The Maid's Contract Marriage (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 9
Rembrandt smiled and continued.
“Sir Arthur may already be aware, but Lady Christina Julius, daughter of Marquis Julius, is famously known for never interacting with others. The only place one might see her is at the temple.”
Arthur replied with a look of amusement.
“At the temple?”
“Yes. Though she is notoriously difficult to meet, she has never once missed the temple’s victory prayer mass. It’s quite a famous tale in these parts—devotees come to the temple in thrice the usual numbers just for a glimpse of her, said to be the greatest beauty in high society.”
“Hmm.”
He then went on to lavish praise upon Christina’s devotion, who had prayed for Arthur’s victory for five long years.
He offered customary compliments regarding Christina’s exceptional fidelity, having obeyed the Imperial decree—more strictly than anyone else—to remain secluded and abstain from social gatherings during the war.
Marchioness Julius anxiously watched Arthur’s reaction as Rembrandt spoke.
In truth, attending religious ceremonies had merely been a substitute for banned social events—a way to showcase Christina’s extraordinary beauty.
Her complete refusal to interact with others was meant to hide her less-than-angelic personality.
And her strictest adherence to the Imperial order forbidding social gatherings was specifically to prevent inquiries about Christina’s marriage prospects.
They hadn’t anticipated it would be interpreted as chastity for her fiancé who had gone off to war—but regardless,
the result was exquisite: veiled in mystery, beautiful and aloof, Christina had reigned for the past five years as queen of a social scene without actual social events.
As the only daughter of the prestigious Julius family, promised a vast dowry and inheritance, she was truly a bride of the century.
‘All that effort to cultivate her reputation—just in case Arthur died, so she could be married off well elsewhere…’
But now, it was all for nothing.
Amid Rembrandt’s flattery elevating Christina to the highest lady, he carefully watched Arthur’s expression.
Arthur appeared politely curious but otherwise uninterested.
One might expect him to gloat, having left them floundering in such an entertaining situation…
Yet Rembrandt, hiding his own judgment, asked cheerfully,
“Would I have the honor of paying my respects to the lady?”
He added innocently, as if utterly unaware of the true identity of the current ‘Christina’:
“Actually, Marquis Julius asked me to capture your reunion in a painting—he wished to preserve the moment. I gladly accepted. I’m free today anyway.”
The Marquis’s eyes bulged like lanterns, and he half-rose from his seat in agitation.
Marchioness Julius, forgetting even her pride, stared desperately at Arthur with wide, pleading eyes.
‘Please… please, Arthur! Say no!’
Arthur answered gently.
“Of course. My wife will be delighted as well.”
The Marquis and Marchioness instantly paled.
The Marquis abruptly stood up, knocking his chair back.
“Hah, hah! I must go prepare Christina!”
“I’ll do it!”
The Marchioness also rose hastily.
But Arthur didn’t even glance their way as he added,
“Still, today might be too much. My wife worked through the entire night last night—she’s likely unwell. Let’s arrange another opportunity soon.”
Flushed crimson with humiliation, the Marquis and his wife stood frozen, stung by their own haste.
[This is the timeline separator]Reina anxiously darted her eyes around.
She wanted to ask these girls at least something—what was happening outside, why she’d been in this room…
After enduring an uncomfortable silence while being dressed up for a long while, Reina awkwardly tried to start a conversation.
“Um… I’m Reina.”
The black-haired maid combing Reina’s hair with scented oil glanced at her through the mirror and replied curtly,
“Yeah, I know. Do you really think anyone here doesn’t know who you are?”
Since Reina rarely interacted with her fellow maids, the unexpected remark startled her—as if she’d committed some hidden crime.
“You know me?”
Of course they did—Reina stood out.
What rotten luck.
Though the black-haired maid scoffed openly, she at least offered her name.
“You don’t know me, right? I’m Marina. That one’s Brody.”
The other maid, Brody—whose face always seemed unfairly aggrieved as she styled Reina’s hair from the opposite side—also exchanged a glance with Reina through the mirror.
Reina had worried they might have heard about the fake bride incident outside, but in truth, she’d always been quietly famous among the maids.
Nine out of ten new servants or maids entering this mansion would immediately ask, “Who’s that girl?”
And the next thing they’d inevitably hear after her name was,
“You can’t get close to her—she’s got a wall up.”
Yet this time, surprisingly, Reina had actually tried introducing herself?
Marina tugged at Reina’s hair and pouted.
“By the way, is it true the young lady’s unwell?”
“…….”
“Why did you go out in the young lady’s place?”
“…….”
Reina stayed silent.
These were questions she couldn’t possibly answer.
She wasn’t particularly gifted at lying.
Not that she was completely incapable—but when questioned, she lacked the quick thinking and spontaneity needed to fabricate a plausible excuse on the spot.
Her grandmother’s safety hung in the balance.
That was precisely why Reina had built walls between herself and the other maids…
When Reina remained silent, Marina sneered coldly again and closed her mouth with a knowing, ‘I knew it’ expression.
Her attempt at introduction now felt embarrassingly futile, and an even more awkward silence settled between them than before.
“…….”
“You suddenly collapsed yesterday, right?”
Marina abruptly spoke again.
Reina flinched and looked at her.
“So Sir Arthur seemed startled, and out of nowhere drew his sword, declared ‘For His Majesty the Emperor!’ and ended the whole victory procession in one go. Then he carried you straight up here.”
Hearing Marina answer the very questions she’d wanted to ask, Reina’s face flushed with embarrassment and guilt.
I didn’t say a single word to explain…
Reina clenched her hands on her lap and muttered,
“…Did no one stop him?”
Marina frowned.
“Were we even allowed to? We were told we knew nothing.”
“…….”
“The young lady being unwell—it’s a lie.”
“…….”
“Will we be safe?”
“…….”
Reina couldn’t answer at all.
…If I answer, you’ll only be in more danger.
Thud.
At the sound of the door opening, the maids shrieked in surprise.
“Oh—Sir Arthur!”
The two startled maids immediately let go of Reina’s hair and turned around.
Reina, spotting Arthur in the mirror, froze where she sat at the dressing table.
Arthur, seeing Reina surrounded by maids, gave a slight nod.
“Am I interrupting?”
“No, we’re finished. We’ll take our leave.”
The two maids quickly finished her styling and bowed deeply to Reina as if she were the real Miss Christina.
“Have a pleasant time.”
“If you need anything, just pull the bell rope here.”
They backed away and disappeared.
Reina belatedly scrambled up from her chair and stood facing him, terribly awkward.
Her eyes darted everywhere, unable to settle on anything.
“…….”
“Are you feeling well?”
“Huh? Yes… yes.”
Reina briefly met his eyes for just an instant before jerking her gaze down again in alarm.
Arthur continued,
“You collapsed so suddenly—I thought something hurt.”
Reina shook her head quickly in denial.
“No, no! Nothing hurts. Yesterday was just… just fatigue, I guess.”
She still couldn’t look him in the eyes.
Arthur stood quietly watching her for a moment, then turned his gaze aside and spoke,
“About the undergarments… I’m sorry.”
“It’s—it’s fine…?”
Arthur frowned and turned slightly away as he spoke.
“I’ve heard urban legends about that corset supposedly grabbing the young lady sometimes—but I never thought it was real. Isn’t that thing dangerously tight?”
“Huh?”
Reina kept making blank, foolish sounds.
Arthur fell silent, ruffled his own hair, paused briefly, then said,
“When I carried you up, it was manageable—but once I laid you down, you stopped breathing. I thought you’d suffocate if I left you like that.”
“…….”
“I tried removing the dress, but it didn’t help, so I had to tear it off quickly. It got ruined—couldn’t put it back on.”
“…….”
Her face burned crimson.
Ah… Oh. That’s what he meant.
So that’s why the corset was gone.
Sir Arthur… was like that.
“…….”
“I didn’t… take it off with any other intention.”
Somehow, he seemed deeply embarrassed.
Was he feeling awkward?
Reina stammered, looking elsewhere as she replied,
“Y-you did? It’s—it’s fine. Th-thank you.”
What’s this…? Just taking off some clothes…
It was her who’d been undressed, yet he was the one acting so flustered—it felt strange.
Even if he *had* taken them off with other intentions, who would blame him?
They were already married—this wasn’t their first time.
After all, she was playing his wife, standing in for him even in such matters.
He was a general who’d gone to the frontlines for his family’s sake, returned triumphantly, and deserved reward for his efforts…
Yet here he was, making excuses as if afraid she’d misunderstand his intentions—that was even stranger.
His unease over something so small only made her blush harder from secondhand embarrassment.
“!”
Suddenly, Arthur grabbed Reina’s head with his hand and turned her face toward him.
Her eyes, which had been avoiding his, now met his directly.
“Is that why you won’t look me in the eyes?”
“!”
Reina’s face turned bright red with panic.
“N-no….”
At that moment, Arthur’s expression shifted subtly.
“?”
He moved the hand holding her head slightly toward her forehead, brushing aside her bangs to touch the side of her forehead.
“Ah.”
A dull ache flickered through her.
Reina reflexively hunched her shoulders.
Arthur’s expression hardened.
“What’s this wound?”
She immediately knew what he was referring to.
It was the gash from two days ago—when Christina had thrown an ashtray at her.
Reina pulled back slightly, smoothing her bangs to hide the injury.
“I got hurt a few days ago. It’s nothing serious.”
“Nothing serious? It’s on your face. How did it happen?”
“It’s under my bangs—no one can see it.”
“How did it happen.”
Arthur repeated the question, refusing to let it go.
Reina quickly made up a simple excuse.
“I hit my head on the table corner—bent down to pick up a hairbrush that fell.”
Fortunately, a plausible reason came to mind, making her lie sound natural.
Arthur frowned.
“Did you see a doctor?”
Reina laughed as if he’d made a joke and replied,
“What? Call a doctor for something this small…?”
She stopped mid-sentence.
If she were Miss Christina, she would’ve summoned a doctor immediately.
Because a noble lady’s face was precious.
She quickly corrected herself.
“I should—I mean, I did. The doctor already checked it once.”
Arthur raised one eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
He clearly didn’t believe her.
He strode toward the bed and pulled the bell rope.
After a moment, a knock sounded from outside.
“You called?”
“Is there a resident physician in this mansion?”
“Yes.”
“Send for him.”
“Yes, right away.”
Oh… the doctor…?
Standing dumbfounded, Reina suddenly realized something—and her face turned pale.
Wait. The doctor will come thinking I’m Miss Christina.
Then he’ll find out too!
Desperately, Reina grabbed Arthur’s arm.
“Arthur—Sir Arthur! No, it’s fine! Don’t call him!”
Arthur gently covered her hand holding his arm, guiding her toward the sofa as he calmly overruled her,
“We’ll have him check your forehead and make sure there are no other health issues. It might not just be fatigue that made you collapse.”
What should I do?
No excuse to prevent calling the doctor came to mind.
My limit for lying convincingly is just explaining how I got this forehead injury.
If I can’t give a reason that even I believe, my lies instantly become awkward.
Reina squeezed her eyes shut.
“I—I just want to be alone with you!”
Arthur stopped abruptly.
Agh!
They always say things like this in novels.
But it’s way too awkward. Anyone can tell it’s a lie.
After a brief silence, Arthur chuckled softly and covered his mouth.
“…I appreciate you saying that.”
Huh? Did it work?
Reina blinked rapidly.
“Let’s have the doctor check your wound first, then we’ll talk, my lady.”
Agh.
It’s over.
Of course that excuse wouldn’t hold.
The doctor wouldn’t stay long anyway—just a quick check—yet I’ve made a fool of myself.
Arthur quirked one corner of his mouth as if suppressing laughter, lowered his head slightly, and murmured,
“Hearing your voice… it really feels like I’m home.”
Thump. Her heart hit the floor.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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Chapter Comments (37)
Inline Comments (172)
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
"Say it again, but longer."
This is the second time he has said this lol 😆 , blunt isn’t he
After long hesitation…
Ohh that’s a whole other can of worms waiting to be opened
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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)