It was a demand to hand over the information about Erwin. Even though I was planning on giving it to him anyway, Marcus was somehow being cheeky, so I spoke bluntly.
“Isn’t that a double contract? You’re receiving a commission fee from Mom, and you’re trying to get another one from me too? Besides, you said the employer is Mom.”
“No, it’s not. Originally, I wasn’t even going to accept the commission itself, but because I decided to accept the contract after listening to you, I should receive a separate commission fee.”
“Where on earth is there such a thing?”
“It’s right here. That’s why they say you should examine a contract thoroughly before doing it.”
I let out a deep sigh and was about to open my mouth, but Marcus, perhaps anxious, beat me to the punch and spoke first.
“Actually, just now was a joke, and to speak seriously, I’m not demanding that you just give me the information for free. I will pay handsomely for the price of the information, so won’t you hand it over to me?”
“I was joking too. I was planning on telling you anyway.”
I looked straight into Marcus’s face, which had somehow become completely serious without a single trace of a smile, and spoke.
“The child Uncle is looking for is in the Decarean estate in the northern part of the Empire.”
☆☆☆☆
The next day, we moved our residence, following Anya sister who came to find us at the inn. It was because Marcus suggested doing so.
‘I cannot let the people who will become my wife and daughter stay at an inn where public security is unsafe’ was the superficial reason, but ‘we don’t know what Uncle Pascal, who knows our whereabouts, might do next’ was the actual reason.
“Wow! Mom, the house is so pretty!”
The moment I stepped off the carriage, an exclamation came out on its own.
Unlike Marcus’s words, who had said, ‘Because we had to find it in a hurry, the house is small and humble. But the public security is certain,’ the house he provided was great.
It was a small three-story mansion located in the center of the capital, and although its size was small, it had a charming and cute taste. The exterior wall of the mansion was a light yellow color that I liked, and a tiny garden was attached behind the mansion.
“Because we also decorated the rooms in a hurry, they are not properly equipped. Please look around and tell me anytime if there is anything you need.”
Anya sister, who guided us all the way to the mansion, spoke to Mom. Anya sister said she would be staying as my personal maid and bodyguard from now on.
‘To send the Vice Guild Master as my personal maid…….’
My mouth opened on its own at Marcus’s unconventional move. I was on edge thinking that Anya sister might find this work unfair, but fortunately, Sister showed no such sign at all.
“Sir Marcus said he would drop by in the evening.”
“Thank you. Then I should prepare dinner.”
I followed closely behind Mom, who somehow seemed a little excited, and toured the mansion.
And just as Anya sister said, Marcus arrived around dinner time.
“The mansion is so wonderful. Although it is temporary, I wonder if it is alright to receive such hospitality.”
“Aren’t we to become family soon? I have only done what is natural.”
Mom opened her eyes as if surprised by Marcus’s words, and then let out a soft chuckle.
“Family……. Yes, that’s right. We will become family soon.”
“And this…….”
Marcus brought something out from the carriage. It was a large box, along with a large bouquet of flowers.
He gave the bouquet of flowers to Mom, and the box to me.
“It’s because I couldn’t come empty-handed.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
While saying so, Mom’s expression as she received the bouquet of flowers looked good. I also barely hugged the box and tried to imagine what it might be.
“Then, shall we go inside?”
The three of us went to the dining room and enjoyed dinner together.
Throughout the meal, it felt strange.
‘We are clearly a temporary family, but why am I so fluttered?’
After Uncle Dietrich went missing and even Grandfather passed away, the meal times spent solely with Mom were lonely. At times, Mom was so busy discussing plans with Mr. Christopher that I even ate alone.
It was the first time in a month and a half that I was having a meal with someone other than Mom.
Marcus was merely doing his best as a guild master who accepted a commission, but one corner of my chest bubbled up warmly as if a real family had actually been formed.
‘Get a grip, Vivi. What are you thinking? Uncle Dietrich will return soon too, and then things will go back to the way they were.’
I tried to steady my mind throughout the meal.
Aside from that, it was a truly enjoyable meal time.
☆☆☆
On that very day we had dinner with Marcus for the first time, Mom and Marcus drafted the contract. Marcus immediately sent the marriage permission form, which he had kept ready, to the Imperial Palace.
Now, all that was left was to wait for the Emperor’s approval to drop.
Mom and I stayed only inside the mansion, waiting for Marcus to bring positive news. It was because we decided to endure for a bit, fearing that Uncle Pascal might find out where we lived if we went outside.
There were no complaints. Marcus supplied everything that was needed, and since there was a chef and even servants, there was no discomfort at all in living.
There were times when it felt a bit stuffy, and during those times, I took walks in the garden attached behind the mansion. Because a high fence was erected around it, there was no worry about anyone seeing.
On top of that, for some reason, Marcus came by every evening and had dinner with us. Mom, who pondered over the dinner menu every day, didn’t show it but looked happy.
Although it was a sham marriage, it was a relief that the relationship between Mom and Marcus looked good.
At any rate, it was a day when there were truly only a few days left until the deadline to request the inheritance rights.
“It looks like it hasn’t come out yet.”
At the words Mom murmured like a soliloquy, Anya sister replied.
“They say so. Still, Sir Marcus is trying to get the approval as quickly as possible.”
“I know Mr. Marcus is trying. Actually, I also know it takes more time for the approval to come out. I was just a bit anxious.”
“Mom, don’t worry.”
I comforted Mom while reading a book Marcus had bought for me.
However, on that day, Marcus, who always came in the evening, suddenly arrived around lunchtime.
“Mr. Marcus? You arrived early. I haven’t separately prepared lunch……”
“A problem has arisen.”
“A problem?”
Oing? I peeked my face out from behind Mom.
From Marcus’s face, his unique leisurely expression had vanished.
“They say Pascal Chepelt has submitted a petition. Its content is to ask for the creation of a bill that prohibits receiving an inheritance immediately after marriage, in order to prevent sham marriages for inheritance.”
“Such a……!”
Mom, who had covered her mouth with her hand, soon regained her composure and spoke.
“But even if a petition passes, I heard it takes a long time to be legislated. I also submitted a petition asking to amend the law so that unmarried women can inherit as well, but they said it would be impossible within three months.”
“Yes, Lady Rayna is right. Ordinarily, even if Pascal Chepelt submitted a petition, there would have been no setback to our plan.”
“Then why?”
“It seems Pascal Chepelt has quite a wide network of connections. Although the petition is still under review, they said that accepting the validity of his opinion, they will strictly review marriage permission forms for the time being. Especially in your case, young lady, since the inheritance priority changes depending on whether you are married or not, they will likely view it even more strictly.”
“…….”
“Of course, we can make sufficient evidential materials showing that we have been preparing for marriage since a long time ago. However, if Pascal Chepelt presents an opposing opinion and people who are close to him agree, it might be difficult to process the documents within the required period.”
Mom, whose face turned white as sheet, raised her voice.
“That cannot happen!”
“I will not let things go according to his wishes. First……”
“Are you telling me to just stay still and watch like this? There are truly only a few days left now……”
I didn’t know Uncle Pascal was a person who could go up to this extent. The situation was turning out more seriously than expected.
Mom looked at Marcus with a determined expression, as if she had made up her mind.
“This won’t do. I should rather consider the method of finding a reliable young boy and adopting him even now. It is while Pascal is not noticing.”
“First, please calm down. At any rate, I intend to go to the Imperial Palace right now to handle the matter personally. Before that, I dropped by first because it felt like the young lady should also know the situation.”
“I will go too.”
“Pardon?”
Mom spoke resolutely.
“I will go together and prove that we have been courting since a long time ago.”
Marcus pondered for a moment, then nodded his head.
“Let’s do that.”
Mom, Marcus, and I headed directly to the Imperial Palace.
Mom tried to leave me at the mansion on the grounds that it was dangerous, but this time too, I threw a tantrum and followed along.
‘I know I won’t be of help. Still, you never know. I might be of help by using the contents of the original work!’
Having arrived at the Imperial Palace like that, the three of us ran straight into the person we least wanted to see at this moment.
“I finally see your face, Rayna.”
It was Uncle Pascal.
☆▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎☆
