The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

79 – The Square of Encounter

Winter also comes to the demon realm.

Unlike the human realm, the demon realm has a lower temperature. However, this was just a metaphor, as the demon realm’s unique plants released a substance called “demon energy” that caused an optical illusion.

In the middle of the scenery, which resembled another world, a black fortress stood tall. It was the center of the demon realm, serving as the capital of the human realm.

Unlike humans, who built a grand palace in the king’s residence, demons built a fortress. Strictly speaking, it was a palace, but its appearance was similar to a fortress that humans would describe.

“It’s cold.”

The man felt the snowflakes melting in his palm on the top floor of the fortress. He was a handsome man with a golden gaze, but what was peculiar was that he looked young.

Although he had lived for half a century, in the demon realm’s perspective, where longevity was common, he was still a young boy. That’s why he still had the appearance of a human in his late teens.

“Rethisha…”

He recalled his wife, who had passed away a few years ago, leaving him behind in the snowy land.

She was a woman who had endured countless cold gazes because she had once deceived the demon king. The stigma of being a deceiver had become a shadow that followed her, corrupting her inner self. It was the cause of her mental illness, which she suffered from for a long time before passing away, as if she had received heavenly punishment.

“This time, I will definitely protect it. Our fruit…”

Information had leaked from the vampire servant who had infiltrated the human realm. It seemed that the bloodline Rethisha had abandoned still remained in the human realm. However, since the contact was suddenly cut off, the servant was likely captured or killed.

In any case, it was good news for the demon king.

Since he was born as a human, he couldn’t inherit the throne, but he could at least take good care of him. He wanted to compensate for the time he had lost with his son.

“Chepesh.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The vampire count, who respectfully bowed his head, replied to Chepesh.

“I will go to the human realm myself.”

“I will carry it out.”

A declaration from the king of a tribe to boldly march into enemy territory. However, Chepeshu did not even attempt to dissuade him, instead, obeying the order with absolute loyalty.

That was the kind of existence the Demon King had. Politically, he may not have been perfect, but he was an absolute authority, earning absolute trust in his power. Even if he were to infiltrate the enemy’s stronghold alone.

“I won’t send my family away anymore.”

A resolute determination was etched on his eyes, like layers of frost.

◇

It was the time of year when the capital was bustling with preparations for the year-end festival.

Regardless of social status, the atmosphere was lively, with ordinary shops decorating themselves, and street vendors increasing in number. Moreover, the temple was filled with people praying for peace in the new year.

In the center of the bustling street, there was a large square. Harute, standing in the square, heard a soft voice and turned around.

“Ah…! Over there! Sir Knight!”

“Hmm?”

A girl with red hair, fluttering in the wind, ran towards him with a familiar face. Harute stopped in his tracks, waiting for her.

“Wow! Long time no see. It’s been a while since we last met.”

“Ah, I was rude back then.”

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“No, it wasn’t your fault. I was the one who didn’t see things clearly.”

“Then let’s just forget about it and move on.”

Harute was indeed an adult. He naturally comforted Tina’s uneasy heart.

“Do you have something to talk to me about, miss?”

“Uh… is it… not really? Is it?”

“Please speak slowly, and I’ll listen carefully.”

“Uh-huh, yes…”

Tina was amazed. She would get flustered and stutter, but whenever Harute spoke, her heart would calm down.

A trustworthy adult. This was Tina’s rough impression of Harute.

“So… I wanted to talk to you for a bit… even though we’ve only met twice, it’s a bit awkward to say this…”

“It’s not awkward at all. As a knight, I’m used to listening to others’ stories.”

“Ah, haha…”

Harute glanced at the clock tower in the square. If he hurried, he could still make it to work on time.

He then offered Tina a seat on an empty bench.

“Why don’t we sit and talk?”

“Ah, thank you…”

Tina hesitantly followed Harute, and as he sat down on the bench, she sat down beside him, looking around nervously.

‘Is this… really happening…?’

On that day when their shoulders touched, Tina had wanted to talk to Harute.

The reason was unclear. If asked, she could only say “just because.”

So, from her perspective, the knight in front of her was an enigmatic person.

“Uh… what’s your name?”

“I’m Harute.”

“Ah, you’re Mr. Harute. I’m Tina.”

“Nice to meet you, Tina.”

For a while, the cold wind swept between the two, making Tina increasingly anxious.

Although we had already introduced ourselves, I didn’t know where to start the conversation when we finally faced each other.

Harte was the first to break the silence.

“Do you have something to confess to me?”

“I do… Ah, yes, I do.”

Tina’s face brightened as she finally found a topic to discuss. She began to reveal her concerns, which she had been holding back.

“It’s about my friend…”

“That’s not okay.”

“What do you mean?”

Tina’s blue eyes fluttered, and Harte lectured her seriously.

“You shouldn’t carelessly reveal your friend’s secrets to others. That’s not right.”

“Uh… I don’t know…”

Tina was at a loss, having never received guidance from an adult before. Especially now, with her parents’ faces fading away.

She hastily added an excuse.

“It’s, it’s my story too… So it’s okay, right? Maybe…”

Tina fidgeted, trying to justify herself. Harte found her behavior cute and chuckled.

“I’ll listen. So go ahead and tell me.”

“Uh… Okay. So, I’m actually in charge of protecting a very important person…”

“Are you a knight?”

“I’m not a knight… I just have a bit of a strong sense of responsibility, haha…”

Tina made a mock gesture of flexing her arm, and Harte nodded in understanding.

“You do seem to be taking it seriously.”

“That’s right? I don’t know what would happen if I wasn’t there! The person I’m dealing with is an incredibly evil individual.”

“An incredibly evil individual… That’s a really dangerous person, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. They have no qualms about hurting people, no matter what.”

Tina deliberately avoided mentioning Elpisia, as there were only a few people in the current empire who opposed Elpisia, including the Taehu and Ascalion.

She wasn’t foolish enough to reveal such sensitive information in a casual conversation.

“So I’m worried. I’ve almost finished preparing to uncover their crimes. Now it’s just one step away… but I don’t know if I can succeed.”

“Your concern is anxiety about failure, isn’t it?”

“Uh… Yeah. There’s also a very strong underling who follows them around, and they’re extremely skilled at escaping. It’s really frustrating.”

“Hmm…”

Her desperate tone conveyed just how anxious she was. Moreover, her moral justification for punishing the evil individual was sound. That’s why Harte was more enthusiastic than usual.

“I’ll pray for you. May Tina’s wish be granted…”

“Thank you so much! Shall we pray together?”

“That sounds good.”

Harte and Tina sat side by side, clasping their hands together in prayer.

“May Tina’s wish be granted…”

“May we catch them this time…”

Their kind and desperate prayers reached the heavens. The two people’s wishes for a correct life were connected.

Despite supporting each other, their futures were vastly different.

Where the winds intersect, this was the Plaza of Discord.

◇

Meanwhile, it was the time when Harlte was praying.

In the grandest and most lavish bedroom of the Ruminel mansion, a commotion was brewing. Every time the owner of the commotion turned over in bed, a rustling sound echoed.

The owner of the commotion was Elpisia Ruminel.

She was a strict and disciplined person who had lived a more intense life than anyone else.

It was hard to imagine her lying in bed during working hours. However, Elpisia had put down all her work and was burying her face in her pillow.

“Regretful.”

The past, where she had walked the path of a saint, and even enjoyed it, was now filled with regret.

The reason she had chosen this path in life was simple. It was the most efficient way to raise the value of Elpisia as a human being.

Since she was used to standing above others, she didn’t feel any guilt. Everything existed solely for conquest and domination, like chess pieces.

Until she met Harlte, that’s all she knew.

“Sometimes, I… hate you.”

She muttered.

The person who had changed her, someone who wouldn’t even bat an eye even if the victim begged with tears, was a fool who couldn’t be described with just the word “idiot”. Every time she realized this, her pride was wounded, and on the other hand, her empty chest felt filled.

It would have been better if she didn’t know this feeling.

If she could remain an evil woman until the end, she wouldn’t have had to struggle like this.

“Damn it.”

It was almost time for Harlte to arrive. Elpisia habitually called out her subordinate’s name.

“Glen.”

…

……

At the end of the silence, Elpisia remembered the fact that she had forced Glen to take a break.

“… I should do a little better.”

It was too late for regrets.

Unbeknownst to her, fate was slowly suffocating her.