Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 5

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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 5

“More than that—what sort of intestinal disease? Is it Inner Wall Damage, or does it affect the stomach itself?”
“……Something closer to Inner Wall Damage…….”
“Really? Then what happens? Does it cause vomiting? Or diarrhea? Chills?”
“……Do you have an interest in medicine as well?”

Adelia let out a small sound of surprise and broke into a sheepish smile.

“Only a little. Ah, but please don’t misunderstand! I’m simply curious about how fungi and viruses and such affect the human body.”

Siern couldn’t bring himself to ask ‘why?’

Because if this strange student of his answered with those lovely eyes sparkling, ‘For human experimentation!’, he had no idea what he would do.

How on earth would he even respond to that…….

As Siern’s silence stretched on, Adelia’s excited demeanor cooled in an instant.

The world lurched before her eyes, and her head began to spin.

‘What on earth have I done……?’

This was the real problem.

Whenever the subject of microorganisms came up, she became so delighted that she couldn’t control her tongue.

‘The instructors at the Academy have been startled by me more than once…….’

Now that she was grown and a formal research apprentice, she should know better than to conduct herself this way, and yet…….

Cold sweat suddenly traced down her spine.

“I’m… I’m terribly sorry, Professor.”

Adelia quickly bowed and stepped back.

Siern was caught off guard once again.

“Uh…….”
“…….”
“What are you apologizing for?”
“That is… well…….”

Her lips pressed together, Adelia gnawed at them anxiously as her face flushed crimson.

“I became so excited that I put you in an awkward position, Professor……!”
“Wait, wait just a moment. Don’t say anything else that could be misinterpreted.”

Adelia’s lips sealed shut again, her eyes glistening with tears as she looked up at Siern.

“Why are you crying?!”
“Are you… are you saying I’m being dismissed?”
“What? No, I’m saying no.”

Adelia then exhaled with relief, as if she’d been brought back from the brink of death, pressing a hand to her chest.

“Thank goodness…….”

Siern found his student’s volatile moods oddly entertaining.

He’d always detested troublesome things. That’s why he’d never even attempted to take on an apprentice until now.

Yet this one, who’d come seeking him out on her own…….

……watching this squirrel-like creature bounce up to the sky, then plummet to earth, pitching fits the whole way—it wasn’t nearly as unpleasant as he might have expected.

“Once you’ve calmed down, we move to the next room. There are things you’ll need to watch out for, so stay alert and listen carefully to what I say. Understood?”
“Yes, I understand.”

Watching Adelia’s eyes gleam with fresh eagerness, Siern smiled slightly.

***

The bureaucratic meeting had been tedious and exhausting.

They’d dragged out a single agenda item with endless, ineffectual discussion.

As a result, Loarston had stumbled from the conference hall in a state bordering on complete zombification.

Yet none of this exhaustion showed on his face. Loarston was the sort of man who maintained impeccable control over himself at all times and in all places.

He was someone who went to great lengths never to give others cause to gossip about him.

But even Loarston, the moment he reached the carriage, sprawled across the seat as if his strings had been cut.

“……I’m going mad. And I have to do this how many times a month?”

Loarston grumbled in an almost horizontal position.

“My Lord, consider the honor of the Insel Ducal Family. Your current posture is not becoming.”

Loarston looked up at him with eyes that screamed exasperation.

“Are you serious right now, Rudolf?”
“I am always serious.”
“I just spent hours squeezed in among elderly bureaucrats listening to pointless armchair philosophizing, and—”
“Regardless of circumstance, it is improper for someone bearing the Insel name to conduct himself in such a manner.”

Loarston hauled himself upright, glowering at Rudolf with unconcealed irritation.

“If not for Father’s insistence, I’d throw you out on your ear.”

Rudolf then snorted softly and adjusted his slipping monocle.

“Why didn’t you try managing without me during your dormitory days at the Academy?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Don’t talk as if I’m completely dependent on you.”
“Isn’t most of it rather true?”
“Say that in front of Adelia and I’ll dock your entire salary.”

Rudolf merely shrugged at Loarston’s threat, unbothered.

He was a year younger than Loarston, born into a scholar’s family that had long maintained ties with the Insel Ducal Family.

Rudolf’s parents had died in an accident when he was young, and his grandfather, who had been researching engineering, suddenly passed away.

Afterward, no one had been willing to take in the orphaned child—save for the former Duke of Insel, who took him in.

—I will repay that kindness with my own body and service.

True to those words that had once left the former Duke speechless, the young Rudolf had done his utmost as Loarston’s foster brother and playmate.

And now, grown to adulthood, he managed even Loarston’s schedule as a secretary, remaining at his side constantly.

Rudolf was also the only person who knew of Loarston and Adelia’s Contract Marriage.

“……Speaking of the Lady, I have something to mention.”

Loarston, who had been watching the scenery pass beyond the carriage window, turned to look at Rudolf.

“There will be many social events she should attend going forward, yet the Lady does not seem to be paying them any mind.”
“It’ll take some time for her to adjust. Today was the first day of her Research Lab apprenticeship, after all. Did you expect her to have energy for social functions?”
“Even so, more than a month has passed since you two were ‘officially’ married. The Duchess’s absence from every formal gathering so far could become problematic.”

That was a fair point, Loarston thought.

It was certainly irregular.

A Duchess who hadn’t shown her face since the wedding.

But since this Contract Marriage had been his choice for his own convenience, he didn’t want Adelia shouldering any unnecessary burden.

He’d thought that if she fulfilled the bare minimum of her duties as Duchess, that would be enough. But now…….

Hearing Rudolf’s point, Loarston found himself thinking he should probably attend a party with Adelia at some point.

“Rudolf.”
“Yes, my Lord?”
“Find me a suitable party for someone making her social debut. Something with a quieter atmosphere.”
“The Royal Palace will soon be hosting a birthday party for the Princess. Perhaps that venue—”

Right, that was happening too.

Loarston pressed his fingers to his brow with a pained expression.

“……I’ll go alone to that one.”
“But—”
“If Adelia went there, she’d probably get crushed. She’s small enough now that if I embrace her, she fits entirely in my arms.”

Rudolf was startled to realize his master was unexpectedly considerate of the fake Duchess’s wellbeing, and made a note of it in his ledger.

***

“Ahhh……!”

After finishing the tour of Professor Siern’s Research Lab,

Adelia slumped onto the Lounge sofa with her legs stretched out, nearly delirious with happiness.

‘I’ve learned so much today that my head is spinning in circles.’

Yet even that dizzying sensation felt wonderful.

Knowledge! Knowledge! Knowledge!

Adelia was perpetually thirsty for knowledge. Microbiology in particular was her passion beyond measure.

While the Academy offered advanced courses in classical literature and mathematics, Microbiology was merely a subject touched upon in passing.

But today she had learned so much about Microbiology that she felt genuinely dizzy from the influx.

‘I’m so happy……!’

She wanted to live in this Research Lab forever.

She wouldn’t even mind becoming mold on the walls…….

‘Wait, if I became a new species of mold, would the Professor discover me? And write a paper about it……!’

Adelia’s euphoria had put her in a state not unlike drunkenness.

Just as her imagination was spiraling out of control, the Lounge door burst open and Professor Siern entered.

“What were you doing that you didn’t even hear me knock…….”
“Professor! Will you study me?”
“……What?”
“Oh, not as I am now. But if I were to become mold—”
“……Do you have some sort of decomposition scheduled for the near future?”
“Oh, not… not quite yet…….”

Behind his dark hair, Siern’s eyes held an odd gleam as he regarded Adelia.

Siern stepped back slightly from Adelia, who had begun murmuring to herself again, and spoke.

“You may leave for today. Come back tomorrow at the same time—8 o’clock. There may be days when I’m busy and we run late, but normally we should be finished by this hour.”

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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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