Contract Marriage Interrupted

Episode 84. The Poisoned Goblet

 

At Cedric’s question, Odette’s expression became slightly guarded.

Having been thrown testing questions by Cedric in the past, she suspected this might be another such instance.

Especially from her perspective, having just received the final warning, she had even more reason to think so.

Odette hesitated before asking.

“Are you asking such a question because you’re afraid I might…… betray my brother?”

Cedric, realizing he had been a bit hasty, touched his temple, letting out a sigh.

“Clearly there seems to be a misunderstanding…… Let me clarify. In the current situation, I have no reason to worry about your betrayal. I have a much more solid relationship with Walter than you realize.”

“But I could change my mind and drive a wedge between Walter and my brother?”

“That’s something anyone else could do, not just you. And the person I know…… is not someone who would fall for such manipulation.”

It might have sounded arrogant, but it was a confidence that stemmed from the similarity between him and Walter.

Walter and Cedric were the kind of people who listened to what others said and followed their own judgment no matter what anyone said.

At least Cedric was more willing to listen to other people’s opinions because he needed to have a broader perspective than Walter, but not Walter.

“It’s hard to find someone as independent as that guy.”

“……That’s true.”

 

“Yeh. So if Walter betrays me, it’ll be his own choice, not because of your influence.”

Cedric said so with a smirk, leaning back.

Unlike other nobles who made a virtue of upright posture, Cedric was quite relaxed in his demeanor.

It was his way of showing that he was at ease with his opponent.

“Think about it, Odette. If I were worried about your betrayal, marrying you off to Pavel’s heir would be the most ideal solution. But I don’t think like that. I’m asking you this question…… for your own sake.”

He knows she’s in a marriage she didn’t want.

“If you want a divorce, I can still help you now. Since you’ve only been married for a short time, you can continue to live in my palace and let the separation take its natural course.”

Under imperial law, nobles could request a divorce from the imperial court if they had been separated for more than six months.

While a normal divorce requires the consent of both parties, a direct request to the imperial court could be granted even without the agreement of both parties once the Emperor approved it.

It wasn’t easy, but with Cedric on her side, getting the Imperial approval shouldn’t be too difficult.

“Then I’ll find you a wealthy, well-connected man and marry him off. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a country nobleman who’ll keep you in line.”

Then the life Odette has always wanted would be within her grasp.

A life of seclusion and peace, far from politics.

And she wouldn’t have to worry about the divorce label that would surely follow.

‘That’s why I’ve been deliberately stirring up trouble.’

 

The fact that Cedric had sent in the army to control Ertmann and bring Odette back to him would be known to everyone in social circles within days.

There had been no interaction between Cedric and Odette, and since Ertmann had remained neutral, it would have appeared to the public that Cedric was persecuting his sister for political reasons.

If Odette continued to live at Cedric’s court, divorced Walter, and Cedric appeared to be heavily involved in her remarriage, the rumor would be strengthened.

If Odette continued to stay at Cedric’s court, and Cedric appeared to be heavily involved in her remarriage, the rumors would be strengthened.

‘But that’s not a big deal.’

Since Cedric had the reputation he had built up over the years, it wasn’t much of a flaw.

Considering the frequent occurrences of succession disputes resulting in siblings being killed or ousted, Cedric might even be seen as merciful.

Cedric would take on the bad reputation, while Odette could quietly live away from the spotlight, just as she had been doing all along.

But.

“I appreciate the suggestion, but I’m fine as it is.”

Odette declined Cedric’s offer without much conflict.

“Of course, whether my brother suggested this for my sake…… or not, it doesn’t matter much to me. Because, as you said, that’s the life I wanted.”

Whether Cedric made this suggestion genuinely for Odette’s sake or as a way to control her, Odette knew that Cedric’s suggestion was ideal.

It would be a very rational solution for both of them.

 

It would free her from Blake’s scrutiny, and it would give her a much quieter, more peaceful life than she had now.

“If this had happened before …… if I had received such a suggestion just a month ago, I would have accepted it without hesitation. But now that I’m married, I love my life in Ertmann.”

“Because Ertmann is rich? If that’s the case, we can provide that anywhere.”

“No, of course, it’s materially rich, but……. it’s not just for that reason.”

Odette shook her head.

Prosperity couldn’t be a major concern for her.

It was the people that mattered.

“Lord Arnold also treats me very kindly, and the servants treat me well too. But above all…….”

Odette paused for a moment.

She was momentarily lost for words, unsure of how to describe it.

Above all.

The next thing she said was about Walter.

How Walter treated her so well, that he cared so much for her.

He kissed her cheeks morning and night, how they spent the end of the night and the beginning of the morning together.

So, if she woke up in the morning without Walter, she couldn’t help but feel terribly lonely…….

‘……How do I put this?’

It seemed trivial, but listing it out made her cheeks flush with warmth.

 

At the end of laying out all these words, Odette knew what she was about to say.

‘Brother, do you really think I could live like this if I married someone else?’

Would that person care for me as much as Walter cares for me?

In the past, I would not have wished for such a thing.

After all, marriages among the nobility were mostly arranged, and Odette had no intention of seeking affection from her spouse or lover.

In other words, Odette intended to remain single even after marriage.

So far, she’d made a good living in the Palace, and she was confident that she would continue to do so.

‘But…….’

After marrying Walter, that thought had melted away like snow.

Now she couldn’t go back to the way things were before she felt its warmth.

Odette had gotten so caught up in the role that she had fallen in love with giving and receiving fake affection.

Or maybe it wasn’t so fake after all, since she had become the role itself.

‘……I still don’t know.’

Do I really love Walter?

Or am I so immersed in the role that I feel this way about him because my dreams are running away with me.

What is certain is that Odette needs him now.

With a little hesitation, she managed to produce a reassuring word.

“……More than anything, Walter loves me too.”

 

The reason they presented outwardly for their marriage.

Love.

Odette actually thought Cedric might not believe it, but he simply nodded.

“Yeah, seems like he does love you.”

“……Does he?”

Just how good was Walter at acting in front of Cedric?

Odette felt a little anxious, but Cedric didn’t notice.

Instead, he could see that Odette’s feelings weren’t much different from Walter.

Odette seemed somewhat lost in thought, as if she were dreaming of him.

“I appreciate the suggestion, but I’m very satisfied with how things are now.”

Odette smiled as she said it.

And Cedric could no longer urge her to divorce.

.

.

. 

 

“…… Even thinking about it again makes me want to throw that bastard Walter into prison.”

Cedric felt deeply frustrated that emotions that should be classified as madness were masked by the veneer of love.

Odette was in love with Walter.

It was not surprising. Odette was a sweetheart by nature, and she had been starved for affection.

Growing up with a lot of caution due to the environment, she was truly vulnerable to affection.

It was obvious from her excessive gratitude for even a little kindness shown to her.

‘That’s why I’ve been so careful about her……’

He would have preferred that Walter had treated Odette with indifference like he did with others.

But that wouldn’t have been so surprising either.

After all, similar deficiencies are often attracted to each other.

‘Just like I did.’

As Cedric recalled the time when he first got close to Odette, he quickly shook off the thought.

“Anyway, since it’s like that, how can I separate them? I’ll have to find another way.”

Above all, there was another reason that couldn’t be ignored.

“Walter told me that Louis Clovis has been coming and going from Blake’s palace.”

“Count Clovis? But isn’t he someone with no connection to the Second Prince?”

Louis had a reputation externally close to being a recluse.

Despite holding a title like Count, he showed no significant political movements.

It was widely known that he avoided getting involved in politics to avoid conflicts with the Clovis family, which held considerable power.

“If someone like him suddenly has contact with Blake, there must be a reason. Either he’s hiding something, or he’s trying to gain something.”

Maybe both.

Cedric recalled the note he had looked at before Arnold returned.

Walter had sent Russell to deliver a message before he left the palace.

It mentioned Louis Clovis’s visits to the Second Prince’s palace and that he was involved in the bootlegging business.

[It looks like he originally stepped out, but for some reason, he came back in a while ago.]

The problem is that the bootlegging business wasn’t such an appealing industry to warrant such aggressive involvement.

It had already begun to spread that the Emperor was starting to crack down on bootlegging.

But not only did he get involved in the bootlegging business again, but he also approached Blake?

Cedric’s gaze flicked to the teacup on the side of his desk.

It was the poisoned teacup that had been promptly delivered as soon as he returned.