MLBR 17

chapter 17

“It’s not necessary, you know.”

Hereis lifted the hand that overlapped with mine. A memory from not long ago flashed across my mind.

Was he going to kiss the back of my hand again? Just as the thought crossed me, he pressed my hand to his cheek and smiled with his eyes. It was a gentle smile.

“You don’t need to worry about the language of love, not with me.”

The hand he held grew hot. I reminded myself—he had always been this way. And right now, as I’d repeated to myself many times, this was just practice for our physical closeness under the contract.

“I mean that anything is fine with me, as long as it’s with you.”

A laugh slipped through Hereis’s teeth.

“My joy is you, Filena.”

“…Is that really sincere?”

“Ahaha. Is there such a thing as fake sincerity?”

Hereis teased, picking up the love-language test he had just finished. At that moment, I quickly grabbed the other end.

This was information about a partner. And information was more valuable than anything—it had to be guarded.

“So you mean all I have to do is take part in your ‘fun,’ Hereis. I understand.”

“Sometimes let me play out a scenario of my own. And for that, like today, do these little improvisational roleplays with me.”

“…Fine, I’ll accept that too. Let’s add it to the contract. Since it’s only ‘sometimes.’ And this paper is coming with me.”

Looking satisfied, Hereis let go of the page. I quickly filed it away.

“Then it’s settled, right?”

“Not quite. Don’t rush. We still need to go through the rest of the contract.”

We had only skimmed Article 1. We still had to examine Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6—all the way up to 20. Seeing my flustered face, Hereis stood and skimmed the contract swiftly.

“Keep secrets, don’t take up with other women, write letters often, negotiate fair costs, and we’ll talk about termination later.”

“I don’t think it’s that simple. Especially the cost. That needs serious discussion.”

Suspicious, I looked at him. In response, he deliberately signed. Then, bending slightly, he softly took my hand, pulling as if to help me stand, and murmured tenderly:

“All I have to do is keep my eyes on you, act for your sake, and mind my reputation a little for your future.”

He gestured toward the door, suggesting we leave. But today, I refused to simply be led along. I made a proposal.

“If we go out now, then today, we’ll follow my scenario.”

“Deal!”

Eh? His cheerful answer left me stunned. I had thought he would be the one setting the script this time.

“Just need to adjust a few small details.”

Once again, he pulled me along. As I followed, I shook his hand up and down. A handshake sealed. Cooperation confirmed.

Today we’re going with my script!

So this is what it feels like when a long, grueling thesis finally passes approval. My mood felt unusually bright.

We hadn’t even agreed on a destination, yet both of us climbed into our separate carriages. He was smart—I trusted he had read the script.

At the forest’s entrance, Clara, who had been waiting, climbed into my carriage. I had told her earlier: if I stayed out too long, she should come find me.

Otherwise, how would I prepare for danger?

Even if Hereis could be trusted, I hadn’t known him long enough. In such a closed-off place, caution was wise. That was why I had brought Clara—someone discreet and reliable for keeping both safety and secrets.

Two birds with one stone.

“My lady, what exactly were you doing in that forest?”

“That’s a secret.”

“…You were with the Duke Grey, weren’t you?”

How did she know? I had been careful—meticulous. Though startled, I feigned calm and shrugged.

“Why would Duke Grey be in such a forest? A man who belongs in a vast, comfortable mansion hardly seems the type to wander gloomy woods.”

Perhaps being with Hereis had improved my ability to talk my way out of things. Meeting Clara’s eyes, I silently asked why she thought that.

“Well… My lady doesn’t see anyone. Except for your pen pal—and since he conceals his identity when meeting you, I figured it must be Duke Grey.”

Why was everyone around me so clever and logical? The fact that Hereis was in the forest was supposed to be secret. Then I suddenly remembered the book I had obtained recently, one about curses.

“I wanted to experiment with something I read in that book.”

“Surely not the one you bought the other day?!”

Clara’s eyes widened.

“…Yes, that one.”

A book on curses. And here I was, lying that I had tested something from it. She could think me insane—or worse, fear me.

Is this really okay…?

But Clara seemed completely unfazed. She suddenly said:

“If the curse works, please tell me too. And if a monster shows up, describe it for me.”

“Wouldn’t I die before that?”

“If a demon appears, please explain how to make a contract.”

“Isn’t not contracting the common-sense choice?”

“Life is only lived once!”

Shouldn’t that be all the more reason to be careful? She was no Hereis, but she was unusual in her own right.

I blinked and let the conversation trail off. It might be better not to clarify—leaving her with the misunderstanding could help avoid suspicion.

The book I had been planning to put away… I’d have to leave it lying around for a while.

At the department store, finely carved statues greeted us, their hands outstretched with grace. They represented the first, second, and third Saintesses.

The store had three floors, the stairs winding halfway in a circle as they ascended. The polished wooden railing was decorated with beautiful patterns.

Several designers waited behind their own counters. Each shop displayed mannequins dressed in finished clothing, and shelves stacked with fabrics.

“Oh my, my lady!”

Sera, the owner of a well-known boutique inside the store—and today’s supporting character—greeted me warmly while subtly scanning the surroundings. Her shop was larger than most, thanks to its fame.

“Did you perhaps… come alone~?”

Her eager eyes puzzled me.

Business was a public matter, and in public, one was supposed to conceal private feelings. Yet Sera had never failed to show her displeasure whenever I had visited before. My reputation had not been good.

People might stop coming to her store just because I had been there.

It was a realistic possibility.

And wasn’t this one of the Empire’s top boutiques? Even if she was a commoner, her connections with high-ranking nobles ran deep. She had the ability to politely mask rejection behind kind words.

But now, Sera was being overly courteous—excessively so. Likely due to the ripple effect of the incidents I had caused in recent days. Even bad publicity was still publicity.

And this time, unlike before, the figures entangled with me were all notable. She must have concluded she couldn’t predict what would happen to me next.

“So, will the two of you—oh, pardon me, will the Duke be arriving shortly? If you’re expecting more company, I’ll prepare another cup of tea.”

With a slight bow, she added that she was asking out of pure curiosity and meant no offense.

“I’m alone. Is there a reason I shouldn’t be?”

I asked directly, though keeping my tone even.

If I suddenly acted overly sweet, it would only seem fake. I needed to remain calm and confident while showing glimpses of humanity.

“No, no, of course not. Then, what sort of dress would you like to see?”

“Show me everything you have in sky-blue and green.”

“Of course, my lady. Right away.”

At Sera’s clap, one assistant brought out a catalog, while another showed me two ready-made dresses. Those in the catalog could be ordered separately, while the displayed ones could be tailored and adjusted for purchase.

I immersed myself in examining the dresses. Soon enough, it would be time for Hereis to arrive.