0 – Contract Marriage
At the end of a street enveloped in a serene atmosphere, all that existed was an empty yard and a shabby building.
An elegant lady, contrasting with such desolation, visited one day without any prior notice.
“Harte of the Holy Knights. Am I correct?”
Dressed in a dazzling crimson gown that was almost blinding, she inquired with an imposing expression. As I gradually discovered the intruder’s identity, cold sweat trickled down my spine due to the peculiar twist of fate.
Elysia Luminelle.
The name of the charming lady who had unexpectedly paid a visit.
She was the villainess from a romance fantasy novel I had read in my past life. Elysia’s detestable behavior and ruthless actions made me wonder if she truly possessed a human heart.
She was such a formidable villainess, to the extent of obliterating the character designated as the final boss. Her competence was so outstanding that people even questioned if she had chosen the wrong genre for being an antagonist.
However, a villainess is a villainess in the end.
The only thing awaiting her in this world is the bad endings crafted by the protagonists.
Bad endings… yes, just like mine.
“I had quite a difficult time investigating. Whether it was encircling the temple or understanding the material, it was challenging.”
It must have been like that…
“Anyway, it worked out well. I managed to find you, and that’s why I can make this proposal.”
“A proposal? To me?”
Elysia, the forbidden autumn leaf of a distinguished family and a ruthless archivist.
She, who seemed to have no connection whatsoever, casually presented a document.
“Let’s get married.”
“What?”
“Ah, to be precise, it’s a contract marriage. These documents are prepared for mutual agreement between us.”
“Ah… marriage. And a contract marriage, at that…”
Honestly, I felt so confused that I thought I might collapse.
As I pondered with a spinning head on where to start and how to respond, I noticed murky eyes peeking through the slightly open door.
Finally, I managed to open my mouth.
“First, let me confirm… Are you in your right mind? Suddenly, out of nowhere, a marriage with someone I’ve never even met…”
“I have personal reasons. Besides, I was prepared enough to stand in this position.”
“Did you prepare for something like this as well?”
I gestured for the eyes outside to come in. Slowly, they hesitated for a moment and then entered.
Two guys and one girl.
Among them, the girl approached me with a bright smile.
“Daddy!”
“…What did you just say?”
“Daddy!”
As if prompting for confirmation from Elphesia, who pulled out the contract marriage documents, the child called me by a proper title.
I looked at the frozen her and chuckled awkwardly.
“Looks like I have a child, as you can see.”
The answer seemed to have come out. However, just in case, I double-checked her intention.
“Really… Did you prepare for something like this?”
Evenly arranged white teeth were truly beautiful. Elphesia’s lips were wide open enough to make that observation.
Lost in confusion, Elficia manages to utter the next words.
“You…!”
Perhaps our future changed with your answer at that moment.
I slowly recalled the pivotal moment in fate that I first encountered.
The day my life turned upside down.