Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 30

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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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Episode 30

“I’ve dreamed since childhood of conquering the cold! Did you know the cold virus undergoes mutation after mutation? The truth is, what we think isn’t a cold often starts with cold symptoms at first. So the cold is really the root of all illness, and I thought if I could completely conquer it, I could help people live healthier lives, couldn’t I?”
“…But plenty of scholars have already researched the cold. Isn’t it the established consensus, just as you said, that it’s impossible to conquer because of the mutations?”
“That’s true, but… if we could predict the next mutation, wouldn’t our response be faster and easier?”

Loaston looked at Adelia’s bright face and suddenly burst out laughing.

“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh, I was just thinking what a remarkable person my wife is. Marrying someone like you makes me wonder if I’m good enough.”
“But you graduated at the top of your class!”
“That may be, but I was never a scholar burning with enthusiasm like you are.”

At that, Adelia’s eyes widened suddenly.

Before he could even think something was off, she grasped both his hands firmly.

“It’s not too late.”
“…What’s not too late?”
“You could register at the Laboratory yourself! What was your favorite subject? In my opinion, you should study what you love. Doing what you’re passionate about beats being good at something. Even though I was best at mathematics, I entered a laboratory researching microorganisms. Either way, if you walk the path of a researcher, it’ll be wonderful! Please write a paper that astounds the world!”

Loaston gently lowered Adelia’s hands and patted the back of her hand as he spoke.

“I appreciate the thought, but if I had that kind of passion, I would have become a scholar long ago.”
“But…”
“As you said, my grades were excellent. They always were. But I never had a strong desire to ‘learn’ something. People like me, if they become scholars, end up stagnating and ultimately destroying themselves.”
“I think you’re being too harsh in your self-assessment.”
“Call it a good grasp of objectivity about myself, then. Ah, I’ve been talking too much—I’m exhausted.”

Adelia spoke in alarm.

“I’m sorry—I wasn’t being considerate enough…”
“What? No, it’s not your fault. Don’t worry about it.”
“Then I’ll take my leave. You should rest properly.”

At that moment, a mischievous thought occurred to Loaston.

Or rather, it was something closer to genuine feeling than mischief.

“Didn’t you say you’d take care of me?”

He couldn’t let her go like this.

Or rather, he didn’t want to.

How delightful it would be if Adelia stayed by his side.

“But if I stay, I’ll keep talking…”
“That’s fine. Come here. Ah, but I shouldn’t let this cold spread to you.”
“It’s all right. I don’t catch colds.”
“Because you’re not foolish?”

Adelia giggled and sat at the head of his bed.

She brushed a strand of hair from Loaston’s sweat-dampened forehead and offered him a concerned smile.

“Don’t be ill.”
“I probably will be. It’s likely the stress.”
“Is something wrong?”

Loaston seemed to deliberate for a moment, his eyes moving slowly before he sighed and pressed his palm to his forehead.

“That birthday party for the princess I mentioned earlier. To be honest, I don’t want to go either.”

In an instant, Adelia felt an electric jolt run through her entire body.

According to Dorothea, the two of them were once a couple who might have married.

Dorothea said Loaston showed little interest in marriage to Klaria, and that it was rather the princess herself who pursued the connection.

Judging from what Loaston said now, Dorothea’s words didn’t seem false.

But no one can ever truly know another’s heart.

‘Only he knows what he truly thinks of the princess.’

Perhaps Loaston, despite what he said, was already considering marriage to Klaria.

Just as he had deceived the world with a fake marriage to Adelia, perhaps his future with the princess too lay hidden behind a veil.

‘If that’s the case, then after I divorce him…’

Then Princess Klaria would become the Duchess Insel.

A princess of Rigan and a Duchess. Quite a distinguished title, wouldn’t it be.

Unlike Adelia, who felt uncomfortable even calling herself a Duchess, she would wear it with confidence.

Because her station was real.

And her love for Loaston—at least according to Adelia’s understanding—would be real too.

“Adelia?”

Noticing her silence, Loaston tapped the back of her hand.

“Oh, I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I didn’t say anything. What are you thinking about so intently? Is it about the birthday party?”

Partly, Adelia thought.

What is your relationship with Princess Klaria?

Does she truly wish to marry you?

…And what of you?

Wouldn’t it be far better for you to marry the princess?!

Yet none of these questions could leave her lips.

For some reason, asking them felt as though it would transform everything between her and Loaston entirely.

And that terrified her.

There was one more reason, which Adelia herself refused to acknowledge, yet it mattered deeply.

If Loaston said, “Yes, I love Klaria. But due to unavoidable circumstances, I married you as a fake marriage for now”…

‘Then I wouldn’t be able to bear being a Duchess any longer.’

Her heart ached at the thought, though she couldn’t say why.

Adelia chose to leave her curiosity unsatisfied.

She didn’t want to pry and hurt herself in the process.

“Nearly finished, Your Highness.”
“‘Nearly finished’—how much is that? Seventy percent? Eighty?”
“Ah, there are still some flowers that haven’t arrived, so we’re not quite at that stage yet…”

“Y-yes, Your Highness.”
“Do you think I don’t know how well Ianna, my previous lady, handled things? Because you’re slacking off and dragging your feet, here I am, coming all the way here to prod you about it. Have you nothing to say for yourself?”

“Your Highness, I sincerely apologize! I will devote myself fully to the preparations, and I’ll have the servants work faster as well.”
“Honestly! This is infuriating! There’s not a single capable person among you!”

“Then why did the Queen appoint someone like Countess Montreyte to lead the preparations? She’s the problem. She does nothing right! Everything is half-measures!”

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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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