The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

75 – Achilles’ Heel

That day was a hot summer day in July, when cicadas cried out.

The cry of the cicada meant searching for a mate. In that sense, the summer filled with the buzzing sound of cicadas could be described as a season full of love.

In such a world full of passion, Harte went to work at the palace, carrying love in his heart.

“I’m back, Elpisia.”

“Hmm… welcome back.”

Elpisia wanted to respond to Harte’s greeting with a sarcastic remark. Since this was her workplace, she pretended to be casual, saying she was back home.

However, Elpisia had recently become more tolerant. She could easily overlook this minor contradiction.

“Did anything unusual happen today?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary.”

It was clear that there was no trouble. However, there was a subtle issue that was difficult to distinguish.

Recently, the social circle had been stirred up due to the capital’s entrance ceremony of Ascalion. Unlike the Emperor, who was a puppet, Ascalion was rapidly expanding its power with its clever governance. It seemed that the price of being born as a god and having its mother assassinated was being paid back.

But if Elpisia wanted, she could still control the situation. However, after getting closer to Harte, she had been gradually distancing herself from politics.

The emerging forces thought that Ascalion was suppressing Elpisia. But in reality, it was just that the Luminele Duchy was taking a loss and leaving her alone.

The current Elpisia didn’t want to disappoint Harte with her actions.

That was all.

“… Yeah, nothing unusual. Nothing at all.”

Elpisia crossed her arms alone. Then, Harte naturally approached her, untangled her arms, and changed his posture to an escort-like stance.

“It’s hot.”

Elpisia complained about the excessive closeness.

“Give me a fan. I’ll fan you coolly.”

“Even if you see it, it won’t be that refreshing.”

“I’m really good at it. Even if you see it, I’m confident in my body. I’ll work hard to the point where my hair stands up like Elpisia’s.”

“This fool…”

I didn’t want to hear an excuse about something as trivial as this. The more Harte explained, the more pitiful Elpisia looked. Because Elpisia had a separate concern that was truly worrying her.

Elpisia knew Harte well.

He was a person who indirectly showed off his skills and easily ignored others. That’s why she didn’t hold back her shame and spoke her mind.

“… I don’t like the smell of sweat.”

“What?”

“You’re really making me say it out loud, aren’t you?”

To Elpisia, Harte was a mysterious man. Whether it was summer or winter, his body scent was always subtle. That’s why Elpisia paid extra attention to her own cleanliness.

As if he knew, Harte’s face was desperately trying to hide his shyness.

“Ah, the smell of sweat? That’s not something Elpisia would do.”

“No, I’m a person too…”

“But Elpisia is a special person. So, her sweat smell is special too… uh, I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m saying…”

“It looks like you’re really relieved.”

“… I’ll try to make it more comfortable for you. Because we’re, well… lovers.”

“Hmm.”

When Harte mentioned being lovers, Elpisia’s shoulders flinched. She silently gazed at the distant mountains, but her ears, which were sun-kissed like her hair, turned red.

But when I thought about it, I felt wronged.

Why did I have to react to every single thing Harte said?

It was annoying, so I pinched Harte’s cheek.

“Ow… Elpisia, stop it.”

“If I don’t, it’s not satisfying.”

“What’s that?”

With a refreshed attitude, Elpisia maintained her composure. Harte curved his eyebrows.

“If Elpisia says so, then I’ll do it.”

Harte gently held Elpisia’s remaining hand. Then, he brought it to his remaining cheek and laughed brightly.

“Is that okay?”

“What’s okay? You’re a fool! Are you a pervert? Why are you encouraging hurting people…”

Elpisia quickly withdrew her hand. Her harsh words were as harsh as the pounding in her heart.

‘Is he still a kid or what…?’

A thirty-year-old man who can’t even take care of himself is pitiful. A more charming smile would be harmful to her heart.

She had seen many men who were rumored to be deadly, but she didn’t feel anything. It seemed that her weakness was not a handsome man, but a pure and innocent face like a baby’s.

Realizing her taste, she felt even more embarrassed. It was already hot in the summer, and it seemed like she would really start sweating.

‘Do I spend time with my lover or play with a big dog…?’

From noble mtl dot com

A big dog, that’s a fitting metaphor for Harte.

A pure and innocent creature that wags its tail and smiles when it sees its owner. But when it gets serious, it stands up straight and shows its teeth. It was a living being that couldn’t help but be loved if it had even a little bit of human emotions.

That’s why.

Elpisia’s unconscious action of stroking Harte’s hair was a sudden move.

“Give me more, Elpisia.”

Harte bent his knees to make her comfortable and bowed his head.

It was then that Elpisia finally realized her actions and let out a silent scream.

“Ugh…!”

It felt like she was going crazy. She had always controlled her four limbs consciously, but now it seemed like her habits were crumbling…

It was a weakness that she couldn’t reveal to others.

“‘You’re not a big dog… you’re a fox pretending to be one.'”

It was clear that she was a fox disguised as a big dog. If not, how could she accept such a pathetic self-awareness?

The self-awareness that she was thoroughly enthralled by this man…

◇

If we were to define the relationship between Harte and Glen, it would be like the sun and moon orbiting Elpisia.

Just as the sun and moon take turns rising and setting, Elpisia’s side changed day and night. During the day, Glen stood as her shadow guard and secretary, and at night, Harte took his place as her lover.

So, while Harte was staying at the ducal mansion, Glen was carrying out his mission outside.

“The boundaries have become stricter. What’s changed?”

Glen’s mission was to monitor Ascalion. Originally, his orders were to assassinate him, but after meeting Harte, Elpisia had lowered the level of her command.

Because Ascalion’s actions were getting close to the truth.

He was helping the poor and exposing corrupt officials. If they were to suppress Ascalion, Harte would give them a cold, detached look, which frightened them.

Although it was a small change, it seemed like a huge dynamic shift to Glen. At least, it was clear that Elpisia’s worldview had changed.

“… I hope this change continues.”

It was undeniable that Elpisia had mistreated Glen. Yet, Glen couldn’t bring himself to hate her.

He had seen hell in his youth.

He was kidnapped because he resembled the Basque Hill bloodline and fell into the hands of a corrupt noble. The trauma of being treated like a tool by a royal family was etched into his mind like a nail.

One day, he caught the attention of that noble’s daughter. Even though he was a dirty, wounded boy, his beautiful appearance was strong-willed.

Of course, the price of that strong will was terrible. The memories of that time still haunt his dreams.

The shackles of the past still bound him to the present.

That was when Elpisia appeared.

She brought down the corrupt noble in an instant and took everything. And Glen was included in that everything.

After that, Elpisia, who had recognized Glen’s talent as a warrior, trained him.

It was a harsh period, but he couldn’t hate her completely. He admired her, who was like an absolute god, crushing the corrupt noble like an ant.

He pitied her, who lacked humanity, and at the same time, admired her.

At least, until Harte appeared…

“You’ll change, Your Excellency.”

You’ll gradually regain your humanity, and someday, you’ll overcome the perception of being evil. If that happens, the relationship between Glen and Elpisia might also change.

If the wind blows, pushing him forward, he might be able to overcome the past and move on.

That was when Glen was lost in his reverie.

The gentle conversation between Ascalion and the Duke of Arwell Palace caught his ear.

“This is quite fortunate. It seems that Viscount Peter made a good decision, Your Majesty.”

“It was just a simple instinct… has something changed?”

“It’s terrifying. Who would have thought that Viscount Peter had a hidden daughter?”

“Isn’t a bastard child considered a flaw in noble society?”

“It’s not a bastard child, but a illegitimate daughter, that’s the problem.”

“What’s going on?”

Glen’s ears instinctively perked up at the sudden emergence of a rare issue.

“Roshelly Peter Young, the original twin, was born with a blind twin, and they thoroughly concealed it.”

“Given that they’re a family that flourished through marriage, they couldn’t accept any flaws in their bloodline…”

“You’re right. And then the body of that twin was discovered. As it’s a powerful family involved, the social circle will be turned upside down…”

According to the palace’s rumors, the room where the body was found was filled with rotten leaves. The extent of the abuse was unfathomable…

It’s a dismal ending. Glen thought so.

“This is… how many innocent corpses need to pile up before the empire’s darkness is lifted? Your Highness.”

“The empress and Duke Luminel are holding onto a fragile future.”

“Be cautious. Although it’s been quiet lately, Duke Luminel is the one who’s truly troublesome.”

“That’s true, but… it’s not like there’s no way to break through.”

“Yes?”

Arwell Palace’s eyes widened in surprise. At the same time, Glen’s white teeth gleamed. The scene of Elpisia kneeling was too surreal to imagine.

As if mocking him, Ascalion unilaterally ended the conversation.

“Let’s talk about it when the plan is established. It’s too early to discuss it now.”

“I’m looking forward to the day when I can take action.”

After Arwell Palace bowed and left, Ascalion opened the balcony door. Glen had to hide behind the tree in the corner of the balcony.

In that situation, Ascalion recalled the demon’s testimony while enjoying the cool night breeze.

“The only bloodline of the demon king is unexpectedly human. Moreover, it’s a child with black hair and eyes, resembling Letitia Basquille, the traitor of humanity…”

If he calculated the years, it was possible that the child was around the same age as him. And Ascalion had been facing a person who matched those conditions.

“Elpisia Luminel’s assassin. I need to capture him.”

The outline of the plan to overthrow the evil queen was taking shape.