Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 11

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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 11

Young ladies dressed as elaborately as peacocks surrounded Loerston, their voices pitched high with excitement, faces flushed crimson.

And yet this was meant to be a laboratory district—surely they could be a bit more considerate of the noise.

Adelia caught herself pouting without quite meaning to and quickly pressed her lips together with an internal gasp.

‘No, what business is it of mine? Senior’s probably handsome down to the cellular level anyway, so of course people flock to him. It’s only natural.’

Entertaining the sort of thought that would have made Loerston laugh aloud, Adelia quickened her pace.

‘And besides, there’s no reason I should concern myself with everything he does.’

Muttering such justifications quietly to herself, Adelia hurried into the laboratory.

“Good morning!”
“Morning, Adelia.”

Hearing Professor Siern’s quiet, matter-of-fact voice somehow eased her spirits.

The laboratory, containing only the two of them, was always peaceful.

The soft hum of the air purification system, maintaining clean air, was oddly soothing.

Adelia changed into her lab coat and carefully disinfected her hands.

Then she approached Professor Siern, who remained absorbed in the microscope.

“Professor, what should I observe today?”
“Today, you’re going to—”

Adelia’s eyes sparkled. Siern’s daily assignments were always challenging and engaging.

“—work on whatever you’d like.”

The bouncing motion of Adelia, who had been clenching her fists, stopped dead.

“…Sorry?”
“I don’t like repeating myself.”
“No, but—”
“Research what you want. Freely. Today is a Free Research Project.”
“A…a Free Research Project?”
“Right. Use Laboratory 2. You can use any sample except those marked off-limits.”

Adelia stepped out of the laboratory, her fists still clenched tight, her body creaking with the abruptness of her turn.

She leaned forward, breathless, and took a deep breath.

Once. Twice.

If the dour Professor Siern could have seen how radiant and luminous Adelia’s face became when she lifted her head, he would have been so flabbergasted he’d have fallen backward.

A Free Research Project!

A Free Research Project!

Free! Research…Project!!

Which meant—I could research literally anything I want?

Ah, where do I even start? What should I do first?!

While Adelia’s silent—joyful—cries of exultation continued, Professor Siern inside the laboratory felt an inexplicable chill and mentally marked two question marks above his head.

Some people have an extreme aversion to Free Research Projects.

But Adelia was different.

What was a Free Research Project?

Precisely what it sounded like—the freedom to research anything at all!

Given the infinite particularities of microorganisms, she might easily spend the entire day just choosing a topic.

“Hmm, which specimen should I look at first? Oh, the recently discovered Fungal Strain K-33 would be excellent. It’s such a well-behaved organism, indispensable for large-scale forest cultivation. But then again, for a first free research project, shouldn’t I stick to the fundamentals? What about Fungus No. 9…”

Adelia picked up a sample container of fungus mixed with purplish, black, and white hues, her expression turning wistful as she looked up.

“I once ate a fungus out of curiosity long ago and couldn’t move for three days straight.”

It had been grainy and tart, though something about the aftertaste had seemed faintly nutty—a memorable experience indeed.

Without thinking, Adelia swallowed audibly and hastily spoke to the sample container.

“Not that I’m planning to eat you again! I’ve grown out of that nonsense. Besides, you cause food poisoning anyway. I’ll just observe you. Got it? Right?”

Spinning once with the sample container in hand, Adelia adjusted the microscope and carefully transferred the fungus to a petri dish.

Unlike other microorganisms, fungal strains, or bacteria, fungi were relatively undemanding in their habitat requirements, making them convenient for research.

‘And there are so many undiscovered possibilities!’

Adelia observed the fungus, documented its characteristics, and then carefully placed a foreign substance on the petri dish.

When the acidic substance touched the fungus, it appeared to be absorbed—drawn in like water into a sponge.

“Hmm? You’re quite capable, aren’t you?”

Tilting her head, Adelia added more acidic solution.

Once again, the liquid was drawn into the fungus. Yet the fungal spores retained their original form.

“Wait… what?”

Adelia looked up from the microscope and stared intently at the fungus on the petri dish.

Fungal specimens were typically easy to preserve but would readily deteriorate when exposed to foreign substances in experimentation.

Yet these specimens seemed to be behaving differently.

The moment that realization struck her, Adelia had no choice but to bolt upright.

Good grief, the fungus.

‘If…if this fungus could neutralize acidity, or even just absorb it…’

The Rigen Kingdom had extensive regions of highly acidic soil. Farming in such conditions was extraordinarily labor-intensive.

Specialized fertilizer was essential to neutralize the soil.

Yet the Rigen Kingdom hadn’t yet developed its own method for neutralizing such soil and relied almost entirely on imported fertilizers.

A neighboring nation that monopolized that method had made more than one troubling proposal to the Rigen Kingdom using fertilizer as leverage.

But what if the Rigen Kingdom could produce Neutralizing Fertilizer on its own?

‘This… this might be a major discovery.’

Excitement coursing through her, Adelia clenched her fists and bounced on her heels before hurrying out of the laboratory.

She then pushed open the door to the laboratory where Siern was working.

“Professor!”

Siern looked up with an oddly blank expression.

He hadn’t yet removed the gloves and mask with Antibacterial Function, walking toward the doorway with heavy, deliberate steps.

“What is it?”

His shadow, as he planted himself at the threshold, seemed to swallow her whole.

The pressure made Adelia hiccup once, and her lips trembled.

“I… um, well. I think I might have found something.”
“Found something?”
“Th-the fungus…”
“You haven’t been at free research for even half an hour. Don’t use the word ‘discovery.'”
“Ah, right. I apologize.”
“Write up a report once you’ve accumulated sufficient samples and patterns. Then we’ll discuss it.”
“Yes, understood!”

With that, the door swung shut with a bang.

Adelia’s cheeks flushed deep crimson.

‘W-well… I got all excited over just two observations. I really need to control myself.’

Turning around, Adelia trudged back into the laboratory.

But then her eyes brightened, and she clenched both fists firmly.

‘I can’t give up now! If my theory is correct, this could be…this could be…!’

A chance to earn a fortune, no less.

‘If this experiment succeeds, I could file for a Patent, couldn’t I?’

And once the patented technology was commercialized, the Rigen Kingdom could manufacture Neutralizing Fertilizer independently.

Then, even if the fertilizer was only consumed within the kingdom, an astronomical sum of money would flow in.

She might accumulate wealth so vast she’d lose count of the zeros.

If she succeeded in this experiment, that day would come all the closer.

‘I could finally repay some of what Senior Insel has sponsored me with!’

Adelia’s resolve ignited like a flame.

Wasn’t her goal to make full use of this opportunity, repay the debt of gratitude to the Whitten Duchy, and achieve independence on her own terms?

If the secret of the fake marriage were ever exposed, Loerston would suffer far greater damage than she would.

‘If even a hint of the marriage secret leaked out, he’d be in terrible trouble. I want to prevent that at all costs.’

With remarkable achievements here, she could establish herself independently and securely.

She could repay her debts and gracefully dissolve the marriage to Loerston, keeping this massive deception buried as a secret forever.

Adelia’s eyes gleamed with steadfast determination and bright resolve.

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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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