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Episode 10
“Th-this… is this really the contract you want notarized?”
The priest held out the contract and showed it to the duke and Rose.
Instead of the words guardian contract, the paper clearly said “Lover Contract.”
Before Rose could say anything, the duke nodded first.
“Yes.”
Since the duke had already agreed, Rose looked at the contract for a moment, sighed, and nodded as well.
“Yes, Priest.”
After hearing that answer, the priest looked even more lost.
Is this really something to answer so calmly? Signing a lover contract in a temple, and even sealing it with a sacred oath! This is blasphemy! Blasphemy!
Even though the priest had dedicated life to the gods, the priest still valued life, so all the priest could do was force a smile.
Still, seeing the two openly choose the word lover instead of the dignified word guardian made the priest sigh inwardly.
And that beautiful young lady—what about that?
No matter how outstanding the duke was, Rose surely knew the history of Aitan. Why would Rose choose to become a lover?
Haa… the world really is ending.
While the priest was lost in gloomy thoughts about the shameless world, Rose stared at the contract where the word guardian had disappeared, with a strange look.
Judging by the wording, this was clearly something done by the duke, whose personality was very direct.
But Gray, who had quickly agreed to change it, was also impossible to stop.
Maybe Gray had hoped to embarrass the duke—but the one who asked for it was not embarrassed at all.
In fact, the duke looked completely fine.
Sometimes Gray really is careless in strange ways.
Swallowing a long sigh at the shameless pair, the priest shut the eyes tightly for the sake of the profit gained from sacred oaths.
Though thinking like a merchant inside, the old priest smiled on the outside like the purest servant of the gods and stood before a rectangular white marble altar.
“Place the contract on the altar and kneel.”
When the duke and Rose obeyed, the priest instructed both to draw blood from the fourth finger of the left hand and drip it onto the contract.
As the priest recited the sacred oath solemnly, faint golden light rose like heat waves from the wrinkled fingertips.
When divine power wrapped around the contract, the drops of blood soaked into the paper, then floated back up and formed small beads.
As the tiny blood beads fell into the priest’s palm, the priest withdrew the divine power with a tired expression.
“Now the mark of the contract will be carved onto the heart. It will not be painful, so do not panic when divine power touches the chest. Please remain still. This ritual can only be done once a month, so pay close attention.”
After checking that both were listening, the priest continued the prayer.
Golden light rose again, and the blood beads floated into the air above the altar.
The divine power passed through the beads and slowly circled around the hearts of the duke and Rose, then sank into their bodies.
As the ritual proceeded smoothly, the priest suddenly frowned.
Hm? Resistance?
The duke’s mana was pushing the divine power away.
This had never happened before, and the priest panicked, but soon felt relieved when the duke began to accept the golden light.
Then the priest met the eyes of the young master of Aitan and almost messed up the prayer.
…Is the duke glaring at me right now? Does the duke think I’m hurting someone with divine power? No! Why get angry at me for having a strange constitution!
As the prayer neared the end, divine power naturally grew stronger, but for some reason the duke’s gaze grew fiercer, making the priest’s heart race.
Carefully watching the duke’s mood, the priest barely finished the final verse.
The blood beads vanished, and the contract was completed.
The contract on the altar turned to dust and disappeared.
It’s over! It’s finally over!
Wiping sweat from the forehead, the priest declared solemnly,
“The sacred oath is complete.”
At those words, the duke took out a coin pouch and placed it on the altar.
The priest’s tired face instantly brightened.
“How generous. This will be used for the sanctuary of the gods.”
“…Do as you wish.”
Holding the pouch, the priest left cheerfully.
The duke stood up and suddenly held out a hand toward Rose.
Rose asked suspiciously,
“Are you telling me to take it?”
“Yes.”
When Rose reached out with cold-stiffened fingers, the duke grasped the hand firmly.
The calloused palm was colder than expected, but heat suddenly spread, and the duke’s entire hand quickly grew warm.
Warmth returned to Rose’s frozen fingers.
Surprised by the unexpected consideration, Rose tried to pull the hand away, but the duke pulled instead, causing Rose’s forehead to bump against the duke’s chest.
Looking up with a cold expression, Rose saw Khan staring down with an equally cold gaze.
“If this contract is broken, your heart will be destroyed.”
The rudeness sharpened Rose’s tongue.
“I am a merchant who lives on trust. As long as the contract is not unfair, I will follow it willingly. But I’m not sure about a noble lord. People of high status tend to treat promises lightly. So the duke should also take special care of that heart. After all, there is already a history.”
“That’s true.”
The duke gave a short laugh and released Rose’s now-warm hand.
“Congratulations on becoming a woman of Aitan.”
Looking at the handsome but expressionless man who did not look congratulatory at all, Rose sighed.
Not wanting to overthink whether this was kindness or not, Rose smiled brightly and replied,
“Is that really something to celebrate?”
The duke only smiled and said nothing.
Feeling strangely hollow, Rose turned away and walked toward the approaching group.
Left alone, Khan watched Rose’s small back, then turned and clutched the throbbing chest.
Blood leaked from torn skin where resistance to divine power had been forcibly suppressed.
Pulling the cloak tighter, Khan whispered to Jack, who was approaching,
“Quiet.”
Biting the lips, Jack stayed silently by Khan’s side until Rose’s group left.
Each time the carriage shook, Jack flinched, but the duke only stared out the window without expression.
That had been the case ever since parting with Rose.
Jack could not tell what the duke was thinking.
A man who had never shown interest in people—why cling to Rose, whom the duke had met only once?
Maybe Jack did not want to understand.
Even knowing better than to see the master as a child forever, perhaps old age made the heart weak.
The duke, grown only in body, looked pitiful.
If only the duke could live long, have descendants, and build a family… is that too selfish a wish?
Jack knew such thoughts could seem selfish to outsiders.
The men of Aitan had never been good husbands, and even Khan’s father ended life after a horrific marriage.
Knowing all of this, Jack still thought only of the master.
That woman is too strong. That’s what worries me.
Even though it looked like the duke was leading things, Jack felt that one day Khan might be pulled along instead.
Shaking off the thought, Jack looked proudly at the duke.
What is lacking? Everything except the family history is perfect. Looks, body, voice—nothing missing.
Meeting the duke’s eyes, Jack spoke.
“Why are you staring—ah! Is the chest hurting badly?”
“No.”
“Then why—”
The duke frowned.
“Stop staring.”
“…Yes.”
Jack reluctantly admitted another flaw.
Too perfect, so a bit cold. Yes, a rough personality.
With a bitter smile, Jack lowered the gaze.
About a week after finishing the contract at the temple, a letter arrived from Khan.
[Meet at the ducal estate.]
Seeing the single line, Rose asked the Chaos Trading Company employee who delivered it,
“Who brought this?”
“Uh… the messenger already left. Not too far though. Should I go call the messenger back?”
Rose shook the head, and the employee bowed and left.
Only then did Rose laugh dryly.
“So, no reply needed.”
This had been expected.
There was no need to move into the ducal estate, but the request matched the contract, so refusal was not possible.
The duke had promised to block troublesome local nobles and central aristocrats.
Still—
“Only one line.”
Looking at the letter, Rose turned to Gray.
Gray’s face looked hollow, as if worries had piled up over the past days.
Rose spoke gently,
“You don’t look well. Take some rest.”
Gray shook the head.
“If you go to the ducal estate, the company will move too.”
“No. The main branch must stay in the capital. Keep me informed from here. Chaos hasn’t settled in Terran for long. Watch the central nobles closely—especially there.”
“Arga Empire?”
“Yes.”
Gray looked at Rose like a daughter.
The gray-white hair seemed whiter than before.
“But if you go, the elders will protest.”
“They will.”
“Old people always worry for a reason.”
Gray almost placed a hand on Rose’s shoulder, then pulled back with a bitter smile.
“I lost family, property, and friends at a young age. Then I met you. A small girl scolding me for crying when even you didn’t cry. The heavens are strange. Just when everything is given up, a lifeline is tossed casually.”
The gray-blue eyes looked sad.
The heavens had taken away wife and daughter when Gray needed them most.
When everything collapsed, Gray took Rose’s small hand—not because of belief in success, but pity for a child.
Year after year, Gray came to treat Rose like a daughter.
With a slightly hurt tone, Gray continued,
“You don’t look at the cruel heavens. You shoulder everything alone. I know that. I know, but… seeing you struggle makes me angry.”
After glancing toward the noisy voices beyond the study, Gray spoke again,
“I may not know everything, but I can guess some. Everyone has nightmares that can’t be shared. I have them too.”
Rose said nothing, and Gray didn’t mind.
“Just remember one thing. I am always ready to stay silent—for you alone.”
“Thank you.”
The words felt heavy.
Swallowing countless thoughts, Rose held Gray’s hand.
“Sometimes you forget, so I’ll say it. For the first time in my life, I relied on someone. For me, the meaning of an adult will forever be only Gray.”
Gray’s neck turned red.
Clearing the throat loudly, Gray protested,
“You think I won’t follow because of this?”
“Wow.”
“Yes—even if you say don’t come—wait?”
Laughing, Rose said,
“If someone wants to come this badly, stopping them would cause resentment.”
“…So easily?”
“Why that face? Are you doubting me?”
“Never! I was just curious.”
Laughing softly, Rose said,
“We’ll need a northern base. Isn’t it late to prepare now?”
“No worries. A fortress near Aitan is already acquired—”
“As expected.”
Caught red-handed, Gray smiled shamelessly.
“The shareholders all agreed.”
Shaking the hand dismissively, Rose looked up at the headquarters.
Memories of settling in Terran passed by.
“All right. I’ll leave this place to you. See you later.”
“Yes.”
That afternoon, a carriage left the Chaos Trading Company and headed toward Aitan.
