39 DID I MADE THE RIGHT DECISION?

***Leticia's POV***

'He must be kidding, right?'

I can't help but think about that. As I'm looking at the paper that said 'Leticia von Baignard, daughter of Count and Countess Baignard of the North.'

Holding the paper tightly. I was stunned at how he could just do this without asking my opinion.

I couldn't help but look at him while clenching my jaw. It was evident that he seemed serious with the proposal that he was offering.

And no matter how I looked at it, it seems that he would take no for an answer.

He also came prepared to threaten me.

'Is that how serious the situation is?' I said to myself.

'I knew I should've trusted my guts and fled the moment I arrived at the Capital!'

Leticiai couldn't help but sighed. It was a time where she should've slept beside Anton so that she didn't need to be confronted with this.

But alas!

I'm too late to regret it. This topic will eventually pop up in the future even if we didn't get to discuss itt tonight.

"So, what do you think? Do you think you can give me an answer, now?"

Hugh said as he interrupted Leticia with her thoughts. He looked at me with hope in his eyes.

'Does he think that I could just nod my head and obey him just like that?'

I keep on wondering if the Hugh I've known before was just a pretentious act that he played because he was on a mission.

The care, the sincerity, the kind attitude even though sometimes he looked so nonchalant and doesn't have a care in the world. Still, I thought that was the real him…

Or maybe, that was what I thought. Two months is such a short time to know what kind of person is thinking or what he's true face is.

'Maybe, this was the real him?' I wonder.

The cunning, threatening, and authoritative type of person. Who will do anything just to get what he wants.

He's a man who got the title of the Duke when he was 16, and with all the people trying to kill him in the process, he stood tall from them and now he's a person that can't be easily messed with.

But there were still people he needed to look out for.

'Like the Queen and his faction...'

"Haa…" I sighed. I now understand.

'He's not going to back down…'

Looking at him with his eyes still watching me, I wonder if what happened in the past was just part of an act.

"Is this the real you?" I blurted out unconsciously.

Closing my mouth in a hurry. I glanced at Hugh and saw that he was confused at what I said.

'Nevermind then…'

There was no benefit in knowing what's real. What I just needed to know was that he's someone I need to be conscious of.

But there was something that I asked myself before… how he never asked about why a woman is living alone by herself.

Maybe, he was just not the type to pry on people's lives but I was wrong.

'He actually investigated me!!!'

Remembering how he just threatened me makes me want to punch him on that handsome face!

'Of course, I'm not going to do it! It's a waste to injure his face but ughh!'

I screamed internally! I know I can't do it even if I want to.

He's a Duke and I'm just a commoner! The moment that I scratched even a little bit of his skin I'll be thrown in jail!

"This stupid hierarchal era!" I tossed the document in my hand to the table.

Hugh only looked at me with his widened eyes.

"Are you really angry?" He asked.

I can't believe this guy! Does he think I'm going to jump in joy if I know his enemies were at the top of the pyramid?!

'I'm angry! And I can't even slap him!' I thought to myself.

"Tsk!" I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

The only people who knew that I appeared out of thin air were the Director and the head sister of the orphanage as well as Sir Lucio.

I stared at him, wondering who the hell blurted that. But that's not important now!

Nothing will change that fact that he knows and is holding it over my head.

'If I think about it, I'm at a disadvantage no matter where I look…'

Because if I say no…

I don't want to think about what will happen. But just like what he said, it will be hard for me to get the blessing and the possibility of being branded as a witch sends shivers down my spine.

'The road to a peaceful life with my garden will turn to dust and maybe it will become a dark, murky, and smelly dungeon!'

Shaking my head as I feel that I might have possibly created a red flag in my head unconsciously.

I turned my head to look at him. There quietly sitting and waiting for me to respond, Hugh was staring hard.

"What?" He asked.

Tried to open my mouth but there was hesitation still lingering on me.

'Is this the correct decision?'

I keep on asking myself. But no matter how many scenarios I come up with, I was at a disadvantage because I was just a commoner.

But now that I'm bestowed with a title, there was still no scenario where I could escape.

So for now, I'll agree with this deal. Then, take my time to come up with a solution so that I could escape where Hugh will not be able to reach me.

"Haa…" I sighed in resignation.

"All right. I'll agree to play the part of being your fake lover."

Hugh's face brightened up.

"I know you're a smart girl." He said with his low voice that made me speechless.

He smiled. And his smile was akin to a man who just got a hold of a new obsession.

He reached for my hair and whisper, "I knew you would understand me…"

His voice made me think like he was a beast that just get a hold of his prey and with no intent of letting them go.

My left hand that was rested on my side unconsciously clenched my skirt to hide how frightened I am.

As he was touching my hair and pulling it closer to his lips to kiss it, it made me frozen in place as he glanced up to look at me.

His hard stare made me wonder if I made the right decision or I just walked right in front of the tiger's den.