Chapter 37: The Contract (1)

 

My mind was a mess.

 

It was good that I finally understood why Estelle had shown me a favor that wasn’t really a favor. The problem was figuring out how she had interpreted the intent behind my question.

 

There was no way she possessed the kind of ability to read minds, like a princess from a fairy tale.

 

‘Haa…’

 

Pressing my throbbing temples, I exhaled deeply.

 

The situation was far more complicated than it had been in the early days of possessing Adele’s body. Back then, all I needed to worry about was preserving my life. But now…

 

It felt like I was being swept up in a massive current—one too strong to resist or escape from.

 

“We’ve arrived.”

 

Lost in my thoughts, I was pulled back to reality by the coachman’s voice. Shaking my head to clear my mind, I opened the carriage door.

 

An all-too-familiar face greeted me. Gray hair, silver eyes, and scars around his eyes.

 

“…Abel?”

 

I was momentarily taken aback by his casual gesture to help me out of the carriage, but I soon reached out and took his hand as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

 

Though I was accustomed to being escorted by Abel, I still struggled to make sense of the situation.

 

As I descended from the carriage with his help, the familiar scent of roses greeted me, clearing my mind ever so slightly.

 

It was like the comforting feeling of returning home after a long day at work and breathing in the scent of familiarity.

 

‘How curious.’

 

I had only been staying here for a few months, yet it already felt this way. I’d never experienced such a sensation at the Count Este’s residence—my supposed home.

 

Perhaps it was because that house wasn’t truly mine. It had been Adele’s before I possessed her, after all.

 

“Are you alright?” Abel asked, his voice tinged with concern.

 

“Yes, I’m fine.”

 

“Good to hear,” he replied curtly, before taking the lead.

 

I followed closely behind, my eyes wandering to the scenery of the garden. My gaze eventually settled on Abel’s back.

 

He walked at a pace that was neither too fast nor too slow. His stride seemed resolute, yet there was an inexplicable heaviness in the way his shoulders moved.

 

Was it because I had grown fond of him in ways I hadn’t realized?

 

“How was the tea party?”

 

“Nothing special,” I replied.

 

“Sounds like it didn’t go well,” he said, drawing an astute conclusion that left me momentarily speechless.

 

He was right—the party hadn’t been enjoyable. I still struggled to adapt to the mask-wearing games of high society. But how had Abel noticed?

 

Perhaps my confusion was evident on my face, as Abel chuckled and said, “I’ve never seen you smile after describing something as ‘nothing special.’”

 

“Well… you’re not wrong,” I admitted.

 

Describing things as “nothing special” had become a habit—something I said to avoid worrying my parents or close friends. What surprised me was that Abel had picked up on it.

 

“This will do,” he said suddenly, stopping in the middle of a garden path.

 

Stretching out his hand into the air, he summoned a massive surge of mana that burst forth like a tidal wave.

 

“What—”

 

Before I could finish my sentence, a white magic circle unfurled on the ground, as though it had been stamped into existence.

 

There was no time to marvel at the sight before my vision was swallowed by darkness.

 

Vrrrm…

 

A faint vibration rippled through the air, and the garden scenery vanished.

 

“This is…”

 

“My subspace. What we’re about to discuss cannot leave this place,” Abel said.

 

His subspace—a realm separate from the outside world. I turned my head, scanning the surroundings. Darkness enveloped us in every direction, leaving nothing visible except Abel and me.

 

Though I wasn’t well-versed in magic, I could sense how extraordinary this spell was.

 

“Are you feeling dizzy?”

 

“No? Not really.”

 

“That’s good. You don’t seem particularly sensitive to mana.”

 

Sensitive? He wasn’t wrong. If I were more attuned to mana, the immense flow he had just released might have left me nauseous.

 

“Here are the marks of our contract.”

 

Vrrrm…

 

At his words, two sheets of paper fluttered to the ground.

 

Contract marks? Was he referring to a contract document? If it was about our contract marriage, I already had the paperwork in my desk drawer at the Este residence.

 

I picked up one of the papers and unfolded it, only to find a blank, white sheet staring back at me. This was different from the densely packed contract I had seen when we first met.

 

Raising my head, I saw Abel holding the other sheet. Before I could ask, he began to speak.

 

“I told you this was about an important matter regarding the contract.”

 

He had mentioned that this morning. But I had assumed it was something straightforward, like an extension or revision of the existing terms. Clearly, I was mistaken.

 

“Rebellion against the imperial family.”

 

At the words Abel spoke so casually, I flinched in shock. He smirked at my reaction and continued, “Why are you so startled? I suppose it’s my fault for not warning you in advance.”

 

“Wait… does that mean…”

 

Fragments of the contract’s terms floated through my mind. I had read and re-read them so many times that I practically knew them by heart.

 

Abel von Hardenberg shall serve as Adele von Este’s fiancé for one year and provide her with assistance as necessary.

 

In return, the Este merchant guild’s exclusive rights shall be granted to the Hardenberg family for one year.

 

If needed, the contract may be extended or terminated upon mutual agreement, provided both parties are of sound mind.

 

“Is this… the ‘if needed’ clause you’re referring to?”

 

Abel smiled slyly.

 

My head couldn’t keep up. The Abel I knew—calculating, meticulous, the same Abel who had written the contract before even meeting me—was now casually admitting to violating its terms.

 

The very man who had risen to power in the original story through his thorough and shadowy nature was now discussing rebellion as if it were a minor detail.

 

“Why… why are you telling me this so easily?”

 

“You seem very shocked,” he observed with amusement.

 

“Of course I’m shocked!”

 

Without realizing it, I raised my voice, then quickly covered my mouth. Abel, unfazed by my reaction, continued speaking in his usual indifferent tone.

 

“The rules are simple.”

 

A pure white flame ignited in the center of the paper. Soon, the word contract appeared in bold black letters, floating on the surface. Abel snapped his fingers, and the flame began to dance across the sheet.

 

‘An artifact… is it?’

 

Did such artifacts exist in the Duke’s household? Then again, considering how ancient his family was, it wouldn’t be surprising if they had something like this.

 

The flame, which had been blazing brightly, soon subsided. The original contract terms I had seen when we first met appeared on the paper. They were identical to what I remembered—word for word.

 

“Each party is allowed three opportunities to add, modify, or remove clauses.”

 

As soon as Abel finished speaking, the number 3 appeared in the corner of the paper.

 

‘So that’s the number of changes we’re allowed?’

 

Looking up, I saw him carefully examining the document.

 

“What do you think? This seems fair enough, doesn’t it?”

 

“Yes, it does.”

 

He was right. It was a fair and reasonable system. Even if one party added an unfair clause, the other had the option to modify or remove it. Similarly, neither of us could impose overly unreasonable demands on the other.

 

Abel must have designed these rules with such balance in mind—a deliberate attempt to renegotiate the contract as equals.

 

“Let’s begin.”

 

Vrrrm…

 

A faint vibration emanated from the paper. Abel spoke first.

 

“I will add a clause: Adele von Este shall cooperate with Abel von Hardenberg in rebellion when necessary.”

 

The white flame moved across the paper, writing out the exact words he had spoken. Just like that, a fourth clause was added to the contract.

 

“Now it’s your turn, Adele.”

 

“I…”

 

Cooperate in rebellion, he said. Even with the condition of “when necessary,” the clause essentially obligated me to assist in rebellion when the need arose.

 

Considering the rules of the contract, this was more of a proposal than a definitive clause. Since I also had the right to modify, remove, or add clauses, his suggestion wasn’t entirely unfair. That must have been what he meant by calling it fair.

 

“I’ll add a clause. The term ‘when necessary’ in the above clause shall mean an agreement reached by both parties.”

 

The number 3 in the corner of my paper changed to 2. At the same time, the fifth clause was added to both my and Abel’s documents, accompanied by the white flame.

 

Abel, observing the process silently, spoke again.

 

“I will modify the fifth clause: mutual agreement shall only be valid when both parties are in a sound state of mind.”

 

“That’s…”

 

For a moment, I realized my oversight. I had completely forgotten about the existence of mental manipulation magic in this world.

 

“You’re still inexperienced. When drafting contracts, always account for mental magic.”

 

“You’re right.”

 

I nodded slightly, acknowledging his advice. Failing to consider mental magic had been my mistake.

 

Still, the fact that he used up one of his opportunities to fix that clause for me…

 

‘Does that mean he trusts me?’

 

Abel now had only one opportunity left, while I had two. In this situation, if I proposed two unreasonable clauses, he wouldn’t have the chance to block both. Yet he willingly spent one of his chances.

 

That realization left me feeling… strangely conflicted.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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