The Obsession of a Fallen Paladin

15. To Tame a Dangerous Beast (4)

Leon strained his neck as he reached over the armrest to the side table, fumbling inside the drawer and hastily pulling out a cigar.

With quick, practiced movements, he cut the end and placed it in his mouth.

Sizzle.

Striking a match, he lit the end of the cigar and inhaled deeply. His purple eyes, reflected in the match flame, looked dark and cavernous.

Kasha felt a pang of guilt tightening around her heart.

She knew she was partly responsible for this man’s misery.

‘I will uncover the truth behind all this. And then, you will be free from this suffering.’

Inhaling deeply, the sound of the cigar tip burning reached her ears.

As the smoke filled his lungs, he seemed to relax a bit, blinking languidly.

His decadent action was oddly fitting, despite his title as a holy knight.

Exhaling a long stream of smoke, Leon rubbed his forehead and spoke.

“If I were to go to my father’s political enemy and reveal your weakness, I could get whatever I want. Yet, you came to me. What is it that you want from me, Katiana Ruschino?”

Kasha inhaled the heavy scent of the cigar filling the study and opened her mouth.

“You.”

“…?”

Cigar still in his mouth, Leon tilted his head, his wet platinum hair falling over his forehead.

“What did you just say?”

“I want you, Leon Miloyonif Aranias.”

His smooth brow furrowed.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“I want to enter into a contract relationship with you.”

“Contract… relationship?”

He exhaled a laugh mixed with smoke, as if he had heard something utterly ridiculous.

Watching his strangely seductive reaction, Kasha calmly replied.

“Exactly as it sounds, a relationship based on mutual need… a contract.”

“Mutual need, huh.”

“I can help you break the curse.”

“How?”

“There must be a medium for the curse around you. We just need to find it.”

“Oh. You mentioned that at the ball too. But is it really that simple?”

“I… have a method.”

“…And in return, what do you get?”

“I… need someone to play the role of my lover right now. Someone strong and powerful….”

Kasha met Leon’s eyes steadily.

“A man so attractive that no one would question why someone would fall for him.”

Ha.

Leon let out a laugh. Then he took another deep drag from the cigar, looking into Kasha’s earnest eyes.

“And who exactly is this someone?”

“……”

“The person you want to keep away. The one you need such a dangerous shield like me to protect you from. Who is it?”

Kasha blinked.

“…You’ll find out in time.”

Leon chuckled.

“You have too many secrets for someone proposing a deal.”

Kasha quickly added.

“This arrangement wouldn’t be bad for you either.”

“Why?”

Leon asked, exhaling smoke.

Kasha pondered for a moment.

Objectively, a man like him, the best catch in the Empire, shouldn’t pair with someone like Katiana Ruschino.

‘But… if things continue like this, you will soon…’

Hesitant, Kasha spoke again.

“Leon, are you going to marry Lady Odette?”

His cigar paused mid-air, clearly taken aback by the question.

“…Where did that ridiculous notion come from?”

“Grand Duke Osilote is likely already discussing a marriage alliance with the Duke of Tairot.”

Leon’s handsome brow furrowed deeply.

“…How do you know about a marriage arrangement I’m not even aware of?”

Well, you told me directly.

Kasha lowered her gaze.

In the past life, at the ruined sanctuary, he had briefly mentioned his unhappy marriage.

Even though he spoke briefly, as if he hated to remember, his words were brutal and horrifying.

Kasha had already disliked Odette, but hearing Leon’s story made her vehemently loathe her even more.

“You sure do get tangled up with some awful women,” Kasha said with a bitter, self-deprecating smile.

Leon hesitated at her unexpected remark.

In truth, since he was nineteen, his father had been tirelessly trying to arrange his marriage.

At twenty-four, he was at an age where it wasn’t unreasonable to be married. And it was true that his father had recently mentioned the Duke of Tairot several times.

Certainly, the Duke of Tairot’s family was a perfect match. Given his father’s current standing in the imperial court, it made sense why he was pushing for this marriage.

‘But the Duke’s daughter….’

Leon took a deep drag on his cigar.

He remembered the ball at the Duke of Tairot’s house, which he attended under his father’s pressure.

It was there that he met Kasha.

He also recalled the confrontation between Kasha and Lady Odette. And another memory….

‘She was a woman with a stench that could knock you out.’

Most of the people at the ball had a strong scent, but Odette’s was particularly overpowering.

As he hurried to leave after his symptoms worsened from speaking with Kasha, Lady Odette had approached him with a radiant smile.

Her hurried gesture to grab him.

But the severe stench emanating from her had made his nausea unbearable, forcing him to leave quickly.

The stench of a foul sewer.

He distinctly remembered her blue eyes glinting with humiliation and rage when he hastily excused himself. That ominous and twisted expression left a deeply unpleasant impression.

Kasha’s voice brought him out of his reverie.

“If you don’t particularly favor Lady Odette… you could postpone the marriage talks with our contract relationship.”

“…….”

“And if at any time a lady you have feelings for appears… we can end the contract. Of course, by mutual agreement.”

Leon quietly considered her offer.

So, in exchange for lifting the curse of lust, she wanted a contract relationship with him.

Finally, he looked up.

“Is that really all? It seems the scales are tipped in my favor.”

In exchange for lifting the curse that endangered his life and his family’s reputation, becoming her fake lover seemed a one-sided condition.

Kasha, as if anticipating this, opened her mouth.

“There is one more thing I want.”

“What is it?”

“I’m researching how to use holy power to operate a magical artifact… I need your help with that research.”

Hoo.

As he exhaled the smoke, Kasha felt her throat start to sting.

Cough.

A cough escaped her involuntarily.

Hearing this, Leon looked at her for a moment, then suddenly stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray.

With a self-mocking smile, he twisted his lips.

“I just can’t understand you. What’s on your mind?”

“…….”

“But let me ask you. Are you really okay with this?”

“With what?”

He sighed deeply and slowly stood up.

Kasha stood up as well, somewhat awkwardly.

He blinked slowly at her.

Then, with that dark, intense gaze, he slowly looked her up and down.

From head to toe.

Kasha felt his gaze travel over her exposed earlobes, sharp chin, the neckline of her dress, her slender arms, and the body hidden beneath her dress.

She felt like a gazelle before a lion but did not feel fear.

She already knew.

No matter how extreme the situation, he would never force himself on her.

He was a man who did not succumb to the curse even at the end of the world, where only they remained in the ruins.

A man so stubbornly righteous to the bone that he didn’t know how to be selfish.

Amused by her audacious gaze, Leon spoke slowly.

“You’re saying you want to be the lover of a man cursed with lust. Do you know what that means?”

Kasha remained silent.

He was asking if she dared to step into the lion’s den willingly.

His intimidating gaze made her feel breathless.

Kasha hesitated for a moment, then made up her mind.

“That’s one of the reasons you need this contract.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Any desire, if only suppressed, cannot be resolved.”

“So?”

“Like this.”

Without warning, Kasha reached out and took Leon’s hand.

Just as she had at the ball, her movements were bold.

Startled, Leon tried to pull away, but Kasha did not let go.

“I will… endure the curse with you.”

Leon’s eyes flared with anger as if he might scold her and shake her off.

But slowly, the anger in his eyes began to fade.

His tightly clenched jawline and tense expression trembled with confusion.

This strong and noble man, sculpted by the hands of God, was crumbling in her grasp.

He looked like a beast caught in a trap.

Held by her fragile wrist, which seemed like it might snap with a touch, he seemed at a loss.

Watching his transformation, Kasha whispered.

“I know… you’ve been lonely.”