The New Contract
'He's definitely changed.' Elysia was certain of it.
The man before her eyes, Kairon Balder. He kept showing behavior utterly unlike what she'd expected.
Just yesterday, she'd thought it was a mere whim, a fleeting impulse. The fatigue from the long journey from the Northern Region to the Imperial Capital, or the urgent situation back home in the north—it must have been something like that.
But no. It had started with that strange silence yesterday. He'd changed.
"You've changed, Your Grace."
Elysia opened softly, gazing into Kairon's eyes. He didn't avoid her gaze much. The old Kairon wouldn't have met her eyes so easily.
"People always change a little at a time, don't they?"
Kairon replied calmly.
Boring.
Why has he become like this? Why has he changed so much?
"Your Grace, I believe when people change, there's always a trigger. No matter how small or large."
Elysia slowly raised her hand to cradle her teacup.
"Especially for someone like you, who seemed unchanging. In my eyes, you were someone who wouldn't change."
"It seems Your Highness saw me as unchanging."
Kairon smiled faintly, calmly. As if her words amused him.
"Yes."
Elysia answered with a soft smile.
"I thought the way you felt about me would never change, no matter the time."
So she spoke more directly.
"……."
As Kairon's lips pressed shut heavily, a brief silence fell over the garden. Elysia gazed at him intently.
I can't understand it at all.
Even Elysia felt confused watching him. From the moment they'd first met at the imperial ball in her childhood, she'd known. This man was completely smitten with her. No matter how much time passed, he'd always be on her side.
That's why she called on him more than anyone else even now. He was reliable enough to keep by her side.
But Kairon hadn't wavered on the patronage contract she'd offered or various other matters. On the contrary—
"Then perhaps I've changed late."
He met her eyes openly with a small laugh.
He knew he'd changed, and even as he faced her, he was trying to control himself.
Tap.
Elysia's fingertip brushed the teacup handle. A faint sound rang out.
"……."
She blankly lowered her head, realizing belatedly that she'd been gripping it tightly.
"Late... you say?"
"Yes. I think I should have changed sooner."
Kairon answered her with indifference, as cold as ice.
"Why do you think you had to change, Your Grace?"
Elysia stared blankly at his face.
This can't be real.
She truly couldn't believe it. Of all people, Kairon was rejecting her now.
Questioning her proposals, even drafting a contract favorable to himself and proposing it back to her. That shouldn't have happened. After all, he was already completely hers...
"Because there are more than one or two people I must be responsible for. My vassals, the Northern Region's people—they look to me every single day. How could I look after only myself?"
At those words, Elysia's eyes cooled sharply.
"...So that's why you had to change."
"Yes. Just as time changes naturally, people inevitably change too."
Grind.
Elysia bit her lip hard without thinking. Her eyes now, her voice to him—nothing was getting through.
More than anything, Kairon's gaze seemed to tell her.
You mean there's something more important to you than me right now?
No, his feelings for her couldn't have vanished entirely. Yesterday, when she'd first taken his hand, she'd felt it clearly. Kairon had been shaken by her. His fingertips against hers had trembled, and his eyes had blurred, if only for a moment. That wasn't acting.
So there was only one answer.
His heart hasn't fully turned away yet.
Just yesterday at their first meeting, Kairon had been completely hers. He'd only suddenly started acting like a different person.
"I see. Then let's review the contract you brought once more..."
With those words, Elysia slowly looked down at the document. The new patronage contract Kairon had brought.
On the surface, unlike yesterday, every clause favored House Balder. Requests from the princess would only be accepted via official documents. Balder's trade company, troops, and intelligence network required the duke's direct approval. Unauthorized private use of Balder's name by the princess would immediately terminate the contract. In future imperial succession disputes, if Balder's cooperation was desired, tax reductions for the north and exclusive mining transport rights would be guaranteed.
Is he joking?
She'd read it already, but it was absurd no matter how many times. These terms were so generous that even another noble would be desperate to ally with her.
Yet Kairon had dared to bring this to her, a princess.
But at the same time, her evaluation of him shifted dramatically.
Not bad. He's setting aside personal feelings and negotiating realistically.
She couldn't deny it honestly. This contract wasn't brought to reject her. Quite the opposite. Kairon was leaving a path to connect with her while facing reality. As if trying to have both her and the north at once.
"Your Grace."
I set the contract down and looked up again.
"Speak."
"Last night, you said you didn't want to be my patron."
"Yes."
His answer held no hesitation, and oddly, it shook a corner of her heart.
I've never experienced this before.
All the men in the world—no, even women—she could bend to her will if she wanted. Only those of imperial blood, sharing her lineage, were immune to her power.
"Yet you brought a new contract. Does that mean you want to stay by my side?"
She chuckled lightly as she asked. So what was Kairon's true intent? The reason he hadn't left the Outer Castle despite changing overnight.
Tap. Tap...
Kairon's fingertip lightly drummed the contract. He seemed to ponder for a moment, and she waited leisurely.
I don't need Kairon specifically.
But letting him go like this wounded her pride. It wasn't her rejecting him—it was him daring to reject her.
"Your Highness."
At that moment, Kairon's gaze shifted from the contract to her softly.
"Yes, I'm listening."
"What Your Highness needs from me isn't my patronage, but House Balder, isn't it?"
"That's..."
Her lips hesitated for a moment.
Did I say that?
Yesterday, she'd wanted Kairon by her side, but to him, it must have seemed like she wanted Balder itself. It confused her enough to fluster her.
"So, I'm offering Your Highness a new contract in House Balder's name."
It was a very brief moment. Even the head maid waiting nearby didn't notice, but Elysia did. His words had struck her weak point.
Not patronage, but Balder.
It was true. But what she wanted wasn't just the house of Balder. Because Kairon was in House Balder. And she wanted everything with him. Above all, she had no doubt Kairon would gladly offer her everything.
"Separately, as for my feelings—who would refuse to stand by Your Highness's side? I feel the same."
Yet Kairon was saying now: not as House Balder, but as Kairon himself, he wanted to be by her side.
"Your Grace, that sounds like I'm coveting House Balder. Do you see me as such a shameless woman?"
"Of course not. If I've offended Your Highness, I sincerely apologize."
As Kairon accepted it calmly, Elysia felt exasperated instead.
It wasn't going as planned. Even as she tried to seize control, Kairon guarded his heart like an iron wall.
"Kairon."
Elysia finally called his name again.
"...Speak."
Kairon's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. Just a tiny shake.
Elysia saw all his reactions. That's why she both disliked it and, inexplicably, liked it a little.
"I said I need you. Not House Balder. I want you to patronize me and stay by my side."
"...Then I've misunderstood."
As he smiled faintly at the end, the garden breeze seemed to stop completely.
Elysia gazed at him vaguely.
He's changed so much.
For someone who'd supposedly changed overnight yesterday, his current composure and bid for control were too poised. He seemed cold and insolent, but maintaining such calm before her meant he could do the same with others.
In that case.
Elysia smiled radiantly at him.
"Yes, a misunderstanding. After all, a relationship where we help each other is ideal."
She just needed to reel him back in. Even if by a slightly different method.
He's worth it.
The man before her, Kairon, was rarer than any she'd seen. Principled, shaken yet unyielding. Maintaining himself wholly, right before her of all people.
Glance.
Elysia looked down at the new patronage contract and steeled her resolve.
"Very well. I'll accept the contract you've drafted, Your Grace."
Flinch.
At her casual tone, Kairon reacted with clear surprise.
"Truly?"
"Yes, it's a contract you proposed directly. The details favor the north more, but I see you as someone who'll help me even more."
Elysia even reached out and picked up the contract.
"And you're not entirely wrong. To move a great house like Balder, it needs proper justification and compensation. It'll look legitimate to the outside world too."
Her voice remained soft throughout. But her inner thoughts differed.
This contract will be a chain for him.
Kairon would think he was maintaining a rational relationship with her through this. That he'd secured a great deal grabbing benefits for the north.
"...A very wise judgment."
As she looked up slightly, she saw his genuinely pleased face. He still maintained composure, but his cold eyes curved faintly—he seemed quite happy.
He can't help but waver eventually.
Right now, he thought he was rational before her, observing objectively. But the moment the contract was signed, paradoxically, Kairon would inevitably be bound to her.
And that was her power. Above all, outsiders wouldn't see the fine print. They'd only see the surface: Kairon Balder, Duke of the North, had contracted with Elysia Le Arden.
Ceding a few interests meant nothing.
"Your Grace, even so, a few clauses need adjustment."
"Yes, I expected as much."
Unlike before, Kairon nodded brightly.
"Setting others aside, this 'Balder private request veto' phrasing is too rigid. It could be read as refusing imperial requests."
"It won't be an issue if Your Highness doesn't request troops privately."
Privately.
Elysia mulled the word, letting a soft smile play.
"Ah, and expanding northern policing rights is too burdensome for me to accept now."
"Then, if Your Highness later requires Balder's military aid in succession disputes, we'll add a clause for further negotiation."
Words flew back and forth several times after. Some clauses were struck, others added. They conversed in a harmonious atmosphere, but their attitudes differed subtly. Each seeming to prioritize themselves more.
Scritch.
Then, Elysia took up the quill.
"Then, Your Grace, how about this clause?"
Kairon looked at her.
"The Duke of Balder, as the official ally of Princess Elysia Le Arden, shall not act to damage the princess's political honor."
Kairon's eyes narrowed.
"Your Highness, it sounds cautious, but like it's restricting my actions."
"Do you really think so?"
"Yes."
As he answered carefully, Elysia's eyes curved sweetly.
"Well, you're not wrong."
Elysia laughed brightly. Conversely, the smile faded from Kairon's face.
"But you've added so many clauses restricting me, Your Grace. Isn't this just balance we both need? Or have I failed to earn your trust?"
Kairon fell silent for a moment.
He can't refuse.
From their exchanges, she knew Kairon dealt with her more realistically than she'd thought. He wouldn't yield advantage in negotiations.
But this clause would be hard to reject. After all, not damaging imperial honor was obvious for any noble. Denying it could seem like doubting the imperial family.
Kairon would know that.
"Yes, fine. I'll accept."
As expected, he did.
"In exchange, we'll add that Your Highness shall not damage Balder's political honor either."
But at his follow-up, Elysia's quill-tip halted with a tap.
"...Me, damage your honor?"
"Of course not. But didn't Your Highness demand the same of me, knowing I wouldn't?"
Elysia felt her smile vanish from her face.
What the hell is this man?
Really? Pushing back this hard against her?
"Your Grace, that remark could be misunderstood."
"If it's a misunderstanding, that's fortunate. I share Your Highness's sentiments."
"Fine."
Elysia swallowed a sigh inwardly and moved the quill.
"Then we'll add that clause too."
"……."
Kairon gazed at her wordlessly for a moment. As she accepted too easily, a flicker of suspicion crossed his eyes briefly.
In the odd atmosphere, the contract revisions finished.
"Then, only signatures remain."
Kairon said.
Elysia looked at the blank spaces at the bottom.
Elysia Le Arden.
Kairon Balder.
Spaces for their names side by side. Seeing them, her fingertips trembled faintly.
Wait, is this really my patronage contract?
Now that it was done, it felt strange. She'd meant to concede minor benefits and take more, but somehow she'd been swept along and finished everything on his terms.
Scritch!
Kairon signed boldly and handed it over.
"Your Highness has made a very wise decision."
His smiling words irritated her strangely.
Scritch!
But even so, she didn't refuse to sign.
Yes, I can make it like before again.
So he can't break away from me. So he'll offer everything to me himself.
The moment Elysia signed with that thought—
Princess's trait Inevitable Fate (EX) forms a new path!
Only before Kairon's eyes did the new message appear.