Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 10

He was the very archetype of a student who shone only within the school walls.

The kind who would lose their way the moment they were cast out into society after graduation.

‘And here Father never even gave me advice on something like this. What was he doing all those years?’

Loaiston finally set down his pen with a sharp click, muttering even his deceased father into the grievance, and crossed his arms.

“At this rate, how many lifetimes would it take to repay everything? I’d still be paying it back by the time my own children are grown.”
“Then…….”

Loaiston raised a finger in a gesture urging her to hear him out.

“So here’s what I’m thinking—you have roughly two options. First: stop thinking of it as a debt you have to repay, and accept the support without complaint.”
“…….”
“Second: if you absolutely must repay the money, then after you’ve left the Research Lab and secured a permanent post, publish a paper so groundbreaking it shakes the nation. The Royal Academy holds paper prize ceremonies once a year, you know. The award money is enormous. Now, is there any flaw in my logic?”
“……No, sir. None.”

A shadow fell across Adelia’s face.

“Your expression doesn’t look very pleased.”
“No, no. I’m fine.”

Adelia started visibly and shook both hands in denial.

“It’s only that… publishing a paper doesn’t guarantee I’ll win the prize. Of course! Since that’s my goal, I’ll do my very best with everything I have.”

Loaiston swallowed something like a sigh born of inexplicable heaviness and pity, when suddenly his head snapped up.

……Right. There was that option, wasn’t there?

A way for Adelia to visit the Research Lab without feeling burdened, while also solving his own troubles in one stroke.

‘But isn’t that shameless? Too much, even for me?’

Loaiston spent a long time deliberating.

Depending on how he phrased it, he might either get slapped across the face by this brilliant junior of his, or… end up holding her hand.

“If those earlier conditions feel too burdensome, there is one thing I’d really hope you’d help me with. If you’ll help me with this, you won’t have to feel sorry anymore about accepting support for your tuition.”

In that instant, Adelia’s expression brightened dramatically.

There seemed to be a shimmer of light dancing around her wide-open eyes, and for a moment, Loaiston found himself utterly captivated by her.

It was the desperate yearning of someone who’d found a small lighthouse in an endless dark sea.

“Please tell me. What is it?”
“You’d really be willing to do anything?”
“Yes! Anything at all! I’ll work hard—even cleaning if that’s what you need!”

Even as she said this, rolling up her sleeves, Loaiston couldn’t fathom what she intended to clean with arms as thin and fragile as kindling.

He cleared his throat, a familiar playful smile tugging at his lips as he gazed steadily at Adelia.

“You see, the thing is……”
“Yes! Just say the word!”
“I need you to become my ‘temporary wife’, junior.”

A terrible silence fell.

Adelia froze solid where she stood, sleeves still rolled up.

One might have had to check whether she was even breathing……

“Or rather, I should say ‘fake wife’ is more accurate. Basically, you just have to pretend we’re a married couple in front of others.”
“…….”
“My relatives have been hounding me to marry. It’s gotten to the point where I’m ready to tear my hair out. But I won’t marry anyone unless it’s someone I truly love……”
“…….”
“Junior, you haven’t fainted, have you?”

Adelia came to her senses at last and lowered her arms.

A good thing, too.

If she’d stayed frozen like that, she might well have gotten hit and suffered a nosebleed.

“Um, senior……”
“What?”
“I, I think I understand what you mean.”
“You understand? That’s impressive.”

Loaiston clapped twice, genuinely impressed.

“But me becoming your bride…… that’s, that’s like……”
“Like what?”
“It’s like suddenly having microorganisms proliferate explosively and cause an outbreak in a culture where no initial parameters were set.”
“…….”

He had no idea what situation she was describing.

“……In other words, it’s impossible, yes?”
“What? No, microorganisms have infinite potential, so it’s not so much impossible as……”
“…….”
“……It really is impossible. For now, at least. There are so many different types of microorganisms, and each requires different culturing conditions. Once cultivation begins, even if you try to predict what comes next, there are so many variables that……”

He’d better stop this conversation before it got any further away from him.

Loaiston opened his palm toward Adelia.

“Let’s skip the microorganism talk and think about this logically. I’ll pose a problem to you, brilliant Adelia. If you were to sum up the situation I’ve just presented in a single word, what would it be?”

Adelia’s brow furrowed in an odd expression of thought.

After a long moment of contemplation, her eyes downcast and her lips working silently, she finally produced her answer:

“Marriage fraud.”

At her startlingly accurate yet brutally blunt response, Loaiston suddenly burst into laughter.

“D-did I say something wrong?”

To her bewildered question, he shook his shoulders as he laughed, then waved a hand.

“Ah, that was a good laugh.”
“…….”

Loaiston watched with amusement as Adelia tried to hide her flushed cheeks. Then he propped his chin on his hand in a rather playful manner.

“That’s right, Adelia. That’s exactly what I want.”
“B-but I don’t see how something like that could possibly work so easily.”
“Your manner of speech just got even more formal.”
“…….”
“If you ask me, this should be easier than anything you’ve accomplished during your school years.”

Loaiston turned to the dumbfounded Adelia with an alluring smile.

“Because you’re a genius among geniuses, Adelia.”

She gazed at his smile as though entranced, then suddenly averted her eyes in embarrassment.

“I-I wouldn’t call myself a genius.”
“A genius like you can’t manage to play the role of a duchess?”
“…….”
“And you can leave most of the difficult parts to me. I won’t burden you with anything too demanding.”

Adelia’s lips trembled slightly.

Whether it was true or not remained to be seen, but for now, it sounded far too sweet to her ears.

As she fell into thought, her expression clouded, Loaiston spoke again.

“Of course, it’s probably difficult to decide everything in just one day. Fortunately, there’s still time before the research students’ new semester begins, so let’s take our time and align our plans during that period. What do you say?”
“……Y-yes. That sounds good.”

And it was this conversation that would drastically alter the course of Adelia’s life from that point forward.

***

Back in the present.

Every morning, Loaiston made it a point to escort Adelia to the Research Lab entrance and to pick her up without fail.

The neighborhood housed many research facilities besides Siern’s, so the surroundings were generally quite monotonous.

Against this bland backdrop, the splendid Four-Horse Carriage of the Ducal House naturally became the center of attention and curious whispers.

“Look, isn’t that Adelia Wheaten? I’ve seen her at the Academy Library sometimes.”
“Right, that little girl who always sat by the window reading some difficult book.”
“Never thought she’d turn out so lovely. And she became Insel’s duchess? Ugh, I’m so jealous I’m getting goosebumps.”
“Why haven’t they held the wedding ceremony yet? They’re spoiling her so much.”
“I heard Wheaten dislikes such things, so they pushed it back?”
“It’s all about devotion, really.”

Adelia tried not to listen to the familiar whispers as she kissed Loaiston on one cheek.

“I’ll do it this way today.”

It was her own strategy to prevent Loaiston from kissing her on the lips as he usually did. But the moment she’d done it, she felt as though her face might burst from embarrassment.

Loaiston even placed his hand on the cheek where her lips had touched and gazed at her quietly.

“D-did you dislike it?”

Adelia finally gathered the courage to ask.

Then Loaiston, who’d been caressing his cheek, smiled.

Such a charming thing to do.

“How could I dislike it, my lady?”
“…….”

He took her left hand and brought it near his lips, kissing close to the Ring.

“Have a good day. I’ll see you this evening.”

And then he flashed that impossibly elegant smile that would make anyone smile back in return.

Adelia lowered her head slightly and turned to leave.

That was when it happened.

“Your Grace, hello!”
“Oh, fancy meeting you at this hour!”

Adelia, who had turned to head toward the Research Lab, glanced back at the high-pitched, squealing sounds coming from behind.

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