My Contract Marriage Got Interrupted (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
It had happened so many times that her body remembered before her mind did.
She didn’t even need to turn her head—the hand reaching out from behind gently intercepted the person approaching Odette.
“Let’s leave it at that. His Imperial Highness seems rather startled.”
“Ah—Your Grace, Duke Ertman.”
The stranger who had been approaching Odette hesitated and stepped back.
Walter’s voice from behind her sounded calm and even, yet his face was pale enough to seem oddly disconcerted.
“You’re hardly making your debut in society for the first time—surely you ought to know where to draw the line. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Y-yes, that’s right. My apologies.”
The nameless man who had approached Odette hastily withdrew.
With an awkward smile, he vanished into the crowd faster than he’d come, and fortunately, the conversation between Walter and him had carried clearly enough that no one else dared approach further.
In effect, Walter had rescued her from the throng.
Only then could Odette finally exhale in relief and straighten her posture.
“Thank you… for helping me, Your Grace.”
Since it was her first time thanking Walter, Odette’s voice sounded slightly awkward.
Yet her embarrassment shattered instantly at Walter’s reply.
“If you’re going to thank me, I’d appreciate it if you’d look me in the face while doing so.”
“…I have no intention of adding more fuel to those already noisy rumors.”
“Is that so? I thought our mere presence together was already plenty of kindling. Won’t the gossipmongers be thrilled?”
That they’d been clinging together amiably ever since entering Count Xavier’s ballroom.
Odette’s cheeks flushed hot at the whisper in her ear.
“That’s because—!”
She whirled around indignantly.
And just as if he’d been waiting for that exact moment, her eyes met Walter’s, who was already watching her.
“…!”
Deep-set within his eye sockets were green eyes.
Green usually evoked images of a forest—gentle and serene—but Walter’s green eyes always carried an unsettling chill.
Was it due to his uniquely sharp aura? Or perhaps because of that gaze, which followed Odette with relentless intensity?
Whenever she met his eyes, she felt an odd sense of déjà vu and discomfort.
Of course, it lasted only a fleeting instant.
Walter, who had been watching her with a slight frown and no trace of a smile, finally opened his tightly shut mouth.
“You seem to be doing well.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what the words say. Last time I saw you, you looked like a withered twig, but now you seem to have put on some healthy weight. It suits you.”
“Put on weight”? Odette’s cheeks burned at his blunt phrasing.
“H-how rude! How can you possibly say something like that?”
“Would you prefer I said you’ve grown a bit rounder? Or perhaps that the food must have been delicious?”
“….”
Those alternatives were just as impolite, leaving Odette gaping in astonishment.
Of course, it was true—she had gained weight.
—“Your Highness, you really need to put on some weight! Just leave it to me!”
Feeling sorry for Odette, who’d lost weight rapidly from exhaustion over just a few days, Ellie had diligently brought food from home to feed her.
Odette hadn’t refused anything offered and had eaten it all, resulting in her previously loose dress fitting perfectly today.
Ellie had been immensely pleased, even remarking:
—“Your complexion is better than before, and your facial contours aren’t as sunken—you look much improved! Of course, Your Highness has always been beautiful!”
Odette herself had agreed it looked better than her previously hollow appearance and had nodded in approval.
“Has the Imperial Palace’s head chef changed by any chance? Whoever it is, I’d like to give them an award.”
For Walter of all people to say such a thing!
‘Well… now that I think about it, it does sound like a compliment.’
After all, he did say she looked better, and objectively speaking, that seemed true.
But did he really have to phrase it like that?!
Odette’s eyes narrowed sharply.
“No award is necessary. The Imperial Palace’s head chef hasn’t changed. But you, Your Grace—you don’t seem to be doing well at all, do you?”
“Yes. Not at all well.”
“A withered twig, was it?”
Odette’s eyes widened again as she repeated Walter’s earlier words back to him.
“My betrothed apparently loves someone else.”
“….”
Her widened eyes narrowed once more.
“Because of that, my marriage prospects are thoroughly blocked, and I’ve been terribly worried—wondering how to eliminate my rival. That’s why I’ve been doing so poorly.”
“You’ve wasted your worry. I’m leaving now.”
Odette turned her back without hesitation—but his voice followed.
“Most people would offer comfort or advice when hearing something like this.”
“You must have had a hard time. It seems like a waste of time to keep pursuing someone like that—I’d recommend marrying someone else instead.”
At her utterly soulless, mechanical words of comfort and advice, a wry smile flickered across Walter’s face.
A smile Odette, having turned away so decisively, couldn’t see.
Yet just gazing at the back of her neatly arranged, silvery curls filled Walter with quiet joy—
For it was true: he truly hadn’t been doing well while unable to see her.
‘The pain… is still the same.’
Whenever she drew near, a tight, aching pressure gripped his chest in direct proportion to the pounding of his heart.
It was nearly impossible not to grimace from it.
Yet now, even that pain had begun to feel pleasantly welcome to Walter.
Finding joy in pain—surely it was madness, but what did it matter anymore?
Just as Walter, having carefully composed his expression, was about to speak to Odette again—
“Your Highness, there you are! Apologies—it’s so crowded…”
“Oh, Count Clovis.”
Odette’s face brightened at the sight of Louis rushing toward her anxiously.
“You’re quite popular, it seems. You must be exhausted.”
“I’m terribly sorry. Are you… all right, Your Highness?”
“I’m fine—I received help.”
She hadn’t intended to specify from whom—but suddenly a thought crossed Odette’s mind.
‘What if I put Walter and Louis together in one place?’
Then perhaps she could learn something about the nature of their relationship.
After all, ever since meeting Louis, Odette had visited Belvoir Academy several more times.
Yet despite her efforts, she’d gained no meaningful information.
—“They did attend at the same time, but Duke Ertman didn’t seem to mingle closely with others. There’s no talk of any conflict, either.”
—“I asked people from the Magisterium too, but they didn’t know much. Though I did hear Count Clovis was a rather diligent student!”
Even the information Anne Sophie had gathered held little real value.
So she’d been secretly disappointed—this was perfect timing.
‘Although… if I stay close to Walter, people will probably start chattering.’
But as Walter himself had said, that damage was already done.
Odette turned toward Walter.
“Here, Duke Ertman offered his—”
And just then—
“Your Grace!!”
A bright voice rang out from somewhere, and a fresh-faced young woman with a yellow ribbon beamed as she rushed toward Walter.
Then she threw her arms around him.
“I’ve found you again! I was so frightened—there’s no one I know here! I didn’t even know you’d be coming!”
For an instant, Walter’s face twisted sharply—but to onlookers, it merely looked like momentary fluster from an unexpected display of affection.
So was his immediate, almost humiliatingly swift push to free himself from her embrace.
“Elodie Montoir. Didn’t I tell you not to do this?”
“I’m sorry… but I was just so happy to see you!”
Moreover, their ensuing exchange sounded less like proof they weren’t close—and more like confirmation they were well-acquainted, with such incidents occurring regularly.
At least… that’s how it seemed to Odette, who had been watching the scene unfold.
[This is the timeline separator]‘Just as I thought—he can’t brush me off so easily in a place this crowded.’
Elodie smirked inwardly with satisfaction.
Walter must have quietly instructed the usher announcing arrivals to keep things discreet, but since Elodie had been watching Odette’s direction from the start, spotting Walter’s entrance had been effortless.
And so was noticing how intimately he’d been speaking with Odette.
Given that both were already at the center of swirling rumors, the impact was considerable—especially after what Elodie had deliberately spread just moments before their arrival.
“Oh my—Her Royal Highness the Fourth Princess and Duke Ertman are together! They look awfully close.”
“Miss Elodie, you must know something, right? You said you were close to Duke Ertman—you’re staying at Ertman Ducal Mansion, and even the dress you’re wearing today was chosen by His Grace. With that level of closeness, surely you’ve heard something?”
The remark came from Lea Denzel, a young lady who accompanied Elodie to the ball. She was the favorite niece of Marchioness Grimoire—the very chaperon assigned by House Ertman to Elodie—and, like Elodie, a recent debutante.
She’d also been secretly displeased by Elodie’s persistent insinuations about some undefined relationship with Duke Ertman.
Thus, her motive in addressing Elodie after witnessing the scene was obvious.
‘She thinks she’s struck gold.’
Her eyes had been sharp from the start—just as Elodie expected.
Had she known the Fourth Princess would attend, she’d have spoken more carefully.
But eager to assert her debut in the capital and eager to boast about Duke Ertman’s patronage, she couldn’t hold her tongue.
‘Well, nothing to be done now.’
If she shrank back now, it might just be dismissed as baseless gossip.
With an innocent smile, Elodie excused herself from the group.
“I’m not really sure myself…but since His Grace is here, I should probably greet him. I’ll be going now!”
And she immediately dashed over to Walter and hugged him tightly.
Predictably, Walter’s face twisted instantly.
“It’s just that—I was so happy to see someone familiar… I’m truly sorry if I overstepped. Please forgive me….”
Elodie’s voice trembled with feigned fear, her act of contrition convincing.
Thanks to her deliberately loud call for Walter, she could feel everyone’s attention fixate on them.
Odette’s stiff, unreadable expression was particularly striking.
‘Why does she look like that?’
The man standing beside her seemed to be Louis Clovis, judging from his portrait.
If she’d chosen him, why wear the face of someone whose man had just been stolen?
While pretending to sniffle tearfully, Elodie carefully studied Odette’s expression.
‘Could it be… this woman actually likes Duke Ertman, not Count Clovis?’
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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.