Why are you obsessed with your fake wife?

All the merchants she looked at with her eyes were those who offered to delay the due date of the debt.

The proud expression on their choice disturbed Shylock’s mood even more.

“Y-You’ll regret your decision one day.”

“It’s nothing you should be worried about.”

“Of course.”

Shylock bowed politely to Nadia, slightly bending his knees.

“Then I’ll take my leave now. I look forward to seeing you again. I shall hope for peace at your estate until then.”

“I could assure you nothing is going to happen.”

He would see how long Nadia could be so elated. He then turned his back, grinding his teeth.

When Shylock left, merchants who had been begging Nadia for forgiveness followed him one by one.

Probably because they noticed that Nadia had no intention of retracting her decision.

The Great Hall, after everyone left, was quiet again. Nadia finally relaxed her expression and smiled.

Then she turned around. Standing at the place where her eyes were directed, Glenn had been staring silently from beginning to end..

Nadia approached him and asked.

“Do you believe me now? I’m going to use the dowry and settle the debt.”

“…….”

Glenn still looked puzzled.

Of course, though it was amazing that Nadia managed to rake in a large amount of money, he still didn’t believe that she paid off the debts without any conditions.

After contemplating for some time like he was thinking of something to say, Glenn said.

“Why did you pay my family’s debts?”

Nadia tilted her head like she didn’t understand the question.

“I said I’d raise money to help the family finance. I told you before.”

“So why did you make such a promise?”

“……You’re being weird.”

Her eyes were filled with confusion.

“When I didn’t pay the debt with my dowry, I was told why I was turning a blind eye to the family crisis. It would be weird for the lady of the house not to help the family. But now that I’ve paid it back, you’re asking me why I’m paying for your debts. How am I supposed to answer that?”

“Well, that’s….”

Glenn’s expression was visibly distorted. After being speechless for a while, he opened his mouth again.

“I’m sorry I misinterpreted your meaning. Let me take this opportunity to apologize.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“I thought you were lying when you said that you would pay for this family’s debt after earning money because….”

“Because my father is the Duke Balazit?”

“……Yes.”

Glenn couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Nadia paying off the family’s debt.

In fact, he still worried that all of this was just his mind messing with him.

Even anyone who only knew a little about the Kingdom’s political situation could understand why Glenn couldn’t understand what Nadia did.

Why did a member of the Balazit family help him? If she wanted to mess with the situation in the Winterfell family, she could have just done so. There’s no reason for her to do the other way around.

“Why on earth would you do something that would benefit me? If your father finds out about this, he’ll definitely be upset. Maybe he will disown you. Why would you take that risk…….”

“Oh my God. What have you heard of me so far?”

Nadia, who was listening to him, suddenly cut him off and intervened.

She looked like she couldn’t stand him who wasn’t stopping talking.

Nadia continued with a startled look.

“Because I love you! I fell in love with you at first sight, followed you all the way to the North, and we even made a vow! Don’t you remember what I said?”

“…….”

Glenn did remember. However he questioned her because he just couldn’t believe his eyes.

Helping a man she loved. Even if it meant that she went against her father’s will.

It was simple and clear logic– but he just couldn’t understand it.

‘She really likes me?’

Before the triumphal ceremony, the two had never talked a word.

Let’s say Nadia fell in love at first sight, as she claimed. She was willing to do this to a man whom she only met once?

In Glenn’s head, Nadia was far from convincing.

But whatever reason she helped him, it didn’t change that Glenn owed Nadia much.

Even if there were other intentions.

“For whatever reason, the Winterfell family will never forget the debt we owe you. In that sense… If you want to ask me a favor, you may tell me.”

Nadia’s eyes widened at the unexpected remark.

“Anything?”

“Yeah, I’ll give you anything I can.”

Then from now on, Nadia wanted him to stop nagging and do everything she told him to do. She just wanted him to grant her permission to leave for good.

‘… Or so I wanted to say…….’

Now wasn’t Nadia a wife who was in love with her husband now?

She was sure Glenn would listen to her request and give her the permission to go, but if she really said that, it would raise his suspicion.

Using this incident, she should maintain a positive sentiment and gain his trust for future plans.

‘They are going to misunderstand that I didn’t help the Winterfell family out of pure goodwill.’

What should she say here? A word that sounded convincing that she was a woman in love….

Nadia, who was brainstorming for a moment, opened her arms to him and said,

“Then give me a hug just once.”

“……What?”

“A very, very sweet and gentle one.”

“…….”

“Why? Did I ask you a hard favor?”

“No, it’s not that…… I thought you’d ask me a different favor.”

“For example?”

“Punish the employees and the servants who have talked about you behind your back, ask me to apologize in public, or pay off what I owe you…….”

“If I ask you that, I will never be accepted as a member of the Winterfell family.”

Nadia was the one who encouraged the situation where people couldn’t help but to talk behind her back after all.

Besides, she never cared about others swearing at her behind her back.

“Will you do me this favor?”

“…….”

Nadia looked up with a slight smile. Glenn’s amber colored eyes shook a little.

But he soon came to his senses and took a step closer to her. It was just a hug, he didn’t have to think complicatedly.

“Thank you for what you have done for this family.”