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Chapter : 17
This time, I’ll change the male lead.
“Damn it!”
Karl climbed into the carriage and tore off his robe, cursing under his breath.
“How could Kaela…?”
He still couldn’t believe what had happened just moments ago.
Up until now, he thought Kaela had grabbed the crown prince’s hand out of pure impulse—because she was angry at him. Their interests aligned well enough, after all.
But…
Get down, Your Highness!
At that moment, the person Kaela reached for was Hyperion. There had been no time to stage anything or plan ahead.
Which meant—it was instinct.
Just when had those two gotten so close? Was Kaela actually serious about Hyperion?
“No way.”
Karl shook his head violently. Impossible.
For the past three years, the Kaela he watched had always been so naive. She hadn’t even noticed he had been scheming something else the whole time.
“Sigh…”
He forced himself to steady his breathing, pushing down the unfamiliar irritation. Maybe things had actually turned out for the best.
He’d been worried she’d cling and whine, but she’d cut ties so cleanly—objectively, that should’ve been a relief…
Don’t worry. I’m not stupid enough to chase after a cheating fiancé.
Did we still have anything left to say to each other?
Thinking of Kaela’s back as she walked away without hesitation made his jaw clench.
Something about the situation felt very wrong.
“Please review this, Lady.”
When we arrived at Leon’s office, two men were waiting.
Hyperion, who remained absorbed in his work regardless of my presence—and his aide, a man named Aile.
“What’s this?”
“A simplified document summarizing the contract terms.”
Aile explained when I peered down at the paper. He resembled Aiden a little, though this man had a much gentler face.
“The formal document, notarized and all, will be given once you enter the palace.”
“Ah, right.”
Come to think of it—I had agreed to get engaged… no, enter a contract.
Even though I’d prepared myself, having it actually placed before me made me uneasy.
While I stared at the papers with a knot in my stomach, Leon jerked his chin toward something.
“Why that face now?”
It was a newspaper—with my face printed across the entire front page.
Not just newspapers—catalogs, noble newsletters, projection spheres, leaflets.
My bold pose, brilliant smile—and printed in huge red letters:
[The Veritas Lady Publicly Accepts a Marriage Proposal]
“I thought you were happy to take it.”
Leon smiled prettily—almost dazzlingly—but his voice dripped with sarcasm.
In other words:
You caused all this fuss yourself, so why are you making that face now?
He’s way more of a boss-level enemy than I thought.
I glanced between the mysterious document and him. To think my favorite character would turn out to be a beautifully packaged menace…
“I wasn’t planning on moving quite this fast.”
Leon’s hand slowed as he flipped the pages.
“But after today, delaying isn’t an option.”
Today—Karl. The memory made my head spin.
“Not only did he kidnap a noble lady,” Aile said, incredulous, “he detonated magestone in the presence of His Highness and fled.”
“Compared to His Highness’s divine power, it’s like a pebble,” he added, “but even masked, not just anyone could pull that off.”
“Seriously. If His Highness hadn’t helped…”
I’d have been ashes along with the exploded stone.
“Thank you. Sorry my thanks are late.”
I forced a smile.
Given that I had been fooled for three years, there was no telling what Karl might pull next.
Worse than kidnapping was entirely possible.
Is he really tied to Kaela’s death in the original story?
My aunt’s words echoed suddenly—stick with the stronger one.
“You’re right. It’s already late. So start by signing.”
I stared blankly at Leon.
Yeah. If it’s the strongest one…
“Fine. I’ll sign—huh? It’s blank?”
The instant I opened the cover, confusion hit. I expected dense legal clauses and imperial decrees—yet it was just blank paper.
“Because things between people can change,” Aile said smoothly. “Today, you both write just one clause you want.”
So the two of us would fill it in over time.
“A contract we’ll build together, Your Highness and you.”
“Yes. Exactly. You understand quickly.”
He beamed.
“I’ll need more time to think, so Your Highness first.”
It wasn’t a bad system, but it was unsettling.
Once I signed, I’d have no idea what he might write later.
“The first line sets the tone, so it’s important.”
“It’s not that dramatic.”
Unlike me, Leon didn’t hesitate.
[I will fulfill my role.]
One sentence. Then he slid the paper and pen over.
His role—meaning Kaela’s fiancé, the future Crown Prince…
“The rest we’ll add later. For now, the term is one year.”
“Alright. Then I’ll write…”
I gripped the pen hard.
[Diamond mines of the southern territory.]
“Diamond mines?”
“The mines Karl and I were promised. Grant them to me.”
“You could ask for something far more valuable.”
Leon tilted his head, curious.
Why a diamond mine, specifically the southern one?
True, I could ask for more, and he would probably give anything.
“When I’m older, I want to retire to a southern island. Let’s call it retirement funding.”
I brushed it off casually and handed the paper back.
I couldn’t tell him yet that the stones there included ones capable of activating the Tears of Light.
“What on earth are you thinking…”
Leon signed. Now my turn.
To think I’d be bound to Hyperion Lucius under the name of engagement…
A side character shouldn’t be playing roles this important.
“Oh, right.”
Pen paused, I asked:
“Does fulfilling your role include private matters?”
“Private matters…?”
He seemed surprised. His gaze met mine—strangely intense.
“You mean conditions like—same bed even if we fight.”
“Of course we’d have to consider—wait, what?”
Same bed? Same bed??
What was he talking about!?
“I meant whether you can interfere in private life—free time, hobbies, feelings.”
I tried to remain calm.
“If one of us falls in love—with each other or someone else—do you have the right to control that?”
Honestly, there was one thing worrying me:
Me falling for Leon.
Just look at that face.
He sometimes felt like a sociopathic peacock, but that face was criminal-level disarming.
Seeing it daily… could I control myself?
“It doesn’t matter. Loving me is your choice.”
His chin rested on his hand as our eyes met—close, direct.
“Just don’t expect the same from me.”
“Of course.”
I nodded. I wasn’t expecting anything anyway.
“And.”
His finger tapped the contract—cool eyes narrowing.
“That leniency ends today.”
“What…?”
Do you still have feelings for that bastard?
Seems you were quite close.
Did he… hold grudges?
“So you mean—no other men except you?”
“Sort it out.”
I nearly laughed out loud at how unexpected that was.
He’d seemed like the type who wouldn’t care if I kept lovers or paramours—and yet here he was.
“It’s only a one-year contract. Does that even matter?”
I handed the fully signed paper over.
“You really had no idea.”
Leon lifted the contract with both signatures and snorted.
Somehow…
“I’m a very petty man.”
That smile felt like being conned.
