The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

74 – Lovers

Hart was utterly shocked.

You want to be lovers? It was a question that was truly unprecedented, but his brain processed the information slowly, so his expression remained calm.

However, Elpisia’s situation was different. Her entire body was flushed like a bright red apple, and tears welled up in her eyes. For someone who had rejected countless confessions, it was an unbearable humiliation.

“You…!”

Kwak!

Elpisia grabbed Hart’s collar without caring about the surrounding gaze. Then, she unleashed a torrent of verbal abuse that was impossible for Hart to imagine.

“I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you!”

“Hey, Elpisia, calm down…!”

Elpisia shook Hart’s collar violently, causing his vision to blur and his consciousness to sink into the abyss.

“You said you wanted to be with me! You said you wanted to date! You said you wanted to be lovers! Why…! Why are you backing out now?!”

“Wait, Elpisia…!!! There are people around us! Please be careful with your words…!”

“It’s all because of you… It’s all your fault!”

“Is it really my fault…?!”

As he watched Elpisia, who had abandoned her dignity as a high-ranking noble, throw a tantrum, he felt like he was the one who was truly in the wrong. And the people around them were agreeing with the rumor that Hart was the villain.

“What a world… Does that guy think he can play with women?”

“He looks like a rich woman’s toy, but he’s actually a bad guy.”

“He’s got a bad reputation, but he’s got a good face.”

“Don’t judge people by their appearance, right?”

The public opinion that Hart was trash spread far and wide.

If one person criticized him, he could doubt them, but when everyone criticized him, he couldn’t help but doubt himself. So, Hart sincerely reflected on his own mistakes.

“To be honest, I don’t know what I did wrong… But looking at the reactions of the people around me, it’s clear that I’ve done something to harm Elpisia’s purity. It’s not like she’s not smart or pretty, and she’s a noble, so why would she ask me to be her lover?”

As he thought about it, Hart recalled his first encounter with Elpisia.

“… No, I’ve already tainted Elpisia’s purity. Even if it was unintentional, I still touched a unmarried woman’s thigh… “

As a knight of God, he couldn’t acknowledge it, but he had indeed sullied her purity. Whether it was emotional or physical, he had violated Elpisia’s purity.

Elpisia, who was kind and gentle, had used a trivial contract as an excuse to forgive him, but the incident that day was an unforgivable sin that couldn’t be atoned for.

So, Hart made up his mind.

“I… will take responsibility.”

From now on, he would become Elpisia’s husband and devote his life to serving her.

It was an absurd determination that he had come to.

“… Elpisia.”

Hart gently released Elpisia’s hand, which was still clutching his collar. Then, he placed the released hand on his chest and conveyed his determination with a resolute gaze.

“I was short-sighted. I briefly wondered how to make up for it. However, no matter how much I thought about it, there was only one thing I could do.”

“What…”

At that moment, Elphysia was about to question Hart’s sudden change in attitude.

Hart declared confidently.

“I will take responsibility for Elphysia for the rest of my life. I will never run away. I will make up for my mistakes by her side. So… will you… will you marry me…???”

“Suddenly?!”

This time, it was Elphysia’s turn to be shocked.

The thought process behind her innocent face was beyond comprehension. Even the sharp-witted Elphysia couldn’t interpret it.

What was more disturbing to Elphysia’s mind was the reaction of those around her.

“Oh! The young man has mustered up his courage!”

“Tsk, tsk, he’s proposing without even giving her flowers.”

Hart and Elphysia were already a public spectacle. The next day, the social circle would be abuzz with shocking rumors. Those who were keen on rumors would recognize Hart as the Duke of Lumine’s son-in-law.

Just then, a lovely girl approached them.

“Here, handsome brother, take this.”

“… Excuse me, but who are you?”

Hart asked the girl who was holding a bouquet of flowers. The girl smiled brightly and replied.

“My name is Floti. I’m the owner of the largest flower shop in the capital. I’m promoting my shop since you’re proposing in front of it.”

“Ah, I see.”

“What’s that.”

Floti lowered her voice afterwards.

“This bouquet is for the Duke of Lumine’s proposal. By tomorrow, our shop’s flowers will sell like hotcakes. It’s all part of the strategy, so don’t think of it as a debt.”

Indeed, Elphysia’s face was a picture of innocence, and the girl’s cleverness shone through.

Hart, as if enchanted, received the bouquet and handed it to Elphysia, continuing his proposal.

“Please, let me be by Elphysia’s side. Give me the opportunity to serve her for life.”

“What…”

“Is that not enough? Or… is it annoying?”

“No, it’s not that… it’s just…”

“Elphysia…”

“No…”

Elphysia took a step back, and Hart took a step forward. Her expression was hidden behind the large bouquet, making it difficult to read her emotions. As the tension mounted, Elphysia let out a cry.

“This is moving too fast!”

It was a declaration that put an end to the commotion.

After that, Elphysia turned around and fled to the duke’s mansion as if running away.

Hart, who was persistently following her, was an added bonus.

◇

Elphysia was in a state of cultural shock.

A sudden proposal? It was an unthinkable event.

Elphysia was a high-ranking noble, the only duke in the empire after Rayner’s death. For such a high-ranking noble to skip the engagement process and rush into marriage…

The conservative values ingrained in her mind refused to accept it.

As the daughter of a military family, her essence was rooted in traditional values.

The radical marriage that would only appear in romantic novels is nothing but a ridiculous fantasy.

“Elpisia…”

Harte, who didn’t know Elpisia’s true intentions, called out her name like a wet puppy. Even then, he couldn’t help but be drawn to her sparkling eyes that only looked at him.

“What a mess, even your hairless appearance is cute…”

Harte was objectively handsome. He was a perfect specimen of a man, a true embodiment of a saint. It was inevitable, but whenever he stood in front of her, this man seemed to shrink.

“Ah…”

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Elpisia suddenly realized the reason.

Whenever Harte stood in front of her, he would always lower his head. It seemed like he was trying to adjust his eye level to hers. So, the Harte that Elpisia perceived was smaller than usual.

Even such a trivial action seemed adorable now, which was a big problem.

“… Harte.”

“Yes, please speak, Elpisia.”

“I’ll tell you the truth. I was very flustered in the plaza.”

“It’s my fault again, isn’t it?”

“Harte, I…”

Elpisia tightly closed her eyes, which shone like rubies, and only opened them again when she was ready.

She quietly confessed her true feelings.

“It’s true that I was troubled, but it wasn’t unpleasant.”

“… What?”

“It’s just a matter of procedure. Even if we’re in a relationship, which noble in the world would skip the engagement process and get married? Especially someone as prominent as I am in the empire.”

“I, is that so…”

Harte’s face turned bright red.

It seemed that he wasn’t opposed to getting married, but rather, the sudden proposal was rejected.

Her mind was in chaos, and she had impulsively proposed, but it had backfired…

Harte, sensing an unusual atmosphere, mustered up his courage.

“Then… if we follow the procedure, it’ll be okay?”

“Hmm.”

Elpisia turned her face away, responding calmly.

“…… It can’t be helped, I suppose.”

“Elpisia…!”

Harte walked around the table and approached Elpisia’s side. Elpisia didn’t try to avoid him.

On her chilly, dignified face, her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

The scene was like a perfectly set banquet table.

Harte, who had been awkwardly fumbling, surprisingly held out a spoon.

“Will you be my lover?”

“Harte…”

There was only one problem.

The spoon that Harte held was awkwardly clattering against the food.

“I swear upon my baptismal name.”

Harte grasped Elpisia’s hand, bowed his head, and brought her hand to his forehead.

Oooh.

The golden particles filled her office, radiating the divine aura that was revealed at the Emperor’s birthday celebration, surrounding Elpisia.

Harte recited his oath.

“I will always stand by your side. Even if the world demands a thorny path, I will surely protect you.”

Elpisia was delighted.

When she was by his side, she felt liberated. It was as if a different switch was turned on, changing her identity. Perhaps this was the concept of “ordinariness.”

Harte cherished that ordinariness.

“No matter how many people call you a liar, no matter how temptingly they whisper in my ear, I will believe in you.”

He trusted Elpisia, whom he had seen so far.

The comforting feeling of being with her, who hid her gentle heart behind a tough exterior, was reassuring.

He didn’t know yet if this was the emotion of love shared between lovers. But as long as she allowed it, he wanted to explore it from now on.

“I will take the name of God given to me and inscribe an eternal promise in front of Him.”

Harte’s pure, crimson eyes sparkled beautifully.

“So, please be my lover, Elpisia.”

This was a one-sided binding.

The vow of baptism had absolute power. The penalty for breaking the contract was equivalent to losing everything.

Therefore, for Elpisia, this was a one-sided promise without any harm.

Elpisia, unaware of this, responded with a slightly sarcastic tone.

“… I’ll take it as a glory.”