Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 1

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

Episode 1

Prologue.

Adelia stared at the man standing before her—Loarston—her mouth falling open.

“What did you just say?”
“If you want to repay the debt you owe me, there is a way.”
“No! I meant what you said after that.”
“Ah, that method?”

When Loarston let out a soft laugh, the air around them seemed to shift.

His face truly lived up to the claim of being the most beautiful man in the world.

Hair that gleamed like a sunset ablaze, features carved with precise elegance, eyes that held both masculinity and a subtle refinement—a confidence that declared with his entire being: “This is what noble blood looks like.”

But the words coming from this perfect specimen of a man were utterly absurd.

“It’s simple. You want to continue your research, and I want to escape my tedious relatives. The solution that satisfies us both is for you to marry me. If a permanent arrangement feels like too much, we can make it a contract marriage instead.”

***

Pretty little shoes of deep violet satin trimmed with white lace hurried down the velvet-carpeted stairs.

Tap, tap, tap!

“Mistress! Please come this way—there’s something you need to check!”
“I’m coming!”
“Mistress, the Marchioness who sent a letter last time has written again—”
“Put it on my desk, I’ll look at it later.”
“Mistress! You really should see this!”
“I’m late!”
“Mistress! This absolutely must be reviewed before this morning!”
“Mistress, are you listening?”
“Mistress!”

The woman addressed as Mistress stood frozen at the bannister, her eyes wide as saucers.

People were swarming toward her from all sides.

Internally, she tore at her own hair.

‘Oh God, I’m so sorry for the fraud!’

Someone save me here!

***

Eight in the morning, in the dining room of the Insel Duchy.

The moment the grandfather clock chimed, a clear resonant tone filled the space.

A newspaper folded with a crisp snap.

The servants who had been standing at a discreet distance from the table began laying out breakfast, coffee, and place settings one by one.

8:01, 8:02, 8:03…

Bang!

The dining room door burst open noisily.

The Duke merely smiled and lifted his coffee cup with graceful composure.

In that instant, a woman with waves of chestnut hair in complete disarray came pattering in on the tips of her toes and threw herself into the chair across from him.

While the woman tilted her head back, catching her breath, breakfast, tea, and place settings appeared before her with efficient precision.

Once the servants withdrew, she straightened up sharply.

She rapped her palms on the table to draw the man’s attention.

The Duke’s eyes were a deep emerald green, reminiscent of an ancient forest—strikingly beautiful, yet infuriating in their calm amusement today.

“This is a completely different arrangement, se—”

Adelia’s words cut off abruptly.

She glanced sideways at the butler standing like a post behind the Duke. Her lips pressed tight, her teeth clenched.

“This is a completely different arrangement… dear.”

The Duke glanced at her over the rim of his coffee cup, then leisurely withdrew a pocket watch from his jacket.

Without taking his eyes off Adelia, he snapped his fingers to summon the butler.

“Go check if there are any important invitations waiting, then come back.”
“Very good, Loarston.”

The elderly butler left the room.

Soon the dining room fell silent, the two of them alone.

Loarston, the Duke of Insel, finally broke into a genuine smile, relaxed his posture, and propped his chin on his hand.

“So what is it now that our cute junior is so upset about?”

Adelia, who had been waiting for the butler to leave, struck the table again and spoke urgently.

“Are you really going to keep doing this?”
“Doing what?”
“How can you do this every single morning!”
“Do what every morning?”
“Everyone’s calling for me from all directions! I—I—I can barely manage myself, and now I have to bathe three times? It’s a waste of time and water!”
“All nobility do it that way, Adelia.”

Adelia fell silent for a moment, then pressed on.

“The Contract Document I signed didn’t say anything about having to bathe three times or having this many things to check every morning.”

At that, Loarston pulled a neatly folded paper from inside his jacket.

At the top of the page was written:

[Standard Guidelines and Contract Verification for a Successful Marriage Fraud Between Adelia Wheaten and Loarston Insel]

…a title that was long if you squinted, and short if you didn’t.

“Look here.”

Loarston said.

“Article 3 of the contract.”
“…”
“After submitting the marriage registration, Adelia Wheaten shall conduct herself in accordance with the role of Mistress of the Insel household.”
“…”
“‘She shall conduct herself in accordance with the role of Mistress.'”

He emphasized it once more.

Adelia made an odd sound and waved her hand uselessly.

She wanted nothing more than to bury her face in her hands, but that would ruin her makeup. She could only clench her fists at the empty air.

“It’s right here in the contract. Bathing three times is part of a Mistress’s duties.”
“Can you add a special clause allowing me to bathe just once?”

Loarston shook his finger with a dismissive click of his tongue.

“Can’t do it. Fundamentally, noble ladies devote about two hours after waking to grooming. Since you can’t do that, I made an exception for you there.”
“But if I’m doing experiments, my face will end up unwashed for days anyway—”
“Still, if I reduce your grooming time any further, the household staff will start talking.”
“…”
“Oh my. It’s nearly 8:30 already. You’re not going to eat breakfast? If you go to the Research Laboratory on an empty stomach, you’ll be exhausted by lunchtime.”

Adelia finally gasped and quickly sipped her tea.

She tore into bread and stuffed it in her mouth, spooned up soup, picked up delicately sautéed snap peas with her fork on the other side…

Watching her, Loarston broke into laughter and said:

“Strictly speaking, eating like that would also violate the contract, but I’ll let it slide just this once.”

Adelia’s cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish’s.

At that, Loarston let out a delighted laugh.

“I’ll have my carriage take you, so eat slowly. Don’t get indigestion like last time.”

Why didn’t he mention that sooner?

The hand holding Adelia’s spoon trembled slightly.

***

The Carriage racing across the Main Avenue began to slow.

Adelia quickly reached for the Leather Case she’d set beside her.

“Wait a moment, junior.”

As Loarston reached out, the scent of lavender and apple drifted to her nose.

He adjusted her slightly askew collar, and his fingertips brushed the nape of her neck.

Each time the edge of his neatly trimmed nails grazed her skin ever so softly, her knees seemed to tingle and her toes curled involuntarily.

“And the ribbon.”

Is he still not done?!

Adelia fought to keep her head upright, fanning herself unnecessarily with her hand.

While the fine silk ribbon was untied and retied by his hands, her heart raced relentlessly.

‘When will we get there?’

As Adelia struggled to steady her spinning vision—

The carriage came to a stop with a gentle creak.

His fingertip brushed the line of her jaw as he withdrew his hand.

Why did even his fingertips have to be so soft?

Adelia’s eyes trembled as if caught in an earthquake, her face flushed crimson.

“Lovely. The blue ribbon was the right choice.”
“Can I… can I get out now?”
“What’s the rush? You’ve arrived ten minutes early.”
“But…”

Adelia turned her slender neck to look out the window, then at Loarston, and didn’t know what to do with herself.

Her cheeks were flushed a deep red, and heat radiated from her forehead.

‘Such contact this early in the morning is absolutely out of the question! Out!’

Regardless of her inner turmoil, Loarston’s serene expression softened as he spoke again.

“Have a good day. And once you’re finished, wait for the carriage to pick you up. Don’t even think about walking back alone, understood?”
“It’s not that far. Walking is good for your health—”
“What was Article 3 of the contract again?”
“…”
“Should I read it to you once more?”

Loarston rustled in his jacket as if about to retrieve it.

Was he really going to pull out that ridiculous contract again?

“That’s better.”

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