My Contract Marriage Got Interrupted (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
Walter’s reply was so crisp as to seem almost mechanical.
Russell scratched his short hair at the monotonous answer, as if someone had merely stated that the moon sets when the sun rises.
It wasn’t that he felt sour this time because he couldn’t grasp Walter’s intentions, as before.
No, to be honest… he still found them somewhat inscrutable.
‘He said he’d marry Her Highness the Fourth Princess.’
Ever since the tea party at the imperial palace, Walter hadn’t taken any meaningful action for several days.
He’d abruptly stopped visiting Empress Catarina and entirely ignored Regina’s persistent invitations.
Had he shown even the slightest move, gossipmongers would’ve eagerly fixated on him and chattered away gleefully.
Of course, this enigmatic behavior was intentional.
‘People go quiet precisely when a knife finally touches their throat.’
People talk the most not when they’re certain that blade will slash their own neck—
but at the moment the unsheathed blade hasn’t yet chosen its target.
And Walter exploited this exact point, causing gossipmongers to weigh Regina and Odette against each other side by side.
It meant people had started comparing the two on equal footing.
‘Quite remarkable.’
Regina, who’d dominated high society with Empress Catarina’s backing, versus Odette, who’d hardly attended any formal or social gatherings from childhood until now—
comparing them as equals was practically nonsensical.
At least, that had been true until Walter deliberately framed the situation as a rivalry centered on himself.
“Surely Her Highness the Third Princess has the decisive advantage? She’s been meeting regularly with Duke Ertman, and Her Highness herself mentioned how exceptionally kind he was.”
“But then why would he carry the Fourth Princess in his arms and walk off like that? And didn’t Duke Ertman even admit to a secret meeting with Her Highness the Fourth Princess?”
“They say it was just a coincidence—they happened to be on the same terrace. Her Highness the Fourth Princess confirmed it herself. Besides, everyone knows Her Highness the Third Princess is stunningly beautiful; how could anyone compare her to the Fourth?”
“I’m not so sure. From what I saw myself, Her Highness the Fourth Princess is quite lovely too. She may not captivate at first glance like the Third Princess, but I think most healthy young men would struggle to keep their composure around her. Duke Ertman might well be no exception.”
Such refined-sounding yet cutting comparisons between Regina and Odette flowed freely everywhere.
Since imperial family members were seen less as individuals and more as symbolic displays in a grand showcase, people felt even freer to compare the two without restraint.
As a result, Odette’s status—previously ignored by all—naturally rose.
‘The prevailing talk was of her delicate beauty, the kind that stirs protective instincts.’
Had Odette simply surfaced without this buildup, people would surely have claimed she was out of her depth.
Now, however, no one thought it odd to compare Regina with Odette.
It meant that if Walter married Odette, few would mock her as unworthy of such a match.
‘Well, that’s perfectly fine so far.’
Russell wouldn’t have felt uneasy at all if things had stopped there.
The problem was—
‘That damned Count Clovis…’
Russell tightly shut his eyes, recalling a few days prior.
—Did you enjoy the tea party, Your Grace? Were you able to speak with the person you mentioned—
And Russell promptly clamped his own mouth shut.
He didn’t need an answer; he already understood the situation.
‘Oh… oh no.’
Walter wasn’t one whose emotions showed easily on his face.
Yet the fact that he now wore such evident displeasure clearly meant his conversation with Odette had ended in disaster.
Russell wasn’t the only one who noticed—Walter’s subordinates exchanged glances and wisely stayed silent too.
‘But… he seemed in such a good mood just when leaving…’
‘What on earth happened?’
‘Did someone try to assassinate His Imperial Majesty at the tea party? Nothing less could explain this…’
Since only Russell knew the real reason, most others looked utterly baffled.
Amidst their mix of confusion and tension, Walter slowly opened his mouth.
“You lot.”
“Yes, sir?!”
“Has anyone here ever committed adultery? Or stolen someone’s lover?”
“…Sir?”
Impossible.
Everyone present had spent their lives immersed in knightly duties, their romantic experience practically identical to Walter’s—virtually nonexistent.
Adultery among them? Out of the question.
Walter himself seemed to realize this a beat too late, glanced around at their stunned faces, and clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“Never mind.”
The order that followed was to monitor Count Clovis, Louis Clovis’s movements.
While others obeyed without grasping his intent, Russell—fairly perceptive—quickly deduced the truth.
‘It seems Her Highness the Fourth Princess is involved with Count Clovis.’
The trouble was… a slight misunderstanding had slipped in somewhere along the way.
‘How on earth did he end up choosing a princess who already has a lover as his marriage candidate…’
Of course, if it was Walter, his reasons were undoubtedly strategic.
Russell truly didn’t believe Walter harbored any feelings for Odette whatsoever.
Because of that, he found himself feeling human sympathy for the Fourth Princess, whom he’d never even seen.
And that wasn’t all.
Knock knock.
A knock sounded behind Russell, who was lost in complicated thoughts.
Before anyone could say “enter,” the door cracked open slightly, and a cheerful voice called out.
“Your Grace? I heard you were here.”
Soft beige hair cascaded down to her lower back,
and her round, pink eyes evoked a rabbit’s gentle charm.
Though not the kind of beauty who’d make everyone turn their heads, she carried a uniquely endearing aura, and she stepped lightly into the room.
Upon recognizing her, Russell’s expression hardened instantly.
“…Miss Elodie, you mustn’t enter His Grace’s office without permission.”
“Hmm, but I knocked, so isn’t that fine?”
“It’s certainly not—”
“It’s fine. Let her stay. It’s not a situation where she shouldn’t be here.”
At Walter’s words, Elodie’s face brightened immediately.
“Thank you, Your Grace!”
Her beaming smile shone like sunlight—but Russell’s expression only darkened further as he watched.
This lovely young lady was precisely the reason furrowing his brow.
‘Elodie Montoir.’
She was the daughter of Viscount Montoir, a vassal house serving House Ertman, and had recently come to the capital to enter high society.
Or, to put it more bluntly—
‘His Grace summoned her.’
It was common for provincial nobles without capital connections to request introductions through the head of their liege house to build social networks.
Viscount Montoir had been one such noble, recently sending a letter to House Ertman alongside Elodie’s portrait: “Our daughter wishes to make her social debut; please arrange a place for her in the capital.”
—Since they asked for accommodations in the capital, I’ll find a chaperon and settle her with someone. Marchioness Grimoire, who was close to the late duke, mentioned she’s seeking a young lady to accompany her niece…
—No. House Ertman will manage her. Bring her here. She’ll stay in the annex.
—…Sir?
Yet after seeing her portrait, Walter had abruptly issued this order.
Russell had doubted Walter’s sincerity then—but Walter truly did bring Elodie to stay within the Ertman estate.
He even showed unusual tolerance, allowing her nearly free rein as long as she didn’t grossly overstep boundaries.
‘Why on earth?!’
Now, whispers among Walter’s subordinates even suggested, “Could His Grace be taken with her?”
It wasn’t hard to see why—the two together made quite a striking pair.
“Enough with greetings. What is it?”
“I’m trying to decide on trimmings for my dress, but it’s so hard! Look—this blue ribbon suits it well, but doesn’t the yellow one look good too?”
“If you’re that torn, just buy both and attach whichever you feel like.”
“But House Montoir’s finances aren’t good. We must save wherever possible—my budget is already way over.”
“Then House Ertman will cover a few of your dresses. Choose freely and let me know.”
At Walter’s words, Elodie’s eyes widened, and she let out a little squeal.
“Thank you so much! It’s not really a proper thank-you, but once my dress is finished, I’ll show it to you first!”
Elodie’s spring-sunshine smile contrasted sharply with Walter’s detached expression.
Normally radiating icy sharpness, Walter—standing beside her—appeared somewhat softened, seeming less cutting and more simply indifferent.
Indeed, he was genuinely treating Elodie with unusual leniency.
So his subordinates’ excited chatter about the two wasn’t at all exaggerated.
“You won’t even need to show me first. I was just about to tell you—your debutante date has been set.”
“…! Really? When?”
“In two days.”
“Goodness—so soon?”
“It is urgent, but House of Count Xavier is hosting a grand ball. Given Xavier’s extravagance, no larger event will happen this season, making it perfect for your debut.”
“…! Then I must rush to consult my designer right away! I’ll see you this evening!”
Convinced by Walter’s logic, Elodie nodded hastily and hurried out of the office.
Her cheerful, unreserved manner made Russell sigh and shake his head.
“His Grace must have his reasons… but can she really manage a proper debut like this?”
To Russell, who knew aristocratic customs inside out, it was clearly impossible.
He’d stake his honor on it.
“There’s barely any time to prepare in just two days. How can Miss Elodie possibly handle an event as grand as Xavier’s?”
Walter gave a faint smirk.
“You worry too much. She’ll do better than you think—don’t fret.”
“How can you be so sure? She seems far too unready for a debut.”
“Her debut isn’t my concern.”
“Then…?”
“Didn’t you just see it?”
The pen in Walter’s hand spun idly between his fingers as he rested his chin on his palm, his expression utterly indifferent.
“If nothing else, she certainly knows how to charm men.”
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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But wouldn’t it be the perfect time to speak with Xavier in a safe manner? There are plenty of people around and she needs information from him.
He isn’t suspicious of Duke Ertman? Considering the rumors the Duke amplified, he has motive to drive a wedge between Louis and Odette. Yet Louie doesn’t question Walter’s words? I’d think he’d be suspicious of Walter casting the curse. Walter’s motive for doing so might be unknown but his words, seemingly knowledgeable about the curse itself and blaming it upon Odette, whom the Duke has insinuated a relationship with while Odette says otherwise, gives plenty to be wary about.
Is this woman serious saying ‘I lied to them, why won’t they believe me?’ Wow she seems a bit delusional.