First time in a story that I do not ship MC with anyone at all. Especially not with the duke who’s being pushy as hell for love when the whole thing is a contract. She’s made clear their relationship is a contract, she’s set a clear boundary that they’re nothing other than that. She’s showing sympathy and compassion bc she’s kind, yet this duke kept pushing that boundary and take advantage of that. Idgaf that he’s pitiful bc of the curse; it’s just creepy.