The Maid's Contract Marriage (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 2
The glass ashtray that had struck Reina’s head rolled across the floor and came to a stop after hitting the wall.
Without letting her hands unconsciously reach for the bleeding wound on her head, Reina steadied her resolve and bowed her waist as if asking what had happened.
“Did you find it?”
Thankfully, her voice came out calmly.
A gentle voice rang out from ahead.
“You’re late. What kept you until now?”
Reina had come immediately upon hearing she’d been summoned, but arguing was out of the question.
Reina bowed toward the silhouette of the young lady with long hair draped in the darkness.
“I’m sorry.”
Fortunately, Mrs. Hurst quickly offered a brief excuse.
“My lady wished to give you some words of instruction.”
The young lady laughed.
“Oh, really? You should have said so sooner.”
You should have given me a chance to speak.
That was just her thought, though.
Her mouth obediently replied.
“I’m sorry.”
*Drip.* A drop of blood from her chin fell to the floor.
The young lady crossed her long legs and stared at Reina through the mirror.
“Pick it up.”
Reina quickly retrieved the ashtray that had stopped near the wall and approached Christina.
After confirming it wasn’t stained with blood, she bowed and offered it with both hands—but Christina clicked her tongue in disapproval and jerked her chin toward another spot.
When Reina turned her head toward the place Christina had indicated, she finally noticed the comb lying on the floor.
She placed the ashtray back on the table beside Christina and immediately turned to pick up the comb.
Taking the opportunity as she turned, she discreetly wiped the blood trickling down her forehead on the black part of her sleeve.
Then Reina stepped forward again and respectfully offered the comb to Christina with both hands.
But Christina didn’t take it; she merely stared at the outstretched comb for a moment before lifting only her eyes to look at Reina.
Under the soft glow cast by an expensive beeswax candle, the noble young lady’s beautiful features came into view for Reina.
“…….”
Flawless, translucent skin. Hair rippling in dazzling golden waves.
Mysterious emerald eyes, like newborn green leaves holding sunlight, framed by long, delicate lashes.
And lips, faintly smiling only rarely, closed in deep red.
She was stunningly beautiful—and exquisitely sensitive to the point of exhaustion.
“…….”
How could Madam and Mrs. Hurst have ever thought to make me stand in for someone like her?
Though among maids she was called pretty, Reina was an unrefined young lady with none of this delicacy or elegance.
“…….”
Christina, who had been looking up at Reina, turned her gaze back to the mirror and said coldly,
“The two of us will speak alone.”
Mrs. Hurst bowed slightly with a “Yes,” and disappeared out the door.
Christina remained gazing silently at the mirror all this while.
An oppressive silence.
Only after Mrs. Hurst’s footsteps had faded into the distance and a fair amount of time had passed did Christina finally speak.
“Brush my hair.”
Reina answered “Yes,” withdrew the hand that had been holding out the comb, and moved behind Christina.
She carefully lifted Christina’s lustrous hair over the chair and adjusted her grip on the comb.
Silky strands of golden hair flowed through Reina’s fingers like liquid thread.
The glass ashtray on the table cast sharp patterns on its surface as candlelight passed through it.
Five years ago.
The image of seventeen-year-old Christina throwing a tantrum in this very spot, refusing marriage, overlaid the woman she was now.
…Back then, it had been the Marquis who threw the ashtray at the young lady.
Now that she thought of it, she herself had taken that ashtray’s impact in Christina’s place.
But no one remembered that anymore.
“……Would hibiscus be all right?”
Without speaking, Christina pointed her finger toward another scented oil on the vanity—this one anemone.
Reina picked it up.
Starting from the ends, she slowly and carefully applied it, ensuring the comb wouldn’t tug at Christina’s hair.
She warmed the oil slightly in her fingers and began smoothing and combing through Christina’s tresses.
Each pass of her fingers, each stroke of the comb, left the hair gleaming with luster.
Amid this, the young lady’s flat voice drifted through the air.
“What kind of man was your husband?”
“…….”
Reina’s eyes lingered on Christina’s reflection in the mirror.
Still not looking at Reina, Christina continued while gazing at the dried flowers on her vanity.
“I called you because I wanted to hear.”
“…….”
…Husband.
Holding the comb, Reina stood frozen as her memory drifted back to that distant past.
·
·
·
“Should anyone present have an objection to this marriage, speak now or forever hold your peace.”
“In sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, in youth as well as in age…”
“Until death parts you…”
“Do you both take each other as husband and wife, to cherish, honor, and love?”
“…….”
“Please sign the marriage contract.”
·
·
·
That night, clutching her veil in fear.
As if hoping the darkness would conceal even slightly the face of the false bride, only a single candle burned in the quiet bridal chamber.
Remembering Mrs. Hurst’s instruction not to remove the veil until the candlelight fully extinguished,
Reina gripped the veil with hands trembling so hard they turned pale.
“…….”
Lady Christina wouldn’t have trembled like this.
She wanted to feign composure so her visible shaking wouldn’t seem suspicious—but it wasn’t easy.
“…….”
Trying to forget her fear, Reina reminded herself why she was here.
Her grandmother, having rushed into the burning house to rescue Reina, now hovered between life and death.
In exchange for this night, the Julius family had pledged a vast sum for her grandmother’s treatment and the services of their household physician.
If it could save her grandmother, Reina would do anything.
“……Are you afraid?”
At the man’s voice emerging from the darkness, Reina flinched.
The figure, faintly visible through the veil, looked at her for a moment, then seemed to give a small, indifferent laugh before turning his head away.
“…A foolish question.”
“…….”
Fortunately, since he knew neither Lady Christina’s face nor her temperament, he likely assumed Reina was merely an ordinary girl frightened of her wedding night.
Beneath the faint, flickering candlelight,
Reina wished both that he wouldn’t recognize her and everything would pass smoothly,
and also that he’d realize she wasn’t the “Marquis’s daughter,” grow angry, and storm out of the room.
She squeezed her eyes shut and focused solely on her beloved grandmother.
After a long silence, he spoke again.
“If you’re going to comply…”
His quiet voice continued after a brief pause.
“There’s no more time to delay.”
“I wish I could wait longer…”
“But the night is short, and I’m running out of time…”
Reina remained silent.
He approached after setting aside a few heavy pieces of her ceremonial attire and jewelry onto the table.
Standing before the trembling Reina, he looked down at her for a moment.
“This night will be harder on you…”
“I’ll try my best, but you’ll simply have to endure it.”
“…Please bear with it.”
“I’m sorry in advance.”
That last part surprised her—he hadn’t expected to say it, perhaps.
For the first time, Reina lifted her eyes to look at him.
“…….”
Tall and lean, with sculpted features.
His mysterious gray eyes held a quiet, steady flame.
He reminded her of a winter wolf on snow-covered plains.
“…My apologies for the late introduction.”
“My name is ‘Arthur.’”
“You must have seen it when you signed the contract earlier.”
As if mocking the absurdity of it all, he bowed his head slightly and gave a faint smile.
“I’m the man who’s to be your husband.”
Was it meant as a joke?
Or had he simply expected a dull, predictable exchange of names?
“…….”
Reina couldn’t utter a word.
It wasn’t just fear.
It would be better… not to let him hear her voice at all.
Seeing that she didn’t answer, he calmly spoke for her instead, as if unbothered.
“…You needn’t say your name.”
“…….”
The candle went out.
*Thud.*
At his touch, the veil fell limply to the floor.
Feeling his cool hand at her throat,
Reina closed her eyes.
·
·
·
She’d thought it would be utterly dreadful.
It’s just one night—it’s nothing; no maid’s first night ever fetched such a high price.
She’d tried to comfort herself,
but deep down, she’d expected to feel wretched, humiliated, violated.
Yet he had been courteous, considerate of Reina in every moment.
So this was how a lady of Lady Christina’s standing was treated—with such care.
It felt as though she’d caught a glimpse into a world entirely unknown to her.
It hadn’t been easy.
But he’d been so politely attentive it almost made her feel guilty.
…Thanks to him, Reina’s heart bore no deep wounds.
·
·
·
“…….”
Back in the present, Reina quietly resumed her motion, brushing the young lady’s hair a few more times before speaking.
“He was…”
After a short pause, Reina continued.
“…Quite handsome.”
“…….”
At such an underwhelming answer, Christina—who had sat like a statue—shot Reina a cold glare through the mirror.
Her icy eyes clearly said, “Do you think I called you here just to hear that?”
Reina offered a faint smile and met Christina’s gaze through the mirror.
“…Don’t worry too much. He wasn’t a bad man.”
“…….”
Christina gave no reply.
Reina continued brushing gently as she began to speak.
[This is the timeline separator]After her time with Christina ended,
Mrs. Hurst, who had been waiting outside, pulled Reina aside and confirmed her suspicions were correct.
She also promised double wages if Reina kept quiet around others and stayed away from the mansion for a while to lie low.
What Reina hadn’t expected was the added offer to extend care for her grandmother—originally agreed only through this year—by another five years.
Surprised, Reina’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Thank you… thank you so much!”
Bowing repeatedly with a grateful face, Reina happily withdrew from in front of Christina’s closed bedroom door.
[This is the timeline separator]Reina returned to the maids’ attic just before dawn.
It was the hour when all the maids—who’d managed only light sleep before dawn—were rising again to resume work.
A sliver of morning sunlight filtered through the attic’s narrow, drafty window.
Leaning against the closed door, Reina smiled upon confirming she was alone in the attic.
“Aah—mm…”
Stretching her arms high behind her back with a long yawn, she shuffled toward her bed.
Getting double pay without even working—what unexpected good fortune.
She’d thought she’d only be able to see those caring for her grandmother until this year, yet now they’d extend their support by five more.
Though she’d prepared various contingencies in case aid was cut off, this eased her burden greatly.
Perhaps soon she could use her saved money to look into buying that old house by the seaside.
“I should visit Grandmother tomorrow.”
But then she changed her mind—better to rest properly for one full day first.
Her weary body, having slept barely five full hours over two days, was pulled toward the bed by invisible strings.
Rubbing her sore eyes, Reina decided to nap briefly before the other maids returned.
…Would a month away be enough?
She didn’t have much luggage, after all…
“I’ll just pack the things I need to take home and rest.”
Squatting beside her bed, Reina began sorting through her belongings.
*Thud—*
While organizing her meager possessions, her hand brushed against a document box, nudging the lid slightly askew.
Reina’s eyes fixed on the scrapbooks peeking out through the gap.
“…….”
Yellowed with time, years of layered newspaper clippings.
Gently touching the soft, worn edges, Reina smiled as she counted the years embedded within.
My one-night husband.
During that month of exhausting spring cleaning, I resented you so much—but now, thanks to you, I’m happy.
Thank you sincerely for your final gift.
I hope you return and find happiness.
Your former wife.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
Chapter Comments (37)
Inline Comments (174)
“...Are you claiming to be my wife?”
Phew he knew right away, I was afraid he wouldn’t be able to tell. With her wearing thr veil and all 5 years ago
How would he report what had happened: the Marquis household thrown into chaos b
Even I am stressed reading this right now. How is this going to get resolved?
I wanted the time we spent together to remain good memories.
Not possible brother… you two can’t be on equal standing. Reina has a bigger threat looming over her and she can’t even be her self around you
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Omgosh I forgot how much I dislike the misunderstanding trope
Oh my gosh my heart aches for reina… everyone is just tossing her around
Oh gosh reina 🥺… even in this day and age taking contraceptives mess you up … I can’t even imagine how it was back then. ( yes I’m aware it’s fiction but sympathy is free)