Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 77

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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 77

“I’m sorry?”
“Are you taking the Rose home with you?”

Loerston gestured at the Rose, and Adelia suddenly grasped something.

‘If I say I’m taking it… he doesn’t seem like he’ll be very pleased.’

But it was a gift all the same, and she didn’t want to throw away something so memorable.

As Adelia glanced uncertainly between the Rose and Loerston’s face, he spoke.

“I just wondered if there’d be a vase at the cottage. You can take it.”

He turned his gaze back to the stage with obvious disinterest—but Adelia didn’t believe him.

Worried about whether there’d be a vase? When nearly every room and corner was lined with ceramic ornaments.

A single Rose could easily float in a bowl of water. Why would he say something so absurd?

Adelia thrust out her lip in a huff and tucked the Rose—the one she’d received from Clucker—into the buttonhole of her dress.

Loerston’s brow furrowed slightly at the sight, but he said nothing more until the performance ended.

***

With a delicate young woman’s perilous Tightrope Walking and the clowns’ song, the Circus performance came to a close.

Adelia had sniffled through the final number, and when it ended, she clapped louder than anyone else.

As spectators tossed coins and flowers, the Holimoli twins who had danced came scurrying out to gather them up.

When the tightrope girl, the clowns, an elderly hound who displayed all manner of Ball Juggling, and Clucker took their bows, the crowd’s cheers reached their peak.

“That was truly delightful.”

Even after the performance ended, Adelia stood with hands clasped, her face radiant as though caught in a dream.

“I wasn’t sure what a Circus performance would be like, but it was so entertaining! And that Magic act in the middle—how on earth did he do that? Cards appeared right out of thin air!”

Loerston escorted her with lightened spirits, listening to her seemingly endless chatter.

But as they’d scarcely stepped out of the tent, Clucker bounded over from a darkened corner and caught them both.

“Did you enjoy the show?”

Adelia beamed.

“I enjoyed it immensely! My heart was pounding the whole time you tilted that bicycle.”
“I’m glad to hear it. Tomorrow is the Circus’s day off, and if it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to show you the most beautiful spot on this island. What do you say?”
“Oh, I…”

Loerston cut in abruptly.

“We have plans tomorrow, so that won’t work.”

Adelia looked as though she had something to say, but Loerston ignored her. Clucker sighed ruefully with a smile.

“I see. I’m not sure how long you’ll be staying, but if you find the time, I’d very much like to show you around. And perhaps you’d do us the honor of dining at our home.”

Adelia spoke up.

“Thank you so much. I’d love to.”
“You promise?”

Clucker smiled warmly, gazing at Adelia for a moment before pointing to the Rose tucked in her buttonhole.

“You know what? If you put a Rose you’ve been given in your buttonhole, it means ‘I’m waiting for your kiss.'”
“What? Oh! No, I didn’t know…”
“Just joking. Do take care now.”

As he waved and strode away, Loerston plucked the Rose from Adelia’s breast.

“Hey, wait!”
“Shall we head back? It’s getting late.”
“Give me back my Rose!”
“No.”
“Come on, give it back! And why are you holding it so high? Are you mocking me for being short? This is—!”

Loerston swept his arm around Adelia’s waist as she flailed and bounced like a squirrel.

“Don’t be so adorable. I’m tempted to just grab you and keep you in my pocket.”
“Well, I’m too big to fit in a pocket.”
“No, you’d fit just fine.”

And with a soft smack, his lips pressed firmly against her cheek before pulling away.

***

The next two days were spent searching for various fruits, just as they’d intended.

Adelia preferred the sweet varieties and those with floral notes. Surprisingly, she had little aversion to unusual flavors and ate them readily.

“At this rate, I’ll be fattening myself up instead of conducting research.”

Adelia let her forehead drop to the table with a theatrical sigh as she sampled the fresh fruits Loerston had servants bring.

“A little weight suits you. You’d look even cuter with some softness to you.”

As Loerston gently brushed back her tumbling hair, Adelia pouted and looked up at him.

“You’re just going to say I’m cute no matter what I do, aren’t you?”
“Caught, am I?”
“I’m not cute.”

She pulled the hair he’d tucked away back down to cover her face.

Loerston stared at her in bewilderment. What new species of cuteness was this?

“You’re extremely cute.”
“I’m not.”
“You are. Why do you think otherwise?”
“It’s just that…!”

Adelia rose with grim determination, then hesitated before speaking.

“I don’t have noble golden hair, and I don’t have lustrous black hair either. And my eyes—they’re not sapphire blue like fairy-tale princesses. They’re just brown. My hair and eyes are both just brown.”

Loerston’s eyes widened. It was not what he’d expected to hear.

“What’s wrong with brown?”
“I mean, if you want to be called cute, brown doesn’t really fit the bill.”
“I don’t see it that way.”

Adelia’s large eyes darted about. Loerston spoke.

“Everything about you is cute. Your wavy brown hair has the color of pine, and your gleaming eyes shine like a young sapling. You say such things because you don’t realize how adorable that is.”
“When I was young, I wished I had golden hair. I used to worry about why my hair was brown.”
“Golden hair is worthless.”

At his words, Adelia burst out laughing.

“It can’t be completely worthless!”
“No, it is. I like brown. So stop resisting and just accept that you’re cute.”

No matter what he said, how could she accept such a thing? Adelia simply laughed, her face flushed with equal parts embarrassment and warmth.

In the meantime, Loerston picked up a Yellow Plum from the basket and toyed with it before changing the subject with an “Ah.”

“There’s a party tonight. We received an Invitation, so prepare yourself.”
“A party? What sort of…party?”
“I’m not entirely sure of the host’s name. Probably a nobleman visiting the island. A provincial noble, perhaps. In any case, it wasn’t a name I’d heard before. It’s just a Dance Party, not a grand ball, so don’t feel too burdened by it.”

How could she not feel burdened? Adelia sighed.

But this wasn’t even the Capital—the fact that they’d gone to the trouble of sending an Invitation here meant ‘you must come.'”

By now she knew well enough that refusing without cause would make her seem discourteous.

“There won’t be any balcony rules this time, will there?”

Loerston smiled ruefully at her pointed question and took her hand.

“Nothing of the sort. And this time, there’s no troublesome princess either. Don’t worry—I’ll stay right by your side.”
“In the Social Etiquette book I read before, it said that if someone asks you to dance, you absolutely must dance with other people too.”
“Probably few people here will even know us, so you don’t need to concern yourself with that.”

But Loerston’s reassurance was merely a hope.

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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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