Chapter 5
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Chapter 5
"There isn't one."
The answer tumbled out without a single second of hesitation.
"Not at all. Not one bit. Absolutely not."
"Is that so? Good."
"Does it concern you?"
Dale stared at me intently.
"No. Here in the contract, there's a clause stating we won't interfere in each other's private lives at all."
I tapped the contract pointedly.
"If Dale meets someone good, you can see them. We're not a real couple anyway."
"...."
"But here in the contract. Article 3, regarding our duties as a fake couple."
"...."
"We must not give others reason to doubt our relationship as husband and wife. So if you want to see someone, you'd have to do it secretly. That's why I asked."
Dale's brow furrowed.
"How about we delete this?"
Then Dale spoke in a low voice. His expression turned genuinely displeased.
"I have no intention of neglecting my commission."
"To that extent?"
"Since you saved me, I will repay the debt properly."
"It was just treating a simple cold...."
But this wasn't a bad condition for me. Dale had been a resident of Grunvalt for six months, while I was an outsider. That meant many people were watching Dale and would observe my behavior. I had no intention of meeting other men anyway, for the sake of a secure contract.
"Fine then. Should we delete it?"
"Yes. Right now."
I readily erased the clause at Dale's agreement.
"Well then, shall we go?"
Dale opened the carriage door and took my arm. A massive Temple loomed before my eyes. The reason my contract marriage with Dale was exactly '364 days' long. It lay right here in this Temple.
* * *
The Temple. The only independent institution beyond the Emperor's reach. Since ancient times, all marriages across the continents have been overseen by the Temple of each region. 'And this one is the most corrupt of them all.' The Lockhart Family had consistently donated to the Temple. They were on intimate terms, as they say. That's why I needed a priest who could be bought with money. *Whoosh.* I handed the Corrupt Priest in the lobby a jewel the size of my fist.
"We've come to register our marriage."
I linked my arm through Dale's and played the part of an affectionate newlywed couple. The Corrupt Priest examined the jewel.
"A lovers' elopement? A bigamous marriage? Something else? Which would it be?"
"A lovers' elopement."
"This way, please."
Returning to the Temple after so long, its reverent and magnificent atmosphere overwhelmed me without warning. 'Dale seems familiar with this place?' Yet he appeared composed. Or was he? Why was his arm so stiff? Looking closer, I noticed Dale's eyes were rigid. Moreover, his gait was oddly mechanical.
"Dale. Walk naturally."
I whispered quietly. Could it be because of the linked arm? 'I should have practiced physical contact if I'd known this would happen.' "Remember our concept? We were forced apart by our parents' opposition, but eventually reunited, sparks flew, and we ended up getting married out of passion."
As I gripped Dale tightly, his eyes widened and his face flushed crimson.
"Hold me like this."
"...!"
"We can't look suspicious, so bear with it for a moment even if you hate it."
"..."
He walked strangely, as if he'd never made physical contact with a woman in his entire life. What should I do? I'd planned to divorce him soon anyway, but could I really put a fake marriage on such a man? On someone so pure, so innocent, so hopelessly naive that no one had ever met him?
"Once we go further, this contract cannot be voided. Are you really sure about this?"
Dale stared at me quietly for a moment, then nodded with an impassive expression.
"I am certain."
He wrapped my linked arm with his large hand.
"I have no intention of voiding it."
* * *
The marriage procedure in The Empire was simple. One simply went to a nearby Temple, swore love in the presence of a Corrupt Priest, wrote their information on a registration form, and pressed their thumbprint. Tada~! Marriage complete! However, divorce was extraordinarily complicated. Six Grand Temples were scattered across the continent, and during a divorce, one had to visit each of these Grand Temples and individually declare that love had ended. Due to this convoluted procedure, the divorce process alone took an average of three to five years, and the costs involved were substantial. This was created by The Emperor during a time when The Empire's divorce rate was high—a drastic, fundamental solution enacted to lower the divorce rate. As a result, the marriage rate declined, and a new law was born to compensate for it. 【Marriage Probation System】 Even after registering a marriage, one was not immediately recognized as a formal spouse.
-You must live together for one year from the date of registration.
Only after one year did a registered couple finally become recognized as legal spouses. In exchange for delayed formal recognition, the marriage could be nullified at any time during the probation period. In other words, marriage nullification was possible even on the 364th day if the relationship fell apart. It was a sort of trial marriage.
"Shall I prepare the documents?"
After completing the simple procedure and entering the room, a Corrupt Priest greeted us.
"Young ones—will you not come to regret this?"
"I won't regret it. Right, Dale?"
I gripped Dale's hand firmly and looked up at him. Say you won't regret it. Say you won't regret it. Say you won't regret it. I pressured him with my gaze.
"I have waited for this day alone."
His soft voice was as sweet as honey. 'Wow! He's really good at acting.' Even knowing it was false, his tenderness was convincing enough to deceive me. Dale had even acted with his eyes.
"Dale, what you just said sounded exactly like someone who finally got married after dating for a really long time."
"...."
I whispered softly and gave him a thumbs up. At that, an ambiguous smile crossed Dale's face.
"Excellent. By the grace of the one true god Jupiter, I hereby declare that the marriage of you two is now established."
As the Corrupt Priest placed his hand on the documents, the air swirled and letters scattered into the air.
"However, you two are not yet formal spouses under law."
The Corrupt Priest looked at me and spoke gravely.
"According to Imperial law, after a one-year period of consideration, you shall become formal spouses on the first anniversary."
I nodded slowly, and Dale also acquiesced smoothly, his sharp jawline catching the light. Then the pleased Corrupt Priest bestowed his blessing upon us.
"May blessings accompany these two as they begin their journey together."
* * *
"Ah. My outer coat. Where did it go?"
Stepping outside the Temple, I glanced around. My shoulders felt cold—no wonder, I'd left my coat behind.
"I think you left it at the Temple! Let me go fetch it right away. Just wait here."
"I shall retrieve it."
"Dale? Do you remember what my coat looks like?"
"A cape coat with a floral pattern, white fur trim on the hood, and lace along the hem."
I was startled by his remarkable memory. I doubt I could recall my own clothing in such detail.
"Of course I know Enya's clothes."
He paused, then lowered his voice.
"I'm your husband, after all."
"Ah, my contract husband, you mean?"
He truly was a meticulous and exceptional S-rank Mercenary.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Watching his retreating figure as he headed back to the Temple, I smiled warmly.
"He's really quite thoughtful."
* * *
The Corrupt Priest finished his work and sat in his chair, nodding off in drowsy intervals. That was the moment. A peaceful dream suddenly darkened with ominous clouds, and a massive vortex pressed down upon my body—or so it seemed? Strangling my throat, crushing my abdomen, this was—.
"Ugh, this dream...."
"Where are the documents?" "Gasp!"
The startled Corrupt Priest jolted awake as if seized by convulsions.
"Ah, I'm not sure what you mean...."
Awake now, the Corrupt Priest rose sluggishly from his seat. 'Ah—what a terrifying aura that was, I thought. So it was that bridegroom from earlier. Just a bad dream, then.' "The documents. Where are they?"
"They're all organized, sir."
Dale found his marriage registration with Enya among the pile of documents and picked up a pen, beginning to write something additional.
"Now see here! Why are you—...."
The moment the Corrupt Priest saw the name written large on the document, his mouth snapped shut. That was no ordinary name, was it? Dale Blanche Aylkiston. Aylkiston was unmistakably the name of the Imperial Family. A name of terror—one whose false claim would cost you your head.
"Now see here, young man. Why do you bear the name of the Imperial House?"
In that instant, the Corrupt Priest's mouth fell open. The identification token he presented— No, the ring bearing the Imperial seal could not be possessed by just anyone. Only one person. A mark that only The Emperor of The Empire could possess. Beneath the black hair, cold eyes gleamed with an oppressiveness that was almost menacing.
"Wh, what...? Surely...! Your, Your...!"
"We can resubmit it."
Dale tapped his true name written beside Enya Lockhart's with an icy expression. The marriage was certain. Even with a year's grace period, it made no difference. He was already Enya's husband.
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