“Lizelle…”
Raphel mumbled in Rohan’s arms, his voice hoarse from crying.
Seeing no sign of him calming down, Rohan decided to mix a sedative into water. If he didn’t, dehydration would soon become a concern.
He was barely able to coax him into taking a sip. Unfortunately, he was refusing so stubbornly that Rohan’s shirt got soaked in the process.
“Sniff… Lizelle.”
Raphel’s voice became increasingly quiet as the medicine took effect.
“Master Raphel, it’s alright. If you wish, you can visit her as many times as you want, even weekly.”
Rohan patted Raphel on the back as he held him, shoulder soaked from his tears.
“Don’t… go. Don’t leave…”
The small boy trembled in Rohan’s arms, repeatedly begging for Lizelle not to leave.
“Sigh… If he goes through another goodbye like this, he might faint.”
Rohan muttered, carrying the now-asleep Raphel out of the room.
Raphel was exhausted from crying so much that he fell asleep shortly after taking the sedative.
However, even when asleep, tears were still trickling down from the corners of Raphel’s delicate eyes, as if he was saying goodbye to Lizelle in his dreams.
Rohan carried the limp Raphel straight to the room Chase had decorated for him.
After being vacant for so long, the room finally had its rightful owner.
He knew in advance this would happen, but was still thrilled when he thought that Raphelion would take the last name ‘Halos’.
His master also would no longer have to search all over the country or deal with scammers.
Thinking that this single task that had been troubling his master for so long was over, Rohan felt relieved.
“Wipe his face with a damp cloth and change his clothes. They’re a mess.”
“Yes, understood.”
Rohan gently laid Raphel down on the bed and gave instructions to the attendant.
Since he took the sedative, Raphel would probably sleep the rest of the day.
Rohan left the room to go find Chase.
However, at that moment, he had no idea…
What a man in the throes of his first love, driven by those bulldozer-like feelings burning like a fever, was plotting to do.
* * *
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
Wilhazelle asked, glancing at Chase sitting in front of her.
A billion shillings for a year of marriage would be great for her, but he has too much to lose.
Even for Raphel’s sake, it seemed reckless to make such a life-altering decision so hastily.
“Do you not wish to go through with it?”
Chase looked at Lizelle, carefully masking his anxiety.
The fact that she kept asking him if he was sure about this made it seem like she was trying to find a way out because she didn’t want to marry him.
“No, that’s not it. Honestly, I don’t understand… I have nothing to lose, but you’re sacrificing so much.”
“I have nothing to lose either.”
“You’re about to lose 1 billion shillings!”
“Is that really a loss?”
Chase asked back, looking confused.
His nonchalant response left Lizelle momentarily speechless. Was he serious?
She tried to reason with him since he looked like he really didn’t understand.
“Of course! That’s a lot of money.”
“I can make that back easily.”
Wow… Who would doubt he was the wealthiest man in the empire?
His attitude was both enviable and exasperating. Only the truly rich could act that way.
“Ah… I see.”
Lizelle mumbled, offering a mechanical laugh.
His calm attitude made her feel almost foolish for worrying.
“So, will you agree?”
Chase pressed, unable to completely hide his impatience. He needed her confirmation.
He wanted to place a ring on her pretty pale finger.
This seemed like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He knew he would never again meet a woman who could move him like this. A woman who could shatter his whole world.
“Uhm…”
When Chase asked again with a serious face, Lizelle could no longer take this lightly.
Considering everything, it was definitely not a loss for her.
Although it was a financial transaction, she was glad she would be able to stay with Raphel for a whole year.
Since she knows a lot about the original novel, she would also be able to help Raphel.
But she hesitated, questioning if she had the right to interfere in the story at all.
She had initially agreed without thinking, but is it really okay to get involved in the original novel as she pleased?
She was neither the lead nor a supporting character. Only a minor role…
She dismissed the thought.
‘Why not?’
Wilhazelle’s clear green eyes sparkled.
A minor character was still part of the story.
Even if she had taken on the role of a villain instead, she was still a part of the same story and there was no law telling her she had to live in hiding.
There is no law preventing her from being involved in their lives.
Besides, they were the ones who brought her into their world.
She just agreed. There was no reason not to.
“Let’s do it.”
Lizelle made up her mind and looked straight at Chase with a firm gaze.
Chase’s red eyes slightly flickered with emotion. He blinked slowly, as if he couldn’t believe it.
“Really?”
His lips trembled slightly. He was anxious that she might go back on her decision.
He was so good at maintaining a poker face that Lizelle couldn’t read him at all.
“Yes. Let’s get married.”
* * *
[Contract
- Chase Halos and Wilhazelle Frosier will maintain a marriage for one year.
- Both parties will fulfill their respective roles.
- For social gatherings or events requiring a partner, prior notice of at least two days must be given to the other party.
- Chase Halos will pay Wilhazelle Frosier 1 billion shillings upon the contract’s expiration in 1 year.
- The contract may be extended indefinitely upon mutual agreement.
- The details of this contract are confidential and must not be disclosed to anyone.]
“Do we really need clause 5?”
Wilhazelle, reading through the contract Chase handed to her, pointed to clause 5.
An indefinite extension?
That was out of the question. The initial agreement had been for a one-year duration, as discussed.
Even though it was a contract marriage, the defined period of one year was the only reason she agreed to it.
Anything beyond that felt like too deep of an entanglement, which she was reluctant to accept.
What if she fell so in love with Chase, she couldn’t live without him?
“Just leave it as is.”
Chase said coldly with a dissatisfied face.
This was because Lizelle had clearly implied there would be no extensions.
” Well… Alright then.”
The contract would end if there was no mutual agreement on an extension. Lizelle was skeptical but nodded.
However, after reading all the terms and conditions of the contract, she put the contract down.
“If you have anything you’d like to add, feel free.”
“It’s not so much that I want to add something, but… this is supposed to be a secret between the two of us. What happens if the secret is revealed because of one of us?”
“You mean if it’s one party’s fault?”
“Yes. Would the contract terminate automatically in that case?”
Chase picked up a pen and started writing something on the contract Lizelle put down. He couldn’t allow the contract to ever be broken, so he hastily came up with a clause.
After a few seconds of writing, he slid the revised contract in front of Lizelle again.
She picked it up and read the new addition.
[7. If any of the above terms are violated, the responsible party shall cooperate fully with the other party’s suggestion.]
“The other party’s suggestion?”
“I think it would be better to listen to what the other party proposes rather than face penalties.”
Lizelle nodded in agreement.
“Think it over one last time before signing. This contract isn’t written on ordinary paper.”
“What?”
“It is a magic contract that will result in penalties if you violate it.”
She noticed faint magical patterns etched onto the paper earlier. What would they do? Would she lose her life?
Wilhazelle glanced at Chase, her expression filled with questions.
“If the contract terms aren’t fulfilled, the violator will face penalties. Since it’s a low-level magic binding, you won’t lose your life, but you could experience pain or injury, to varying degrees.”
Chase explained as clearly as he could, reading the questions on her face.
He hadn’t planned to bring out a magic contract, but he needed a solid reason to ensure she stayed. It was desperate, but unavoidable.
“Alright, I understand. It’s better to be thorough.”
Lizelle answered without much thought. Since there was nothing in the contract she couldn’t follow, she didn’t worry about potential penalties.
When she gave her permission, Chase signed the contract.
Wilhazelle also signed the contract handed to her by Chase.
With this, the contract marriage between the two was decided.
Lizelle looked at Chase as he folded the contract.
Now that the everything was decided upon, it was time to talk about specific plans.
“So, what’s the plan now?”
“The plan for what, exactly?”
Chase, who was racking his brain to see if he missed something, asked back.
“Even if it’s a contract marriage, this involves our families. Our parents need to know, don’t you think.”
“Ah…”
“So, you should meet my parents.”
“…”
Chase froze for a moment.
He had to meet her parents…
He had only been focused on keeping her by his side; this never once crossed his mind.
