Alicia looked at Eric, who was casually picking up his pen to summarize the situation, with a slightly surprised expression.

The Eric she had seen so far was mostly disconcerted, awkward, and shyly smiling, so this demeanor seemed somewhat strange.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Huh? No, nothing. Shall we start?”

Alicia also quickly hid her expression and picked up her pen to draft the contract.

“Keeping secrets is the most important part, right?”

“Yes. This is my first engagement, so I don’t know exactly what obligations and responsibilities there are, so let’s write it broadly.”

“Alright. Do you have any other clauses you’d like to add?”

After some thought, Eric looked at Alicia, who was busy drafting the contract in front of him.

Alicia could have married any good man she wanted, but would it be okay if she missed a good opportunity because of the contract?

“Wouldn’t it be problematic if you find someone you truly care for during the contract period?”

Taken aback, Alicia’s eyes widened.

“Oh, do you have someone in mind? Then why this contract?”

“It’s not about me. There’s no one like that, there won’t be, and there won’t be in the future.”

Alicia tilted her head at his unexpectedly firm tone.

“Then why are you asking such a question?”

“Not me, but.”

“Oh, me. I also have no one like that, won’t have, and won’t have in the future.”

“……Why?”

“Why does the Earl say so?”

He only didn’t want to get married right now. He could connect with a better woman when the time comes, and he thought he could live well.

They looked at each other, confused for a moment.

Eric Russel Gloucester (hereinafter “G”) and Alicia Lancaster (hereinafter “L”) shall perform according to what is set forth in this contract under the principle of good faith and sincerity.

Both parties maintain an engagement relationship in accordance with this contract and faithfully perform all words and actions generally recognized in this relationship.

In maintaining the engagement relationship, “G” can request “L” to engage in all internal and external activities required by the Duke’s family and the Earl’s family, and “L” must sincerely undertake them.

“G” shall pay “L” a monetary consideration and a consideration commensurate with it, and the payment method shall be according to “L”‘s determination.

“L” is responsible for advising and managing “G”‘s mansion affairs and can request separate compensation for this.

Both parties are prohibited from alluding to this contract and must not disclose secrets.

The contract period is determined by mutual agreement, and if there is no separate agreement, it is until the return of “L”‘s father.

Skinship is not allowed. However, generally accepted skinship, such as escorting and waltzing, to maintain and prove the engagement relationship is excluded.

If a sincere counterpart appears to either party during the contract period, there is no objection to the premature termination of this contract.

If this contract is terminated by mutual agreement, no additional or extended contracts shall be made.

After the termination of this contract, there will be no separate contact or communication.

If it is inevitable to change this contract, it is determined by mutual agreement.

“Welcome.”

“Hello.”

Eric greeted Alicia more naturally than before.

This was her first visit after formally announcing the engagement to both families after signing the contract last time.

As they entered the Earl’s house, the servants lined up one by one to greet them.

“Welcome, Madam.”

Alicia and Eric, taken aback, stopped in their tracks.

“Butler. Don’t you think the title is a bit premature?”

“Oh, is that so? I just thought it would be better to get used to it quickly. If you don’t like it.”

After some consideration, he opened his mouth.

“Prospective Madam.”

“That doesn’t seem right either.”

At Eric’s rebuttal, the butler seemed to contemplate again and finally opened his mouth with a very disappointed voice.

“Well, since it’s premarriage, I. Guess. I. Have. To. Call. You. Miss.”

“I am the housekeeper, Bess. A warm welcome to you, Madam, I mean Miss.”

“Thank you, Bess. And everyone.”

As the housekeeper next to her greeted her, Alicia smiled warmly, meeting everyone’s eyes.
“I’ll be managing the mansion affairs from now on, so please take care of me.”

“Yes, I understand. I’ll do my best to assist.”

“Shall we go in?”

Eric led Alicia inside.

The tension seemed to ease with just the two of them left. Eric gave a regretful smile to Alicia, who let out a relieved breath.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would go this far.”

“It’s harder than I thought.”

“I guess so. Have a seat.”

Eric also sat across from Alicia.

“I think we need to discuss in detail to avoid suspicion.”

“I think so. There’s a lot we need to match.”

Male lead is a Divorced Husband

She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”

Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.

After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.

She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.

But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…

Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!

――

This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!

The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.

That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”

Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”

The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”

That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”

Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”

The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.

Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.

“She was originally a ‘she’!”

At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.

The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”

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