Chapter 08

The journey from the Grand Temple to the northern duchy.

It was the start of a bright, refreshing day—the sky clear, a cool breeze blowing beneath warm sunshine.

“I’ll fetch some water while the coachman is asleep, Your Grace.”

“I’ll go hunt something—”

“No need. Why bother preparing such an extravagant meal?”

“…Because one of our companions looks like she’ll starve to death if she doesn’t eat immediately.”

Tepe and Gorgo glanced at Lucy, who was fast asleep on Edward’s lap, before cautiously watching his reaction.

Only when Edward looked down at the sleeping girl for a long moment before giving them a reluctant nod did they finally move.

Even then, Edward was in an unusually good mood.

They had fled the Temple in a hurry, driving the carriage through the entire night.

As a result, everyone had been forced to survive on short naps.

No…

The fact that I managed to sleep at all is a miracle.

Lately, his worsening headaches and berserk episodes had left him suffering from chronic insomnia.

Yet somehow…

With the woman lying against his body…

He had actually managed to get some rest.

Despite being trapped inside a cramped, rattling carriage for more than half a day…

His condition had never been better.

Flutter.

Flutter.

Flutter.

After Tepe and Gorgo left to hunt…

A sheet of white paper suddenly began waving in front of his face.

“……”

Edward looked up at the woman standing stubbornly before him.

She had only just awakened.

Sleep marks were still clearly visible on her cheeks, and her white hair stuck out messily in every direction.

Coincidentally…

The marks pressed into her cheek had come from Edward’s armor.

The emblem of House Tesseron had practically been stamped onto her soft skin, as though proving she belonged to him.

The sight gave him an odd sense of satisfaction.

Even so, he frowned.

Even in broad daylight…

She’s still tiny… painfully thin… and filthy.

Yet despite all that…

Those round eyes and soft cheeks somehow keep drawing my attention.

Though I’ll only use her for as long as she’s useful before discarding her.

Still…

What exactly had she brought him?

“A contract?”

“Yes. First of all, my name is Lucy, and actually I’m one of the Temple’s—”

“You already told me your name yesterday.”

“And I’d already guessed you’re one of the Temple’s experimental subjects.”

Lucy instantly fell silent, her eyes widening.

He already figured out I was an experimental subject?

The male lead really is on another level.

Darn it.

She had intended to tell a long, pitiful story about her tragic life to gain his sympathy.

That plan had been crushed immediately.

Still, Lucy refused to lose heart.

Actually… this might be even better.

If he already knew what kind of experiment she had been used for…

Surely his attitude would chang—

“The holy power I sensed felt familiar.”

“It seems you’ve been supplying Lady Sepina with the purification power she used.”

…Or so she thought.

“Yes.”

“That’s correct.”

“I see.”

“…Do you have anything you’d like to say?”

“Should I?”

He had already identified even her holy power.

She had expected him to question her.

To be angry.

To demand answers.

Yet…

Nothing had changed.

He knows everything… and still doesn’t care?

Apparently…

Edward truly was equally terrible to everyone except the heroine.

Lucy felt all the energy drain out of her.

Still, she desperately continued.

“Then let me explain.”

“The Temple treated me horribly.”

“They starved me… abused me… pitiful little me—”

“I noticed that when I touched you.”

“…Pardon?”

“T-Touched me?”

While someone was sleeping… where exactly?

Lucy immediately crossed her arms protectively over her chest.

Only after doing so did she realize she had just accused her benefactor of being a pervert.

She hurriedly uncrossed her arms.

Too late.

Edward’s smile had already deepened.

“Where exactly did you think I touched?”

“……”

“How naughty.”

“Uh…”

“I meant that when I carried you…”

“You were so thin there was barely anything left except bones.”

Feeling as though she’d been completely outmaneuvered…

Lucy bit the tip of her tongue.

Get yourself together!

She cleared her throat.

“A-Anyway.”

“Since you already seem to know everything…”

“You do?”

“Before you take me to your duchy…”

“There’s something I’d like to settle between us first.”

Edward tilted his head.

Lucy watched as his platinum hair shimmered beneath the sunlight like strands spun from gold.

Then he smiled.

It was the kind of smile that looked capable of persuading someone to reveal the combination to an imaginary underground vault.

To Lucy…

It was simply terrifying.

What kind of awful thing is he planning now?

She had already sampled enough of his rotten personality yesterday.

Swallowing nervously, Lucy extended the paper toward him once more.

“After everything I went through at the Temple…”

“I learned something.”

“Contracts need to be crystal clear.”

“……”

“This contract says that I’ll provide purification…”

“And in exchange, Your Grace will protect me.”

Edward raised an eyebrow.

“Is that really necessary?”

“Yes.”

“Very necessary.”

“I believe I already told you I’d take responsibility.”

“Verbal agreements don’t have any legal force!”

Perhaps handing a contract to the man who had just saved her life was a little excessive…

But—

Everything has to be written down!

Always leave documents.

Always leave evidence.

Having experienced two miserable lives…

Lucy had evolved into an adult who understood the importance of contracts.

Besides…

She had a reason to be confident.

He’s already decided to take me with him.

If he truly disliked her…

He would have thrown her away the moment she landed against his chest yesterday.

Instead…

He had brought her here.

Sure, we had a rather strange conversation before that…

But instinct told her he had recognized her value.

He sensed my holy power.

He must like what he found.

Her extraordinary purification ability.

That’s right.

He’s the one who needs me.

She didn’t know every detail of a Dragon Incarnate’s berserk condition.

She simply assumed he suffered from some terrible chronic illness.

If someone who constantly suffered from migraines, back pain, and indigestion suddenly had all of it disappear just by carrying around a little keychain…

I’d become obsessively attached too.

She wasn’t asking for much.

Just let me live.

And…

Provide enough support for her to live comfortably.

Even this contract…

She had deliberately waited until Tepe and Gorgo left to gather food and water before presenting it.

Biting her lip nervously…

Lucy watched Edward.

He continued smiling beautifully, his thoughts impossible to read.

Finally, his elegant lips parted.

“I thought you were merely weak.”

“……”

“But it seems you’re rather cunning as well.”

She couldn’t tell whether he was mocking her…

Or praising her.

Lucy answered quietly but firmly.

“Of course I’m grateful that you saved me.”

“But that’s one thing…”

“And this is another.”

“And yesterday…”

“You called me ‘Master’ so obediently.”

“…What does that have to do with anything?”

“Wasn’t that your way of declaring you’d become my slave?”

“…Absolutely not!”

“When you said ‘contract’…”

“I assumed you’d brought me a slave contract.”

“I did not!”

Lucy practically jumped.

“This is simply a perfectly fair and equal contract for both of us—”

“I don’t think so.”

Edward snatched the contract from her hands before taking several long strides forward.

Lucy missed her chance to escape.

In an instant…

Edward’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, trapping her securely against him.

“You even managed to bring me a fraudulent contract.”

“Fraudulent?!”

Lucy protested…

Even while feeling a pang of guilt.

Well…

There are a few clauses that look a little suspicious…

She had hidden several tiny tricks inside.

For example…

Working hours were limited to eight hours per day.

But lunch break?

Instead of one hour…

She had quietly written two.

The protection clause promised 10 years…

Except she had added a tiny extra zero beside the ten so that it actually read 100 years.

Maybe I should’ve written it differently…

She had no intention of staying beside Edward for a century.

It was simply insurance.

Besides…

I didn’t even ask for a salary.

Although…

She had quietly inserted a clause requiring Duke Edward le Tesseron to provide all food and lodging.

And…

She had also included special paid leave after every purification session.

Surely he isn’t going to reject those clauses too…?

Just then—

Chuckle.

Edward laughed softly.

Wrapping an arm around her shoulders almost as though they were close companions, he pulled her even nearer.

His cool, clean scent surrounded her instantly.

“For example…”

“Article Two, Clause Two.”

“…Huh?”

“Clause Two?”

That was the last clause she had expected him to mention.

Wait…

What exactly did Clause Two say again…?

Edward slowly read it aloud.

“Purification shall be performed once per week… by holding hands.”