Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 54

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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 54

“What are you trying to do?”
“The Marquisess told me she witnessed my wife meeting secretly with another man. Is that true?”

Hayzen Marquisess finally understood the real reason Loerston had come. And she was somewhat taken aback.

Had he really come all this way over mere rumor?

“Yes, yes. I saw it. Or rather, my daughter saw it, or so I heard.”
“How convenient that you hide behind your daughter at a time like this.”
“What?”
“As I understand it, your daughter wasn’t even inside the ballroom during the party. Perhaps I should ask Violet when exactly and where she saw my wife?”

The Marquisess realized she had nowhere left to run.

Yet she felt no remorse.

All she could think was: what was so important about some commoner girl who’d become a duchess overnight?

Would she die just because some rumor had spread?

“Whether I saw it or not, the duchess was on the west balcony with another man. That’s a fact, isn’t it?”
“No, that is true.”

The Marquisess let out a sharp laugh.

“There! So why are you coming to my home and causing a scene? The intentions of women who frequent such places are obvious, aren’t they?”
“That’s your interpretation. But from what I heard in my childhood, the Marquisess herself used to frequent the balconies at every party, enjoying secret meetings with various men.”
“W-what did you just say? Duke Loerston! Don’t speak such nonsense!”
“Is it truly nonsense? I recall the Queen herself once issued you a warning about it.”

Hayzen Marquisess’s face went pale as paper. Everything he said was true.

But how could he know such things from before he was even born?

Loerston continued speaking, his expression cool as he fingered the edge of his gloves.

“I grew up practically in the Royal Palace. I was quite attentive to what the adults said. The Queen spoke of it clearly to my mother at the time. If you feel wronged, would you come with me to have an audience with the Queen?”
“T-that was long ago. Bringing it up will only make the Duke of Insel look foolish.”
“Will it? You seem not to have considered your daughter’s future at all.”

The Marquisess could no longer contain herself and furrowed her brow, revealing her true ugly face.

Loerston continued.

“You failed to secure the Duke of Insel as an in-law, but recently I’ve heard that you’re approaching quite prestigious houses and pushing your daughter as a marriage prospect. What do you think will happen if the Marquisess’s past suddenly comes to light at this very moment?”
“What difference does it make?”
“Well, perhaps there’s no need. If you lied, then I can lie as well. Shall I say instead that it was Violet, not my wife, who had a secret meeting with another man?”
“As if anyone would believe that!”

Loerston’s lips curved in a bitter smile, his eyes frost-cold as he stared at the Marquisess.

“Do not think that what the Hayzen Marquisate can do, the Insel Duchy cannot. I came to find you rather than respond in a sordid manner out of a bare minimum of courtesy.”

The Marquisess’s hands trembled. She had never seen Loerston like this before.

She had always thought him a careless sort, always laughing idly and dodging unpleasant topics whenever they arose.

She had never imagined he would confront her so directly.

Worst of all was the realization that everything he had said was no bluff.

‘This can’t be happening!’

the Marquisess thought desperately.

The Hayzen Marquisate had wealth, but its standing and honor as a noble house were steadily declining. Now her only hope lay in Violet’s marriage.

She had to establish her daughter as the wife of a prestigious family, then reclaim the former glory of her husband’s lifetime by basking in the reflected honor of their in-laws—

“W-wait, Duke Loerston. Please, sit down. Let’s talk this through.”
“I’m afraid not. I have somewhere urgent to be. Promise me here and now that you will confess all the rumors you spread about my wife were lies, that you witnessed no such thing, and that you will set matters right.”
“If I say such a thing, what of my honor!”
“Your honor?”

Loerston laughed coldly, his expression turning sharp as he regarded the Marquisess.

“You lost any honor the moment you began spreading false rumors. Correct this matter within three days. If you do not, I will not sit idle either.”
“Listen here, Duke Loerston!”
“Then I’ll take my leave. Remember what I’ve said.”
“Duke Loerston!”

The Marquisess called out urgently, but Loerston had already passed her and left the Residence.

***

“Sigh…….”

Adelia exhaled in a long breath, leaning her head back against the chair and closing her eyes.

The metal chair with its shallow cushion creaked slightly.

“I’ve mostly finished the abstract…….”

She scanned the abstract of the completed Report with her eyes.

She had written many experiment reports during her time at the Academy, but writing a Report from scratch—unlike those days when the format was fixed—was far from easy.

“Hmm, yes. This looks good. All the important content is there……. Oh, this section could use more development. Hm, I wonder if there are any relevant papers to read? Microbiology papers are all so similar, it’s difficult…….”

Adelia, muttering to herself as she reviewed her own Report, looked up at the sound of a knock on the door.

“Yes, come in.”

She had assumed it was Professor Ciern and kept her eyes on the Report until a familiar fragrance caught her off guard. She looked up at the visitor.

“S-senior?!”

Adelia hurriedly tried to stand but banged her knee hard against the corner of the desk.

Startled, Loerston rushed toward her.

“Are you alright?”
“Ow, ow…… Y-yes, I’m fine. How embarrassing…….”
“It’s not embarrassing at all. Are you really okay? Try moving your knee. Does it hurt?”

Adelia laughed softly.

“It was just a bump. I’m fine. See? Perfectly intact.”

Loerston watched her leg move back and forth, then sighed with relief. Gently, he brushed a strand of her hair away from her face.

“You should be more careful.”
“I will be. Oh, but what brings you here?”
“Well, I thought if you were finished with your work, maybe we could go on a date today.”

Adelia’s eyes widened. Her ears flushed a soft red.

“A d…… date?”
“Yes. Why? Do you not want to?”
“No! Of course not! It’s just…… it was so sudden…….”

This time Loerston laughed aloud, a short, warm sound.

“A surprise date is fun too, don’t you think? So, are you finished with your work?”
“Oh, yes! I just finished now. You know what, senior? Do you know what I did today?”
“What did you do?”
“I succeeded in the Spore Transformation of Fungus No. 9! I shaped it like a rabbit! And this remarkable little rabbit—it doesn’t just digest acid; it can actually transform the acid into neutral substances and expel them! Isn’t that amazing?”
“Mm…… yes, that’s amazing. But why a rabbit?”
“Oh, that was because I originally thought of a snail. You see how a snail’s eyes look like horns? I needed that kind of outlet structure. But when I observed it today, it looked more like a rabbit than a snail!”

He didn’t quite understand what she was talking about, but since Adelia was so happy, he didn’t want to spoil her mood.

Loerston planted a light kiss on Adelia’s cheek.

“You’ve worked hard. That’s praise.”

Adelia’s face flushed bright red, and she brought her fist to her cheek.

“I-is that the kind of praise you give…….”
“Why? Would you prefer something else?”
“No! I mean, I’ll just take this Report abstract to the professor and be right back. Please wait here!”

Adelia hurried out of the Laboratory.

She was worried that if Ciern and Loerston happened to meet, the atmosphere would freeze again.

Adelia ran toward Ciern’s Laboratory with unusual speed.

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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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