Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 61

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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 61

Adelia covered her reddening cheeks with her palms and laughed softly.

A long ship’s horn announced the departure. The rolling seawater seemed intent on carrying the vast vessel away.

Adelia, full of excitement, grasped Loerston’s hand.

“I want to go outside and watch the Harbor fade away.”
“All right, shall we?”

The two of them climbed the stairs leading to the Deck and stepped outside.

Standing at the stern rail, watching the Harbor recede slowly, Adelia’s face bloomed with a radiant smile.

“Look, the people are getting smaller and smaller!”
“That’s right, they do. That’s what we call Perspective.”

Adelia laughed brightly.

“How scholarly of you.”
“I was a top graduate myself, though not quite as impressive as you.”

After exchanging idle banter, the two settled into chairs arranged on the Deck.

The glittering Harbor had now vanished entirely from view. Whichever way she turned her head, there was nothing but blue sea.

“How long until we reach the Island?”
“Depending on our speed, this ship can make it in a day and a half.”

She couldn’t tell if that was fast or slow. But a day and a half!

Adelia was delighted. The thought of spending an entire day on the sea, uninterrupted, filled her with joy. What would the night sky look like, gazing up from the Deck?

“Come to think of it…”

As Adelia imagined a velvet night sky stretching overhead, Loerston’s quiet voice reached her ears.

When Adelia looked at him, a playful smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

“We decided our Honeymoon would be to Solfej.”

Where was Solfej again?

After a moment of thought, Adelia gasped and covered her lips.

“That’s right! When you mentioned it back then…”

—By the way, the Honeymoon destination is a resort called Solfej.

Adelia spoke.

“When you showed me the Contract that time…”
“Right. We were supposed to go to Solfej during summer break, but various things came up and we’ve kept putting it off. So instead we’re going to the Island.”
“Is Solfej far from the southern Island?”
“Yes, quite a bit farther. We’d need to take a ship, but also a train. And it’s not in the south at all, to begin with.”

Adelia’s eyes sparkled.

“A train? I’ve never ridden a train before.”
“I figured as much. Next time we go to Solfej, we’ll take the train.”

Did that mean they could travel together like this again in the future?

Adelia’s heart gave a sudden, forceful thud.

Of course, there were still several years before she finished her studies in the research program, so another trip was theoretically possible…

But the thought of the two of them traveling alone made her heart race irregularly, filling her with anticipation.

‘If there were other people here, they’d think we were just an ordinary newlywed couple on our Honeymoon.’

The moment this unbidden thought crossed her mind, heat flooded Adelia’s cheeks.

A Honeymoon. For once, Adelia began to let her imagination run wild.

Imagination was not her field of expertise, but the endless blue sea surrounding them and the sound of waves painted new pictures in a mind usually occupied with microbes and bacteria.

A wedding scene she had never once imagined suddenly appeared before her.

An arch gracefully entwined with honeysuckle, with deep red velvet spread beneath it.

Narcissus and iris flowers adorned either side, while all manner of wildflowers lay scattered beyond like sea foam.

Beneath that arch stood she herself, dressed in a white Dress, a veil upon her head. Holding a bouquet of white roses, as she raised her gaze…

Crash!

“Adelia?!”

Loerston’s startled voice shattered her reverie utterly.

Adelia clutched her knee where it had struck the table beneath, stifling a whimper.

“Ow…”
“Are you all right? Why did you suddenly—?”
“Oh, it’s nothing…”

Adelia’s face flushed a vivid crimson.

Loerston mistook her distress for pain, which was perhaps a mercy.

In the wedding scene of her imagination, when Adelia raised her head, the man standing before her was Loerston.

She could not have imagined anyone else—his expression, his features, even the tiny birthmark beneath his eye were unmistakably his.

“Come here. You hit it quite hard.”
“I’m f-fine, really…”

Adelia nearly cried out “Don’t come near me!”, but instead bit down hard on the inside of her lip.

If he came any closer, she was certain he would somehow divine exactly what she had been thinking.

Adelia rubbed her reddened cheeks and gently massaged her throbbing knee.

“You startled me. What was that about? Did a seagull frighten you?”
“What? Oh, um, yes. A seagull…”

She hadn’t even noticed whether there was a seagull or not, lost as she’d been in her thoughts, but Adelia managed a vague answer.

Loerston still looked skeptical, studying her intently…

“L-look over there! Fish!”

Adelia jumped to her feet, eyes wide, pointing out past the rail.

When Loerston turned to look, the water’s surface was indeed churning violently, rising and falling, something glinting silver in its midst.

It gleamed like a midday star against the horizon’s backdrop.

“You’re right, there are fish.”
“What kind of fish are they? Why are they jumping like that?”
“I’ve heard there are fish that leap from the water to shed parasites…”

At the mention of parasites, a spark of curiosity lit in Adelia’s eyes.

Loerston caught himself and, tapping the table with mock seriousness, quickly spoke.

“Perhaps we should avoid parasitic discourse for now—we have lunch coming up soon.”
“Are you serious?”
“Quite serious.”

Adelia sat back down looking disappointed. There was so much more she wanted to discuss about parasites!

“Seawater contains countless microorganisms. I’d love to study the sea someday. Can you imagine? The discoveries would be infinite!”
“Then you’d need to build your research lab by the coast?”
“When I have my own research lab built, I wouldn’t mind if it were near the sea.”

Adelia’s expression grew dreamy, and she smiled.

Her own research lab—it truly sounded like a dream.

Then Loerston spoke.

“Once you graduate, I could have a personal research lab built for you.”

Adelia was taken aback.

Of course, given the status and wealth of the Ducal Family, building a research lab would be entirely feasible, but…

“Research labs aren’t something anyone can simply have. Only those with a Doctorate or a professorship can run one.”
“You’re going to earn your Doctorate, aren’t you?”
“I want to, but… earning a Doctorate is so difficult! You have to publish at least five papers. And at least three of them must receive official academic validation.”
“I think you’ll manage it easily.”

His gentle tone made Adelia’s ears flush again.

When she glanced away and murmured, “You have too much faith in me,” Loerston replied:

“I’ll help you until you earn your Doctorate.”
“I couldn’t possibly! That would violate the Contract.”

Adelia waved her hand in protest, but in that instant she glimpsed a fleeting shadow of disappointment cross his features.

Yet she could not be certain it truly was disappointment.

If she had imagined it… well, that would be mortifying beyond measure.

But she didn’t know what excuse would serve best.

“It’s just that… our Contract is valid only until I finish in Professor Siern’s research program.”

Loerston, who had been studying her intently, spoke with unexpected cheer.

“That’s right. There’s still plenty of time before the Contract expires, so there’s no need to worry about what comes after. Don’t you agree?”

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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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