Claire stood respectfully in front of the two people with her hands clasped together.

“Good job. You must have been scared, but you spoke well without backing down.”

Arasila lightly patted Claire’s shoulder.

Today’s surprise press conference was all her handiwork.

It was also Arasila who had instructed Claire to insist on formal adoption.

She had used Claire to provoke Oscar into revealing his true nature in front of a third party.

For this purpose, she had even gone so far as to actually acquire the Flare Theater under the Parksian Theater Company.

Because they couldn’t cause a scene in someone else’s place of business.

“No. Thanks to your help, I was able to speak confidently. Thank you.”

As Claire bowed her head, Arasila watched her for a moment before gently grasping her shoulders and saying,

“No matter how much the Vandermir ducal family tries to persuade you, never leave the capital. Move in with Mia, and I’ve already spoken to the Flare Theater, so return there and periodically draw people’s attention. That’s how you’ll stay safe.”

To prevent the ducal family from easily targeting her, Claire needed to maintain her presence and keep people’s eyes on her as much as possible.

Arasila had already given Roberto the word to cast Claire as an actress within reasonable limits.

Moved by Arasila’s consideration, Claire bit her lip hard, trying to hold back the emotions welling up inside her.

She nodded her head heavily, as if engraving Arasila’s words into her bones, and then bowed to Demian.

“I’m truly sorry for causing you trouble.”

“No, in truth, all the wrongdoing was done by Oscar Vandermir.”

Demian let out a faint sigh.

In the end, Claire was also a victim who had suffered because of his family.

Though he felt no affection or familial bond towards the ducal family. Still, he felt a sense of responsibility since she had been harmed by someone bearing the same surname as him.

“You’ve suffered because of my incompetent half-brother. I will help you and your child survive safely. I’ll do my best to watch over and protect you as much as I can.”

And so, Demian promised her the maximum safety he could provide.

Claire was moved, sensing a sincerity from him that was different from Oscar’s.

“……Thank you sincerely.”

Unable to hold back her tears anymore, she wiped her face and once again bowed deeply to the two of them before leaving.

Her retreating figure looked quite strong.

On a late afternoon as the sun was setting, Demian and Arasila, after leaving the theater, didn’t go straight home but stopped by a nearby park.

Perhaps because it was a quiet time, there weren’t many people in the park.

A comfortable silence flowed between the two as they walked side by side down a path where golden ginkgo leaves fluttered.

Demian was the first to break the silence.

“Thanks to you, I’ve been cleared of false accusations. Thank you so much.”

“It’s nothing. You’re my husband, so it’s only natural for me to help you.”

Demian smiled faintly at her unpretentious response. Lowering his eyes, he hesitated for a moment before asking,

“But, how were you able to… trust me so firmly?”

Even though half a year had passed since they married, it was still an incredibly short time compared to the lives they had lived until now.

They couldn’t say they knew each other perfectly yet.

So if Arasila had doubted him, Demian wouldn’t have complained. He would have kept it to himself and focused on clearing up the suspicions.

But Arasila had shown transparent trust from the beginning, reassuring him.

He felt grateful and impressed by her, and at the same time, a bit dazed.

“Was there never a moment when your faith in me wavered during your investigation?”

“No, there wasn’t.”

Arasila answered without hesitation.

“I always believed in you.”

“……On what grounds?”

“Demian, you always try to be a better person. Usually, such people don’t do bad things.”

Arasila vividly remembered when Demian had said in the duchy that he was afraid of becoming like his father.

She couldn’t imagine someone who was so cautious and careful about himself would dare to make the same mistake as his father.

The wind gently tickled her white, round forehead with her fluttering hair.

As Demian gazed at her fresh and peaceful face, a childish curiosity suddenly struck him.

He wondered how Arasila would have reacted if he had really betrayed her trust.

“If I had really been unfaithful, what would you have done?”

Demian impulsively asked, unable to hold back.

Seeing his rather serious face, Arasila, who had been about to brush it off with a laugh, changed her mind and tried to imagine it. Demian having an affair with another woman.

“Hmm……”

A faint wrinkle appeared on her fair forehead. The depth of that wrinkle gradually deepened.

‘……This feels dirtier than I expected?’

Her head was shouting that since they were just a contract couple, it shouldn’t matter to her whether he had a lover or not, but strangely, her heart sank coldly.

Just the thought of Demian being lovey-dovey with Claire made her mood plummet dramatically.

‘Am I going crazy? In fact, even if Demian were to see someone else, I’m in no position to say anything.’

Of course, since they married strategically with mutual goals, she could argue if he did something that would interfere with their contract.

Even if not as a real wife, as a contract partner, she could demand that he behave properly.

But Arasila wasn’t feeling displeased because he might harm the contract.

Just assuming that Demian was having an affair made her feel an inexplicable deep sense of betrayal.

How could he, while she was…

‘But is it right for me to feel this way? I’m just a contract wife.’

At that moment, a chilling sense of crisis came over Arasila that she might be crossing the line of their contract.

That shouldn’t happen.

She could be friends with Demian, but nothing more than that.

It was nonsensical to have such feelings for him in the first place.

How could she do that in a relationship that started with clear boundaries from the beginning, unless she had lost her mind?

“……My lady?”

When Arasila remained silent with a stiff face and bitten lip, Demian, sensing something was off, called out to her.

Turning her head towards him a beat late, Arasila spoke in a rather calm tone.

“What would I do? Nothing, I suppose. We’re not a real couple after all.”

“Ah……”

Demian, who had secretly hoped she would care, was disappointed.

Although he knew Arasila’s attitude of drawing a clear line was right, he felt bitter.

He also felt self-deprecating for harboring different feelings alone, violating the contract terms at will, while expecting so much.

But he tried hard not to show such emotions and turned his gaze elsewhere.

Arasila didn’t notice his sharp profile becoming slightly dejected.

She was too preoccupied with her own complicated feelings to closely observe Demian’s reaction.

The two walked on in an awkward silence, unlike before.

“Oh, come to think of it, there’s something I’d like to propose to you.”

Just before reaching the carriage after circling the park once, Arasila spoke as if suddenly remembering.

“Would you like to do business with me one more time?”

She had been planning to bring it up after Claire’s matter was settled, and it had just occurred to her now.

“Business? Do you have something in mind?”

“Yes. I was thinking of starting a magic lamp business this time.”

When investigating around Claire, witnesses commonly said ‘it was dark so I couldn’t see well’.

When she had coincidentally met Ludi, he had warned her to be careful as many accidents occurred due to the dark streets and alleys, even though it wasn’t that late at night.

The lamps currently used in the market were candle-based, with the drawbacks of not being very bright and going out when the candlestick melted completely.

She thought it might be good to develop a magical tool lamp that overcame these shortcomings.

“Hmm, since lamps are everyday items used by everyone, we could make a good profit if we do it right.”

Demian nodded, seeming intrigued.

Regardless of age, gender, or status, there was no one who didn’t use lamps in daily life.

If they could produce a more convenient and high-performance product than candle lamps, it could capture people’s attention dramatically.

“Then I look forward to working with you again.”

Demian held out his hand for a handshake. Arasila grasped his large hand and said,

“Let’s use the same contract terms as with the airship.”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

It was the beginning of their second business partnership.

What Arasila used to develop the magic lamp was luminous stone.

Luminous stone was the most commonly found mineral in the Setron Empire, treated as a somewhat peculiar stone with no use other than emitting a faint light on its own.

Arasila attempted to modify it through fusion magic so that the luminosity of the luminous stone would be maximized when heated.

While she was busy researching luminous stones with her juniors, Demian was in charge of external affairs, just as with the airship.

Today, he had come to meet Margrave Yohim, who owned vast lands in the northern region where luminous stone deposits were most abundant.

Although mining luminous stones wasn’t difficult, it was safer to find a supplier who could provide it consistently for business purposes.

“Ho ho, it’s our first time meeting alone. It’s good to see you, Lord Vandermir!”

Margrave Yohim, a former knight, was a man with a large build and snow-white hair, giving the impression of a seasoned warrior.

However, he had long since quit being a knight and was now focusing on leading his family’s prosperity as the head of the household, making him closer to a scholar than a warrior these days.

Or he could be called a businessman suffering from headaches due to unstable family finances.

“Hello, Margrave Yohim. Thank you for making time for me.”

“Not at all. Who in the world would refuse a visit from the Empire’s greatest Sword Master?”

Yohim, who was particularly favorable towards knights, perhaps because he had once wielded a sword himself, showed an enthusiastic response.

“So, why have you come to see me? What business brings you here?”

“I have a deal I’d like to propose to you.”

Yohim looked at Demian with quite interested eyes.

Demian explained in detail the plan to modify luminous stones and start a new lamp business.

With each word he uttered, he could feel Yohim’s mind spinning rapidly, paying close attention to his words.

“I’d like to purchase luminous stones from you, Margrave Yohim.”

Demian took a sip of tea after finishing his explanation with those words. Yohim smiled broadly.

“I’m all for it, of course! I’ve been keeping an eye on you for a while, and I’m very pleased that such a good opportunity has come along!”

In fact, Yohim had been quite stressed about the insane amount of useless luminous stones coming out of his territory.

It was frustrating that these common luminous stones, which weren’t even useful or profitable minerals, were being excavated all over his territory.

So when this young knight with a bright future brought a deal to dispose of those useless rocks all at once, he felt like he could fly with joy.

He thought he absolutely must not miss this deal.

“However, there’s a condition.”

“……A condition?”

Until Demian presented the terms of the deal.

“I’d like to obtain information about the unofficial meeting you attended last month.”

“The unofficial meeting……”

“The meeting where the Red Hawk Knights were appointed to handle the western monster subjugation.”

The muscles around Yohim’s mouth twitched.

The air in the office where the two sat face to face instantly turned cold and heavy.

As if he had never been laughing heartily, the Margrave’s face became cold and ruthless.

He leaned back on the sofa and waved his hand dismissively at Demian.

“You’re asking for excessive information. I have no intention of making such a deal, so you may leave now, Lord Demian Vandermir.”

“Is that so? That’s unfortunate.”

Demian stood up with less reluctance than expected.

He was so nonchalant that it rather surprised Yohim.

Bowing his head politely, Demian headed towards the door while casually dropping words.

“Then I’ll take this business proposal to Count Neville.”

“W-wait a moment!”