The Villainess Proposed a Contractual Marriage

The Luminel Duchy was moderately large. That was the only way to describe this territory.

It was smaller than the vast borderlands guarded by a border count, but larger than most nobles' lands. Even so, it might have been considered small compared to the reputation of Cardi Luminel.

We arrived at the outskirts of the duchy.

It was a port city with a faint scent of salt in the air.

'The sea...'

The hunting grounds where the festival would be held were in a forest quite far from the port city. Despite this, we chose to stay at the villa in the port city solely because of Elphisia's decision.

She wanted to show the children something new since we'd come all this way to the duchy. She thought it would make for good memories. Our destination was set for such a typically kind reason from Elphisia.

'It certainly is new.'

Even including my past life and current one, I'd never had the chance to see the sea in person. So the salty smell lingering on the bridge of my nose made my heart race.

I felt fond of the horse that had moved diligently since early morning. Thanks to its efforts and dedication, we were able to set foot in the port city villa as noon approached.

I got out of the carriage after the duke, then extended my hand to Elphisia, who remained inside.

Suppressing a rising smile...

"Take my hand, my kind wife. Pfft..."

"Shut that mouth!"

Elphisia retorted primly. Her huffing breaths plainly revealed her inner state.

She took my hand, her posture bristling like an angry cat. The fact that she didn't push me away made me think how cute she was once again.

Next, the villa's servants rushed out en masse to pay their respects to their master.

"Welcome, Your Grace Duke Luminel."

"No need for such fuss. You've prepared proper accommodations for the children, I trust?"

"Of course. We maintain everything meticulously so you can stay comfortably even if you return unexpectedly."

"That's a good attitude."

The duke praised them in a satisfied tone. Then it was time for the children to come pouring out with excited voices.

"Wow, what a weird smell! Dad, can I go up there? I want to see the sea from up high!"

"Shouldn't you usually ask the duke's permission first?"

"Oh, is that so?"

Tina scratched her cheek sheepishly at Yulian's comment. I jumped into their comedic exchange to tease Yulian.

"You rascal! You could've just gone along with it, but you dare to scratch our daughter's cheek?"

"S-scratch? Don't tell me you're talking about her scratching herself just now?! She did that on her own!"

At this point, I just wanted to see Yulian's flustered face. But then the real deal descended upon us.

"Ho ho... My son-in-law is right. No matter if he's the Third Prince, how could he harm my granddaughter?"

"Uh... Duke?"

I called out to him, dumbfounded. But the duke's appropriate braking mechanism seemed to be malfunctioning due to a subtle madness.

So, I left the scene as is.

If things got really troublesome, Tina would probably stop the duke. Our daughter was a good girl after all.

As I returned to my place, Elphisia spoke to me with a stern expression.

"... You're the worst, you know."

"Think of it as a chance to build crisis management skills."

"As if you really think that."

Elphisia pressured me with a look of disbelief. Her sharp crimson eyes had the power to make flimsy rebuttals disappear.

Even in this chaotic scene, only the introverted Glen and Echo maintained their composure.

"How is it, Glen? Can you see the sea?"

"Can't see it from here because of the buildings. We'd have to go up to the mansion or a bit further into town to see it."

"Town... want to go."

"We can go. I'll ask the duke for permission."

"Ah...!"

Echo's face lit up with joy.

I might not have been able to read Echo's mind exactly... but she seemed more excited by the thought of going out with Glen than seeing the sea.

"The mansion's already bustling, isn't it?"

"That's how it is with lots of kids around."

"I suppose so."

"Why? Don't you like it?"

A moment of silence.

Then Elphisia answered, her eyes seeming to gaze distantly at some old scenery.

"No. It's just... I was thinking how things have changed."

---

---

The children's overflowing energy upon first arriving began to wane rapidly after enjoying lunch.

No matter how luxurious the carriage, it was still a carriage. They had been sitting in that cramped space since early morning, traveling wearily. With full bellies and warm backs, drowsiness inevitably overcame curiosity.

Even as evening fell, the kids showed no signs of waking easily. Especially Echo, with her weak constitution, slept peacefully without even a snore.

... Unlike our daughter.

"Snore... snooore... Grr! Snooore..."

'Oh, Tina...'

Although Tina was usually angelic, her sleeping habits were far from it. Kicking off all the blankets was just the start. She'd sprawl out to sleep, then hug the blanket if she felt cold. She tossed and turned so much that I wondered how she never fell out of bed at the orphanage.

'She's still young. As long as she's healthy, that's what matters...'

Repeating such rationalizations, I slipped out of the room and encountered Elphisia walking down the corridor. Unlike the exhausted children, she looked perfect as always. Just like when she fanned herself gracefully at late-night banquets...

"I've instructed the servants. If the children wake up hungry, they're to prepare snacks."

"I'm indebted to you."

"Don't talk about being indebted. We're in the kind of relationship where that's unnecessary, as you so often emphasize. There's no need to feel obligated."

Elphisia crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. Then she uttered something terribly frightening.

"Or what? Is the family you speak of everyone but me?"

"Ah..."

It came across as both a rebuke and a warm sentiment. Surely she wanted to convey that family shouldn't feel burdened by things that are natural between them, even if they're thankful.

I acknowledged my mistake and approached Elphisia.

"I was wrong. What should I do to make my dear wife forgive me?"

"Nngh..."

Elphisia was honest to honesty.

What I mean is, she returned honest reactions to straightforward honesty. For instance, the kind of honesty like her prim face that couldn't hide her embarrassment at all...

I thought I understood why she developed the habit of crossing her arms.

It must have been a gesture reflecting her intention to lock away her inner self, not wanting to reveal it.

Suddenly, that thought struck me.

That someday, I wanted to break that habit of crossing her arms.

And that I wanted to create an environment where she could honestly express her kindness.

To do that, I judged that the free outdoors would be better than the stuffy mansion.

As I harbored this vague wish, golden particles suddenly rippled around us like a flowing river.

"Excuse me, Elphisia."

"W-wait a moment! Harte!"

I ignored Elphisia's words and led her as my heart dictated. In the instant divine radiance blinded my vision, the scenery before us had changed dramatically.

The first things I perceived were the salty scent carried on the sea breeze from beyond the vast horizon, and the landscape seemingly overlaid with the colors of the setting sky.

As I was lost in admiration, a fresh and unfamiliar tone greeted us, riding on the rhythm.

Whoosh... Crash!

It was the sound of waves, heard for the first time in my life. The sea, its surface rising and falling unevenly, ceaselessly churned and wet the earth.

I was momentarily captivated by this overwhelming force of nature. So much so that I briefly forgot about Elphisia's warmth in my arms.

"What are you doing?"

"... Elphisia."

I snapped back to my senses. Elphisia wore a complex expression in my embrace.

"Using your divine power recklessly again... You know better than anyone that you shouldn't..."

"Yeah, I guess my rebellious phase came a bit late."

There were two lines that a baptismal name holder must not cross.

Not using divine power for personal gain. And not betraying one's own sense of justice.

Neither actually restricted the use of divine power itself. It was just common sense not to use it carelessly.

If one didn't conform to that common sense, the lines drawn for baptismal name holders could be surprisingly flexible.

I used divine power for Elphisia's sake, and prioritizing family was my justice.

There was no problem.

... Yes, there was no problem at all.

"Were you worried about me?"

"Don't be mistaken. I was just stating the obvious."

"That's odd. Aren't we in a relationship where we shouldn't feel indebted? Is it too much to expect concern in return?"

It's difficult, so difficult...

When I muttered this softly, Elphisia expressed her self-inflicted predicament with a slight shrug of her shoulders.

"I'm worried about you."

"Worried? About me?"

"Who else would it be?"

"You seem to have a lot of worries."

It was true that I had many worries.

I worried about how the four children, so different from each other, would grow up. I worried about the future that had become more uncertain after breaking free from fate.

But if I had to choose the person I worried about most among all these factors, it would definitely have been Elphisia.

"I don't want people to misunderstand Elphisia."

As I said this, I took a step forward. A chilly sea breeze swept through our hair. Only then did I realize my mistake and draped my coat over Elphisia's shoulders.

"To be honest, I want to brag about you so much I can hardly contain myself. That my wife is so smart and kind, it's almost too much for me."

"... There you go with the flattery again."

"It's not flattery, and that's what worries me. People ultimately need to live together with others, but unfortunately, someone keeps trying desperately to hide her kind nature."

"I'm not particularly kind. You're the one who's sorely mistaken."

"No way. How could I not know? When I look closely like this, your concern for others shines through so clearly."

I stopped walking and gazed into Elphisia's ruby-like eyes. But the darkened scenery cast shadows in them. As if trying to hide her true feelings in the darkness.

"Elphisia."

Right then, the world brightened.

Snap.

With a sound like electricity sparking, a soft radiance drove away the darkness. Festival lights strung along every street came to life, awakening the city that had been falling asleep.

It was the lighting ceremony for the festival celebrating the duchy's joyous occasion - the hunting festival.

Streets adorned with beautiful lights like the Milky Way. Along the rippling sea road, I admitted my own mistake.

'Yeah... I guess I was wrong.'

There was no need to rush.

We still had plenty of time, and people were bound to change.

It was just a matter of differing speeds of change.

"Ugh..."

Her small hand, substituting for a folding fan, covered her lower face. But the festival lights illuminated Elphisia's existence in a special way. As if she were the center of the world.

How else could I explain it?

Perhaps it was an illusion caused by me seeing her as the center of my world.

Amidst the confusion, Elphisia's revealed face was extraordinary.

She wore an expression I had never seen before.

Seeming shy, on the verge of tears.

A face somehow burning with longing.

As if enchanted, I reached out to touch the cheek of this unfamiliar wife.

As if confirming it wasn't an illusion.

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