If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 86

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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 86

‘Caspian is an intermediate spirit contractor.’

Even though I saw it with my own eyes, I felt dazed.

Actually, in terms of probability, Merlin becoming an advanced spirit contractor was more remarkable.

However, back then, perhaps due to the severity of the situation, it just felt like a miracle, but this time I was in a ‘this actually works…?’ state, making it more bewildering.

Even though I had talked about giving him a chance, the possibility was so low.

Even Leonhardt, who had been busy examining my wounds, seemed somewhat surprised.

But among us, the most surprised was undoubtedly Caspian.

“What is this? This is weird!”

They say that when you contract with a spirit, though it’s hard to explain in words, you definitely feel something different from before.

Merlin, who had received sufficient explanation from us and was desperate herself, quickly accepted the situation, but Caspian still seemed confused.

I composed my bewildered expression and began explaining calmly.

“Caspian, you know what a spirit contractor is, right?”

“Oh, I know.”

Caspian, who had been looking in the direction of the earth spirit—which appeared as empty ground to me—answered with a dazed expression.

“I heard that an advanced water spirit contractor appeared in the capital for the first time in hundreds of years.”

Fortunately, the rumors of Merlin’s awakening seemed to have spread well to this place.

Thanks to that, I had much less to explain.

“Right! I’m friends with that spirit contractor Young Lady, so I know a bit about spirits…”

I attributed the source of information to Merlin…

“There are very, very rarely places where mana of specific attributes accumulates. But since you, who has spirit affinity, happened to be in such a place, awakening occurred.”

It was an explanation that would make spirit studies researchers pour out questions starting with ‘How can mana have attributes?’, but it seemed to be easy for Caspian, who was ignorant in that area, to understand.

Caspian muttered with his mouth agape.

“Wow, so cool. I’m a spirit contractor…”

The ‘awakening’ seemed to have properly stimulated the delicate sensibilities of an adolescent boy.

Whatever he was imagining, Caspian’s expression changed every second—grinning foolishly, then trying to look cool—before he suddenly flinched.

Unlike just moments ago when he seemed lost in happy delusions, his face showed a return to reality.

After pondering briefly, Caspian cautiously spoke up.

“Um, could you keep it a secret that I became a spirit contractor?”

His voice was calm, as if he hadn’t just been excited like a child moments before.

“If it gets out, I think—no, our entire family would be in trouble…”

Caspian was still just a young boy, but he was mature enough to know that having great power when you’re powerless can be very troublesome.

‘He’s smarter than I thought.’

That made sense, as the life of lower nobility wasn’t easy at all. While I hadn’t experienced it directly so I couldn’t feel it personally, I knew well enough about the reality of it.

Perhaps because I had grown quite fond of Caspian, I found his sharp thinking endearing.

I extended my finger with a smiling face.

“Alright, if that’s what you want, I’ll keep it secret!”

Though there was the premise of ‘if you still want to keep it secret after hearing my proposal.’

What we had originally hoped for from Caspian was just that he wouldn’t side with the Prince after awakening, so it wasn’t something we couldn’t accommodate.

“Thanks, Miela.”

Only then did Caspian let out a sigh of relief and start chattering excitedly again.

‘The way he’s showing off feels very childlike.’

I patiently listened to him saying things like how he could probably tell his family, but he was worried about his third brother who had a loose tongue.

After giving Caspian enough time to accept reality, I suggested with a gentle smile.

“Shall we get in the carriage for now?”

What I was about to discuss was a rather intimate recruitment.

Caspian looked like he wanted to boast a little more, but he obediently climbed into the carriage.

Though there were no people around, he probably knew that secret conversations should be held discreetly inside a carriage.

After Leonhardt quietly followed and got in the carriage, the door closed.

Now our conversation here wouldn’t be heard outside.

I smiled gently and casually asked Caspian.

“But what did you mean by asking to keep becoming a spirit contractor secret?”

It was a bridging question to start the conversation, but Caspian, who had been wearing the face of a dreaming boy, had already changed his expression and began explaining step by step.

“You guys are capital nobles from a baronet family so your situation is different, but if it becomes known that a rare spirit contractor appeared in a humble family like Windermere, we’d be perfect targets for exploitation.”

Caspian spoke like an elder explaining life wisdom, even shaking his head and shuddering.

His expression revealed the hardships that Caspian, born as the sixth son of a humble baronet family, had endured.

Caspian shook his body as if shaking off bad thoughts, then added as if just remembering.

“If I could receive patronage from an influential family like that advanced water spirit contractor Young Lady, the situation would be different, but for now, keeping it secret is the best option.”

I had been wondering how to guide the conversation, but fortunately Caspian started talking first.

“Like House of Duke Roderick?”

At my probing question, Caspian immediately nodded.

“House of Duke Roderick would be pretty good, no, it would be the best option.”

Not knowing that the House of Baron Norken, our fabricated identity, was also a vassal family of House of Duke Roderick, Caspian answered lightly as if it was no big deal.

“Our eldest brother is receiving patronage from House of Duke Roderick.”

It wasn’t a formal patronage contract, but seemed to be about receiving scholarships given to academically excellent students at the Academy.

“Other noble families expect you to serve their house afterward in exchange for scholarships, but Roderick’s scholarships don’t have such conditions attached.”

Perhaps having heard various things from his eldest brother, he seemed to have a good impression of Roderick.

‘I should suggest expanding the scholarship foundation when I return.’

I smiled with a proud feeling.

I had somewhat confirmed Caspian’s intentions.

Now it was time to make the proposal.

“Listen, I think we need to reintroduce ourselves.”

I straightened my back and pulled in my chin as I spoke.

When my attitude instantly changed from being casually lazy and playful like an ordinary child, Caspian seemed somewhat flustered.

Though he might not know exactly what, he seemed to sense that the atmosphere had somehow shifted.

“Huh, what?”

Caspian just made exclamations with a bewildered face.

I smiled gently and elegantly as I introduced my real name.

“I am Miela Roderick.”

“Leonhardt Arcadia.”

Among the mere three ducal houses in the Empire, House of Duke Roderick had the highest authority.

And the surname ‘Arcadia’ could only be used by direct members of the imperial family.

He must have thought we were peer noble children he’d befriended during vacation, but when we suddenly revealed ourselves as a Duke’s daughter and a Prince, Caspian was greatly flustered.

He seemed more shocked than when he learned he had awakened as an earth spirit contractor.

‘Should I give him some time to calm down?’

As I was pondering while carefully observing his slightly pale face, the startled Caspian suddenly stood up and bowed.

“I greet Prince and Lady Roderick.”

Being a son of a noble family, he must have received etiquette education, as his previously casual attitude, which had been almost like a commoner child’s, became formal.

Leonhardt lightly nodded and accepted the greeting.

‘He’s so tense, you could be a bit kinder.’

I first gently took Caspian’s hand and seated him.

“We didn’t reveal our identities because we want you to treat us like a Prince or Duke’s daughter now.”

Despite speaking very kindly, Caspian’s guard didn’t drop, probably because he was quite shocked.

“We’re still friends, so you can treat us comfortably.”

Caspian rolled his eyes as if gauging whether my words were sincere.

‘He’ll gradually adapt, I suppose.’

I smiled brightly with sincerity and immediately brought up the main point.

“Right now, I’m proposing to you as Lady Roderick. Are you interested in making a patronage contract with Roderick?”

I looked Caspian in the eyes and added in a clear voice.

“Roderick will protect you and your family. Become our house’s spirit contractor.”

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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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