The Villainess Proposed a Contractual Marriage

No one was particularly surprised.

The obese Second Prince Rayners, who had renounced his claim to the throne, could barely walk. It was widely predicted he\'d meet an early end, whether from lifestyle diseases or by cracking his skull after a clumsy fall.

Thus, Linia, as mistress of the Ducal house, held all the real authority. For all intents and purposes, she was the Duke of Catadel.

At least until she passed the title to her son - Helio Catadel - born in the twilight of her husband\'s life.

"Ugh..."

Seven-year-old Helio groaned as he noticed a nosebleed staining his papers. It was the result of severely weakened immunity and accumulated fatigue.

Flip!

Yet the sound of turning pages remained steady. The book Helio was reading was titled "Understanding and Contemplation of Ethical Thought." Unless one was a prodigy on par with the Third Prince Askalion, once hailed as a child genius, it wasn\'t a text a seven-year-old should be poring over.

Moreover, Helio\'s hands were covered in scars. He was frequently beaten by his etiquette teacher. His mother, Linia Catadel, turned a blind eye to the tutor\'s harsh discipline. At times, she even encouraged it.

Helio repeated the reason for his mother\'s actions like a mantra.

"I must become Elphisia Luminel..."

If life could be compared to a race, Helio\'s finish line was Elphisia Luminel.

To be showered with praise from a young age, to graduate top of the academy with ease, to captivate attention with striking beauty. To act in a way that would allow House Catadel to overshadow House Luminel.

"Elphisia Luminel doesn\'t struggle... Elphisia Luminel could memorize this in one go..."

If he was lacking, he had to fill the gaps. If he pushed himself hard enough, he could become Elphisia Luminel. Helio firmly believed this. If not, the race called life would never end.

"I am Elphisia Luminel..."

Helio remained glued to his chair from six in the morning until six in the evening.

There were only two conditions under which he could rise.

One was for bodily functions, and the other was to attend the Emperor\'s birthday banquet at the Imperial Palace today.

The current time was four in the afternoon.

Creeeeak.

The door opened.

Maids entered, asking for permission, and seated Helio in front of a mirror. Numerous outfits hung on racks behind him, ready for dressing.

The preparations were about to begin.

---

---

That day, Harte hadn\'t set out for the Luminel mansion. Elphisia had notified him in advance of her schedule to attend the Emperor\'s birthday banquet. So Harte had planned to spend a relaxing time at the temple.

That is, until Ibria expressed her intention to attend the banquet.

"Harte. Let\'s go to the banquet together."

"Alright."

"Huh? Um..."

Harte agreed without even asking for details.

In truth, if Ibria was going somewhere, it was only right for Harte to simply follow. However, Ibria had expected Harte to at least ask about this unusual behavior.

With little deliberation or preparation, there was nothing to hinder their steps. Moreover, the short distance between the temple and the palace meant they arrived very quickly.

The guard who spotted them stammered.

"Oh..."

It wasn\'t unusual for the temple to receive formal invitations. But unless it was a major event like Founding Day, it was extremely rare for them to actually attend.

"Her Holiness Holy Maiden Ibria and Holy Knight Commander Sir Harte have arrived!"

As the doors opened, the scent of alcohol and perfume assailed their nostrils. The heated atmosphere felt unfamiliar. Harte suddenly realized how unaccustomed he was to such lively environments.

And then he saw Elphisia\'s eyes widen in surprise across the room. He\'d deliberately left her behind, yet running into her as usual felt absurd.

However, this was merely Harte\'s perspective.

Elphisia\'s inner thoughts were quite different.

\'Why... are you here...?\'

Elphisia hadn\'t left Harte unattended for no reason. She found it uncomfortable for him to attend the banquet while aware of her presence.

This was, after all, a place where all manner of gossip circulated. Even a moment\'s distraction could lead to rumors. It was obvious what kind of words about her Harte might pick up in such a setting.

\'Did the Holy Maiden express her intention to attend? Or did Harte... No, surely he didn\'t come because he wanted to see me...?\'

Thud!

Elphisia\'s train of thought was interrupted as she slammed her drink down on the table. The harsh sound caused those nearby to glance at her nervously.

\'What a foolish thought! Why would that dimwit want to see me...\'

Above all, Harte\'s companion was the Holy Maiden. Her exquisite beauty seemed as ageless as ever. Elphisia had known her for years, and she still appeared untouched by time.

Perhaps this was why Harte never showed any interest in her. Having served such a woman all his life, how could any ordinary beauty catch his eye?

Elphisia clenched her fist as she watched men flock to the Holy Maiden like dogs in heat.

"Holy Maiden, might I have a moment of your time?"

"Do you perhaps enjoy a drink?"

"You remain as beautiful as ever."

The men addressed her with undisguised lust in their eyes. But Ibria, unaccustomed to such gazes, failed to notice. Harte was equally oblivious.

So he took Ibria\'s orders at face value.

"Harte. Since we\'ve come this far, let\'s enjoy ourselves a little. I\'ll be engaged in conversation for a while, so feel free to act as you please until then."

"Thanks, Ibria."

"Huh? Um..."

Ibria was taken aback by the unexpected gratitude. The usual Harte would have simply acknowledged the order as a command to be carried out...

In any case, Ibria began to enlighten the men targeting her. As the conversations progressed, their eyes filled with faith instead of lust.

After all, Ibria was the Holy Maiden.

Meanwhile, Harte walked straight towards Elphisia. As he did so, his somewhat rigid expression softened into the sunny one she was accustomed to seeing.

This signified that he had finally learned to separate work from his personal life. It was truly an encouraging development.

"Hello, how have you been? It seems we meet again today, Duchess."

"Why are you here?"

"Well, I\'m not quite sure myself, but it seems Ibria had some business here."

"Ibria?"

"Yes."

So he calls her by name, not title. Elphisia knew they were childhood friends, but seeing this, their closeness seemed considerable. A twisted sense of rivalry tightened in her chest.

"... You must be quite close. Close enough to use first names."

"Well, we\'ve been together since childhood."

"For how long?"

"Hmm... To be honest, my childhood memories are hazy. Apparently, I was abandoned as a baby on the temple doorstep one day. I suppose we\'ve been together ever since."

"... So you were an orphan."

"Yes, I was an orphan."

Elphisia regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. Seeing Harte\'s proud acknowledgment made her feel as if she had insulted his lineage.

"Ahem! Anyway... Her status must be far above yours, yet you speak to her so casually."

"Haha... I suppose it turned out that way."

"By that logic, there\'s no reason you shouldn\'t speak casually to me as well."

Elphisia had only meant to tease, but Harte jumped as if struck by lightning.

"Goodness, how could I dare? You\'re noble, unlike me, Duchess. Besides, I serve you..."

"B-but, isn\'t that the same for the Holy Maiden?"

"Ibria is Ibria..."

"Then Elphisia is Elphisia too!"

"..."

"..."

Elphisia and Harte fell silent simultaneously.

Elphisia was mortified at unconsciously referring to herself in the third person. How was it any different from a child throwing a tantrum?

This sudden regression to childishness kept pricking at her sense of shame.

Harte, on the other hand, couldn\'t help but find Elphisia cute, irreverent as the thought might be. Her flushed face and petulant tone were utterly at odds with her usual demeanor. The stark contrast to her normal behavior sparked unseemly fantasies.

"Um... So... That is."

Harte continued, scarcely daring to hope.

"Do you... want me to call you by name, Duchess...?"

"Nng."

Elphisia averted her eyes.

She didn\'t want to admit it, nor did she want to lie. She questioned why it even mattered if this fool, who could barely serve her properly, called her by name.

And yet... she just wanted to hear it. This inexplicable desire threw Elphisia\'s heart into turmoil.

"I, I...!"

Just as Elphisia, backed into a corner, was about to shriek-

THUD!

The resounding impact of something falling from a great height echoed through the hall.

People began to stir and murmur in agitation. Some let out gasps, as if they\'d witnessed something horrific. The nature of the incident soon became clear as a voice rang out.

"Hah, a child...!"

A noblewoman who had witnessed the entire event from a quiet terrace cried out.

"A boy... fell from the upper floor...!!!"