Chapter 14

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: The Paper That Makes You Fall in Love For Sure

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"Zweeeen~ Haa!"

The people rushing toward me in some familiar historical drama tone weren't Joseon-era prime ministers but doctors and priests dispatched from the temple and the imperial palace.

One of the Shadows must have requested aid for the injured, because their faces were pale as they checked my arm all over.

"Compound fracture with severe lacerations! The arm... the arm...!"

"Baguette..."

"?"

I quickly clamped my mouth shut over the failed pun that had crawled out into the world, and the doctors looked confused as they tried to parse the hidden meaning of my "baguette."

'Sorry...'

Embarrassed, I praised them instead.

"You all work so hard. I've stopped the bleeding with magic, so please handle it swiftly."

"Pardon? Ah, yes, understood."

Several priests gathered around and poured holy power into me, and my arm gradually returned to normal.

And with that, the slum commotion came to an end.

"So you encountered a fairy and sustained minor injuries?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. That's correct."

Right now, I was standing brazenly before my father, giving my report. The incident had ballooned larger than expected, so as the one who'd invoked command authority, I was delivering it personally.

"I heard from the doctors that your arm was completely shattered."

The report must have already reached him, but in times like these, you had to push forward even more boldly.

"Who would dare lie about Your Majesty's safety? Father, tell me their name, and I shall—"

"Enough."

The fairy on my shoulder flinched at my father's chilling aura.

'I know, you little shit. Who's touching who?'

The fairy trembled pathetically, and the emperor spoke.

"By imperial decree, the First Prince is confined to quarters for the time being."

"Your Majesty... is there a time limit...?"

-Thud!

My father slammed his desk.

"Out."

"Yes, sir!"

I swiftly exited the room, and the fairy buried its face in my neck, shivering.

Day 7 of house arrest, with sunlight pouring brilliantly outside.

Today was the First Princess's birthday.

Carriages lined up at the palace gates, and the flower-adorned imperial gardens were more lavishly prepared than usual to welcome guests.

Servants bustled about, people laughed ha-ha-ho-ho, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but none of it had anything to do with me.

I gazed out the window with melancholy eyes.

"Bored."

"I'm bored!"

'Look at that thing, sprawled out flat on the table like it owns the place. Tsk!'

While everyone else seemed happy, my room contained only beneficial elixirs, a high-grade magic tome from Grandfather, tea and snacks on the table, jeweled toys, and a lazy fairy.

'Ah... what an unfortunate life.'

Sorry, First Princess. We're not close, but still.

I sipped the finest tea from the eastern continent and idly gazed out the window.

Wonder if anything fun's happening. Then I stopped.

"Sigh. Guess I should practice some magic."

The fairy bolted upright.

"Yeah, today let's expand the range and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠resolution."

I set down my teacup.

-Tap tap

"Hm? What's that sound."

Suddenly, a noise came from outside the window.

'Not an assassin in broad daylight.'

Especially not today, with all the important figures and crowds around.

Puzzled, I checked the window to see pale legs and feet tapping against it.

"...This is the third floor."

The impossible situation and my boredom sent my mind spinning in strange directions.

A certain urban legend popped into my head.

1. Never pay attention to "that thing" outside the window.

2. If you can't help but look at "that thing," rub your eyes and check again.

3. Remember, this is the third floor.

4. The legs pull away from the window once... then drop right here—what the hell—argh!

-Crash!

"Wh-what?!"

"Your Highness!"

A girl burst through the window, shattering the glass as she flew toward me.

Glass shards scattered everywhere, reflecting sunlight brilliantly alongside my defensive magic circle. Her fluttering dress caught the light and sparkled in tandem.

For some reason, I'd reached out my hands and caught her.

She leaned her knee on my arm and placed her hand on my shoulder, giving an awkward smile in embarrassment. Her ruby-red eyes—the only color in my sight—shone more brilliantly than the flying glass or rubies, gazing down at me.

"..."

My heart pounded wildly in the sudden chaos. We locked eyes, staring blankly for a while, until she thrust a paper in front of me.

"Let's do a contract relationship!"

In her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hand was a contract guaranteed to make you fall in love.

For reference, security around my residence skyrocketed after that day.

I installed double defensive magic circles, and dozens of knights now patrolled my palace.

When knights burst in at the commotion, I sent them away under the pretext of magic practice, leaving only me and the young lady sitting across from me, beaming happily.

"So... um... Lady...?"

As I tried to converse with my messy hair, she stood and greeted me.

"Ah! Greetings to the Star of the Empire. I am Jenia Ardell, daughter of Duke Ardell."

She gracefully pinched her skirt and curtsied, exuding elegance.

I stared blankly until she glanced at me.

Snapping to, I returned the greeting.

"Ah, how rude of me. Pleased to meet you. Liam Luminaria here. Anyway, Lady, what do you mean by contract relationship...?"

Her eyes turned serious.

"Your Highness, I wish to propose a deal."

"A deal? What kind?"

"In exchange for your protection, I will provide you with information about the future."

Protection? From what did this seemingly pampered duke's daughter need protecting? And the future?

I spoke up.

"Protection from what, exactly?"

"Get me out of Duke Ardell's household."

The name of the empire's second-most powerful house after the grand dukes slipped from the lady's lips.

"...Pardon? Duke Ardell?"

Suddenly, she untied the laces on her dress back and hiked up her skirt.

Panicking, I shouted.

"Wait, Lady! Didn't you just say contract relationship? Stop! That's—"

My fluster was short-lived.

My eyes caught the scars on her back and calves.

Examining them closely with magic revealed torture marks and bruises staining her skin.

As I stared dazedly, she spoke.

"These are all wounds from the duke's household. To be direct, I'm despised there. The reason... my mother passed away after giving birth to me because her health weakened."

Now I noticed her hair was a sweet pink, and tears dripped from her jewel-like eyes.

As if entranced, I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket and offered it.

"Ah... thank you."

I still couldn't fathom why those words had come out.

First meeting. Trespassing. Unknown identity.

Yet from my mouth came...

"Tell me more about this contract."

The contract she produced read as follows.

...It had plenty of loopholes. Well, who'd ever done a contract like this before?

As I reviewed it, she spoke urgently.

"Your Highness! Just sign the contract, and I'll give you top-quality info. Otherwise, I'll be sold off to some old noble!"

Imperial marriages are no joke. This cute, beautiful lady from a fine house might seem perfect, but...

'Huh...? Actually, sounds good?'

No, snap out of it.

Imperial consorts undergo strict reviews of character, grace, lineage, and eligibility...

'Damn, why's she crying again... what do I do.'

She cried out desperately.

"In two weeks, the dungeon in the Marquis of Florence's territory will go berserk!"

"What?"

Hearing about a dungeon outbreak near where the Mage Tower Lord—my uncle—lived piqued my curiosity about her info's source.

"It's certain."

"Lady, the Mage Tower Lord resides in Florence territory, my uncle. With the tower watching like a hawk, that's impossible..."

"A 6th-circle heretic from the Reverse Cross Cult, Grand Bishop Trias, will trigger it artificially."

"Heretics?"

"Yes."

Even setting aside credibility, if true, it warranted investigation.

"If that's accurate, I'll sign. In two weeks."

"N-no!"

Lady Jenia grabbed my pant leg and looked up pleadingly.

"I... I don't want to spend even one more day in that house..."

Tears streamed from her ruby eyes again.

Her disheveled dress slipped slightly off her shoulder, and the scars on her back shook my heart.

I knew how improper this choice was.

Like immature young couples secretly marrying without their parents' knowledge.

But somehow, passing on this would leave me with massive regrets later.

I took up the pen and wrote my name.

"Whew... before ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I change my mind, add your name too, Lady."

"Pardon...? Really?! Ah... y-yes!"

I decided not to worry about the aftermath yet.

"Lady, now that it's done... I'll take full responsibility."

The lady, who'd been staring dazedly up at me, beamed brightly.

"Yes!"

Leaving the beaming lady behind, I summoned Lily.

"Yes~ Your Highness, eh?"

Lily eyed the tear-streaked, half-undressed lady in my room with a look that screamed, "So this lunatic finally did it."

"Your Highness... how could you do this to an unmarried lady..."

"Stop. Explanations later! First, call priestesses for treatment and prepare a room in my palace. Oh, and clothes for the lady."

"Your Highness... you must really like her. Fine, you have to take responsibility."

"Exactly... so prepare it."

As my trust with Lily shattered audibly before my eyes, I prepared to leave the room.

The lady I'd just met clung desperately, as if seized by separation anxiety.

"Y-Your Highness! Where are you going?"

"Sigh... to see Father."

"Pardon?"

I didn't want to go either.

Father was preparing for the banquet, so he was in his chambers rather than the office. When I asked his guard to relay a message,

"No audiences during confinement."

'Oh, right, I'm under house arrest.'

A "you're in deep shit" siren wailed in my head, but the real trouble was yet to come. I steeled myself again.

"I must see His Majesty. At least pass on the word."

The guard nodded and checked with Father.

"You may enter."

Persistent brats had it easy.

But this was mild; I entered to throw an even bigger fit.

As I stepped in, Father—obliviously focused on documents—spoke.

"What is it, Prince? During confinement, you—"

"Father!"

He just widened his eyes at my boldness.

'Now!'

I bent at a perfect 90 degrees.

"I've brought a daughter-in-law!"

I couldn't see his face while bowed... and I didn't want to imagine it.