Chapter 12. The Renewal of the Contract and the Relationship
“Renewal?”
When I cautiously repeated the incomprehensible words, Crown Prince Adrian nodded.
“I’ll spare your life. On the condition that you never leak this secret anywhere.”
“I’m confident!”
When I clenched both fists and nodded, the Crown Prince smiled bitterly.
“And I’d like to renew the terms and extend the contract.”
“Extend, you mean……?”
As I quietly gazed at Crown Prince Adrian, he cleared his throat once.
“What I mean is, Marie has already seen your bare face. That is a very big problem. You bear some responsibility in this matter as well, so surely you won’t leave without even cleaning it up responsibly?”
“Ah.”
“And Essen says he would rather die than cross-dress again.”
“Lord Essen?”
I thought it was a bit of a stretch, but Crown Prince Adrian’s words had a point.
Now that I had shown my face, it would be difficult for Essen to become Artienne again.
“I’ll speak honestly. If Essen keeps running away, eventually the truth will be discovered. And then the situation won’t end with just being ‘not good.’ Besides, you’ve done quite well as a fiancée, so…….”
So there are days when praise for me comes out of Crown Prince Adrian’s mouth after all.
As I stared at him, frozen in surprise, the Crown Prince looked at me awkwardly and cleared his throat.
“Rather than finding another suitable candidate now, it’s better for me as well to ask you to continue. I’ll compensate you sufficiently.”
“Then…… how would the renewal work?”
“Just play the role of my fiancée until I become Emperor.”
Crown Prince Adrian declared.
“When it’s over, I’ll give you a title and treasures.”
This was clearly something meant to preserve my life—how had it ended up like this?
I simply blinked at the unbelievable reality, and Terni whispered in my ear.
“Artie, just endure it for three years.”
Three years? Did that mean Crown Prince Adrian would become Emperor in three years?
Perhaps because this situation was unfamiliar to him, or because asking me was difficult, the Crown Prince kept looking around with an uncomfortable air.
‘Anything else can go however it wants.’
That didn’t matter.
‘If only I can stay by that person’s side a little longer…….’
Once I stopped being Artienne, I would surely have to live under a different identity.
Now that my face had been revealed, I obviously couldn’t continue working as a maid in the imperial palace.
Then I would have to go outside the imperial palace to live.
While I had been living as Artienne, I had often seen him and forgotten, but Crown Prince Adrian was a being far too distant from me.
Once I stopped being Artienne, he would be someone I could only see from afar at the New Year’s ceremonies—a precious existence.
“I’ll do it.”
I hoped this moment would make me look as though I was accepting because I was greedy for a title or treasures.
“I’ll do my best.”
That way, it wouldn’t feel so miserable.
“Kyaa! Artie! You’re the best!”
Terni hugged my trembling body and made a fuss.
Usually, I would have wondered why he was being so ridiculous, but right now I was simply grateful.
Terni pulled me into another embrace as I barely managed to smile.
With the feeling that there was at least one person who was glad I wasn’t leaving.
All the while unaware that beyond Terni, who was blocking my view, the Crown Prince was letting out a sigh of relief.
* * *
The moment I returned to my room and found the packed bag, I felt strange.
“To think all of this happened because of this.”
I had only tried to live within my means without being greedy, and yet not only had my life been spared, I had received an enormous proposal.
“This isn’t all a dream, is it?”
It didn’t seem to be, but it didn’t feel quite real either.
“For the next three years…….”
That was the period Terni had mentioned.
The period Crown Prince Adrian had specifically proposed was “until I become Emperor,” but three years was a more tangible span than such a vague condition.
“He’s a bit strange, but he’s not without substance.”
He must have thought that in three years, everything would be concluded.
“Then shall I leave this as it is?”
I would have to return someday anyway. I reorganized the bag that Terni had likely rummaged through and tucked it well under the bed.
Just then, something fell out of the bag onto the floor.
“Ah, this is…….”
It was Michael’s handkerchief, which I had intended to return if I got the chance. Not knowing when I would meet him, I had kept it safe.
“I should return it.”
I picked up the handkerchief I had washed and kept carefully, dusted it off, and thought for a moment.
Then I immediately rose and left the room.
To go to the garden!
* * *
“Michael!”
Michael had come out for a walk during a gap in his duties, and at the voice calling him, he turned around.
Artie had come on the off chance, and what a tremendous coincidence it was—she spotted Michael in the garden and ran over in delight.
“It’s been a while, Lara.”
“It’s been a while, Michael.”
After the greeting, Michael looked at Artie, who was excessively glad to see him, with a question in his eyes.
“But why did you come running like that?”
“Because I was afraid I might miss you, Michael!”
“Me?”
When Michael showed surprise, Artie smiled brightly and took out the neatly folded handkerchief from her clothes.
“I can finally return this to you.”
“Ah.”
Perhaps because he had been thinking of something else, Michael realized his own misunderstanding and his expression changed.
He hurriedly concealed his strangely disappointed look, so Artie did not notice the expression that had briefly crossed his face.
“Thank you for returning it.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
When Artie bowed politely, Michael simply smiled.
“You seem to be in a good mood today.”
“Do I look that way? How did you know? Is it that obvious?”
“It seems something truly good has happened.”
“Yes!”
Artie smiled shyly.
“……Lara. Is this really all right?”
“Yes! It’s truly all right.”
At her girlish smile, Michael naturally smiled along with her.
At other times, the conversation would have ended there, but because it really was good news, Artie’s mouth itched to chatter.
“Um, Michael. Something good happened to me. Would you like to hear about it?”
“I’ll listen as much as you like.”
Since Artie said something good had happened, Michael was glad as if it were his own news.
He himself found it unfamiliar—how long had it been since he had felt this glad over someone else’s good fortune?
“Do you remember the person who sent me that dagger before?”
“Yes. I remember.”
“Actually, I had been under a constant threat to my life from that person, but now my life is no longer in danger!”
“I see.”
It was a story that was hard to follow immediately, but Michael nodded so that Artie wouldn’t feel awkward.
Artie’s cheeks flushed. Seeing her look like a girl in love was pleasant, and Michael smiled without realizing it.
‘A kind of person you wouldn’t see in the imperial palace.’
At first that had puzzled him, but now he simply wanted to protect this side of Artie.
“And originally, I might have had to leave the imperial palace, but things worked out well, so I can stay by that person’s side longer.”
“What? But you just said your life was threatened…….”
Artie smiled brightly.
“Actually, it was a disaster I brought upon myself.”
“What?”
“Ah, I mean I bear some fault too.”
Watching Artie somehow defend “that person,” Michael felt a sense of incongruity.
Why was she protecting someone who threatened her life?
Why did she have that look in her eyes while saying it was someone who tried to kill her? It was a kind of emotion he had never felt before.
“I see.”
Michael smiled bitterly.
“Yes!”
Artie smiled brightly. She was smiling, so perhaps that was enough—but Michael could not quite feel at ease with the situation.
If asked what was bothering him, he couldn’t answer properly, but in any case, Michael doubted whether this was truly a good thing.
“Thank you for listening to my story! It was such good news that I wanted to boast about it, but I had no one to boast to!”
“Not at all. I’m glad I could be of help.”
Artie was moved.
“Michael, you really are an angel!”
How could such a kind and handsome man exist?
Artie sincerely thought that Michael was a ray of light in this imperial palace.
“If you have something to boast about again, please boast to me. I’ll listen anytime.”
“Yes! Of course! Michael, if something good happens to you, please tell me too!”
“If it happens, I will.”
“Promise!”
“Yes.”
Who knew when that day would come, but Michael briefly thought that even he, who rarely enjoyed talking about himself, might be all right if it was with Artie.
“I look forward to that day.”
