The Devil's Betrothed-Chapter 751: Hand On Heart

"Were you thinking that woman is going to be my mistress?" Lucian asked.

Erin, confused and shocked, looked at her brothers and then at Arthur. They were the ones who had said all those things that led her to think this way.

The three immediately cleared their throats awkwardly and stepped back.

"Erin, I think you should talk to Lucian and clear up the misunderstanding we all had," Rowan said quickly, hoping to avoid being exposed for their lies that had provoked her.

Rafal chimed in, "We’ll leave you two to talk, alright?"

Arthur chuckled nervously. "Seems like we all misunderstood."

Before Erin could say a word, the three had already left the study, as though afraid she might point a sword at them for this.

Erin turned to Aaron, who met her gaze and said, "You both need to sort this out. By now, I’m sure you know what you truly want." He didn’t wait for her response and left the study as well.

Now, left alone with Lucian, Erin noticed he was waiting for her answer.

"You didn’t answer me," he said.

Erin looked at him, unsure of what to do. "I... I thought... they said..." she stammered, struggling to find the words.

Always such a rational woman, she couldn’t believe she had been swayed by some random talk from her brothers and their friend. Did she trust them more, or did she simply not trust Lucian at all?

"You thought I would bring mistresses into our home?" Lucian stepped toward her but maintained enough distance to avoid being too close. Yet, his piercing gaze was enough to intimidate her.

Erin felt guilty, but she asked anyway, "You don’t plan to have mistresses, do you? Or... any other wives?"

He remained unfazed. "I’ve already made it clear to you—you are the only one for me. If you still don’t trust me, then the day I break my promise, you can pierce this sword straight through my heart. You won’t have to hold back like you did today."

Erin realized she had hurt him, but this stoic man showed no sign of pain on his face.

"You’d better keep your word because I don’t want to become a murderer," she said, her tone awkward with embarrassment, though she tried to maintain her pride.

"I won’t," Lucian replied firmly. "You will always be the prideful lady of this estate. Our home will have no place for any other women or outsiders. The only women allowed here, besides you as my wife, would be my mother and sister."

Erin didn’t know what to say, but then it hit her. What I did today... does that mean I’ve agreed to be his wife, the lady of this estate? Why does something feel off? How did it come to this? Did this man manipulate my thoughts, or was it my own doing?

"I’ll ask my father to send an official message to the King and your father about our marriage," Lucian said.

"Wait..."

"Are you backing out after agreeing to be my wife?" Lucian asked, stepping closer. "If so, let me make this clear—you’re not allowed to back down. That’s not an option."

Erin instinctively took a step back. "I’m not backing down. I just... need to talk to my brothers and Aaron first."

Lucian nodded, his expression calm but resolute. "You’re free to do whatever you need to—except back down."

She hummed softly and glanced at his chest where she had hurt him. "First, we need to treat your wound."

"It’s fine. You don’t have to feel bad about a tiny wound," he replied.

Erin frowned. This man clearly couldn’t see her worry or care. He either wanted to act tough, or he was simply made this way.

If it were any other man, he’d use this chance to get closer to the woman he liked and let her take care of him. But this man... I have no hope. Still, I can’t help but want him. I suppose I’ll just have to accept that my married life will have no sweet romance at all. All those romance books brother Rowan brought for me, I can only forget them as sweet fantasy. My man is simply an unromantic.’

Shaking off her thoughts, she refocused on him. "I know you’re like a rock—completely devoid of feelings or emotions—but I, on the other hand, have feelings, emotions, and a conscience. I hurt you, so let me treat you, or I won’t be at peace."

Before he could protest, Erin called out, "Is there anyone outside?"

A voice promptly responded, "Yes, my lady."

"Bring something to treat a sword wound," she instructed.

"Yes, my lady," the man replied hurriedly, his footsteps already echoing as he ran off to get the things.

"Sit there," Erin said, signalling Lucian to sit on the well carved wooden couch which was meticulously cushioned.

Lucian obeyed and she also sat facing him. "Let me check your wound."

"Is it fine for a lady to do so?" he asked, knowing that she would be seeing him bare chest.

’Rock head of a man, you should be taking an advance of this situation instead and act all romantic with me,’ she thought inwardly and said, "A lady can be a physician as well. Wouldn’t you show it to Oriana?"

Lucian couldn’t refute her claim and removed the warm coat he was wearing and then started to unbutton his shirt.

’I know he has a perfect body like those handsome men in the books,’ Erin could not help but wonder as she watched him unbutton his shirt. It was dark in colour but she could see it was soaked in his blood.

’How come he feels no pain?’ she wondered, and moved her hand to his chest. Without a wait, she moved the side of the shirt to check the left side of his chest. It was a bloody mess, though a wound was not big or deep.

Seeing the blood still coming out of it, she used the sleeve of her own warm coat to press it on his wound to stop bleeding.

Lucian simply stared at her beautiful worried face as she had to move closer to him to do what she was doing. The sleeve around her wrist, to use it, she had pressed her arm against his chest.

Seeing her so worried for him, he definitely liked it. As she was finally calm, he decided to talk.

"I am insisting on marrying you, it might seem forced on you. But I give you my words that you won’t ever regret marrying me."

Erin could sense his gaze on her face. But she didn’t look at him, and asked, "Why are you so adamant on marrying only me."

"Because, I like you," he replied, as if he was saying the most honest thing in the world, "Perhaps, it’s what they call love. I seem to have fallen in love with you."

Erin’s hand against his chest trembled. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt like she had heard something wrong.

Did this man just confessed to her so easily? Is it suppose to be so easy as if it’s nothing? Shouldn’t there be some romantic scenario when a man confess to a woman.

She shook her thoughts away immediately. ’I am just influenced by those romance books. It’s all my brother’s fault for showing me something which won’t happen in real.’

She still didn’t look at him, as she was afraid to see she might not see any emotions in his eyes which matched his confession.

"Why do you think you have fallen in love with me?" she asked, keeping her gaze fixed on his chest and hand still pressed on his wound.

The next moment she found him holding her hand which was busy stopping the bleeding. He directed her palm to rest on his heart. She could feel his heart beating faster under her palm which she couldn’t feel before due to that too thick winter coat sleeve.

She looked at him finally to know what he meant, only to meet his intense looking gaze that almost made her breath stuck in her chest.

"Only you affects my heart this way, and I know why?" she heard his deep and dignified voice, which sounded better than any romantic confession in the most romantic place.

All of a sudden Erin felt this was the best place in the world and what this man said to her was the best thing she could ever hear.