Contract Marriage Interrupted

Episode 23. Eye contact

 

Blake’s voice wasn’t heavy with advice.

In other words, it was his usual sarcastic tone

Blake was a sarcastic man, and he didn’t hesitate to give his sarcastic remarks to Lizaina.

So, as usual, Lizaina half-listened to Blake’s words and burst out laughing.

“Brother, do you really think she could do that, seriously?”

“I think it’s possible.”

“Ha, she does, how?”

The smile was now half gone from Lizaina’s face.

She realized that Blake was serious.

“It’s unlikely, but even if she were lucky enough to take the position of Duchess of Ertmann, nothing would change. Would it make any difference if that idiot got a decent position? She wasn’t able to say a word even if I dropped him in the pond.”

Lizaina wasn’t so stupid.

At least she was smart enough to realize that long-standing hierarchies don’t change easily.

“What difference will it make if a child who has lived his whole life bowing down to us goes out. It would be a shame if she would ignore us.”

“That’s why you’re called stupid, Lizzie.”

Blake clicked her tongue in disbelief.

“Have you never thought about that? Odette, that she’s just acting?”

“……Act? why would she do that?”

“Not just trying to survive. It’s really acting. Odette, she might have voluntarily lied down and hidden a knife behind her back, pretending to have no strength or ability.”

“What is…… brother, aren’t you getting a little too sensitive lately? Odette has no one else. What kind of knife is this, what is this about?”

It was true that Odette had no powers or abilities.

She was born out of wedlock and raised somewhere in the palace, so what could she do?

Lizaina didn’t think that Odette’s obedient side would be sincere.

However, there was only one reason why Lizaina ignored Odette.

“What does she have? Nothing.”

Because even if Odette had a plan, she didn’t have the ability to carry it out.

There is not a single noble who is close to her, let alone a friend.

That’s why Lizaina and Katarina have been blocking Odette from socializing.

She has no allies and no one to turn to for help.

She’ll have no turn in the palace.

Those who work in the imperial palace tend to chase money and power.

What such an Odette could possibly do?

“Even if she were to marry a decent nobleman and gain some sort of status, it wouldn’t be a problem to isolate her from social circles, so there’s nothing she can do about it. There is no need to be on guard.”

Lizaina shrugged as if it were no big deal.

“Besides…… If everything goes well today, I will never have to worry about marrying a decent nobleman. She’ll have a son and live with a husband who’s old as her father.”

“So, what if that doesn’t work out?”

“It can’t be like that, right?”

Blake smirked at the nonchalant answer.

 

“Oh, yeah? That’s good.”

“What?”

“Well, since you’re thinking so casually, even if the plan fails, you won’t be particularly upset, right?”

“What?!”

Lizaina frowned in anger, Blake chuckled like he was joking.

Though he wasn’t laughing inside.

It has been about three months since Crown Prince Cedric was finally driven out of the capital, the center of power, under the flimsy excuse of a border inspection.

Blake was enjoying the most influence he’d had since entering society.

But it wasn’t entirely solidified.

– Mother, wasn’t it discussed that the Marquess of Broy should be appointed head of the palace affairs department as I recommended? I’ve been asked what happened to the Marquess.

– I reward the Marquess of Broy with a suitable reward to keep him quiet. We were almost there, but suddenly the Duke of Pavel attacked Albericht……. tsk.

In Cedric’s absence, Katarina and Blake have been working to elevate the people they’ve recruited to positions of power in the palace.

This will increase the influence they can exert, and it will become their foundation.

The problem is, just when they’re getting into the swing of things, they’re interrupted by a ghostly presence.

– Is it Duke Pavel again? No, this time it’s Grimoire. How on earth does everyone know so well and intervene?

– It’s strange, Your Highness. We’ve sealed off every possible leak……..

Even if the crown prince planted someone, there is no way they could react this quickly.

– …… Either he has a henchman in his lumbar region, Otherwise, there is no explanation.

It would take at least a week to reach here from the border area where Cedric would be.

That means we’d have to get the information out faster than anyone else to react in time, and there are very few people in a position to do that.

‘Not unless you’re Odette.’

Someone who can access the rumors that circulate in the palace faster than anyone else, and who has no reason to be suspicious of them.

Odette was almost the only person who fit that bill.

It was just that she was so humble that no one dared to think that she was Cedric’s henchman.

‘But it’s certainly a possibility.’

Blake was already half-convinced.

I don’t know what they did to convey the story so quickly, but Odette is a confidant who carries questions about the imperial palace to Cedric.

When the first rumors of Odette and Walter’s affair surfaced, I provoked Lizaina into attacking Odette just to make sure.

‘Well, I didn’t get anything.’

It was too early to put aside my doubts after trying it once.

It was this opportunity that Blake was aiming for.

‘I thought if I left it alone, Lizaina would attack Odette on her own.’

Odette was backed into a corner that she couldn’t back out of.

And although Lizaina seems to have overlooked it, even a rat knows they have to show their teeth when it’s cornered.

So now you know.

Odette is either a rat who can show her teeth when cornered, or she’s just an earthworm who’ll get trampled to death. 

‘If it is the latter…… It’s a bit disappointing.’

That means my guess is wrong.

But if the guess is correct.

‘I guess I’ll try to appease.’

There are plenty of pawns, but it’s rare to be a queen.

* * *

 

That time.

“So, what did you want to talk about in bringing me here?”

Odette was sitting in a room in the back of Xavier’s ballroom.

In short, she was alone with Regis.

A cold voice came from Odette.

“If you’re not going to bring up your business first, why don’t you just tell me the story you promised. so that my coming all this way will be at least a little bit worthwhile.”

“I’ve made a seat for you, and you’re being impatient. Why don’t we have some tea first, don’t you like it, this tea.”

Odette’s gaze shifted to the teacup Regis held out.

It was filled with a blue-violet searchlight tea that changed color with a squeeze of lemon juice.

It was an import, and depending on the grade of the tea leaves, some were prohibitively expensive, so it wasn’t something Odette would drink often.

“I bought it while I was abroad. and it reminded me of you. It’s a luxury item, so I’m sure you’ll like it.”

“…….”

It would be impolite not to drink it after such an offer.

Odette reluctantly moved her hand to the teacup.

‘You drank it.’

Regis’s lips twitched upward.

You need to drink a little more for a quick effect, but what was in the tea was a sleeping pill that could put people to sleep even in a small amount.

All it takes is time.

Convinced that the plan worked, Regis asked the question he’d been holding back.

“So, what’s your relationship with Duke Ertmann?”

“……What?”

Odette’s face hardened as she set down her teacup, but Regis poured out what he’d been holding in.

“I thought you said you weren’t in a relationship with him, with Louis Clovis at your side.”

“I’m not really close to him.”

“Ah, the guy who used illness as an excuse to leave the house crawled all the way to the banquet hall to become your partner? Moreover, seeing as he was talking with Duke Ertmann, it seemed like it wasn’t something he had done in a day or two. Are you sure you don’t have a special relationship?”

“That’s none of your business, and you have no right to interfere. What are you here for-“

“I told you, Odette. I’m serious with you.”

In the end, Odette’s brow furrowed. But Regis continued speaking without hesitation.

“I’ve never forgotten you, even when I’m abroad. I can’t get you out of my damn head when I meet someone, and now you’re with other men……!”

Remembering the scene he saw in the banquet hall a little while ago, Regis seemed to be angry again, and his voice became louder.

However, perhaps because he was aware of Odette not making even a movement, he quickly calmed down his anger and clung to Odette.

“Let’s try again, eh? I’m so sorry I let you down back then, but-“

“……Is that what you’re asking for, a second chance?”

“Yes. You liked me too, and I can be so much better than I was then!”

“I was wondering what on earth you were calling me here…….”

Odette narrowed her eyes in annoyance.

 

“I wonder what Lizaina tried to persuade you with this time.”

“It’s not appeasement, I mean it, Odette, I said I was sorry.”

“If you felt the slightest bit sorry for me, you wouldn’t have said nonsense like second chances. Because you know there’s no chance.”

Regis face distorted at the firm refusal.

“So it’s okay for Duke Ertmann or Louis Clovis, but not me? How many times do I have to bend over backwards and apologize to you……!”

“I never asked you to do that.”

Odette replied coldly, and stood up.

Looking at Regis attitude, it seems like the story about Walter was a bait from the beginning.

‘I was hoping this would be wrong.’

She can’t help it. Even though she knew it, it was her fault for deceiving herself.

Odette sighed internally and turned around.

“Don’t ever come near me again- ugh.”

She staggered to her feet.

‘There’s something in the tea?!’

If so, it would really be dangerous to stay here any longer.

Odette hurried to the door.

She unlocked it and opened it.

“Odette!”

Regis came a beat late and hurriedly grabbed her and pulled her.

Through the half-open door, he could see Ellodie, whom Odette had left behind.

Between the doors, Odette and Ellodie’s eyes met.