Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 47

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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 47

“You’ll have to tell me what’s wrong if you want my help.”
“Well, the thing is…….”

Cierne listened patiently as she fumbled through her explanation, not interrupting once.

When she reached the part about Violet’s reaction upon learning she’d been on the Balcony, Cierne let out a soft laugh through his nose.

“There’s nothing to worry about. We didn’t do anything wrong, you and I.”
“But still, but… when Rudolf said what he said…….”
“Who’s Rudolf?”
“Your secretary, sir. What if my presence has damaged your reputation? How am I supposed to…….”
“If a reputation can be tarnished so easily, then it was never a reputation to begin with. Even if someone asks out of curiosity, we can simply explain honestly. That’s all there is to it.”

He’s right, Adelia murmured to herself. Cierne was absolutely right.

But tears threatened to spill. She already knew the world didn’t operate like the pages of a textbook.

People would never believe her side of the story.

Instead, they might whisper that she was pretending innocence to hide something shameful.

“Whittone—no, Adelia.”
“……Yes?”
“Try not to worry so much. You’re in a Panic State right now. You need to clear your head.”
“A panic… me?”
“Yes. You’re not thinking straight. Wait here for me. I’ll bring you something to drink.”

She didn’t feel like drinking anything, but Adelia nodded obediently.

Rushing about in a panic wouldn’t solve anything—it only made things worse. Perhaps it was better to sit still.

Cierne returned with two glasses of Champagne, offering one to Adelia.

She’d never tried it before, so it frightened her a little, but a sip or two seemed harmless.

Adelia wet her lips with the Champagne, squeezed her eyes shut, and exhaled.

“You’re not drinking?”
“Oh, well… I’m still learning how.”
“Then why didn’t you say so? I should have brought you Apple Juice instead.”
“No! This is fine!”

Adelia didn’t want to be a nuisance to Cierne, so she shook her head while clutching the glass stem firmly.

Cierne drained his glass in one go, set it on the windowsill, and folded his arms.

“The real problem is that the Duke of Insel has vanished.”
“That’s true. Where on earth could he have gone…….”
“No, I don’t care where he went. The problem is that he made this whole mess and then left you alone anyway.”

Adelia’s lips parted slightly.

But she couldn’t think of how to argue back.

Perhaps it was because she harbored the same thought deep in her own heart.

“Contract Marriage or not, your husband’s behavior has been rather irresponsible.”

Adelia simply closed her mouth.

Explaining otherwise to Cierne wouldn’t help right now.

And besides, a prickle of disappointment was poking its head up inside her.

If she tried to defend Insel now, it wouldn’t sound like her true feelings.

Cierne, lost in deep thought, stroked his chin as he spoke.

“What do you think about ending that Contract Marriage right now?”

Startled by the unexpected suggestion, Adelia nearly dropped her glass. Her fingers trembled as she barely caught it.

“W-what do you mean?”
“I mean end it. You accepted the Contract Marriage because of the Research Laboratory tuition, didn’t you?”
“That’s true, but…….”
“I’ll cover the tuition. No contract, nothing. I’ll support you until you graduate, so I’d prefer you sever ties with the Duke of Insel.”

So it was true—surprise could actually stop your breath.

She held her breath throughout Cierne’s entire speech.

By the time she managed to breathe again, her chest ached dully.

“I can’t… I can’t do that, Professor.”
“Why not? You’re not just some ordinary student. You’re a talented scholar. Nurturing future scholars is both the privilege and duty of teachers. If you’d come to my Research Laboratory first and discussed this, none of these problems would have arisen.”
“But the Research Laboratory tuition… and besides, there isn’t much funding in Microbiology anyway.”

Cierne chuckled.

“If you’re going to fret over funding, you can’t pursue Microbiology. Why do you think I agreed to become the adopted son of the Marquis House? I had the position to refuse, you know.”

In other words, he was covering the Research Laboratory’s deficit with the Marquis House’s wealth.

Now, finally, she understood why the Research Laboratory had such cutting-edge equipment and such spacious, immaculate facilities.

It was such an obvious truth that she felt foolish for not seeing it sooner.

“Even so, I can’t.”
“I think you should. A scientist pursues truth. If you’re to pursue truth, you can’t afford to stray down pointless paths. You must identify your true goals clearly and move forward. Right now, you’re squandering the energy you could devote to research. Don’t you think that’s wasteful?”

His words stung her deeply.

If she was honest, she’d felt that way before.

Rather often, actually.

Like when she spent two hours every morning just grooming herself, or when she had to write responses to people she didn’t even know.

If she’d spent even one more hour reading instead of managing her duties as a Duchess, she could have read at least three of the latest scientific publications.

“The fact that you can’t answer tells me I’m right.”

Cierne said softly.

“Go back to the Mansion. Wait there, and he’ll come eventually. When the Duke returns, tell him you’re ending the Contract.”
“I can’t…….”
“Don’t say you can’t. I’ll speak to Dorothea and have her see to your lodging and livelihood. Living with her would be far better than living in the House of Insel, and you’d learn a great deal from her.”

Adelia suddenly felt as though she were sinking into a quagmire.

Cierne’s offer came from a place of genuine kindness, but her situation had only become more complicated.

Breaking the Contract with Insel—she’d never even considered it.

After all, hadn’t she sought him out in the first place to repay a debt to his father?

But if she mentioned that to Cierne, he’d probably offer to pay off that debt as well.

Adelia hesitated, twisted her fingers nervously, and took a step back from Cierne.

“I’m truly grateful for your consideration, Professor. But… I think I need to discuss this further with my husband.”
“There’s a shortcut available, yet you insist on taking the long way?”

Being scolded by someone for the first time in her life was both refreshing and frightening.

With her lips pressed together and her head bowed, Adelia thought carefully about what to say.

Even if it sounded like an excuse, she had to say this.

“Still… I was the one who told my husband I wanted to repay the debt, and he’s done things he didn’t have to, just for my sake. Your offer is truly appreciated, Professor, but I’d like to work through this with my husband.”

Cierne studied her for a moment, then shrugged.

“Do as you wish. Pushing further seems pointless.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“Don’t thank me. There’s nothing to thank me for. Anyway, the party will probably wind down now. Shall we take a walk?”
“Oh, there’s someone I need to find…….”
“Who? That young lady Violet? Forget about her.”
“But I should clear up the misunderstanding…….”
“If a few words from you could resolve it instantly, she wouldn’t have reacted that way in the first place. Trust me. Stepping in now will only make things worse. Nobility—men and women alike—they love to tear each other apart.”

He had a point.

She could easily understand it by recalling how people had gossiped about Dorothea.

Adelia finally agreed to walk through the Corridor with Cierne and headed outside.

As she descended the Staircase, the memory of colliding with Violet made her head spin again.

“Oh……!”

Lost in thought, she wasn’t watching her step, and her heel caught on the edge of a stair.

Had Cierne not caught her as she began to slip, it would have been a dangerous situation—her head might have split open.

“What are you doing? Be careful!”

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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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