Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 36

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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 36

Loureston stared fixedly at Claria.

She wasn’t interested in the truth at all—merely bulldozing her own thoughts forward as if they were fact.

But from Loureston’s perspective, this matter alone was enough to demand caution.

If it came to light that his marriage to Adelia was nothing more than a contractual arrangement, the fallout would be considerable.

“I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours, Claria, but if you’re going to claim my marriage to Adelia isn’t real, bring me proof.”
“I don’t need proof. It’s right in front of my eyes. You’re the proof, Roy.”
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Look at yourself. You’re the master of Insel House and a duke of this realm. Yet you take the daughter of a fallen house—a woman who’s been stripped of nobility for so long she barely remembers what it means—and make her your duchess? It’s absurd.”

Claria burst into loud, mocking laughter.

“No sane man would do such a thing.”
“The reason I don’t like you, Claria, is precisely because you only think that way. You always have.”
“And what makes you any different? You pretend to be kind, but really you don’t care about anyone. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Loureston bit the inside of his lip and said nothing for a moment.

He held his silence even as Claria’s confidence swelled.

And that was because her words weren’t entirely false. Stubborn though they were, they held a grain of truth.

Some truth.

Before he met Adelia.

“I’m sorry, but that’s ancient history.”

This time, it was Claria’s turn to look startled.

“Ancient… history?”
“Yes. Before I met Adelia. Did I not love anyone? Perhaps. But not anymore. I love my wife. More than anyone. So I’d appreciate it if you’d leave now. I have nothing left to say to you.”

Claria stamped her foot in indignation.

“You are my father’s servant, which makes you my servant as well. Don’t you understand that when I inherit the throne, you’ll kneel at my feet and swear your loyalty?”
“If you truly become queen, then I’ll kneel or lose a leg when the time comes. For now, get out.”

Claria realized that further words would be pointless, yet she had no intention of surrendering.

Why would she ever give up?

She believed that when she wanted something, she simply had to take it—and that this was the natural order of things.

“You’re welcome to bring your wife to my birthday party. Actually, you will bring her. If you don’t, I’ll send people to drag her here myself.”

She tapped his cheek lightly—an irritatingly gentle touch.

“See you then.”

Loureston knocked her hand away with a sharp gesture.

Claria’s face flushed red and she breathed heavily through her nose. Then, as if to prove her superiority, she left the manor with a confident stride.

“Sir…”

It was only the sound of Adelia’s voice from behind that stopped him—otherwise, an innocent stool would have gone flying into the wall.

Loureston loosened his cravat irritably, then forced his expression to relax as he looked at Adelia.

But it was difficult to meet her eyes, which were full of concern, honestly.

—You really don’t care about anyone at all.

Yes. Loureston cursed silently to himself.

That’s how he’d lived until now—never giving anyone deep attention, only being kind to the extent propriety demanded.

But with Adelia, he didn’t want to be that way.

With Adelia…

“Are you all right, sir?”

Adelia slipped cautiously through the doorway and asked softly.

Loureston smiled, raising the corners of his mouth, but both of them knew it wasn’t a real smile.

“I’m sorry. If she were a prince instead of a princess, I’d have slapped her face and thrown her out.”
“What if someone hears you say something like that?”

Adelia, flustered, made a show of looking around.

Loureston’s expression turned strangely uncertain—something between a laugh and a frown—as his brows knitted together.

Adelia was a clever, endearing woman.

His own father had done his best to teach and protect her, and Loureston himself felt responsibility for the patronage that had continued from his father’s time.

If he could only provide her an environment in which to study, Adelia would surely one day make an important discovery for Rigan.

That’s why he’d proposed this false marriage to her.

And at the same time, he’d wanted to solve the problems surrounding him.

But the fact that this problem not only remained unsolved but had instead returned as an even heavier shackle was something he hadn’t anticipated—and therein lay his mistake.

“I’m truly sorry, Adelia.”
“I’m not troubled at all, sir. I’m worried about you. The princess seemed rather… relentless.”

She’d nearly said stubborn, but that seemed too rude.

Adelia considered this, though even “relentless” was a softened version of what she meant.

“Claria is unreasonably headstrong. Everything must go her way, or she won’t be satisfied.”
“That did seem to be the case.”
“The reason I haven’t pushed her away more forcefully is that I’ve only recently become a duke.”
“I see.”
“His Majesty favors those who’ve earned merit.”

The King of Rigan was a thorough meritocrat—generous to those who did their work well, but rarely merciful to those who didn’t.

Thus, young nobles who’d only recently inherited their houses had to prove themselves through their work in Parliament or their research, giving their absolute best.

Loureston was currently establishing his position swiftly in Parliament and earning the King’s trust—an exceptionally rare occurrence.

If necessary, if there was no other way, Loureston was prepared to stake the King’s trust and favor without hesitation, betting them all on the table.

But not yet.

Not yet.

“So I hope you won’t misunderstand. I want you to know that I don’t have feelings for Claria, that this isn’t why I… why I did what I did.”

Adelia suddenly closed her lips, unsure what to say.

There was something else she wanted to ask, but the way Loureston preempted her made it a question she couldn’t voice.

‘Is it really true? What do you truly think of the princess, sir? Please tell me honestly.’

That was the curiosity she harbored, but if she asked him now, she could all too easily guess what answer would come back.

Did Loureston truly feel nothing for Princess Claria?

Adelia knew nothing of love.

She’d overheard friends who liked romantic novels gossiping about such things from time to time, but she had virtually no knowledge of actual romantic relationships.

She already knew why Loureston had married her falsely, but Princess Claria’s presence continued to weigh on her mind.

What was his true feeling?

Once he achieved his goal and divorced her, wouldn’t he simply end up marrying the princess instead?

Wasn’t all this pushing the princess away just an act?

According to the scant knowledge she’d picked up, romantic novels called this kind of thing “push and pull,” if she recalled correctly…

But even if Loureston were doing that, what say would she have in it?

‘I think I’d dislike it if he did.’

Unaware that Adelia was sinking deeper into her own thoughts, Loureston took her hand and left a light kiss on the back of it.

“Do you remember that Princess Claria’s birthday party is tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Would you be willing to go with me? I’m asking just to be sure.”

Adelia’s lips pressed shut momentarily.

She didn’t care about Claria’s birthday, nor did she have any desire to celebrate it, but…

Still, she felt it would be easier on her heart to go with him than to let him go alone.

“I’ll go with you. It’s part of my duty, isn’t it? Isn’t that in the contract?”
“Of course it is.”

A faint smile crossed Loureston’s face.

Adelia deliberately brightened her expression and lightly squeezed his hand.

“Then let’s proceed according to the contract, sir.”
“Thank you, Adelia.”

Loureston pressed a kiss to her forehead. Adelia’s cheeks flushed a delicate peach.

***

‘Even though I said all that…’

Adelia, dressed in a white coat, let out her twelfth sigh as she stared at the microscope before her.

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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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