Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 18

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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 18

Loarston continued to whisper, unaware of the turmoil within her.

“She’s gracious but quite discerning in her judgment of people, yet she seems rather fond of you.”

Adelia pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm the frantic beating of her heart.

No matter how she looked at it, this was her first party with Loarston, and she’d been so anxious about creating nothing but awkward memories that she could hardly breathe.

Seeing relief settle across Adelia’s face, Loarston’s lips curved into the faintest smile, as though he’d been thinking of something.

He stepped before her, placed one hand behind his back, and lowered himself in a smooth, playful bow.

“Would you care to dance with me, my dear?”

Adelia’s eyes widened in surprise, but soon she took his hand shyly and with careful hesitation.

“I would be delighted. Though…”
“You can’t dance?”

At his playful remark, Adelia’s eyes grew wider still—the look of someone caught red-handed.

Loarston bit back the laughter threatening to spill forth and gave her a deliberate wink.

“I know your heart better than anyone, dear—as your husband should. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Well, if you put it that way, I have nothing to say in my defense…”
“Don’t worry. Just follow my lead.”

He drew her smoothly into the midst of the dancing couples.

Wrapping one arm gently around her waist, he leaned close to her ear and whispered before she could even speak.

“Feel free to step on my feet all you like.”

Adelia’s lips jutted out in a pouting pout, and she replied with mock indignation.

“If you say such things, I may very well take you up on it.”
“That’s precisely what I’m inviting, my dear.”

Loarston’s whisper was soft as silk.

He began to dance with practiced ease, and Adelia followed his fluid movements as though she’d become a butterfly in flight.

“You dance beautifully.”
“I had proper instruction for it. But you’re following along quite well yourself.”
“No, no—don’t tease! Oh!”

Adelia’s body spun in a half-rotation.

Before she could register that her back now rested against his chest, Loarston guided her with practiced skill once more.

“I’m not teasing.”

His lips brushed near her ear, and she felt the warmth of his breath.

Ah—that whisper again.

Adelia pressed her trembling fingertips harder and tried to hide the flush creeping across her cheeks.

***

“You’ve truly never heard anything about Dorothea before?”

Inside the carriage as they departed from the party.

Loarston showed the expression of someone who’d expected as much, though he couldn’t quite hide his inner surprise.

Adelia covered her lips with her fingertips, looking flustered.

“Not at all. Oh dear—is she someone famous? I hope my ignorance hasn’t caused offense.”
“No, that’s not it, so don’t worry.”

Loarston made a soft sound of consideration and smiled subtly as he relaxed his brow.

“She is famous, though—she’s been known for quite some time.”
“For quite some time?”
“She’s the mistress of the King.”

Adelia’s eyes blinked several times in succession, as though she’d encountered some unfathomable creature.

Whenever she heard talk of aristocratic gossip, she always wore that same bewildered expression.

“The King’s… mistress?”
“That’s right.”
“But surely His Majesty has a Queen?”
“He does.”
“And a princess too, and other children besides…”
“Yes, exactly right. You see, Adelia, among the nobility there are many who keep lovers or mistresses even after marriage. In fact, it’s not merely among the nobility—such things happen everywhere.”

Adelia fell silent in thought for a moment, then her lips formed an O of dawning understanding.

When she looked like that, she seemed like a child, and Loarston had to stifle his laughter once more.

“Goodness…!”
“But Dorothea is different from an ordinary mistress, you see. That’s why she draws so much attention. She’s been living in the Royal Palace all this time, and has only recently ventured outside.”
“I see…”
“Still, she’s a remarkable woman. Neither her character, her wealth, nor her connections leave anything to be desired.”

Loarston explained to her in detail the romance that had existed between the King and Dorothea.

From her youth, Dorothea had been close to the present King, and they’d fallen in love with an engagement being arranged between them.

But one day, when difficulties befell the Royal Palace, she was removed from the position of prospective queen.

In her stead came a princess from a neighboring kingdom, and though the King’s marriage averted the crisis to the realm, his personal love went unfulfilled—such was the tale.

“How terrible.”

Adelia sighed with genuine sympathy.

Loarston merely shrugged and replied.

“It’s the sort of story any royal house might have.”
“Any royal house at all?”
“You read about it in old tales—princesses who fall in love with knights but are forced to marry princes of neighboring lands, or the reverse with princes.”
“I’ve never read such books.”
“You really were raised to know nothing but your studies, weren’t you?”

Loarston’s fingertips brushed absently against the tip of Adelia’s nose.

The brief, inconsequential touch held her captive for a moment, but then drifted away like a feather, leaving her to wonder what had just passed.

“So does His Majesty still harbor feelings for Dorothea…?”
“Hush—that’s something no one knows for certain. Many gossip about why Dorothea left the Palace, but please don’t involve yourself in such talk.”

Adelia agreed without hesitation.

Given her nature and usual preferences, there was little cause for concern.

She was the sort of young woman who’d find it far more entertaining to collect one more fungus sample from a wall than to stir herself over royal scandals and gossip.

As the carriage arrived at the residence, Loarston helped Adelia down.

He instructed the driver to return early, and Adelia’s expression shifted—bewildered yet relieved.

“You seem pleased.”
“Carriages feel rather confining. I’m trying to grow accustomed to them, but…”
“You don’t enjoy carriages, but walking—that you like?”
“I do like walking.”

Adelia’s reply carried a smile at its edges.

“But why did you suddenly send the carriage ahead?”
“Well, you see…”

A gentle smile rose to Loarston’s lips as they walked slowly along.

In the moonlight, his face seemed to glow—the bashful, apologetic expression of a boy.

“I wanted to apologize for today, and I have something I’d like to show you.”
“An apology, you say…?”
“Well, it might be better described as wanting you to experience something rather than simply show it to you.”

He took her hand and began drawing her somewhere playfully.

The entrance of the Duke’s Residence lay just ahead, yet he moved with the mischievous air of someone making an escape.

“Wait! Where are we going?”

“This scent…”

Loarston, who had been watching her trail off, spoke softly.

“Familiar, isn’t it?”

Adelia drew in a deep breath, looked up at the night sky with a radiant smile.

“Apple blossoms. It’s the same scent that filled the Academy courtyard every spring.”
“Exactly. This path runs through land that belongs to the Duke’s Residence. Follow it further and you’ll find a small clearing where three apple trees stand—planted generations ago by my great-grandfather.”
“And yet they still thrive. How remarkable.”
“They do. It’s our family tradition to make Apple Wine from the apples harvested there each year and share it with those we know. And when the Autumn Harvest Festival approaches, we gather as a family to share wine made years before.”
“How lovely.”
“Do you know how to drink wine?”

Adelia pursed her lips, hesitated briefly, then shook her head.

“No. I’ve never had any. You know that.”

Whenever she’d dined with Loarston, she’d always drunk only water or fruit juices, never wine. And since today was her first party, she’d scarcely had occasion to taste spirits.

“Then you’ll need to practice drinking from now on. Our Apple Wine has a wonderful scent and flavor, though it’s rather strong.”

His words implied that he intended to share the family’s autumn tradition with her.

There was no boastfulness in his quiet statement, no pretense—only sincere intention.

And that was what made her happy.

Though she couldn’t explain why, Adelia had to press her lips together to keep the corners of her mouth from lifting into a broader smile.

As they passed through the Duke’s gardens, the scent of blossoms lingered at the tip of her nose.

Had she merely ridden in the carriage as always, she would never have noticed how the gardens were filled with this fragrance.

He’d sent the carriage ahead deliberately so she could breathe in this scent.

It was yet another tender side of Loarston.

As they crossed the garden inhaling the fresh, fragrant night air, Loarston playfully toyed with Adelia’s fingers.

Adelia didn’t pull away. If anything, she wished time could slow and linger like this.

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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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