrowed her eyes, watching Bernadetta carefully. “Why didn’t you tell me something so important? We’re supposed to be friends. Why are you being so cold?”
The fox-eared woman donned a pout, but Bernadetta smiled. “I didn’t think it was necessary,” she said.
“Hmph. Are you declaring war on us, then?”
The beast asked the question with complete calm, but she radiated threat. If Bernadetta made one wrong move here, she would find herself in a fight. And even if Reisen was a temporary vessel for Malebolge with only a fraction of her real power, she was nonetheless a formidable foe. If they fought here, Bernadetta would lose.