The End Of The Special Contract Marriage (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
The Duchess ordered a maid to investigate Aracila’s past. There was no one in the world so clean that not a speck of dust would come off when shaken.
Moreover, possessing such a dazzling appearance that she drew the eyes of countless men, she must have encountered at least one scandalous entanglement with a man during her life.
Eagerly awaiting the results with high hopes, the Duchess received only a single sheet of paper—and even its contents were not what she had desired.
She had sent her maid to dig up information that would brand Aracila as a seductress who chased after men, yet all the report contained were accounts of Aracila beating men up.
“Is this truly all there is?”
“Yes, Your Grace. Lady Hugo has always been a staunch spinster, never dating any man, and as a social recluse, she has never caused any notable scandal.”
The Duchess sighed. Her lack of social entanglements meant she rarely caused any incidents—just like Damian. How uncanny that they shared such an unappealing trait.
Besides, every time Aracila had struck a man, she’d had perfectly justifiable reasons, making it difficult to fault her.
“Are you certain there’s truly no man close enough to her to fabricate an improper relationship?”
“The only man she’s even somewhat friendly with is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince…”
“Are you suggesting I go after royalty?!”
The Duchess snapped. No matter how desperate she was, dragging the Crown Prince into this could easily backfire on her.
The maid clamped her mouth shut, shrinking into herself, and the Duchess sank into thought.
‘Perhaps I should stir up some romantic trouble for Damian instead? No— that stone-hearted fool is just as disinterested in romance. I need to make Aracila Hugo give up on marriage altogether…’
Just then, a maid rushed in urgently and cried out to the Duchess,
“Lord Vandermir has arrived!”
“What? Now?”
“Yes, he’s right outside the door.”
The Duchess stared hard at the mahogany door before nodding. The maid opened it, and Damian stepped in with a leisurely stride.
“To what do I owe the rare pleasure of your visit?”
“I’ve come to seek your advice regarding my marriage.”
“…Advice?”
The Duchess examined her stepson up and down with a look that plainly asked if he’d lost his mind. What scheme was this?
Damian, hands clasped behind his back, approached and tossed a sealed envelope onto the table. It was the bridal gift list he’d given to Aracila. Frowning, the Duchess glanced between the document and him.
“When a marriage causes problems between both families, what do you suppose is the wisest way to resolve it?”
“Why ask me? If it’s about the bridal gifts, I absolutely won’t—”
“The proper course would be to immediately seek out the most respected elder and ask for mediation.”
Damian cut off his stepmother’s words sharply, gazing down at her with icy eyes. The bridal gifts were merely the beginning; he knew full well that far more unreasonable demands would surely follow.
He intended to act preemptively before Aracila, unable to endure any further, fled from their arranged marriage.
“Thus, I’m considering visiting His Imperial Majesty, the highest authority in the empire. What are your thoughts, Duchess?”
“You…!”
The Duchess shot to her feet, jabbing a finger at him. Nothing could be more humiliating than having their petty squabble over excessive bridal demands exposed to the imperial court.
Moreover, the Emperor himself was aware of the political marriage agreement between their two houses. Even if she dared to speak against it, she’d have little ground to stand on.
“As it happens, I’ve already scheduled an audience with His Majesty soon.”
“Are you threatening me right now?”
“Of course not. I merely hope you’ll exercise discretion before our family affairs are shamefully exposed to outsiders.”
Damian stepped closer and leaned toward the Duchess, whispering,
“Wouldn’t it be inconvenient if rumors spread that you’ve been mistreating the bride of your less-favored second son—whom you don’t even care much about?”
“Hah…!”
“I’ve already halved the bridal gift list myself. If you still desire more jewels or dresses, discuss it with Father.”
Her crimson lips curled upward in a sneer. The Duchess glared at him with an expression even more horrifying than her husband’s.
Damian stepped back slowly, wiped the faint smile from his face, and spoke flatly,
“The boy who once stood by helplessly while you destroyed the things he cherished no longer exists. From now on, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect what’s mine.”
The murderous intent radiating from his golden eyes made the Duchess stagger. Her legs trembled uncontrollably. Damian gave her an indifferent glance, bowed curtly, and left.
Sinking onto the sofa with the maid’s support, the Duchess ground her teeth furiously.
‘Don’t make me laugh, Damian Vandermir! Do you really think I’d cave just because you’re threatening me?!’
She turned sharply toward the maid and barked,
“Send a letter to Aracila Hugo at once!”
[This is the timeline separator]Frederick unfolded the letter that had arrived along with a gift. After their ball, they’d had no contact—yet Aracila had suddenly sent this.
“To Frederick,
I don’t know why you’re angry, but please forgive me. I don’t have many friends as it is, and I don’t want to break things off with you right before my marriage.
If I’ve done anything wrong (though honestly, I don’t think I have… it seems you’re just sulking without reason…), I apologize.
Write back once you’ve calmed down.
— Aracila.”
The letter was so quintessentially Aracila that Frederick nearly chuckled—but the word “marriage” quickly dampened his mood.
With a shadowed expression, he rose and walked out into the garden. His attendants followed at a distance, carefully reading his mood.
Warm sunlight and vibrant flowers adorned the path, yet the atmosphere surrounding the Crown Prince remained unbearably gloomy.
“No matter how much I think about it, I just can’t understand it. Even after replaying it hundreds of times, I still can’t accept it.”
Frederick grimaced in distress. When on earth had Aracila secretly courted a knight and decided to marry him?
Though she’d always been indifferent to others and never one to reveal her inner thoughts easily, it was still hard to believe there’d been absolutely no sign whatsoever.
“Even Pola didn’t know.”
He recalled his conversation with Pola yesterday. When he’d asked if she’d known in advance about Aracila’s engagement, she’d replied,
“I had no idea Aracila was seeing Lord Vandermir. She only told me after the marriage was already decided—said she’d ‘fallen for his face’ or something. That’s an odd reason coming from her, right? They don’t even seem to have known each other long.”
This was utterly absurd. Aside from House Hugo, the people closest to Aracila were Pola and himself.
Yet neither of them had known?
Moreover, Frederick had always kept a sharp eye on every man near Aracila, ruthlessly driving away anyone who dared show interest in her.
How had Damian Vandermir slipped past his radar to court her?
“Something’s off. There’s definitely more going on here.”
His instincts—honed from watching over Aracila for seven solid years—were screaming at him.
Frowning as he walked, Frederick absentmindedly turned his head and froze upon spotting a man emerging from the audience chamber.
Silver hair gleaming, sharp yet refined features, eyes shining brighter than pure gold, and a uniform emblazoned with the crimson hawk insignia.
It was Damian Vandermir.
Frederick stared blankly as Damian strode forward, shoulders squared and posture straight, then quietly summoned his attendant.
“Jackson, investigate Lord Damian Vandermir from head to toe. Assign someone else to monitor Aracila’s movements and report back.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
If Damian Vandermir proved dangerous to Aracila, it was his duty to remove him personally.
Frederick firmly believed that, having stood faithfully by her side as a friend for years, he had both the right and obligation to do so.
[This is the timeline separator]It was Philip, the current Magetower Master, who had scouted Aracila into the Magetower—the man who held the longest tenure as Magetower Master in history.
During a guest lecture at the academy, he’d recognized the talent of Aracila, then a second-year student, and swiftly took her on as his disciple.
He’d thoroughly worked her to the bone while teaching her magic, and now stood firmly as her strongest ally within the Magetower.
“Heh heh heh. At first, I thought you’d gone senile, Aracila—though you’re far too young for that.”
Philip stroked his beard as he enjoyed a private tea time with his prized student.
They sat in the Magetower Master’s study, located on the highest floor of the tower.
“It feels like only yesterday you brazenly barged into my lab, declaring you’d never marry and demanding I hand over the Magetower Master position—yet now you’re getting married? Heh heh heh.”
Back then, as a teenager nearing adulthood, Aracila had told her master this due to the unspoken custom that married female mages couldn’t remain in the Magetower—let alone become its Master.
Finding his laughter as peculiar as ever, Aracila merely shrugged and replied,
“It’s not a real marriage. We’re marrying because we each want something from the other, and we’ve agreed to divorce once we’ve achieved our goals.”
Though she’d kept this truth from everyone else, she’d chosen to confess honestly to her master solely for the sake of securing the future Magetower Master position.
After all, if this arranged marriage disqualified her from the succession race, that would be disastrous.
“Heh heh—heh. And just what is it that you desire so desperately from that knight?”
The Magetower Master’s narrowed eyes glinted sharply beneath his bushy brows. Aracila said nothing, merely taking a quiet sip of her tea.
“Do you even know people are already calling you the reincarnation of Lexi Literson?”
“What sort of people? The same cowards who dare not utter a word in front of me but gossip wildly behind my back?”
It was true. Everyone knew Aracila’s temperament well enough to fear speaking openly, so they resorted to whispering among themselves.
“Heh heh heh. Aracila, if what you gain from him isn’t worth more than your own future, perhaps you should reconsider.”
“What I gain is worth more than my future.”
Her sister’s life was priceless—nothing in the world could replace it.
Even if it meant abandoning the easy path to becoming Magetower Master and taking a far longer, winding road, Aracila had no intention of renouncing this marriage.
“I’ll divorce Lord Vandermir immediately once he inherits the dukedom. There won’t even be time to conceive a child. He’ll also be eager to secure the title as quickly as possible, so it won’t take long.”
“But what if your feelings change, and you decide you want to continue the marriage?”
“With that ill-fated knight?”
Aracila scoffed. No matter how handsome or impressive he might be, a man like Damian Vandermir was the last she’d ever want.
“I’m far too precious to throw myself away like that.”
“Heh heh—don’t speak so firmly. The human heart is a powerful thing, beyond even the reach of magic.”
“My work matters more to me than love. I have no intention of ruining my future over some trivial emotion.”
Pleased by her resolute answer, Philip smiled warmly.
“Heh heh—good. That’s what I expect from my disciple.”
Though he was growing old, he was still holding strong. There was time enough to carefully choose his successor.
He wished to pass his position to the most capable of his disciples.
As long as Aracila Hugo truly divorced as planned, there would be no issue.
‘As long as Aracila doesn’t fall genuinely in love like those other girls did…’
Yet having lost several disciples before to the throes of love, Philip couldn’t help but feel a flicker of unease.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
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Thank you for translating/sharing this. Such an adorable story!