As soon as I returned to my room, I sat down on my bed. My entire body was aching, like I had been beaten black and blue.
When I lay down and turned around, I saw that there was a bag placed on the chair.
After I took that old bag out of the walk-in closet last time, I just kept it around without returning it inside.
It was something that did not go well with either the luxurious upholstery of the chair, nor the surrounding interior.
At least Rona wiped it off earlier, so it was all shiny now.
I rose from the bed again and carried it back to the closet, holding its worn-out handle.
And, just like two years ago when I first entered the mansion, I placed down my leather bag in the same spot.
“……”
As I was about to go back to my room, I changed my mind and turned around. Then, I went down on my knees to unlock the bag.
The old, rusty lock wouldn’t open properly even as I tried to wrench it open, so I struggled for a while before it opened.
Clank, clank.
Red, powdered rust fell off, and a moment later, the lock finally opened.
Compared to the strength needed to open it, what was inside could hardly be worth the effort.
What’s inside was a diary I sometimes scribbled on, the set of clothes I wore when I entered this place, a watch that was my father’s, about to fall off its strap, and a thread and a needle that used to be my mother’s.
That was all.
“……”
I was going to close the bag, but instead of doing that, I reached deep into the bag and pulled out a flat envelope.
I went over the contract carefully.
The words ‘Party A’ and ‘Party B’ appeared countless times, with the connotation that ‘Party A’ had the upper hand all throughout.
For each time that ‘Party B’ appeared, there were things written about what to do and what not to do.
The remuneration for the success of fulfilling the contract’s terms was also written there.
At the end of so many clauses, there was one clause that was written with seemingly bolder handwriting.
It was the confidentiality clause.
While maintaining the contract, it was written that money would be sent to my younger siblings in return for this.
It was emphasized many times because it was the most important thing.
Then after that were the details of the remuneration.
「 In addition, if ‘Party B’ successfully gives birth to a child, the payment of 500,000 gold shall be given as agreed upon. 」
The moment I saw the amount—500,000 gold!—I checked the amount again and again while rubbing my eyes several times.
No matter how many times I blinked, the number of zeroes did not decrease.
It was clear that it was still a heart-dropping amount, then and now.
All of this money would be given after completing the goal that was written in the contract.
[ “Give birth to my child and become the mother of the Duchy’s heir. You shouldn’t be a Duchess in name only like it is now. If you want to revel in such luxury, try to think of something better. Don’t use the same shallow tricks.” ]
I read the contract again starting from where I left off.
“……”
My gaze stopped at the last clause.
The confidentiality clause.
It was the reason I couldn’t answer him when he asked, ‘Why?’
What if Amoide found out the details of the contract?
Until now, Camilla had been paying close attention to everything that would come out of my lips, whether the contract would reach her son’s ears or not.
Because it would be revealed that she bought a woman with money just for her son to sire a child.
But at this point, if he ever finds out about the details of the contract…
Would he even help me?
I wasn’t sure about that. Rather, it was more plausible to say that he’d hate me more.
And if Camilla found out about him knowing this, there’s a good chance that she’ll ask me to pay her the penalty upfront…
The more I thought about it, the more my thoughts became tangled.
[ Get lost. ]
I want to leave, too.
Why would I want to stand next to you when I might lose my neck if I keep trying to stay by your side?
But I couldn’t say this.
A deep sigh blew out of my lips as I thought of Amoide, whose thorns have only grown sharper even though he’s dying of an unknown illness.
The memory of staying up all night next to the fallen Amoide who was sleeping peacefully, even going as far as not going to the bathroom. It all gradually returned to me.
All of these were needed for me to improve my relationship with Amoide so that I wouldn’t be implicated in the future, just like Selena was.
The accusations thrown by the servants against Selena in [ Lady Crown ] were the worst.
{ I can’t believe she cheated on His Grace with a strange man and ran away. }
{ She was already married into a rich family in the first place. She’s a noble in name, but in reality, she’s just like a beggar. I heard that the good elder madam treated her well. }
{ She was blinded by greater wealth. }
{ Didn’t His Grace already notice what was going on, that’s why she did it? I’m sure she killed His Grace first because she was afraid of being kicked out of the house by the Duke who found out about her evil intentions. }
{ I feel so sorry for Milord. }
Selena had been painted out to be a Duchess who had an affair with another man, and she killed her husband so that the Duchy’s properties would fall under her name.
Even if I had ten lives, this really isn’t a place where I can stay.
…But because of this reason, I had no choice but to trick him.
I kept pretending that my hand hadn’t gotten better yet.
I even made a false confession.
As I count all my sins, I wouldn’t blame him if he had strangled me if he knew all of this.
He still didn’t know about the contract that I signed with Camilla.
Especially the last clause.
Right now, Amoide still misunderstands that I want his child.
Even if he thinks that we wouldn’t be able to have a child anyway, even if he hates me so much, as long as he becomes healthy, then it’ll be fine.
I wouldn’t hate this situation either if it ends up like that. If he becomes healthy, then I’ll disappear from his sight.
The only problem with this is the fact that he might die before that happens. I tried various things to change this fate, but he still collapsed like this.
Both his diet and the treatments he had were flawless, but the seizure still couldn’t be prevented.
I know what’s going to happen in the future, but I don’t know how and why it’ll happen. It was making me desperate.
That’s why I need someone on my side.
The only way to quickly terminate this contract and safely leave this mansion…
…It would be impossible without Amodie’s help.
* * *
A week later, all the clothes that were ordered from Paula arrived at the mansion.
“Come in and look at all of these, Milady.”
Rona was more excited than me in seeing dozens of boxes piled up in the room. I had to open the boxes one by one with my lips closed tightly.
“As expected, the dresses made by the best boutique in the capital are on a whole different level. The fabric, the sewing, the finishing—even the materials used for the embellishments are all the best!”
“That’s because these cost a fortune.”
I replied in a small voice. Cost and material were directly proportional.
If you have a lot of money, it’s only natural that you can get more beautiful and better-quality things.
“Yup, expensive clothes are different, really different.”
“Of course.”
I nodded as I said this, but as I recalled the amount spent on ordering these dresses, I felt dizzy for a moment.
Camilla, who would receive the bill for this, might grab me by the neck.
‘There’s no way she’s going to make me pay for it, right?’
Ehh, no way. This was the Duchy of Efret. It’s a family that has enough property to rival the Imperial Family’s. Their wealth wouldn’t be dented after buying just a few dozens of clothes.
I knew this, but I still felt nervous. Even though Camilla wasn’t scolding me… yet.
I was probably anxious because I was only a ‘fake wife’ by contract, and Selena’s residual memories were seeping into me, making her inferiority remain tainting my mind.
Nobody knew the details of the contract, but why does this still need to happen?
All these worries plagued me again, so I let out a long sigh.
Back then, since I didn’t carry myself with dignity, not only Amoide and Camilla, but even the maids and servants ignored me.
Looking back, I didn’t worry about money either when I first entered the estate and just accepted whatever clothes I was given.
The maid assigned to me was instructed to find a boutique that could make my clothes as soon as possible, and to find out my measurements.
The maid, who sneered at the Duchess who didn’t even have a wedding, measured me haphazardly. As a result, the clothes given to me weren’t the right fit.
If I think about it, it was then.
I could have asked for the clothes to be returned, or I could have demanded that the maid be held responsible for not working properly and giving me those sorts of dresses.
Would my fate have changed a little? At least, Selena wouldn’t have had to die in pain, hung by the neck with the stigma of killing her husband.
What I needed right now was to make even just one more person take my side.
Trust in me. That’s what I needed, and respect. I don’t want to be looked down upon.
“Each and every piece of garment was sewed with great detail.”
Rona was opening the boxes one by one, taking out the dresses and organizing them.
Every time she opened one, she was amazed, as though she was opening gifts.
“But if you could have had fancier dresses…”
Rona whined as if she couldn’t abandon her lingering feelings.
However, the newly tailored clothes were already good enough. They just weren’t all that colorful.
Even so, it was apparent that Paula carefully chose the fabrics used and the accessories added.
“Would you like to wear this one today?”
Rona finally opened all the boxes and sorted through them, then she pulled one out to show me.
“Alright.”
I nodded lightly, then Rona helped me change into it.
“Look, Milady, you seem so different already.”
Standing in front of the mirror wearing a new dress, I felt like I had become a different person.
“Since Milady’s all dressed up, why don’t you visit Milord? It’s such a shame not to show this pretty side of you.”
“…Really?”
Am I pretty?
“Look closely. The dress looks really good on you, it also brings out Milady’s eyes.”
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login