The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

80 – Ruin

December 31st.

Only one day was left until the new year.

Today was the day the imperial palace held a banquet to commemorate the end of the year. The grand-scale year-end party had gathered numerous nobles in the capital. This was not just a simple social gathering, but an event to assert the existence of Ascalion and solidify the imperial palace’s position.

To attend this banquet, Harlte and Ibría had just stepped out of the temple.

“Let’s go, Harlte.”

“Yes.”

It was said that Elpisia would not be attending this year’s banquet. In fact, she wanted Harlte to come to the mansion instead of the imperial palace. She was worried that Harlte might hear some malicious rumors about her.

“… Sorry, Elpisia.”

However, accompanying Ibría was the most important “work” for him. It was too personal to be swayed by emotions, and Harlte was excessively faithful.

In the end, Elpisia reluctantly nodded.

It had been a long time since Glen had killed someone at a charity event. Above all, Harlte was not interested in gossip, so the rumors seemed to have passed him by.

Originally, Harlte would unconditionally fulfill his duties unless an unexpected event occurred.

For Elpisia, there was no choice but to trust him.

“Are you going to attend the Euria party?”

“I don’t want to go either. But if we attend, they’ll provide relief goods for the poor. Anyway, let’s just use this opportunity…”

“That’s true…”

It was a profitable business to just show up at the party and fill people’s empty stomachs. Hart knew this, but he couldn’t shake off the anxious look in Elpisia’s eyes. So, he carefully suggested:

“Let’s just stay for a short time and leave. We’ll just exchange a few words and then take our leave.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea. But what’s gotten into you? You’re not acting like yourself…”

“Me?”

“Then who would do that?”

“…I don’t know.”

I really don’t know.

We received the relief goods, so we should do our best to reciprocate. However, participating in this extravagant ceremony feels like a waste.

“What would Euria say if she knew about this?”

People change, but it’s unfamiliar to forget one’s past self.

It’s a small sense of discomfort.

I know this small discomfort is just a tiny crack. But I didn’t know that a small crack could cause a strong dam to collapse. So, I ignored the small crack and even indulged in it.

A small crack was spreading in Hart’s sense of justice, which seemed perfect at first glance.

◇

Even in the bustling streets at the end of the year, there are hidden aspects. Not every street can be festive, so the difference between the bustling areas and the quiet ones was clear.

Glen, who was forced to take an indefinite leave of absence by Elpisia, preferred to come out to these quiet streets. Walking down the empty streets made him feel like he was doing something.

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It must be his own obsessive behavior.

Glen, who had lived a busy life as a master, found it difficult to adapt to the slow pace of life that had suddenly arrived. Even now, he preferred the quiet alleys to the bustling streets, and struggled to cope with the unfamiliar reality.

“The stars are shining brightly…”

The night sky was unusually clear.

Glen was about to gaze at the sky and indulge in his emotions when…

Boom! Bang!

A loud explosion sounded, and colorful fireworks lit up the night sky along with the stars. Glen’s mouth fell open at the fantastical scenery. The more extravagant the fireworks, the more he felt like he was hiding in the shadows.

It was somehow depressing, so Glen decided to return to the mansion.

To his only permitted sanctuary…

“I’ve finally found you.”

But fate had set a cruel trap for him.

A woman with an unforgettable aura, her bright red hair fluttering in the wind, her piercing blue eyes coldly gazing at Glen.

“The half-dragon…”

“No, my name is Tina.”

It’s a bad omen.

The target that had given him his first assassination failure. Moreover, a woman who possessed abnormal strength despite lacking martial arts skills.

And yet, she had a bright personality, not the type to get entangled with.

“…”

Swwng.

Glen quietly drew his sword.

The Blood Fest had been repeated numerous times. No matter how strong the opponent was, hesitation was an unnecessary emotion.

“This is the last evil deed today.”

Tina declared confidently.

Her entire body seemed to materialize life, and blood dripped down as if it were a hallucination. Now, she was skilled in wielding the power of the Bloody Dragon, and her hand mimicked the motion of pulling the trigger.

At the moment the compressed dragon’s blood enveloped Glen like a bullet, the twisted fate began to unfold towards its predetermined conclusion.

◇

“Is that…”

Elphysia was looking down at the festive streets from the terrace of the mansion. In the midst of that, she discovered a familiar aura from a distant, dimly lit alleyway.

“Is that the kid?”

It was undoubtedly the aura of the Bloody Dragon. Although she had only experienced it once, it was etched vividly in her memory due to its rarity.

If she could detect it even from this distance, it meant that Tina must be in a state of all-out war. Moreover, it was rare to find an opponent who would engage in a fierce battle, mobilizing the power of the dragon.

“… Glen!”

Glen was a strong swordsman, but he specialized in assassination. In other words, he wasn’t all-powerful and couldn’t take on a half-dragon head-on.

“Tsk.”

Elphysia quickly changed into her training attire and rushed out of the mansion.

For the first time, she was taking matters into her own hands due to simple worry. As a result, the unfamiliar anxiety surrounding her was overwhelming.

Since she couldn’t ride a horse in the crowded streets, she ran on foot.

Her breathing grew intense, and her entire body was engulfed in heat.

‘Harte…’

She suddenly thought of her lover, who was currently accompanying the saint.

She hadn’t realized that daily life without him would be so anxious. If he were by her side, she would have somehow saved Glen. Harte, with his kind heart, wouldn’t be able to refuse her request.

Harte was that kind of person.

He was someone who would become a reliable refuge, someone you could entrust your heart to.

If he were by her side, she would have the confidence to do anything.

Although she normally laughed it off, saying it was no big deal…

“Ha… ha…”

Running at full speed was quite exhausting.

She had recently neglected her training. No, she had distanced herself from her sword and focused on her duties as the head of the mansion.

The knights and Glen were enough to handle the sword. To focus on growing the family business, training time was a waste.

Why was she regretting it now?

Why did regret always come flooding back at once?

It was only when the crisis came that she looked back on the past. The concept of karma was like a fantasy from another world, something she thought she would never be involved with throughout her life.

However, Elphysia finally sensed the karma that had been creeping up on her, now that she had arrived at the bloody scene.

“A…”

The first thing that entered her field of vision was Glen’s broken sword. It seemed like he had chosen to confront the enemy head-on rather than retreat.

Then, where had Glen gone?

The Arwell Palace, which was being used as a base by Ascalion, was the most likely possibility.

No matter what, if Glen were to reveal even a few words, Elphysia would be in a precarious situation. To minimize this variable, she had focused on reconnaissance missions rather than assassination.

“No, no…”

In an instant, Elphysia calmly pieced together the puzzle and shook her head.

Most problems can be solved by destroying the evidence and abandoning Glen. Above all, the sharp teeth of a cornered rat are formidable, but can I withstand the teeth of the Duke of Luminel?

Currently, if we mobilize the power of our family, we can easily crush the weak foundation of Ascalion. That’s the current reality.

However, Ascalion, who was once rumored to be a prodigy, has been caught off guard like a water god.

“It’s impossible to grab such a huge weakness… I, who know all the secrets of the family, can’t even confront myself.”

Elpisia was deep in thought at that moment.

A voice that was unmatched in darkness scratched her ear.

“Are you late…?”

Paf!

Elpisia instinctively distanced herself from the owner of the voice. If she didn’t, her survival instincts would whisper that she might die if she didn’t get away from the monster right now.

Just as she was about to prepare to flee, the monster took off its deeply worn hood, revealing its golden eyes and gazing at Elpisia.

“Elpisia Luminel. Is that correct?”

“… Then what?”

“Pitiful.”

The man let out a sigh filled with regret and continued speaking.

“It’s too late to find that child, but the only thing I can do is take revenge. I have no face to show her.”

Judging from the situation on site, Glen was likely to have been taken away to a certain place.

Probably to a noble’s mansion or a palace.

It was burdensome to search for Glen in such a place, and if they went to war with humans, they would need to bring their full force.

“What can I do?”

It’s like trying to catch a bird instead of a rabbit.

At least, I’ll make sure to capture the evil woman who used my family’s bloodline inhumanely.

“Chepes.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“I’ll capture her and return.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

The Vampire Count’s cloak spread out like a shadow, creating an endless dark veil.

And then, Elpisia was unable to even scream as she fell into the abyss.

The street where the commotion had occurred was empty, with only silence filling the air.

The wind blew.

In the corner of the empty space, a red hair tie lay on the ground, rolling around.

It was Elpisia’s last trace.