Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 42

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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 42

“Go on.”
“The second balcony on the west side—don’t forget. Wait for me there. It’s too crowded here.”
“Yes, I will.”
“I’ll be there soon.”

Loarston’s lips touched Adelia’s forehead briefly, then withdrew.

Everyone nearby watched the two of them with warm, knowing smiles.

Adelia’s face flushed crimson. She covered her forehead with her palm and slipped quietly through the crowd.

‘Why does he keep kissing me when there’s no need?’

It was all an act anyway. That’s what Adelia thought.

When there were plenty of people around or when it was genuinely necessary, she understood. But did he really need to perform this charade at every turn?

What she found most incomprehensible was her own self—the way she seemed to be falling for the performance.

Adelia walked toward the west balcony, then paused and gave her cheek a light tap.

‘Get a grip.’

But when she thought of the sensation of his lips, she couldn’t stop her cheeks from burning.

Loarston let out a sigh as he took in the line of people stretching before him.

More than half were young, whether male or female, and most of them were ardent admirers of Claria.

Her willful, even savage nature wouldn’t stay hidden no matter how much she tried to mask it, but her admirers paid that no mind at all.

They simply idolized her beauty and her aloof temperament, nothing more.

That might not be a sin, but Loarston, who had suffered at Claria’s hands since childhood, found her admirers utterly sickening to behold.

“Duke Loarston.”

Loarston turned toward the voice.

It was Princess Claria’s lady’s maid.

‘Trouble’s brewing again,’ he thought.

Loarston tried to settle the heavy feeling in his stomach and responded as impassively as he could manage.

“What is it?”
“Princess Claria has sent me to fetch you, Your Grace.”
“It’ll be my turn soon enough. Why such urgency?”
“The Princess insists you come at once.”

The maid’s tone was unyielding.

Loarston had witnessed this before and knew her nature well.

She had served Claria for years—what else would one expect?

He finally stepped out of line and followed her.

One of Claria’s admirers watched him leave with jealous eyes.

Loarston wanted to tell that person: ‘If you wish, I’d gladly trade places.’

The moment Loarston appeared, Claria waved the crowd back.

He climbed the dais under all eyes and performed a formal Court Bow.

“Your Highness, I wish you the happiest of birthdays.”
“Thank you, Duke Loarston. But where is your gift?”

Loarston felt cornered and ground his teeth in silent rage.

He had sent an emissary with the gift to Claria long ago.

In fact, that was the first thing he’d done after receiving the Royal Palace’s invitation.

“Your Highness, I assure you—”
“You’ve forgotten to bring it, haven’t you?”

Claria’s voice was unnecessarily loud.

It was loud enough to carry past the few people three paces away, to reach everyone nearby, and even to the King and Queen seated in the back.

Loarston bowed deeply and whispered.

“What are you doing?”

Claria’s shoulders shook slightly. A scoff.

“What do you mean, what am I doing? You haven’t brought a gift. That’s rude.”
“I clearly sent—”
“I don’t recall receiving anything.”

Loarston slowly closed his eyes, then opened them. He needed to master his anger.

He stepped back and bowed with proper deference once more.

“My sincere wish to celebrate your birthday moved me to thoughtlessness, and I have committed a breach of courtesy. I beg your forgiveness.”
“Today is a fine day, so I’ll overlook it this once. Sit beside me instead.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Bring a chair for the Duke.”

The attendants quickly produced a chair that had clearly been prepared in advance.

Realizing this had been her intention all along, rage flooded up to the crown of his head.

Loarston retreated slightly and spoke.

“That would be unseemly. Today you are the guest of honor—I couldn’t presume—”
“Sit down, Duke Loarston. Everyone’s waiting.”

‘Talking to a wall would be more productive,’ Loarston thought.

He searched for a way to escape the situation, but found none.

Even a last resort glance at the King yielded nothing.

Whether deliberately or not, the King was pointedly ignoring him.

“Sit down already. What are you doing? Making me wait?”

Voices calling out “Please be seated” began to echo from all around.

“Duke Loarston. Today may be a fine day, but don’t test my patience too far. You won’t like what happens.”

Loarston spun around, his lip twisting.

Calls for him to be seated grew louder around him.

Even those not in the line turned and murmured, wondering what was happening.

Finally, he sat beside Claria with an air of barely restrained readiness to bolt.

The moment he’d settled, her arm shot out and seized his hand in an iron grip.

“Let go.”

Loarston tried to wrench his hand free, but her grip was so strong he couldn’t break it without causing a scene.

Still clutching him, Claria tilted her head and smiled sweetly.

“Think carefully. You know better than anyone what happens when you cross me.”
“What is this? Aren’t you ashamed?”
“The one who should be ashamed is your wife—a woman with no manners. She arrives at her first Royal Palace party and doesn’t even come pay her respects to me.”
“Don’t blame Adelia. She—”
“Hush. Stop talking. You’re annoying me.”

Her grip tightened further.

Loarston frowned and bowed his head.

All he could do was hope that Adelia had found her way to the west balcony and was waiting for him there.

***

Meanwhile, Adelia was wandering about the western reaches of the palace, searching for the second balcony Loarston had mentioned.

With the clue “second,” she’d thought she could find it quickly enough.

But she couldn’t figure out where the count began.

From the south or from the north?

‘He said I shouldn’t venture anywhere else….’

She was curious about the reason, but this wasn’t the time for curiosity.

The crowd blocked her view of where Princess Claria was sitting, so she had no idea what Loarston was doing or where.

She wanted to hurry to their meeting place and wait before they missed each other.

“Excuse me.”

Adelia turned at the voice.

A young woman in a pale sky-blue dress, dressed beautifully and radiant.

Her hands clasped together in prayer and her sparkling eyes made her look like someone who’d just met an opera singer they’d long admired.

“Can I help you with something?” Adelia asked warmly.

“Ah, yes, I am, but—”
“Oh my goodness! I never knew you’d be so kind and so beautiful! We were actually wondering if you even existed, since no one ever sees you anywhere.”

Adelia’s lips curved into a smile.

“Microorganisms don’t show up either, but they’re real.”

“Never mind.”
“Would you come talk with us for a bit? My friends are over there, and we’re actually—I hope it’s not rude to say—we were fans of Duke Loarston. We’re a bit sad he’s become only one woman’s man now, but don’t worry! We think nothing badly of the Duchess, not at all!”
“Actually, I really need to go somewhere—”

“Do you have someone you need to meet?”

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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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