Chapter 8

There were two conditions.

First, prove that Linea was being abused and neglected.

Second, prove that I possessed enough wealth and status to take responsibility for the child.

Cases involving this imperial law were extremely rare.

Still, there had been one successful precedent.

The circumstances had been similar to mine.

The wife had filed for divorce and sought custody of her adopted child, who had been suffering abuse.

The reason she succeeded was simple.

The man she remarried was a marquis.

In other words, she had backing.

The Delmore County was in decline, but it was still a count's house.

Which means I need to marry someone with at least the rank of marquis.

A fellow count's family would have little reason to help me.

As fate would have it, Marquis Rivandel possessed every qualification I needed.

Practically everything I could ask for.

After finishing my meal, I stole a glance at him.

Our eyes met.

The moment our gazes locked, his eyes curved gently.

In a low voice that seemed to draw me in, he asked,

"Is there something you need?"

How did he know?

Though inwardly startled, I shook my head.

Not yet. First, I need to get information about Marquis Rivandel from the Information Guild.

Then I'd propose a contract marriage.

The problem was that I knew almost nothing about him, so I had no idea what I could offer in exchange.

I'll figure it out one step at a time.

For now, my priority was increasing my assets.

"We've arrived."

"Thank you for bringing me here."

"If necessary, I can drive you back once you're finished."

At his offer, I hurriedly shook my head.

"N-no, that won't be necessary. I do have some conscience."

"If you contact me using the card I gave you, I'll answer anytime."

"Thank you."

Marquis Rivandel had been showing me an unexpected amount of kindness.

But once today's transaction was complete, I would be rich.

Things will get easier after that.

Thinking so, I stepped out of the carriage.

However, the real estate deal I had expected to conclude smoothly took an entirely different turn.

"...You came because you saw the land listing?"

"Yes. I need some land."

"Why?"

I blinked.

As far as I knew, Lady Enisha was desperate for money because of the enormous gambling debts Viscount Enisha had accumulated.

I had assumed she'd be delighted by my offer.

I never expected her to scrutinize my motives.

In the original story, she had sold this land to Zenith's parents in a rushed deal ten years earlier.

That vast property had sold for only nine hundred gold.

Of course, nine hundred gold was enough money to consume an ordinary commoner's entire life savings.

But considering the size of the land, it was absurdly cheap.

Waving my hands awkwardly, I hurried to explain.

"My lifelong dream has been to build a lovely house surrounded by beautiful scenery, run a ranch, and grow old peacefully."

"And where is your husband, my lady?"

"Pardon?"

Lady Enisha let out a quiet sigh before continuing.

"No matter how I look at it, a young lady like yourself purchasing land alone naturally raises suspicions."

She shook her head.

"Especially when we're discussing a thousand gold coins. And you're offering to pay the entire amount in cash."

"I withdrew it from the bank..."

"Did you receive your husband's permission?"

In the original story, women had limited economic freedom, and unmarried women couldn't even open bank accounts.

So it made sense that someone my age showing up with a large sum of money and asking to buy land would seem suspicious.

"What would it take for you to sell me this land? The truth is, I fell in love with it the moment I saw it."

Clasping my hands together, I looked at her with pleading eyes.

My sincerity seemed to ease some of her wariness.

"Actually, someone else with verified credentials has already offered me nine hundred gold."

Zenith's parents.

She continued calmly.

"You're offering a higher price, which certainly benefits me, but I'd like you to come back with your husband so we can finalize the contract together."

"M-my husband..."

I don't have one.

As I frantically searched for a solution, Lady Enisha spoke firmly.

"The most important thing in any transaction is trust. I don't want to accept a large sum of money if it might cause trouble later."

"So if I return with my husband, you'll sell me the land?"

"Of course. A thousand gold is better than nine hundred, and you're also offering five percent of the net profits generated from the land for the next ten years. I see no reason to refuse."

That was true.

Knowing the land's future value, I had felt guilty about taking advantage of her, so I had offered those terms.

Once the mine was developed, five percent of the net profits would far exceed nine hundred gold.

She would probably receive enough money each month to pay off Viscount Enisha's gambling debts and still have plenty left over.

But where was I supposed to find a fake husband?

As my thoughts raced, a light bulb suddenly went off in my head.

"Please wait just a little longer! I'll come back today and sign the contract right away, so please don't sell it to anyone else!"

"Don't worry. I value integrity above all else."

She certainly seemed like she meant it.

I hurried out of the viscount's estate and looked around anxiously.

He's probably long gone already.

I knew that.

But if all else failed, I planned to contact him.

If he agreed to pretend to be my husband just this once, I'd treat him to an extravagant meal later.

Naturally, I expected him to be gone.

"Ah?"

A familiar black carriage was parked nearby.

And as if it had been waiting for me, it started moving in my direction.

The coachman stepped down and opened the door.

Inside, the marquis lowered the documents he had been reading and greeted me.

"Finished already?"

"Not exactly."

"Then let me know when you're done. I'll take you home."

His lips curved into a relaxed smile, that same inexplicable kindness still directed at me.

Was I becoming too materialistic?

That smile no longer seemed nearly as frightening as before.

Watching his expression carefully, I approached.

"There's something I'd like to ask."

"Go ahead."

"...I know this is going to make me sound insane, but could you pretend to be my husband for just a little while?"

His entire body froze.

The papers in his hand slipped from his fingers and scattered onto his lap.

I hurriedly shook my head and explained.

"N-no, it's not like that! I need to take care of something, but they insist I have a husband present. My husband passed away already, so..."

Even I knew I was rambling.

But the marquis quickly recovered himself.

Without a word, he rose from his seat and stepped out of the carriage.

"Huh?"

"Let's go."

"You're really going to do it? I'll definitely treat you to a wonderful meal!"

"It's nothing."

Then he let out a low chuckle.

"I'm simply taking care of my wife. Though I won't refuse your invitation to dinner."

"I mean, I'm not really your wife..."

As I spoke, he stepped closer and asked carefully,

"May I place my hand on your shoulder for a moment?"

"Yes."

After all, a husband touching his wife's shoulder was perfectly natural.

I nodded.

At that, his smile deepened.

For an instant, an unfamiliar possessiveness flickered in his eyes.

"Then let's go, my lady."

"Excuse me?"

"If we're pretending to be husband and wife, shouldn't we do it properly from the start?"

I felt a little uneasy, but I was the one asking for help.

And he wasn't wrong.

In the end, the marquis accompanied me back inside, and we proceeded with the contract.

He was far more eloquent than I was.

At first, Lady Enisha eyed us suspiciously, as if doubting whether we were truly married.

Before long, however, she was smiling warmly.

"You'll surely have a beautiful daughter."

"She'll be absolutely adorable, taking after the most beautiful mother in the world."

"Oh my."

Those affectionate words, delivered with such an unreadable smile...

I stole a glance at him, my lips slightly parted in bewilderment.

"Do we sign here?"

"I'd like both husband and wife to sign, just in case."

The problem was that we weren't actually married.

As I hesitated, unsure what to do, he tilted his head toward me and whispered,

"I'll remove my name from the contract later. For now, let's use the Delmore family name."

"Understood."

He signed first.

Then my eyes widened when I saw the name he had written.

Carsel?

I'd seen that name somewhere before.

Perhaps in the original story.

As the contract was passed to me, I signed my name obediently while frantically searching my memory.

A dreadful feeling told me I had to remember where I'd heard that name.

Carsel... Lakan?

I remembered.

I finally remembered who Carsel was.

The obsessive schemer lurking behind the scenes.

The duke of House Lakan.

Linea's second male lead.

The man who would one day kill me.

And somehow, his name was written directly above mine on the contract.