Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 6

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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 6

When Adelia checked the clock, it read four o’clock in the afternoon.

Professor Siern had mentioned leaving late with the utmost care.

Yet Adelia wanted nothing more than to stay in the Research Institute even one more minute, one more second.

“Yes, understood!”
“Good. Let’s call it a day, then.”

Call it a day…… !

Adelia’s heart clenched tight again, and her shoulders trembled faintly.

‘At this rate I’m going to become some kind of workaholic, aren’t I?’

When she attended the Academy, everyone held great expectations of her, yet she couldn’t easily dream of any future at all.

She had never imagined she’d be able to come to a Research Institute like this.

She hated imagining herself living on a meager weekly salary, just enough to scrape by.

Back then, she’d been a timid student who knew nothing but studying.

So stepping out into society had terrified her.

‘Not anymore, though! Oh, I’m so happy! It feels like being born anew!’

Yet the moment she removed her lab coat, that euphoria melted away like snow in spring.

Now she had to return as the ‘Duchess Adelia’ instead of ‘Research Assistant Adelia’…… .

‘Ah, no. This is my duty too, so I should give it my best.’

But truthfully, playing the part of duchess simply didn’t stir the same enthusiasm as her work at the Research Institute.

‘If only I’d turned down the offer back then…… .’

—How about this? Instead of continuing my father’s support, I’ll draw up a contract with you.
—A contract…… ?

Surely it wasn’t asking her to become a mage?

—Exactly. A contract for ‘a perfect Contract Marriage between Loarston Insel and Adelia Wheaten.’
—A Contract Marriage……
—If you marry me, you won’t have to worry about anything while you complete the Research Institute. Money? A home? Rare books? Just ask.
—Ah, well……
—In exchange, you’ll play the role of my wife until you graduate from the Research Institute. Of course, when it’s just the two of us, there’s no need for any conjugal relations whatsoever. It only needs to appear that way.

No.

Adelia shook her head firmly, mumbling to herself.

Turning down that proposal was unthinkable.

Startling as it had been, even if she could go back to a month before, Adelia wouldn’t have refused Loarston’s offer.

Admission to the Research Institute was a dream so fervent, all the more so because she’d once tried to abandon it.

Once outside the Research Institute, Adelia turned her steps toward home.

At that moment, the door of the largest four-wheeled carriage among those waiting along the street swung open, and Loarston emerged.

“Where are you off to?”
“Oh, w—wait, I…… .”

Adelia swallowed the honorific on her tongue, her face flushing crimson.

“D—dear. What are you doing h—here…… ?”
“I came to fetch you, naturally. Do get in.”

What’s with the formal tone?!

His gentle speech threw her mind for a loop in quite a different way.

‘Oh, right! We’re in public.’

She suddenly recalled their agreement to speak in formal terms when in view of others, as though they were a deeply affectionate couple.

But remembering the fact didn’t really help much.

Fake husband or not…… .

The most handsome man in the entire Kingdom, a work of art sculpted to perfection, was calling her ‘you’ in formal speech.

Even if she weren’t playing his fake wife, her cheeks would be aflame in such a situation.

“I—I—I beg your pardon, then.”

Adelia made an awkward greeting and managed to board the carriage.

Immediately after, her eyes met those of Rudolf, sitting across from Loarston, and she caught her breath sharply.

‘This man is rather frightening.’

With his perpetually expressionless face and cold, rigid gaze, standing before him always made Adelia feel diminished.

Then Loarston spoke.

“How was it?”
“I—I’m sorry?”
“The Research Institute. How was it? Did it go well?”
“Oh! The Research Institute! Yes, it went well! No, truly, wonderfully! Did you know that development of the 18-H.Mgf Microscope has already been completed? I only heard about it by name when I was at the Academy, but I never imagined development could move so quickly! Once it’s introduced to the Research Institute, we’ll be able to observe and study microorganisms we couldn’t detect before! Isn’t it splendid?!”

Loarston smiled his usual polite smile and nodded along continuously.

‘I have no idea what she’s talking about, but if you’re happy, then I’m happy.’

That was the sort of smile he wore.

Yet for the excited Adelia, Loarston’s smile became an accelerant.

Usually, when Adelia got like this, even the Academy’s professors would develop the glazed expression of a mackerel dead for three days…… .

‘He’s…… actually listening to what I’m saying…… !’

“And Professor Siern turned out to be far gentler and more attentive than I’d heard. She explained all the precautions so carefully, and on my very first day, she had me observe a new microorganism! And besides…… .”

Loarston’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Professor Siern.

That must be Adelia’s advisor, without a doubt.

He’d heard rumors about her before…… .

Seeing Adelia light up speaking of that ice-hearted woman as gentle and attentive, something inside him turned peculiar.

“Hmm.”

At the soft sound of his throat clearing, Adelia’s shoulders flinched.

Then she twisted her gloved hands nervously and said,

“I—I’m terribly sorry. I did talk too much, didn’t I?”

Loarston’s eyes widened.

“No, that’s not why I…… .”
“Then perhaps you’re catching a cold…… ?”

Seeing the genuine worry in her expression, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

‘I was only going to tease her a little—asking how she could boast about another man being kind when I’m supposedly her husband. How did things come to this?’

“It’s not a cold.”
“Then perhaps you choked on something…… ?”

At that moment, Loarston gave Adelia a light flick on her round forehead.

“Ow!”

Startled by the unexpected attack, Adelia opened her eyes wide as though she’d suffered some terrible outrage.

Loarston spoke.

“If I were your real husband, a mere throat clearing wouldn’t have cut it.”
“Eh…… ? That…… what did you mean by that…… ?”
“Gushing on and on about some other man like that. It’s a breach of contract.”

There was no such clause!

“B—but…… .”
“You were about to say no such clause existed in the contract, weren’t you? I’ll have it added today.”
“That’s not fair! I was only speaking that way because I respect the professor!”

Though she made a timid protest, Loarston simply pursed his lips and shrugged.

At that, Adelia puffed out her cheeks as though sulking.

Loarston had to bite back a laugh, his hand quickly covering his mouth. His face flushed suddenly, and his lips wanted to curve upward of their own accord.

‘She’s really quite adorable.’

Like a squirrel stuffed full of pumpkin seeds—what was this?

With such a thought, Loarston’s lips curved into a soft smile as he gently patted Adelia’s head.

“Even if I’m a fake husband, I do get a little jealous when you speak of another man’s kindness and attentiveness in front of me, you know?”
“Eh…… ? Jealous…… ? Jealous?”
“That’s right. While you’re married to me, you should tell me I’m the kindest and most attentive man in the world. After all, you’re my wife.”

And I’ll make sure to be exactly that for you. Loarston thought to himself.

Adelia still had a dazed, bewildered expression.

Soon, however, the tips of her ears flushed bright red—apparently she’d finally grasped his meaning.

“Your ears are beet red.”

At Loarston’s remark, Adelia pressed her lips firmly shut and held her breath.

‘If I tease her much more, she’ll faint altogether.’

It was at that moment Loarston decided he’d pressed far enough.

Then Rudolf, sitting across from them, interjected abruptly into the silence.

“Professor Siern Bitter. I’ve heard the name as well. I understand she’s notorious for never allowing students to graduate.”

The wilted Adelia’s eyes suddenly sparkled again at the mention of her professor.

“You’re familiar with her, then?”
“Please, madam, just call me Rudolf. I am a servant of House Insel.”
“Oh, of course…… . No, wait! That’s right. I’ve heard that Professor Siern’s Thesis Review is extremely rigorous.”

The next instant, both Loarston and Rudolf stiffened at a sight they could scarcely believe.

A delicate blush had risen to Adelia’s cheeks.

“I’m already so excited to see how exacting her review will be! I’m sure she’ll point out every shortcoming of mine, one by one. Isn’t it a dream come true to receive such guidance?”

The moment her words ended, Rudolf shot Loarston a look that asked, ‘Do you regret this marriage?’

“Quiet, Rudolf.”

At Loarston’s words, Adelia startled slightly, and Rudolf simply shrugged.

“I wasn’t saying anything, sir.”

***

The evening at House Insel was far busier than the morning.

Since neither Adelia nor Loarston particularly enjoyed nighttime activities, the household staff had to work all the harder to ensure their masters enjoyed a peaceful evening.

“You should straighten your back, madam.”

Lillet said softly, working a sponge across Adelia’s back.

Adelia uncurled her posture slightly and cleared her throat.

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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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