Contract Marriage with the Devil Duke - Chapter 26

When she couldn’t even think of creating a white sphere, it was really fortunate that Dimidius came. If she had been hit by the sword wielded by Ankedo, she would have been painfully wounded and died. Considering that, it was not the time to be angry at Dimidius.

Olentia spoke again in a softened voice.

“I’m really grateful that you saved me. So I didn’t want to get angry either.”

Then Dimidius leaned his upper body forward and moved a little closer to Olentia.

The bitter scent of tree bark could be felt.

“Clearly, even though I said I didn’t want to be hated at the perfume museum back then, there are reasons for doing this.”

“You said you’d be anxious if I wasn’t in your arms right away.”

Those words still remained deep in her heart.

“Yes. You’re someone I want to make a deal with, so it would be big trouble if you got hurt.”

At Dimidius’s words, Olentia sighed and shook her head. As expected, of course. It wasn’t out of pure concern. He was making a fuss because she was the only one who could transmit divine power to him right now.

Olentia suddenly felt as if her energy was drained. Her whole body sank heavily and she had no strength at all.

Seeing Olentia slumped down, Dimidius reached out his hand. That hand touched Olentia’s shoulder as it was.

“Are you hurting somewhere? Did something happen before I came?”

Olentia brushed off his hand and then said coldly.

“Don’t mind it. I’ll take care of my own health.”

For a moment, a chilly silence flowed in the room. Olentia wiped her shoulder with her hand for no reason, and Dimidius just stared at her.

‘Why are you acting as if you’re disappointed by the grand duke’s words? That’s strange.’

Olentia, who barely came to her senses, coughed awkwardly as if embarrassed and said,

“I’m saying you don’t have to worry because I’m fine. By the way, did you tail me again this time?”

Dimidius avoided her gaze and shrugged.

“Yes, well. It turned out that way.”

“You’re not even denying it now. Do you think I’ll become your person if you do that?”

She asked not to pick a fight but because she was really curious. It was the first time she talked about it after seeing Dimidius’s pain.

Then Dimidius stiffened his body for a moment and then turned his head to look at Olentia again. His red eyes visible between the eye holes of the mask were very intense. It seemed as if they would pierce through her.

“I only hope that you’ll become my contractor. I have no intention of forcing you.”

That was unexpected. She thought that since most people with divine power were priests, he would somehow try to create a favorable situation as they weren’t cooperative with him.

Olentia chewed her lower lip and glanced at him.

“What if there’s something I need from you, Grand Duke? What do you think then?”

No matter what, it was difficult to say let’s get married right away. Even if it was a contract marriage, marriage held a very important meaning in the Bonus Empire.

But Dimidius rested his chin on one hand and spoke in a more relaxed voice than before.

“Whatever it is, I will surely grant it to you, Lady.”

He was brimming with confidence as if he could do anything. As the only grand duke of the Bonus Empire, it was natural. It seemed like he could somehow accomplish it even if she said she wanted a jewel from the deep sea.

For some reason, Olentia swallowed her dry saliva in the tense atmosphere.

The existence of Grand Duke Dimidius Belial felt too big, which was a big deal.

It seemed like she would really take his hand unless the archbishop canceled the wedding.

[This is the timeline separator]

Only after checking on Olentia, who said she would rest and laid on the bed, did Dimidius leave her room.

Then Killen immediately approached him.

“Your Highness! Ankedo. That man was smuggling prohibited magic tools. When I investigated properly, the stench was vibrating.”

Dimidius tapped Killen’s shoulder.

“Yeah. There were a lot of magic tools. I saw it all. Count Odor went to track down that guy Ankedo, so we’ll get an idea by tonight.”

Dimidius thought it would be overstepping his authority to step forward when Count Odor was obviously in the Odor territory. So he left it to Count Odor and stayed still.

Killen let out a big sigh, thinking he was a step behind.

“Ha…… I was too late. I apologize.”

Then Dimidius put his hands in his pockets and shook his head.

“No. It must have been difficult for you to move alone without other aides. The Odor territory is an unfamiliar place, so it wouldn’t have been easy to get cooperation.”

Usually, there were more than five aides following Killen. But coming to the Odor territory alone and investigating must have been too much for him.

He could say that because Olentia was safe in the end.

Killen also knew that fact, so he only bit his lower lip.

[This is the timeline separator]

In Ankedo’s secret house, dangerous magic tools that should not be used and embezzled money were hidden. The various magic tools scattered around felt creepy.

Count Odor was greatly despaired after seeing the issue date, place, and unique number engraved on the gold coins. The money was found, but the embezzler Ankedo had disappeared.

It was clear that he would try to secretly leave the Odor territory.

‘Olentia, I should have trusted that child’s words more……’

Count Odor was determined to catch Ankedo no matter what. If he couldn’t even do that, he felt like he wouldn’t be able to face his niece.

Count Odor spoke to the captain of the Odor territory guard using a communication stone.

“I’m going to put out a public warrant for the arrest of Ankedo, the priest of the Odor Province Church. Make sure to catch him so he can’t escape!”

−An, Ankedo the priest? Why? What happened…?

“He’s the culprit behind the Odor Province Church embezzlement case. Above all, he threatened my niece.”

−Yes, yes! We’ll gather right away!

After finishing the contact with the guard captain who understood the situation, Count Odor went to meet the archbishop. With the news that the archbishop would be most curious about.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Why is the atmosphere so ominous? Huh?”

Bobby approached Olentia, who was lying on the bed. Her eyebrows were drooping and she crossed her fingers left and right. A tremendous sense of anxiety was felt.

Olentia held her hand tightly and said in a warm voice,

“My uncle went to catch the criminal who was deceiving the people of the Odor territory.”

“So what does that have to do with you, Miss? Where have you been just now?”

Bobby’s voice shook wildly like a lantern in the wind. It seemed her suspicion had grown. It made sense since she had been going here and there behind Bobby’s back.

‘Now that the case is almost over. I think it’s okay to tell Bobby.’

Olentia glanced at her for a moment without knowing and said,

“So this is how it happened……”

Of course, she left out the story about the prophetic dream. That was an issue that required caution in the future as well. It wasn’t that she doubted Bobby, but because it was a very important matter.

Bobby made a puzzled expression throughout the story and shouted when she heard about today’s event.

“Miss! What on earth have you done?! Huh?”

Bobby, who had her eyes wide open as if surprised, even rolled on the floor. It seemed difficult for her to believe this situation. She must have felt betrayed that her mistress, whom she thought was staying put in the Count’s castle, had done something dangerous on her own.

Olentia hurriedly said to Bobby, whose eyes were welling up with tears as if she was about to cry,

“Oh no! Don’t cry! You’re making me feel too sorry!”

In the end, Bobby didn’t cry and wiped the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand, then grabbed Olentia’s shoulders and shook them.

“Please, please! Let me know about anything! Do you think I’ll oppose everything? Was I nagging too much? Of course, it’s for your sake, but if you keep hiding things from me because of that, I’ll listen to everything you say. So don’t do that from now on. Okay?”

Bobby’s earnest heart could be felt, making her feel sad together.

But for a moment, her head felt dizzy.

Holding her forehead with one hand, Olentia said,

“Wait, hold on.”

Then Bobby quickly let go of her hand and checked on Olentia.

“Are you still feeling unwell?”

“I think I have a fever on my forehead?”

“I’ll check it for you!”

Bobby put her hand on Olentia’s forehead and was surprised.

“You have a fever, Miss! Why were you just staying still without even calling a doctor?”

Feeling a chilly energy, Olentia covered herself with the blanket up to her neck. She just wanted to sleep now.

“I was going to call one anyway.”

Olentia’s voice kept getting smaller. She felt like the grim reaper was beckoning her to come here.

But she endured and waited until Bobby brought the doctor. She had to explain what the magic tool looked like and what scent and taste it had. Although the small wound on her neck healed with self-healing power, she didn’t know how it would be with a liquid magic tool.

After a while, the doctor arrived.

After hearing the explanation about the liquid magic tool, the doctor said in a serious voice,

“We need to detoxify it quickly. The antidote can be made with a similar kind, so that’s fine, but you’ll be in some pain until then.”

‘In pain? How much?’

From that day on, Olentia repeated sleeping and waking up while sweating profusely all over her body. Her fever rose to 40 degrees, and her whole body ached as if someone had beaten her.

In the midst of that, she was curious whether Ankedo had been properly caught, so she asked Bobby, who was by her side,

“Bobby. Did they catch Ankedo? What happened to the case?”

Then Bobby wiped Olentia’s sweat with the saddest face in the world and said,

“He ran away and they’re chasing him. Don’t worry too much.”

“Ah, I see. That damn guy.”

But the one who seemed like she would die right now was Olentia. In the midst of her wandering mind, she even had a conversation with Pieta.

Pieta would disappear when necessary, but now she teased Olentia.

[Dried fish. Are you okay? You’re about to die.]

‘Do you usually appear when it’s dangerous? And you don’t even help.’

[I called you and you opened your eyes! Don’t you remember?]

‘Ah, yes. I remember. I remember. I was hit by a liquid magic tool and came to my senses. But after that, you told me to figure it out on my own. That was quite disappointing, you know.’

Even if seeking the power of a god was a weak human trait, it couldn’t be helped.

At that time, Olentia thought she didn’t have the ability to create a white sphere right away.