The Villainess Proposed a Contractual Marriage

About two weeks after the New Year's sunrise, the empire was thrown into chaos.

"Extra! Extra! An incredible event has occurred!" shouted a boy, waving a newspaper filled with print. It was common for newsboys to exaggerate trivial gossip, but curious people still paid the boy for papers.

One passerby thought, "I'll give him a knuckle sandwich if this isn't worth reading."

As people began to read, commotion spread in all directions.

"My God... Is this true?"

"If this is a lie, the entire newspaper company would collapse!"

"Even so, to expose the royal family's shame...?"

Noticing the uproar, passersby rushed to the newsboy. In an instant, his hands were full. Even a wealthy noble threw a tip without waiting for change, snatching a paper in haste.

"What's to become of the empire..."

The headline that caused such a stir read:

[First Prince Rupehit Arteria Frames Innocent Citizen as Demon!]

It was truly a scandal worthy of being called a major event in the empire. The article began:

[Last night, at a New Year's ball, Third Prince Askalion exposed First Prince Rupehit's atrocities. In the banquet hall, with the Emperor and many nobles present, numerous pieces of evidence were presented...]

The article was long, but people read carefully without missing a word. While reading times varied, reactions were similar.

"Does this make any sense? No matter how much he wants the throne, how could he do this to the people he's supposed to rule?"

"This is absurd. If such a person becomes Crown Prince, the country will surely fall."

"In contrast, the Third Prince... He's still young, yet he's outmaneuvering adults."

Everyone knew Second Prince Rayners had given up on the throne. People used to bet on whether the First or Third Prince would wear the crown. But if this was true, the First Prince was unfit to rule.

"I guess we should pray for the Third Prince to become Emperor."

"But he's still so young."

"A kid wouldn't think of doing something like this."

"Well..."

People's beliefs don't change easily. They're used to the tradition of the eldest inheriting, and it's common sense that adults are wiser than children. However, with only two options left, those notions were starting to crack.

"Perhaps the Third Prince is the empire's hope..."

The scales in the hearts of ordinary citizens tipped to one side.

---

---

"Aaaaaaargh!!!"

Crash! Crash! Crash!

First Prince Rupehit, boiling with rage, smashed everything in the room. Scattered glass and broken furniture terrified the servants. Anyone who annoyed him risked being whipped.

The servants who'd experienced this bowed their heads and averted their eyes.

"How dare... How dare... How dare he! Askalion, you orphan bastard!"

Huff... Huff... He exhaled, seemingly exhausted, taking a moment to cool down.

The sound of servants moving quietly behind Rupehit irritated him further. He turned sharply, bloodshot eyes ready for violence.

But his movement stopped abruptly.

"Really, how long will you, a prince, act so childishly?"

"... Mother."

At the Empress's sudden appearance, Rupehit looked away.

The Empress was one of the few who could control Rupehit. He only gritted his teeth after being scolded.

"Haah..." The Empress sighed and ordered the maids, "Clean this up. Quickly."

"Ah...! Yes! Understood, Your Majesty!"

Only then did the room Rupehit had destroyed begin to regain its former appearance. At times like this, he was grateful for the Empress who relieved the pressure. He didn't know it was the Empress who had tried to manipulate the spy in the first place.

The Empress looked at her impulsive son with contempt.

"How many new years must you experience before you listen to even your mother's requests?"

"I...!"

"Prince!"

The Empress cut off Rupehit's protest.

"I told you, didn't I? That excessive greed ruins everything. I will handle this, so please just do as you're told. Was that so difficult?"

"Kugh...!"

"... Restrain yourself for now. Stop tormenting the palace people too. If you spend time in quiet self-reflection, like a mouse that's eaten poison... This mother will try to clean up this mess."

Though he'd received a blow, it wasn't impossible to cover up. He could promise rewards to suitable individuals and blame them for excessive loyalty.

"Haah..." The Empress sighed openly. Though he was her child, he was far too lacking. She even thought the Third Prince Askalion resembled her more.

She knew it wasn't right, but she couldn't help comparing.

'Though they share the same father, there's not a single way I can say he's better.'

The Third Prince forged his own path from start to finish. And the First Prince rejected even when everything was handed to him. Objectively, it was clear who was more suited for the throne.

The Empress was growing tired of this absurdity.

"Tsk, how did I end up with such a child..."

"..."

For the first time, the First Prince saw contempt in his mother's eyes. He'd seen countless looks of distrust and frustration, but never contempt.

Feeling ashamed and angry, Rupehit was about to throw a vase as soon as the Empress left.

But her words flashed through his mind:

[Restrain yourself for now.]

[Without even making a sound, like a poisoned mouse.]

In the end, Rupehit gently placed the vase down with trembling hands, unable to act. Then he raged at himself for lacking the courage to disobey even one of the Empress's words.

"Aaaaaaargh! Damn it, damn it, f*ck! Aaaaaaargh!!!"

He couldn't throw anything, and even had to be careful about writhing. So Rupehit only howled like a beast, his throat raw.

"Huff... Huff... Haah... Damn... Haah... Haah..."

Rupehit looked like the ashes left after a raging fire. It seemed he had no more emotions left to express.

In the empty room, there was no need to look strong. So Rupehit collapsed with a thud.

"Damn it..."

Just as he had wrung out every last drop of emotion, a man's voice invaded the seemingly empty room.

"You seem to be in trouble."

"Who's there!"

He immediately raised his guard. His voice was hoarse from venting too much anger. Yet the stranger spoke plainly, without mockery.

"You may be wary if you wish. It would be better to listen with a clear mind to avoid any mishaps..."

"What?"

Rupehit instinctively hunched his shoulders and lowered his posture. The stranger casually extended his hand.

"This is a good story."

The mouth, the only part visible beneath the hood, curved ominously.

"I've simply come to tell you a good story. So that you can bring down the hammer on all those who look down on you. I hope you'll listen carefully."

---

---

Unlike the turmoil in the imperial palace, the Luminel mansion maintained its usual peace. Of course, that didn't mean they hadn't heard the shocking news...

"That Yulian fellow uncovered quite the scandal," Cardi remarked.

"If we can prove the First Prince's orders... It wouldn't be unreasonable to revoke his claim to the throne," Elphisia added.

I expressed my doubt.

"Huh? Wasn't it all over?"

"The First Prince might be careless, but those around him wouldn't be. If they want to cover it up, there are plenty of ways."

"How's that possible? With rumors spreading this far..."

"Hmm, if I were the Empress, I'd create a scapegoat first. Blame it on an overzealous subordinate acting alone."

Elphisia casually came up with a ruthless strategy. Sometimes, I found this side of her a bit scary.

"She could shed crocodile tears while supporting the victim's recovery... Propose a law on spy detection while splitting the intelligence department's power. That would work too."

"The intelligence department? Surely not..."

"It's where Court Count Arwel was just promoted. This way, she could attempt an image change while also damaging Yulian's right-hand man."

"Opposing it would invite criticism..."

"Exactly. The Empress would quickly devise such basic schemes."

I was newly impressed by Elphisia. To me, it seemed like she was looking several moves ahead, yet she called this elementary.

Perhaps Elphisia, not the Empress, should have been the final boss of the story.

While I was lost in thought, Elphisia reminded me of an upcoming event.

"The hunting festival is coming up soon."

"That's right. I'm so happy that an opportunity to tease Yulian has already come up."

"You're consistently the same in many ways..."

The hunting festival commemorated the new year and prayed for peace. Hunters would offer their catches to the main deity to pray for the empire's well-being.

"That Yulian kid's probably stiff from just using his head and hasn't properly learned martial arts, right? I'm going to tease him so much by comparing him to Glen."

"Are you saying you're going into the hunting grounds too?"

Elphisia asked with surprised eyes. I quickly corrected her misunderstanding.

"I've no intention of hunting. I'll just watch our kids struggle. I'm reluctant to take life without purpose anyway."

"But there is a purpose of offering to the deity, isn't there?"

"His Holiness the Pope doesn't want that. He just doesn't interfere because it's human culture."

Hearing my answer, Elphisia let out a hollow laugh.

"... I feel like I've learned an unnecessary truth."

"What does it matter? Everyone enjoys it regardless of my preferences. That's enough."

"You're always refreshingly straightforward in the strangest areas."

"I hear that's how you stay in your wife's good graces."

"... Ha, good grief... I'm at a loss for words."

Elphisia turned her back on me for a while, apparently quite annoyed about something.

When I moved to her front, she quietly turned away again. I found this somewhat amusing, so I circled around her. Elphisia also spun in place, but eventually realizing my intention, she trembled with embarrassment.

"Ugh, stop following me!"

Bang!

She exclaimed, slamming the door shut as she left. But I knew well that this was precisely the time to follow her.

It was a conclusion based on intuition developed from spending a long time with Elphisia.

"Wait, Elphisia!"

I should quickly apologize for teasing her.

It seemed I truly enjoyed being with her.

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