Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 49

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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 49

“How could I not worry?”

With a splash, warm, fragrant water cascaded over Adelia’s shoulders.

“Did something happen at the party? I’ve never seen such an expression on the master’s face before, let alone yours, ma’am.”
“Nothing happened, really. Princess Claria just… fell. That’s what worried everyone, I suppose.”
“But why haven’t you exchanged a single word with your husband?”

Adelia didn’t answer. Instead, she pressed her fingertips to the bridge of her nose.

Her head was pounding.

Wondering if it was the steam, she rose from the bathtub earlier than planned.

“Ma’am, are you leaving already?”
“I have a headache. I think we should stop here for today.”

Liliet brought a large towel and carefully dried Adelia’s body.

Next, she helped her into a chemise and draped a thin gown over it.

Then she combed through her wet hair with meticulous care until it was completely dry.

“Thank you.”

Adelia spoke softly.

Touching her hair, which still retained some moisture, she turned back to Liliet.

“I’d like to be alone for a while, Liliet.”
“What about dinner, ma’am?”
“I’m not hungry. I’m sorry. If I need anything, I’ll call. Could you leave me be?”

Liliet felt a flicker of unease at Adelia’s unusual manner.

But she looked so urgent that Liliet had no choice but to acquiesce.

“Very well, ma’am. If you need me—”
“I’ll call, I promise. Don’t worry.”

After Liliet left, Adelia sat before the vanity for a long moment.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Paler still after the bath, her skin glowed like a ghost’s.

Beside it, hair cascading in waves shone as though it belonged to someone else.

‘What am I doing here?’

The sudden thought shook her heart violently.

It was what she had asked herself every moment of nearly ten days after arriving at the Insel Duchy.

But then she had only been bewildered, not bitter as she felt now.

“What am I doing here?”

As she sat numbly, she felt a throbbing behind her eyelids.

Tears threatened to spill at any moment.

She looked up at the ceiling instead, and a beautiful painting depicting the sea came into view.

When Adelia first came to live in this house, the ceiling fresco was what moved her most.

It had been plain white plaster originally, but Loerston had urgently commissioned someone to complete the painting.

When he asked if she liked it, Adelia found herself nearly speechless.

She had never seen such a beautiful image—the gleam of foam and the blue waves in varying shades touched her heart deeply.

It felt like freedom.

As though she had been trapped in darkness and finally stepped into the light, her spirit soared.

She could even smell the salt of the sea.

Dwelling on all of this, tears finally came.

She wiped away the salt water with the back of her hand, then wandered her room like a child alone in a stranger’s house.

Lost, uncertain, hesitant.

“This won’t do.”

After pacing for a time, Adelia murmured to herself.

She tapped her cheeks with her fingertips, then struck them harder until they made a sound.

The sharp sting brought her mind back into focus.

“What are you doing? This won’t do. You can’t solve anything this way.”

With each word, her thoughts grew clearer.

It wasn’t a graceful sight—muttering to herself like this—but it helped.

The breeze cleared the fog that had clouded her mind.

Holding the windowsill with her eyes closed for a long moment, she finally turned away, drawing her gown closed.

‘I need to talk to him.’

Remembering Loerston’s sharp words, her body trembled.

If she was honest, she was frightened.

But it was unavoidable—it had to be done.

Otherwise, from now on…

A knock at the door snapped her back to awareness.

“Yes?”

She answered quickly, out of habit from working in the study, and opened the door.

The sight of Loerston standing there made her heart plummet.

He didn’t look displeased as he had before. He didn’t seem cheerful either, but…

How to describe it? He looked downcast, like a scolded child.

“May I come in?”
“Oh, yes. Of course.”

Adelia was relieved that her voice hadn’t wavered.

Having changed his clothes, Loerston’s damp hair gave him an altered appearance.

Perhaps the dark, melancholic light in his usually untroubled eyes was new—she couldn’t say for certain.

The word “sensual” flashed through Adelia’s mind before she recoiled as if burned, hastily erasing it.

“Should we sit and talk?”
“Yes.”

Yes, yes, yes. Don’t act like a fool!

Adelia scolded herself.

As Loerston sat at the table, Adelia reached for a bell to summon Liliet.

But before the bell could chime, Loerston gently caught her wrist.

“Let’s talk first.”

Adelia sat across from him without a word.

With his hands clasped on the table, Loerston struggled for words, his lips working soundlessly.

“May I speak first?”
“Yes, please do.”

It seemed right. In truth, she had little to say about today’s incident.

Even the thought of bringing up Princess Claria or the west balcony made her feel ill.

“Well, first…”
“Wait, please.”

Loerston looked at her in surprise.

She needed to address the matter of Claria, the west balcony, and Violet. Adelia had decided this.

Even if she had little to say, she owed him an explanation.

It had to come before his apology.

Because he—at least he—

deserved to know what misunderstanding had occurred before he apologized.

“I think I should speak first, actually. Is that all right?”

When Loerston nodded, Adelia drew a long breath, her hands folded in her lap.

“First, I want to tell you about the west balcony where we were supposed to meet.”
“…”
“I got confused—south or north, I wasn’t sure. While I was looking, I saw Professor Siern there. I meant only to greet him, but I ended up having a conversation with him instead. I’m sorry I wasn’t at the place we agreed on. But you should have explained properly to me as well.”

Loerston swallowed hard and lowered his gaze.

“You’re right.”
“Do you know who told me about the balcony? Rudolf. And before I heard it from him, do you know who I spoke to about it? Violet.”
“Violet?”
“Yes. I met her coming out of the manor. When she heard about the balcony, she became furious—almost as if she wanted to condemn me. I didn’t understand why then.”

Adelia paused there, breathing out slowly.

“Why didn’t you tell me? If you had, I wouldn’t have even looked at another balcony.”
“That’s…”
“And one more thing. I… I don’t know what kind of relationship you and Princess Claria have. It troubles me so much I can barely stand it. I don’t know why, but when I think that you might someday marry Princess Claria…”
“Why would you think such a thing?”
“Because it’s reasonable!”

Adelia’s voice rose, startling both Loerston and herself.

But the words poured from her lips unstoppably.

“You’ve been friends with her since childhood, and you’re the confident master of the Insel Duchy, able to hold your own anywhere. There’s nothing strange about marrying a princess.”
“Haven’t you seen how much I despise Claria?”
“That alone isn’t certain. People and their relationships… I’m ashamed to say this since I’ve never had real friends like you have, but human bonds can change for the worse—and the better too.”
“So you really thought I had a good relationship with Claria?”
“You did grant Princess Claria’s request, after all. That’s why I…”
“Adelia, Adelia.”

Loerston seized her wrist suddenly.

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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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