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chapter 53
Filena fidgeted nervously, glancing at Heraith for any sign of his reaction.
Since he was focused on brewing tea, it was the perfect chance to secretly pull out the ring case.
“You’re not touching things out of boredom, are you?”
At the sudden voice, I froze like a statue. Slowly, with a creak, I turned my head. Heraith’s expression was serious.
“That’s…”
Just now, I had been fiddling around too much—trying to hide the ring between the armrest of the sofa and my dress.
But he did say I could sit here, so surely touching this much should be fine, right?
Did I do something wrong?
Gulp.
My throat tightened for no reason.
And just like that, a silent staring contest began between me and Heraith.
Is this some kind of pre-debate intimidation match?
Refusing to lose, I put strength into my gaze.
Heraith’s lips curled inward as though he could no longer hold back laughter.
“Ah, no, Filena.”
He bowed his head slightly, chuckling, and smoothed the corner of his mouth.
“What on earth do you think of me? I’m not going to scold you just for touching a few things.”
Carrying a tray, Heraith turned the handle of the teacup toward me. His voice was soft, almost teasing.
“It also means I won’t think it strange if you drink this lemon tea.”
So it was nothing.
The fact that I’d been trembling as if something terrible had happened suddenly felt embarrassing and ridiculous.
At this rate, I’d definitely lose today’s debate.
“Don’t tremble.”
Just as I picked up the teacup, Heraith’s calm voice spread through the air.
“Don’t be anxious.”
Right before I took a sip, his voice tickled my ear again.
“It’s hot, so don’t drink it right away. You’ll burn your tongue.”
Today, Heraith sat across from me instead of beside me. The distance between us had grown, yet his gentle gaze still managed to steady my racing heart.
Taking a deep breath in and out, I lifted my head.
Feeling more confident than before, I took a stack of papers from my handbag and held them close to my chest.
“Heraith, today is our third and final debate. I still stand on the side opposing engagement and supporting marriage.”
I glanced at him, hoping for a response. He made a show of sipping his tea as though listening attentively.
“I’m still thinking,” he said. “I want to hear your argument before deciding—but I suppose that goes against the concept of a debate?”
“Since it’s just the two of us, we don’t have to strictly follow formalities. You can speak later if you like.”
I tried not to get too excited at his words. But unlike before, his open-minded stance felt like a positive sign.
“Alright then, let’s begin.”
I lifted the papers so Heraith could see. His eyes widened, then narrowed slightly as he read the title.
“I, Filena Light, am in favor of the marriage between Filena Light and Heraith Gray.”
His gaze lingered on the paper as if studying it.
Understandable—after all, I had prepared a proper presentation fit for this era’s standards.
I had a lot riding on today.
“I’ll be presenting my case. The symbols that appear as I turn each page may seem strange at first, but they’re just meant to make the flow easier to follow.”
“Like the scenario scripts you write for our ‘contract relationship’?”
Of course—Heraith always understood things instantly. A genius who grasped more than what was said.
I flipped the first page.
It felt a little odd giving a presentation with something like a sketchbook instead of a screen, but I believed it would still have an impact.
“First, we’ll define what marriage is. Then, I’ll present my arguments, and you’ll respond with your counterpoints.”
[What is Marriage?]
“Marriage, as both of us know, is the culmination of love.
Most people go through romance and engagement—or skip straight to engagement—before entering marriage, which is a legal contract.”
Heraith twitched his lips but stayed silent. I couldn’t read his expression at all.
“Just as there are many stages, there are many forms of marriage. Some couples have children, some adopt, and some choose not to have any.
There are also marriages for practical gain and marriages for love.”
“You prepared in great detail.”
Encouraged by his compliment, I turned to the next page.
[First Argument: The Original Purpose of Our Contract Relationship]
“If you recall our existing contract relationship agreement, my original goal was to improve my reputation.
But if Whistler exposes our contract before that happens, I’ll suffer serious disadvantages and damage.”
“Oh dear, I’ve really disappointed my dear girlfriend, haven’t I?”
“According to our contract, both parties are responsible for compensating any losses caused during its execution.
Since Whistler’s actions were beyond our control, rather than rushing into a one-sided decision like marriage, we’re here to debate it properly.”
Turning to the next page, I spoke clearly.
“I’m merely requesting that you, as my partner, take my situation and goals into full consideration.”
But I wasn’t finished yet.
I still had two arguments left.
[Second Argument: Fulfilling the Paradigm of Marriage]
“As I explained earlier, marriage takes many forms.
From my perspective, Heraith and I are the perfect match for both a rational marriage and an emotional one.”
Originally, I had only argued for a rational marriage, but to persuade Heraith, I added the ‘emotional marriage’ clause.
It wasn’t arbitrary. As I’d said before, I believed it was only a matter of time before our relationship naturally developed into something emotional.
Keeping eye contact with him, I pointed at the bullet points one by one, forcing myself to appear calm.
“Signing a marriage contract means agreeing to fulfill each other’s emotional needs as partners.
Most marriages fall apart not because of lack of love, but because one side ends up sacrificing everything for the other.”
The next sheet showed a neat timeline diagram—perfectly drawn bars representing us, precise and orderly.
I explained each of our experiences together so far, breaking down our compatibility:
our conflict resolution style, communication, mutual respect, stable personalities, and—most importantly—our high level of trust.
As I spoke, the confusion on Heraith’s face seemed to fade.
Whether it was the light of understanding or resignation, I couldn’t tell.
[Third Argument: The Growth of Filena Light]
“Filena Light. Daughter of the Light family, and until recently, known as the ‘villainess.’”
“What’s wrong with that? If Filena’s a villainess, then being one doesn’t sound so bad.”
Maybe it was because this section was about me—or maybe his thoughts were changing—but Heraith finally joined the conversation.
Yet despite his flattery, I didn’t waver. I continued my presentation without letting him sway me.
“From childhood, I, Filena Light, have never committed fraud, theft, or any form of crime.
My record is spotless.”
“I know that better than anyone. If you had, it’d have been discovered long ago, my dear girlfriend.”
“I might not have any grand accomplishments yet, but I can proudly present my growth—both personal and moral.
Since the start of our contract, my adaptability and social skills have improved drastically.
Despite that, I’ve stayed humble, aware that I can still grow further.
And more importantly, I was the first to suggest improving your reputation as well, Heraith.”
“I remember. I thought to myself, ‘How can my girlfriend be so brilliant and kind at the same time?’”
“Heraith.”
