I Decided to Give the Contract to the Male Vassal - Chapter 54

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 54

 

From the moment Wicheonso stepped foot into the bridal chamber, I was tense.

 

Even though he had maintained composure between the Leader and the Elders, I didn’t know what kind of behavior he would show when we were alone together.

 

His fingertips trembled slightly as he removed the veil.

 

The eyes looking at me had a particularly vivid red color.

 

He was clearly in a dangerous state, and the distance between us was too close.

 

The moment he grabbed his sword, I quickly created distance and picked up a decorative sword.

 

Though my internal energy was woefully insufficient to face him, I could at least catch him off guard using some secret techniques I learned during my Sangteon-dang days.

 

“Third Prince. Please calm down.”

 

I steadied my breathing first and faced him.

 

“If problems arise again this time, it will become difficult to elevate you to the position of Young Leader.”

 

I deliberately mentioned what he desired to try to calm him down.

 

It would be troublesome if rumors spread that bloodshed occurred in the bridal chamber even today. The more Wicheonso lost his reason, the further the Young Leader position would drift from him.

 

So I had to stop him somehow.

 

“Miss Chung-rin.”

 

I expected him to lose his reason and draw his sword at any moment, but surprisingly, a normal address came back.

 

Wicheonso looked at me and let out a laugh that sounded like wind.

 

“Did you think I might cut down the bride again?”

 

Regardless of whether I was holding a sword or not, he sat down at the low table and filled the wine cup that was placed on it.

 

“It would be interesting to test Miss Chung-rin’s martial arts by crossing swords, but today is not that kind of day. Please sit.”

 

When I hesitated at his suggestion, he added:

 

“Shall I put down my sword?”

 

He spoke while pointing to his own sword.

 

Surprisingly, his mind seemed perfectly sound.

 

Having just recalled the information that a disciple of the previous Leader had thirsted for blood for seven days and nights due to the side effects of the Phantom Demon Art, my heart wouldn’t stop trembling.

 

So even as I carefully sat beside him, I kept the decorative sword propped under the table.

 

It was in preparation for any contingency.

 

“Is it because of the Phantom Demon Art I displayed that you’re being cautious of me?”

 

Wicheonso’s red eyes rippled before my eyes.

 

“Even the Elders who form one pillar of the Heavenly Sect don’t know much about the side effects of the Phantom Demon Art. Unless it’s someone like the leader of Cheopyeong Hall from Cheonryeong Isippal-dang.”

 

His red gaze settled heavily upon me.

 

“But you seem to know well about the Phantom Demon Art.”

 

“…The reason you deliberately displayed the Phantom Demon Art in Gyojeon wasn’t just to reassure the Leader, was it? Were you testing me?”

 

The corners of Wicheonso’s mouth curved upward.

 

“I don’t know what kind of person Miss Chung-rin is. Since she’s someone I must keep right beside me as my wife, shouldn’t I be certain?”

 

“…I see. I understand.”

 

I readily acknowledged it.

 

“I learned about the Phantom Demon Art from a guest who visited Seolsan Jeokga just before coming to Yeomhwa Family 10 years ago. At that time, I also learned in detail about the Heavenly Sect and its previous Leaders.”

 

Just as I had explained when meeting Chung-rin at Bukhangnyo, I used my past self as the Sangteon-dang leader.

 

If it was the former Sangteon-dang leader Chung-rin, it wouldn’t be questionable for him to know information about Heavenly Sect martial arts.

 

“10 years ago…”

 

Wicheonso lifted his wine cup to his lips as if finding it interesting.

 

“Whoever it was seems to know the Heavenly Sect well. What was their name?”

 

“Well. As for the name…”

 

I deliberately evaded the question.

 

The Heavenly Tiger Alliance and Mageyo are in an adversarial relationship, and among them, Sangteon-dang, which plants spies and conducts intelligence warfare, and Mageyo are practically mortal enemies.

 

So there would be nothing good about mentioning my former name to him.

 

“That’s unfortunate.”

 

Wicheonso gave an answer of uncertain truth and emptied his wine cup.

 

“Since I killed Yeonhopyeong, there should be no problems for today. That’s why I could come to meet Miss Chung-rin like this.”

 

He added this as if he had no intention of harming me at all.

 

“Two years ago, was cutting down the bride during the wedding ceremony also due to the aftermath of the Phantom Demon Art?”

 

When I asked directly, Wicheonso’s eyebrows trembled slightly.

 

“Let’s talk about that matter later. There are more important things right now.”

 

Wicheonso picked up the gourd-shaped wine cup with red thread and drank half of it before offering it to me.

 

I received it with some tension.

 

Perhaps because warmth remained on the rim of the cup, it felt like my body was instantly warmed.

 

“Then…”

 

Wicheonso was about to reach toward my hair ornaments.

 

“Wait a moment! There’s something you need to see before we perform the harmony ritual.”

 

“What is it?”

 

Wicheonso slightly furrowed his brow like someone whose mood had been spoiled.

 

But it couldn’t be helped. This was an important matter.

 

I quickly pulled out a scroll from my bosom and unrolled it before him.

 

“It’s a contract.”

 

Upon seeing it, Wicheonso let out a small laugh.

 

“Having already used me for revenge, is something like this even necessary?”

 

“It’s necessary. We’ll need to continue using each other in the future.”

 

I continued without backing down.

 

“But since the Third Prince doesn’t know about me, and I don’t trust the Third Prince yet, shouldn’t we at least write something like this?”

 

Even in righteous families, it was common for family members to betray each other for profit. How much more so in the Heavenly Sect that revered strength?

 

Though it was merely paper, it was better than sharing nothing. At least it would provide an opportunity to think twice.

 

“I will give Mageyo to the Third Prince as promised. Since these are necessary parts for that, I hope the Third Prince will at least keep to this much.”

 

Only then did Wicheonso properly look at the scroll I had handed him.

 

[Article 1. Both Chung-rin and Wicheonso shall act as husband and wife within and outside the sect, cooperating for external justification.]

 

The position of the Third Prince’s wife had freed me from Yeomhwa Family.

 

For the time being, I intended to think of it as being employed as the Third Prince’s wife and fulfill my duties as such.

 

[Article 2. Chung-rin shall have autonomy within a certain range. Also, neither shall interfere in the other’s sect affairs.]

 

The Third Prince would assign surveillance to me. In his eyes, I would be a suspicious person who knew much about the internal information of the Heavenly Sect.

 

Still, to seize control of this Mageyo, there would be times when I needed to move directly or make risky moves.

 

If I had to explain and move every single time, it would be too late. I needed complete autonomy. That’s why I included this clause.

 

[Article 3. Necessary matters for the plan must be shared, but neither shall investigate the other’s activities without prior permission. Also, neither shall be swayed by external suspicions.]

 

In my experience, this was a clause that absolutely could not be omitted.

 

When misunderstandings arise, relationships often break down from listening only to others’ words.

 

To prevent this, it meant not to harbor suspicions before having a conversation with each other.

 

[Article 4. One year after ascending to Young Leader, both parties shall part ways.]

 

This meant that one year after Wicheonso became Young Leader, we would not maintain our marital bond.

 

Since it was a contract marriage from the beginning, parting ways was natural.

 

[Article 5. This agreement shall not be disclosed to third parties. Violation shall be compensated with one’s life.

 

However, close associates noticing is an exception.]

 

If the fact that Wicheonso and I were a contractually bound couple became known, there was no telling what punishment the Leader might impose.

 

Since this fact must not be revealed to anyone, I included this clause.

 

Below that, I had written today’s date and both mine and Wicheonso’s names.

 

After reading all the contents of the contract, Wicheonso bit his thumb to create a wound.

 

Then he stamped it with his blood.

 

I was a bit surprised by his unhesitating action.

 

“Is this sufficient?”

 

“Yes? Yes.”

 

Wicheonso stood up.

 

Only then did I realize that what he was wearing wasn’t white clothes soaked in blood, but formal wedding attire. The smell of blood had also disappeared, as if he had washed and changed in the meantime.

 

“Then now we should fulfill the duties between husband and wife as stated in Article 1.”

 

Having achieved what I wanted, it seemed he was suggesting we now perform the rite of union.

 

Wicheonso approached me and pulled out the red jade hairpin that had been adorned in my hair.

 

“Wife.”

 

His voice, which was already a low baritone, sounded even deeper.

 

“Since the night is late, shouldn’t we sleep?”

 

I let him arrange my hair as he wished.

 

His movements were surprisingly skillful as he removed the ornaments and placed them on the table.

 

‘So we really have no choice but to form a marital bond.’

 

Though we were a contractual couple, we had agreed to cooperate with each other, so I thought this too might be my duty.

 

‘Endure it. This time will also pass.’

 

Even while holding my breath, I did not refuse his touch.

 

He undid all my hair ornaments and even the knots of my outer garment.

 

All his actions were skillful, but he was a bit slow when untying the last knot.

 

Then he spread both his arms wide and quietly gestured with his chin.

 

Probably meaning for me to help him remove his wedding robes.

 

It was when I grasped his waist sash to untie it.

 

He flinched slightly at the shoulders and endured my clumsy hand movements.

 

Even in my past life, though I had been close to men many times, I had never experienced such a situation, so even my own actions felt unfamiliar to me.

 

I untied the sash and helped remove his wedding robe. Instead of the white clothes stained with blood, clean black garments were revealed.

 

“When I spread my arms earlier, I meant for you to turn around so I could help you remove your wedding robes.”

 

A voice tinged with laughter settled near my ear.

 

It must have looked like I was the one rushing things, which was a bit embarrassing.

 

“Now please turn around.”

 

Following Wicheonso’s voice, I turned my back. He calmly helped me remove my clothes.

 

Since I wasn’t showing him my face, the embarrassment lessened a bit.

 

The red fabric swayed slowly like breathing.

 

The flame of the black lamp flickered low, casting long shadows throughout the room.

 

The incense was both sweet and acrid, and just one breath seemed to subtly stimulate something deep in my chest.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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