The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

67 – The Protagonist’s Crisis

“Uh… Yes?”

Elpisia’s brain had melted like a thousand-year-old snow in the early summer, and Hart’s brain was also liquefying.

What was his motivation for applying? What had he even applied for? Was it possible that Euria had secretly sent his resume to the Imperial Guards?

Hart, who was reviewing all possibilities, had completed his rationalization.

‘Well, that’s it. The commander must have been surprised too. That’s how it is. The guy who got caught is coming to find him, and it’s weird if he doesn’t make a mistake…’

It was a 50-point guess out of 100.

Elpisia was indeed surprised, but the rest of Hart’s speculation was just a novel written by his imagination.

Hart, who didn’t realize this, slowly got down on his knees.

“Really, sincerely… I apologize!!!”

Later, Hart bowed his head to the ground, and his thoughts were simple.

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He interpreted the question about his motivation as asking why he had come, so Hart thought he just needed to apologize.

The one who lifted Hart up was the old butler accompanying Elpisia.

“Get up! Even if the commander is intimidating, there’s no rule that says you have to bow your head during an interview…!”

“… What? Interview? Interview?”

Hart repeated the words like his computational abilities had broken down.

“What interview is this?”

“… What’s going on…?”

At this point, even the old butler couldn’t help but have his brain melt. The conversation couldn’t proceed, and the old butler doubted whether he had properly understood the schedule.

“Haah…”

In a world where everyone was becoming a fool, Elpisia looked tired and rubbed her temples with her palm.

She gave an order to the old butler.

“… It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. Butler, please step back for now… and you, please sit down and let’s talk.”

◇

Elpisia, who had composed her emotions, gazed at Hart with a clear expression. In the process, she crossed her legs, and the slender dress line emphasized the movement of her legs.

Hart averted his gaze, raising his shoulder awkwardly.

The silence that followed was more uncomfortable than anything.

It was impossible to force the victim to speak up first.

The one who broke the silence was Hart.

“… I came to the Imperial Guards to apologize for my misconduct at the royal ball.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes? Yes… That’s right.”

It’s not uncommon for nobles to use their power to exploit someone. However, it’s rare for the perpetrator to sincerely apologize to the victim.

Especially for Elpisia, the owner of the Empire’s greatest authority, it was unthinkable for a man to harbor such a desire.

But Harute was a high-ranking priest.

If he wanted to, he could do whatever he pleased and wouldn’t need to apologize.

‘If he’s the owner of the Baptismal Name… He’ll do it even more.’

My father, who had inherited the title of duke, told me a long time ago. He said not to treat the owner of the Baptismal Name as an equal, and that their common sense was like a paper tiger.

Considering Harute’s past, where he didn’t even attend national events due to a promise with the Pope, it wasn’t an empty threat.

But looking at the man in front of me…

He seemed more human than human, constantly checking my reactions.

‘Is this how far I’ll go to apologize for trying to save someone?’

Elpisia was even more puzzled.

Her personality was far from merciful, but she knew that trying to save someone and making a mistake wasn’t a great sin.

Especially for the commander of the Holy Knights, it was even more so. And if he was the owner of the Baptismal Name, which Cardinal Luminele praised every day, it was even more unthinkable.

“Hmm.”

So Elpisia decided to take a step forward.

She had only heard rumors about the owner of the Baptismal Name, but the real Harute seemed to be just a man standing beside the saint.

If she could just confirm his physical presence, it would be a done deal.

“I can forgive you.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Elpisia raised her hand, and a tower appeared.

“Show me a miracle that only the owner of the Baptismal Name can perform. If it’s that impressive, I’ll forget about that day’s incident.”

“A miracle…?”

“It doesn’t matter what it is. Turn water into wine, multiply a loaf of bread… Do as you please.”

It was a rare and interesting target. Even if it was extravagant, the miracle that was impossible to reach was right in front of her. Her heart, which had been dead since her teenage years, began to beat again.

However, Harute directly refused Elpisia’s request.

“… I’m sorry. That’s not possible.”

“What do you mean?”

“The sacred power should not be used for personal interests. That’s the virtue that God desires.”

He recited the words like they were from a moral textbook, with a stiff tone.

Elpisia’s heart, which had momentarily warmed up, turned cold again. Her eyes, which had sparkled, lost their luster.

‘In the end, he was just a man who only talked big.’

When she turned around, her face expressionless, and leaned back into the soft sofa, Harute’s fingers twitched like he had no confidence. He stood upright, with his hands neatly placed on his knees, unlike Elpisia.

Later, a sense of responsibility emanated from him, catching Elpisia’s attention once again.

“I’ll do anything except use sacred power. I’ll do whatever it takes to be forgiven.”

“… Anything?”

“Well, um… I won’t hurt anyone or make them sad.”

“Every word he says is an exaggeration.”

“Hmm…”

“What’s good about it.”

After a while, Elpecia prepared a piece of paper and a pen, and began to write elegantly. At a glance, it seemed to be a contract.

Harte’s gaze was filled with curiosity. His head was also drawn to the paper, which was gradually being filled with writing.

“Sign it.”

“This is…”

“A contract stating that I will be your knight for the next year. If it’s not just empty words, I can sign it, can’t I?”

Elpecia was not unaware that this was an absurd contract. It was as if she was trying to bind the leader of the Knights’ Order for a year by mistake.

This was a contract that no sane person would agree to.

However, Elpecia had a strong hunch.

Perhaps the man in front of her was not as foolish as he seemed, but rather a clever guy who had few opportunities to show off.

And indeed, Elpecia’s prediction was correct.

“I have to perform my duties at the temple until at least 4 pm. So, from 5 pm to 6 am, I will be your knight. Is that okay?”

“What in the world…”

“Yes?”

“… No, it’s fine. Just sign it.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Consideration?

What nonsense is this?

From 5 pm to 6 am, you say?

It’s likely that 6 am is when the temple’s duties begin. Then, out of the 24 hours in a day, Harte wouldn’t even have an hour to sleep.

It’s already a miracle that a human can endure such a murderous schedule.

“You… sleep?”

“Sleep is just a hobby for me. Don’t worry about it.”

“… Okay.”

Elpecia had given up trying to understand. The man was speaking with a innocent face, spewing out facts as if they were nothing. Now, she could believe the absurd stories her father used to tell.

Harte finished signing with a flourish, then extended his hand to Elpecia.

“With this, I have become your knight. I’ll do my best for the next year.”

“… Okay.”

“Now, will you introduce me to my duties?”

He’s already looking for work, unaware of the unfair contract he’s signed. His enthusiasm, despite being unaware of the basics, was amazing.

On the other hand, Elpecia, who was supposed to be giving him orders, spoke lazily.

“Take care of my attendants.”

◇

“Ascalion, sir! It’s a big deal! The supply for the aid has been cut off!”

“What did you say?”

Ascalion narrowed his eyes at his subordinate’s report. He then asked, with his elegantly shaped eyelashes fluttering, what the cause was.

“If the supply is cut off now, the poverty alleviation plan will be scrapped. Have you found the cause?”

“It seems… that Lord Lumineil has taken over all the related companies.”

“Is that person again…”

Ascalion let out a deep sigh.

Elpisia Ruminel was always like that. Whenever she achieved something, she would inevitably destroy the foundation. Like a wave crashing down on a sandcastle.

As he was thinking of a countermeasure, a woman emerged from the darkness.

“Why do you always get in the way of that person?”

Her hair, tinted with a crimson hue, was tied up in a ponytail. Her blue eyes, tinged with sadness, reflected her inner conflict.

The woman’s name was Tina, Ascalion’s personal bodyguard.

To Tina, who still possessed a pure and untainted heart, Ascalion spoke of reality.

“Maintaining the current state is beneficial to that person.”

“People are struggling, but it’s all because of that…”

“I need to gain power to become the emperor. But in the process, I’ll inevitably clash with the Ruminel Duchy.”

The Ruminel Duchy had grown excessively powerful since Elpisia took the throne. The imperial family was already half-destroyed, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the Ruminel Duchy was the empire itself.

Therefore, if Ascalion wanted to gain power, he would have to absorb the Ruminel Duchy’s influence.

It was better to maintain the current empire than to let it fall into the hands of the incompetent imperial family.

That was Elpisia Ruminel’s intention.

“But can we win? That person is… too powerful.”

“We have to win. For our goals, at least.”

Ascalion straightened his resolve, but his doubts lingered.

“If only we could find a weakness to exploit, something that the world could use against her…”