Chapter 14

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 14

Chapter Title: The Free Divorce Clause

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Arpad was already twenty-three years old.

In truth, that was a bit late for marriage.

'Nobles all marry in their late teens or early twenties.'

The Emperor didn't trust his son as heir, so he hadn't pushed for a marriage.

He'd even given me—with my Delphin ducal background—to his nephew instead.

'But an engagement and romance are separate matters.'

Rumors swirled that Crown Prince Arpad had a secret lover. I'd heard them in all three of my past lives before regressing.

I never learned exactly who she was, though.

She was some forbidden love. After she was taken from him or lost, the Crown Prince went mad. Something like that...

That was the extent of what I knew.

And then.

"That child... It seems he had a woman he loved. I only learned of it after my son died—after I failed to protect him."

The one who'd said that was right in front of me: Emperor Walter Estrid, Arpad's father.

It was in my second life, I think.

Back then, I'd spent time close to the Emperor after he killed his mad son with his own hands and secluded himself in a remote temple.

He'd seemed like an empty shell of a man.

His hair had turned completely white.

And that was just two years from now.

Since the source was the source himself, this intel carried real weight.

That's why I'd generously added the 'free divorce right' clause!

So why was he angry about it?!

'If she doesn't exist yet, she could appear later!'

As I blinked at him, Arpad asked again.

"Why insist on adding this clause?"

"Because Your Highness might have someone you love—no, might come to love?"

Arpad tilted his head.

Then he spouted something utterly ridiculous.

"Or is it a safety net so you can back out anytime?"

"Pardon?!"

What nonsense was this?

Arpad treated me like a prepared insurance scammer, eyeing me suspiciously as if I might run off with his money at any moment.

He piled on even more.

"Take what you want from me and bolt whenever, like some scoundrel dumping a fragile maiden!"

"Why do you keep phrasing it like that?!"

Arpad's eyes gleamed.

"As I thought—you plan to suck me dry and discard me whenever...!"

I couldn't take it anymore. I lunged forward and clapped my hands over the mouth of this man who'd been babbling nonsense.

"...!"

"..."

I realized too late that I'd leaned in way too close to him first.

His breath tickled the inside of my palms.

Arpad's lips were hotter and softer than I'd expected. Moist, too.

Just like during that vow kiss earlier...

No, snap out of it!

I barely regained my senses and shouted. Did he think I'd fall for a pretty face?

"...Still, no!"

"No what?"

He asked right into my still-outstretched hands.

His breath tingled my palms fiercely.

"Eek!"

A full-body shiver ran through me.

I couldn't hold back and yanked my hands away.

I felt like I'd lost somehow, and frustration boiled up.

I was wronged! This clause was for him, not me.

'By then, he'll have met his lover already.'

That's why I'd smirked and declared it so confidently.

"Later, don't come thanking me for adding this clause to the contract."

Back then, maybe I should've made him bow and beg for the divorce?

Arpad crossed his arms, looking displeased.

"And if that's not the case?"

"...Pardon?"

"What if, when the time comes, I'm not grateful for that clause but dissatisfied instead?"

Both he and I seemed like the type who couldn't stand taking a loss.

But the Crown Prince, ignorant of the future, was asking a foolish question.

"That won't happen."

"I don't get why you're so sure."

Dissatisfaction with the free divorce clause would mean he didn't want a divorce.

Arpad wouldn't be like that. This was the confidence of someone who knew the future.

After glaring at me with a sullen expression for a moment, Arpad suddenly proposed.

"How about we tweak the clause a bit?"

"How so?"

"If I'm later dissatisfied with the free divorce clause, it's deleted. But if, as you say, I'm pleased and grateful..."

Was it my imagination, or did his words sound a little off?

He almost seemed convinced he'd say he didn't want a divorce later.

Which was impossible.

I tilted my head in confusion.

"If you're grateful and pleased about the free divorce?"

"I'll give you this annex palace as compensation."

"Deal!"

Done!

I cheerfully modified the clause in the contract.

'Perfect! More assets are always welcome!'

This bet was already mine for the win, knowing the future as I did.

That's what I thought at the time.

After quite the drawn-out argument, we finished drafting the commission contract and signed it.

I gazed at it proudly.

"You really like it that much?"

"Of course! Do you know how important this is?!"

Arpad muttered in a petulant tone.

"You still don't realize what day this is."

"What day? It's the day our contract is sealed!"

How important was this!

I'd secured the powerful ally that was Arpad.

And bound him tightly to me through marriage, no less.

'Something that never happened in my previous lives!'

This alone was a huge step forward.

"..."

For some reason, Arpad rubbed his temples with a headachey look.

"Fine. Since it's such an important contract anniversary, just one question."

"Ask away."

With the contract secured, I felt quite at ease.

"How do you know about the Mercenary King? And how can you make me ascend the throne without going mad—and is it really possible...?"

He glanced at my face and changed his own words.

"...Which you won't tell me easily."

"Right. Even on our contract anniversary, I can't say yet."

Between us, suspicion and wariness outweighed trust for now.

Talk about regression? It'd just fuel his doubts about me.

'Once I show results and proof to earn full trust... Do I even need to tell him?'

By then, he'd have met his lover anyway.

And I'd be free after the divorce, right?

As long as I handled the possessor and Ludwig beforehand, it wouldn't matter.

Arpad furrowed his handsome brow a few times before finally picking a question.

"What's your exact relationship with that man?"

"Pardon? Which man?"

As I stared blankly, Arpad explained in more detail.

"The one from three days ago—the only one who drew his sword before me during the wedding procession."

"Ah, Sir Beltein!"

"Yes. Him. What's your exact relationship with him?"

I tilted my head.

"Just a knight and a lady."

Well, maybe this time it was a little different.

I'd received a loyalty oath laced with his feelings on the first day after regressing.

So I corrected myself.

"Ah, liege and knight? Essentially, he's my one and only knight. As you pointed out."

That moment was still embarrassing.

Only one person had properly drawn his sword to protect the bride amid the intruders during the wedding procession.

The Delphin knights in the procession weren't just Sir Beltein.

In the end, it proved how little control my family had.

But Arpad didn't seem satisfied.

"Care to explain in more detail?"

I answered as honestly as possible.

"Hm. Someone I'm deeply grateful to? Someone I want to protect?"

"I already heard that much."

"Because that's all there is to it?"

I scratched my cheek. What answer was Arpad even after?

He let out a long sigh and asked outright.

"I'll be direct. Is he your lover?"

"...Pardon?!"

I jumped in shock.

But Arpad's bizarre suspicions didn't stop.

"Pushing that divorce clause earlier was suspicious too. Use me to block Ludwig, then remarry him?"

I nearly called it absurd, but then I remembered the third life—when Sir Beltein had fled with me.

That day, he became the knight who betrayed his honor by running off with the bride the night before the wedding.

And yet... even then, he...

"Please don't make such a sad face. If I could be of even a little help to you... that's enough for me..."

Remembering his tragic end made my body stiffen unwittingly.

I completely missed the timing to respond to Arpad's question.

Arpad smirked sharply.

"...Never mind. No need to answer. Your expression and silence say plenty."

"..."

He'd misunderstood, but it didn't matter.

Ours was a contract relationship anyway.

And since Arpad had opened the topic, I raised what had been worrying me.

"You've prepared this annex in advance, so you've checked the situation in the capital, right?"

"Should I thank you for trusting my abilities that much?"

Arpad's blatant sarcasm didn't sound pleased.

"Yes, with those reliably trustworthy abilities, please check on Sir Beltein and the maid Annie."

"...Isn't tacking on a maid's welfare to inquire about your lover's a bit too cheeky?"

"Mistaking Sir Beltein for a lover is an insult to an honorable knight. And this isn't an excuse—they're both people in the Delphin household who serve me."

"..."

"Please."

I bowed my head.

"This has nothing to do with our contract."

Arpad pondered, fiddling with his mouth for a moment.

But he didn't refuse outright.

"...I'll look into it."

"Thank you."

This time, my gratitude was pure and sincere.

Meanwhile, Arpad was a bit dumbfounded.

'Asking her husband to check on her lover? Isn't that too brazen?'

He didn't believe Hilia's defense at all.