HARD PILL TO SWALLOW

"ZOANNE, does it really have to be the Grand Duke?"

Zoe sipped her tea as a delaying tactic.

Right now, she was in the lounge area of her bedroom while having tea with her father. Yes, the real Zoanne's room was big and spacious enough to have a lounge area with a tea table for two.

And yes again, she was having 'that' talk with Marquis Hendrix Rochester.

[It's awkward to talk about my sex life with a stranger.]

She could clearly tell that the marquis thought he walked in on her and Isaak Viotto when they were about to "hook up."

[What kind of novel doesn't have funny misunderstandings?]

"Father, don't worry too much," Zoanne assured the marquis, then she silently put the teacup down on the table. It was amazing how her body moved gracefully, just like how a noble lady should be. The real Zoanne's finesse was solid. "The Grand Duke and I are just at the "getting-to-know-each-other" stage."

"Do you expect me to believe that after I caught you in your room with His Grace in a compromising position?"

She opened her mouth to talk, but no words came out.

How in the world would she explain that the Grand Duke only wrapped her body in a blanket because she wasn't wearing a bra? That would be an awkward talk. Plus, she knew it would only create another misunderstanding.

"Does His Grace plan to make you Duchess Viotto?"

She wasn't really surprised to hear that.

But that question scared her a bit.

If she continued pretending that she had a proper relationship with Isaak Viotto, she was afraid that the marquis might push her to marry the Grand Duke. Plus, based on the novel's setting, the real Zoanne's age was already passed the "marriageable" age.

In this world, noble girls as young as sixteen were already encouraged– and often forced– to get married into a "good" family.

"Father, I'll be honest with you," she said while gathering the courage to drop a bomb on the (probably) conservative marquis. "The Grand Duke and I only have an intimate… uh, physical relationship."

The marquis remained stoic.

And then, his entire face turned red.

It was probably the moment when her father realized that she just revealed her fake "casual relationship" with the Grand Duke. She was very aware of how embarrassing it was. But she had to downplay her "relationship" with Isaak Viotto by that much.

[If I didn't, I'm afraid my father might demand the Grand Duke to marry me.]

Marquis Rochester cleared his throat before speaking again. "Zoanne, a child out of wedlock–"

"Won't be conceived, Father," she said with a bright smile on her face. She knew that it was rude to cut him off mid-sentence. But she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to hold back her laughter if her father didn't stop talking. "We are very careful, Father. Very, very careful."

[I mean, I'd like to have a taste of Isaak Viotto, but this isn't my real body, so I'll do my best to resist the temptation…]

Her father let out a deep sigh. "This conversation is very awkward for me," he said, then he paused. When he talked again, there was now longing in his voice. "If only your mother was still here with us…"

She just sipped her tea because her conscience stabbed her heart.

[I'm not your real daughter, Marquis Rochester.]

"It's late so I'll let you rest now," Marquis Rochester said, then he stood up and gave her a stern look. "I hope nothing like this happens again, Zoanne."

Zoe smiled brightly at the marquis. "You can trust me, Father."

***

"L-LADY ZOE, the Grand Duke is here!"

Zoe wanted to curse as soon as she heard what Dal reported as soon as she opened her eyes.

Yes, she just woke up.

It hadn't even been five hours since her "rendezvous" with Isaak Viotto. And now, the Grand Duke was already there to see her?

[How clingy.]

Of course, she was just saying that. She may be dumb, but she wasn't assuming. She knew exactly why Isaak Viotto was here.

[And he isn't here to see my face.]

Zoe got up and stretched her arms. "Is Father here?"

Dal shook her head. "Lord Rochester went to work early today, my lady."

She smirked and shook her head.

[Isaak Viotto, you're a sly one.]

The Grand Duke probably left someone to spy on their mansion. He wouldn't "visit" her if he knew that Marquis Rochester was at home.

"I'll wash my face first and brush my teeth," she said when she stood up.

Dal's eyes widened in shock. "A-Are you not going to change your clothes, my lady?" she asked, aghast. "Lady Zoe, you're only wearing your nightgown…"

"And my night gown could pass as a little white cocktail dress," Zoe said. Plus, it was made of silk and posh-looking. However, she knew why Dal was worried. "Don't worry, Dal," she assured the maid while patting her shoulder. "I'll wear my robe."

***

ZOE was amused that Isaak Viotto remained stoic upon seeing her in what many would consider an inappropriate outfit when greeting an esteemed guest.

She was dead serious when she told Dal that she wouldn't change her clothes.

But she did more than wash her face and brush her teeth. She asked Dal to tie her hair in a messy half-bun. Since the real Zoanne was already blessed with good skin, all she had to do was put a little color on her cheeks and lips.

"Good morning, Lady Zoe," Isaak Viotto greeted her formally. "Did you sleep well?"

Oh, god.

This man was gorgeous.

Although she wasn't a fan of dark colors, the black, three-piece crisp suit that Grand Duke Isaak Viotto wore looked so good on him.

[But then again, everything looks good on attractive people.]

But other than Isaak Viotto's top-tier visuals and stylish clothes, she noticed that his gloved hands were holding a bouquet of red roses.

She didn't care about the flowers because she was aware it was just all for show. But…

[Dayum. Why do those black gloves look so sexy on our Grand Duke?]

Isaak Viotto cleared his throat. "Eyes on me, please."

Dal, the butler who guided them in the parlor room, and the knight behind the Grand Duke (that refused to look at her after seeing her outfit) all lowered their gaze.

Ah, they probably experienced second-hand embarrassment.

Instead of getting embarrassed after getting caught looking, she just giggled like an annoying teenager before she raised her head to meet the Grand Duke's stoic gaze. "I slept well, Your Grace," she said, changing the topic right away. "I apologize for presenting myself this way. Your Grace came unannounced and thus, I didn't have the time to prepare."

Of course, it was a jab at Isaak Viotto.

But alas, he remained stoic.

"I apologize for coming unannounced, Lady Zoe."

[Yes, you should have begun with that.]

She was feeling victorious when, all of a sudden, she saw a glint of mischief in Isaak Viotto's pretty violet eyes.

Then he approached her slowly and gracefully.

[Dayum, that's hot.]

Isaak Viotto gave her a half-smirk before he leaned on her ear. "I just couldn't stop myself from wanting to see you as early as possible, my lady."

She knew that the Grand Duke was only putting on a show, but dang it.

[It's a relief that I naturally smell good because Isaak Viotto smells refreshing.]

"I wish I could invite you to my room right now," she purred in the Grand Duke's ear.

She didn't know if she'd laugh or get insulted when, in the blink of an eye, Isaak Viotto was already a few feet away from her.

It seemed like her flirting reached not only the Grand Duke's ear.

Dal, the butler, and the knight all turned red.

[Let's tease them more~]

"Everyone, please leave the room," Zoe said in a playful voice. "I'd like to play with His Grace alone."

Isaak Viotto could only let out a long sigh.

***

NOW that Zoe was alone in the parlor room with Isaak Viotto, she began regretting her playfulness earlier.

After the servants served the refreshments, everyone left the room as she instructed.

"Are you done playing?" Isaak Viotto, seated on the sofa across from her, said before he sipped his tea. "You put on a good show."

She knew that she was being teased, but she wasn't offended.

Actually, she was too busy checking out Isaak Viotto while sipping her tea.

The Grand Duke had his legs crossed, and he looked very regal at the moment. But come to think of it, he was a former prince, and therefore, he was a royal.

[So damn sexy.]

"I already told my father that we don't have a serious relationship," Zoe said, then she laid her eyes on the vase in the center of the table between them. Dal had put the red roses from the Grand Duke's bouquet in the vase before leaving the room. "You don't have to act like my suitor," she said, then she raised her head to meet the Grand Duke's gaze. "Now that I'm done playing, let's get straight to the point."

"Very well," he said, then he put the teacup down on the table.

After that, he reached for the inside pocket of his suit.

[I knew he wouldn't rush here for nothing.]

She patiently waited until Isaak Viotto pulled out a rectangular box from his pocket. He opened the lid before he quietly placed the box on the table.

As soon as she recognized the three gold pills inside, she froze.

[That item is often described in the novel…]

"Those are the Pills of Truth," the Grand Duke said bluntly. "Once you take one pill, you have to say one truth. If you lie, you'd die."

"I know how the pills work," she said before putting the teacup down on the table. Then she picked up the box. [This is the real deal, huh?]

Since she was used to that kind of situation, she didn't feel nervous.

Moreover, she wouldn't lie. Plus, she didn't have to say everything. She just needed to present three facts to convince Isaak Viotto to trust her.

[Let's get this done and over with.]

Before the Grand Duke could react, she picked up the pills and swallowed them all at once.

Isaak Viotto's eyes widened in shock.

"First truth: I possess Zoanne Rochester's body, but my soul is from a different world," she declared before Isaak Viotto could say anything. "Second truth: I met the former Empress Liane who sent me to this world…"

She trailed off when she suddenly felt hot and thirsty.

In fact, she felt feverish. But she knew that she couldn't stop now, so she endured and carried on with her confession.

"Final truth: the abandoned Crown Princess is still alive," she said, relieved that it was over. "But why do I still feel weak…?"

"You're not supposed to eat the pills all at once," Isaak Viotto said sternly while shaking his head. "You're supposed to take one pill and declare your truth."

Huh?

Zoe was so appalled by her stupidity that the next thing she knew, the Grand Duke was already calling her name as she lost consciousness.

***

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