Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 44

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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 44

But he wondered if that was really true.

Loarston had once mentioned in passing that Claria’s political influence wasn’t quite at that level.

“Do you really think it will come to that?”
“The odds are high. Prince Kluut—ah, that’s Claria’s brother’s name. At any rate, he’s a dull and unremarkable man, but he’s still the eldest son and a prince. The King’s favoritism toward his daughter knows no bounds.”
“The prince is to be pitied.”

Siern shrugged. It was an ambiguous gesture—whether agreement or something else.

“Now is not the time to sympathize with Kluut. The real problem comes after Claria actually ascends to the throne. Let me ask you a question about social customs, Adelia.”

Adelia straightened her posture as if she’d suddenly found herself in the Research Laboratory.

Siern spoke.

“When someone becomes a monarch, they gain one privilege that other nobles cannot enjoy. What is it?”
“Um…?”
“You know what the term ‘Royal Concubine’ means, don’t you?”

Adelia’s cheeks flushed crimson in an instant.

“Yes, I do.”
“Nobles often keep concubines or mistresses, but strictly speaking, it’s illegal. It’s just so commonplace that it goes unenforced. But here’s the thing, Adelia. A monarch can take a concubine as she pleases. Even if the woman is already married.”
“Even if she’s already married?!”

Good heavens, where was the justice in such a thing?

“How could any husband agree to such a thing…?”
“It’s a royal command. Does consent really matter?”

Fair point, Adelia thought. But she found it hard to simply accept.

“That’s… shocking.”

Siern let out a dry laugh and reached over to tap Adelia’s head with an impassive hand.

“Now do you understand what I mean? Why you need to stay sharp if Princess Claria becomes queen?”

She understood.

Of course she understood.

Adelia simply didn’t want to admit it to herself.

If Claria became queen, she would surely move heaven and earth to make Loarston her royal concubine.

No matter how much Loarston protested or resisted, it would be futile.

‘But until then… will I even still be by his side? Unless the princess becomes queen tomorrow…’

Still, it didn’t sit well with her. Their contract would end eventually, and they would become strangers to each other anyway, but…

“I hope something like that never happens.”

Adelia spoke quietly.

Siern stared at her for a moment, then tilted his head slightly.

“Are you two really married?”

Her chest dropped like a stone.

Her stomach twisted tight, and she barely swallowed back something rising in her throat. Adelia looked up with a face gone pale.

Then a subtle smile played at the corners of Siern’s mouth.

“Adelia, you really should learn to hide your expressions.”
“What? I…?”
“I was just probing to see, but you gave yourself away so blatantly. What am I supposed to do with that?”

Oh no. This was bad.

Her mind spun with the need to contain the damage somehow.

Adelia flailed her hands and scrambled for an excuse.

“I… I’m not sure what you mean, professor.”
“Stop. I’m beginning to feel sorry for you.”
“……”

Siern wrinkled his nose, then turned sharply and closed the Balcony door behind him.

He returned to his seat and crossed his legs.

“Tell me. What’s going on?”
“I… I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Don’t play dumb now that we’ve come this far.”

Adelia clutched at her own head inwardly.

How had things spiraled into this?!

Wasn’t disclosing the contract terms a violation of the agreement?

‘No, wait—I didn’t say anything. The professor figured it out himself. Does that still count as a breach? Good grief, what am I supposed to do? Think, just think…’

Siern spoke.

“I’m not the type to run my mouth about things. Why not just tell me and feel better about it?”
“Well, how could I be sure? You might discuss it with a close friend of yours, and things might slip out—”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t have any friends.”

Oh dear. Had she touched a sore spot again?

“Still… there’s a saying that goes: for a secret to be kept between two people…”
“One of them has to be dead?”
“Right.”
“If I ever feel the urge to tell your secret, I promise to drop dead of a heart attack on the spot. So don’t worry.”

This was outright coercion!

“Why are you so… eager to know?”
“Because I’m a scholar. Isn’t that what scholars do—move by the desire to know? What’s your take on it, Adelia?”
“Well, I…”

She couldn’t argue back, Adelia realized.

But it wasn’t just that… how to put it?

Part of her wanted to confess this secret to someone.

Seeing Loarston with Claria only weighed heavier on her heart. Perhaps she simply wanted relief, even here in front of Siern.

“You have to promise to keep the secret.”

Siern drew a finger across his lips as if zipping them shut.

Adelia nearly laughed.

“Do you really do things like that?”
“What do you take me for? Some phantom haunting the Research Laboratory?”

…Most people probably did think of him that way.

The thought rose to the tip of her tongue, but Adelia firmly swallowed it back.

She included herself in that “most people” after all.

“The story is a bit long…”
“Go ahead. I have nothing but time.”

Adelia let out a soft sigh, wondering where to begin. Her mind drifted to the day of graduation.

It seemed right to start from there.

“On graduation day, I was called to the Headmaster’s Office. That’s when I learned who had been sponsoring me all this time. And so…”

As her story unfolded, Siern listened with careful attention.

***

“Don’t you think it’s time to wrap this up?”

Despite the irritation in Loarston’s voice, Claria didn’t so much as raise an eyebrow.

Instead, she beamed widely, offering thanks and blessings to those who had come to congratulate her.

He wondered what expression Claria would make if he hurled this uncomfortable chair off the dais and smashed it to bits.

“Why such an impatient temperament?”

Claria whispered.

Loarston turned to her with an angry look, his lips pressed thin.

“Are you joking? This is twice as long as usual. When did you start caring so much about people’s congratulations?”
“While it was admittedly rude of you to sit there so quietly, I’ll let it pass today.”
“Once this is over, I’m leaving. Understand?”
“Try that, and I can’t promise what I’ll do.”

Loarston gritted his teeth and pressed a hand to his forehead.

The “something” Claria might do wasn’t directed at him.

He could endure any harm she brought upon herself with threats like that.

The problem was Adelia. Claria was clearly targeting her.

‘Adelia…’

The western second Balcony wasn’t clearly visible from where he sat.

Adelia was surely there alone, waiting for him.

The thought of it ached in his chest—not from shame at the situation, but from sheer regret.

The endless stream of congratulations finally came to an end.

It could have gone on longer, but Claria herself had lost patience.

She dismissed the remaining guests and ordered the orchestra to change the piece.

“Everyone should simply enjoy themselves this evening.”

At the words of the guest of honor, everyone laughed freely.

The gentle melody gave way to a lively dance tune.

Claria casually took Loarston’s hand.

“What are you waiting for? Let’s go dance.”
“Dance with someone else. I’ve already indulged you quite enough for one evening—surely that’s sufficient?”

Claria wrinkled her nose as if amused.

“Sufficient? It’s nowhere near enough. What are you talking about?”
“Claria Regan, tormenting people should have its limits.”
“I’m offering you the honor of standing beside me. Is that tormenting? Ask the others—no one would say so.”

She seized the moment when all eyes were upon them and yanked Loarston’s hand sharply toward her.

She knew perfectly well that he couldn’t resist.

Ahead of them stood the gossip-hungry nobility, and behind them sat the King and Queen.

If he pulled away from Claria here, it would amount to insulting the royal family.

“Smile, Loarston.”

As she dragged him toward the center, Claria bent close and whispered.

But Loarston’s expression remained frozen throughout.

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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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