Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 2

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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 2

People here and there whispered as they caught sight of the sunset-colored hair peeking from beneath his hat, and recognized his face.

“That’s the Duke! Look!”
“My goodness, he’s come all the way to the research institute to escort his wife. How thoughtful of him.”

Adelia’s cheeks flushed deeper as she overheard their words.

Truly, the most handsome man in the Rigan Kingdom.

If you placed Loaerston in the heart of the capital’s central district on Del Buttom 3rd Street, you could never mistake him for anyone else.

His tall frame, stretched upward and honed through deliberate training into a lean, powerful form; the perfectly fitted frock coat and lustrous top hat; and beneath it all, hair like a burning sunset…….

One poet had even circulated a slim volume of verse among his colleagues, capturing him thus:

[When a burning sunset steals slowly through the deepest, most shadowed woods, a sprite slips along the edge of light.]

That single gesture—the way he lifted the brim of his hat in greeting—was enough to rob dozens of young ladies of sleep that night.

Perhaps men too.

Adelia felt something prickle unexpectedly in one corner of her chest.

Meanwhile, Loaerston savored the murmurs directed at him with an easy smile, then pressed his lips lightly to Adelia’s cheek.

A soft kiss.

‘……Oh.’

Her already flushed face transformed into something like a baked apple moments before bursting into flame.

She’d begun to stumble backward at this surprise—this sudden—attack(?), when

Loaerston pulled her firmly against him, and she found herself tumbling into his embrace.

The whispers around them swelled louder still.

Then Loaerston spoke softly.

“You shouldn’t try to escape from something like this, Adelia. What do you think we are to each other?”
“M-married. We’re, we’re married.”
“That’s right. See that you don’t forget it.”

Only then did he release her, his smile capable of enchanting anyone in its path.

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it as well.

“Have a productive day, my dear. We’ll see each other this evening.”

Adelia, playing her part, bowed her head carefully in return.

“Yes. You too, my … husband.”

Like a stiff wooden puppet, Adelia turned and walked away, her mind spinning in dizzy circles.

Though she stood before the Royal Research Institute—the place she’d yearned for so desperately—only one thought occupied her mind now.

Was this really alright?!

Fake marriage or not, was it really okay to go this far?!

***

The Royal Research Institute.

It was an institution established to allow the top-ranked graduates of the Royal Academy to undertake deeper scholarly research as Research Students.

Beyond science and mathematics, it encompassed literature, music, the visual arts—a broad spectrum of learning—and served as the dream and aspiration of all those who attended the Royal Academy.

Adelia spent considerable time searching for the office of Cieran, the professor who would oversee her studies.

Cieran was considered the kingdom’s foremost authority in microbiology and mycology.

Every Research Student who had trained under him held prestigious positions in relevant institutions, their competence beyond question.

Though his reputation for harsh paper reviews was equally well-known!

‘Oh, I’m so nervous……!’

Standing before the professor’s office, Adelia barely steadied her racing heart.

She reached for the doorknob, then hesitated—and knocked instead.

‘Oh no, I almost made a terrible mistake……!’

She took another deep breath and rapped lightly on the door with her small fist.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

A cold, low male voice answered from within.

As she opened the door and entered, she found a black-haired man peering into the lens of a Microscope.

“Hello! I’m Adelia Whitten, and I’m here as your new Research Student……!”
“Lower your voice.”

Hush.

Adelia’s mouth snapped shut instantly.

She hesitated for some time, unsure what to do, then……

she approached him carefully, holding out her gift.

Her lips remained firmly sealed the entire time.

On Cieran’s desk sat three Petri Dishes and a Microscope.

She wondered what he was observing.

Could it be some new fungus or microorganism?

She’d give anything to see it.

“Why are you staring so intently?”
“Oh? No, I—this is…….”

Cieran ignored the lavish gift box Adelia held out and spoke curtly.

“Put it over there.”
“Yes!”
“And lower your voice.”
“Yes, of course…….”

So it’s true what they say—he really is frightening, Adelia thought.

According to those who’d already graduated from the institute, Cieran’s nickname was “Iron Wall Cieran.”

He never reversed a decision, no matter how much one pleaded or begged—a reputation built on such

infamy. Or perhaps, renown.

“Want to have a look?”

As Cieran straightened up and regarded her, Adelia felt something she couldn’t quite name.

His eyes—black as his hair—were relentlessly cold.

‘……He really does have that iron wall atmosphere. Terrifying!’

Adelia felt cold sweat trickling down her spine.

She gasped in breath and tried to answer quickly when

Cieran pointed toward the microscope lens and spoke again.

“This. I’m asking if you want to look.”
“Oh, yes—yes! Yes, of course. If you’d allow me, I’d very much like to see.”
“Look carefully. And don’t make loud noises.”

Rigid with tension, Adelia pressed her eye to the microscope lens.

An unknown microorganism with a roughly triangular shape was moving about, seemingly searching for direction.

Adelia forgot even that Cieran was present beside her, her face slipping into an expression of rapture as she clasped her hands together.

“Oh, they’re just—they’re absolutely precious little things…….”

She’d let out her admiration louder than intended, and her face showed instant remorse.

What on earth were these organisms? She’d never learned about them at school, and she’d never seen them in the latest journals either…….

“Watch this.”

Speaking softly, Cieran tapped the edge of a Petri Dish with his fingertip.

“Good heavens!”
“That’s why I told you not to make loud noises. They respond to vibrations—their form changes.”

Adelia’s large eyes shone brilliantly.

“Professor, what exactly are these microorganisms? Bacteria? Fungus? I’ve never seen anything like them……!”
“Naturally you haven’t. I discovered them myself, recently.”
“Oh…….”
“There’s a moss called the Changer that grows only in the Western Forest. I found these in that moss.”
“Changer……. Is the name because their appearance changes?”
“Precisely. Their form collapses when exposed to vibrations from bird wings or animal footfalls. The collapsed form resembles decay, so other organisms won’t eat them.”

Adelia’s eyes now glowed with an almost crystalline brilliance.

“That’s remarkable……! Truly remarkable! These tiny creatures have such an ingenious survival strategy!”

Adelia had fallen utterly for these creatures she’d never seen before.

Working here in this institute meant she’d continue to see such adorable little things……right?

And more than that—she’d be among the very first to witness these newly discovered beauties?!

Even if it meant going through with a fake marriage to do so.

—Listen, Adelia.
—Yes?
—I need a fake bride to rescue me from endless nagging about marriage. And you want to get to the research institute, don’t you?
—I do want to, but…….
—Don’t worry. Our marriage won’t change anything. In fact, being married to me might bring you even more support.

At first, she’d protested vigorously that this was madness. But Loaerston was nothing if not persistent.

He’d persuaded her endlessly, as though he’d been waiting all along for someone exactly like Adelia.

If she’d refused outright to the very end, he probably wouldn’t have relented…….

‘But that’s what a kidnapper would do. He’s hardly so ungentlemanly as that.’

In any case, worn down by Loaerston’s relentless, inexhaustible persuasion, Adelia had said yes.

It had happened when she was already drowsy, half-asleep.

She’d tried to claim diminished mental capacity afterward, but once she’d agreed, events had moved with astonishing speed.

Registration of marriage.

Church approval of the union.

The announcement splashed across the newspapers!

While Loaerston had handled nearly everything, Adelia had found adapting to her new life exhausting beyond measure.

Just watching the servants trail after her all day attending to her every need had been draining enough!

‘But—but! To have come to this research institute……! It really was the right choice after all……!’

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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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