The Maid's Contract Marriage - Chapter 12
“…….”
I don’t know what’s what.
Do you really know?
That I’m not Lady Christina…….
“…….”
What Reina had heard about him was that Arthur seemed to have noticed.
And that when Arthur saw Lady Christina, he said, ‘She is not my wife.’
Ah, there’s one more thing.
That since he seemed angry, you would only be used to calm this situation for a moment.
Reina timidly pressed her lips to her knees while hugging her legs together.
“Be thoroughly Christina in front of Arthur.”
“Even if he says you can be comfortable since he knows you’re a maid, or tries to elicit an answer saying he knows everything, deny it. Don’t give him any excuses.”
“Arthur will probably expect you not to answer anyway.”
“Be careful not to say anything that reveals you’re a maid, even by mistake.”
“Remember that there are many eyes and ears in the mansion.”
“Don’t fall for leading questions, so that careless words don’t trip us up.”
“…….”
I don’t understand.
Rather, it seems like Lord Arthur is the one denying, and I was the one who wanted to ask.
I’m not your wife.
Why are you pretending not to know?
Why are you keeping me by your side?
“…….”
If all of this is for leading questions, then he must be a truly frightening person.
Arthur opened his mouth.
“What are you thinking about?”
“……About you.”
“…….”
After answering honestly without thinking, Reina closed her mouth.
And she thought she wanted to sew her own mouth shut.
First saying she wanted to be alone with him. Then crying when trying to act affectionately.
Now saying she’s thinking about him.
Am I crazy?
Arthur chuckled to himself without looking at her.
“…….”
That sight was breathtakingly handsome for a moment.
It was a perfect picture.
Were jet-black hair and silver-gray eyes such a well-matched combination?
He’s just like a statue.
Arthur moved only his eyes to look at Reina.
Reina unknowingly averted her gaze immediately.
“…….”
She didn’t want to do it because it might seem ridiculous to do it so many times, but his face was so handsome it was scary to look at directly.
I can’t breathe when that person is looking.
“…….”
As he opened his mouth as if to say something.
Knock knock.
The door burst open at the same time as the knocking sound.
It was before an answer could go out to the outside.
Reina jumped up from the bed in surprise.
‘Marchioness!’
Reina hurriedly got up and dusted off her skirt as if she had been caught stealing something.
“Ma… Mother.”
She almost blurted out “Madam” but barely corrected it to “Mother.”
Cold sweat broke out as if she had been caught in a tryst in front of the master.
Reina remembered exactly how strictly the lady had decorated and put effort into this bed.
Of course, it wasn’t meant for a maid to go in and sit on.
The marchioness looked at the flustered Reina and smiled.
“Christina.”
The next moment, Arthur also got up from the bed.
“…….”
Arthur approached Reina.
Then he gently grabbed Reina’s wrist and pulled her behind him.
Surprised, Reina stumbled slightly as she was dragged behind him.
“Marchioness.”
Arthur’s calm voice was heard from behind.
“I wasn’t informed whether this is the couple’s shared bedroom, or my personal bedroom, or my wife’s personal bedroom.”
Arthur continued.
“I thought it would be a place where the couple could spend time comfortably either way. Was I wrong?”
Reina looked at the back of Arthur’s head and the marchioness’s face beyond it in bewilderment.
A terrifying silence descended.
“…….”
The marchioness, who had been quietly looking at Reina and Arthur together, broke the silence.
“……That’s right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t do this anymore. I didn’t realize I was making a mistake because I’ve always entered my daughter’s room like this.”
“…….”
Unexpectedly, the lady apologized readily.
Reina looked at the marchioness, inwardly shocked.
“I was surprised to hear that my daughter was sick and didn’t think about Lord Arthur being with her. I’ve committed a breach of etiquette. If it was unpleasant, I apologize.”
“…….”
Was Madam capable of speaking so gently?
It was surprising, but there was no time to dwell on it.
Cold sweat broke out every time the word “daughter” came shamelessly from the marchioness’s mouth.
Is this okay?
It seems like it would earn Lord Arthur’s cold sneer at any moment…….
“……!”
The next moment, her eyes met the marchioness’s.
Reina froze like a rabbit in front of a viper, startled.
Reina lowered her head and her lips trembled.
She could feel that the marchioness was ordering her to take some action immediately.
What the marchioness wanted in this situation soon became clear in her mind.
She had to say something. Right now.
“I’m… I’m sorry for worrying you, ……Mother.”
With her head lowered, she couldn’t see Arthur’s expression.
The marchioness naturally continued in a very worried tone.
“I heard from Dr. Lorenson. Are you alright?”
Reina answered with a forced smile on her stiff face.
“Of course. I guess I was just tired from standing in the cold wind for too long.”
The marchioness looked at Reina with concern.
Reina stood still, submitting to her inspection.
That was probably what she was inspecting.
Whether there had been any impropriety.
Although she wasn’t sure if it would be visible to the eye, Reina rather hoped it would be visible to the marchioness’s eyes.
The marchioness looked at Reina as if deeply concerned, then sighed with a voice dripping with worry.
“What are we to do with such a weak body.”
After that, things flowed smoothly.
Reina stammered, asking Arthur if she could talk to her mother separately for a moment to reassure her.
“…….”
Arthur let her go.
“Go ahead, my lady.”
With a dry smile that only lifted the corners of his mouth.
Naturally, the hand that was held was released.
When it was just the two of them, she wanted to run away.
But when she was actually released, it felt a bit strange.
[This is the timeline separator]“Well done, Reina.”
At the marchioness’s first words, Reina instinctively felt relieved.
Honestly, she had been prepared to possibly get hit…….
It was fortunate that she seemed to understand that using the young lady’s bedroom was an unavoidable situation.
But at the marchioness’s next words, Reina’s heart sank again.
“Seeing how well you’re doing, I think we can keep you in that position a little longer.”
Reina’s face turned pale.
“What?”
What more…….
No, get me out quickly.
The marchioness, sitting on the sofa and opening her fan, continued.
“Arthur still hasn’t come to the negotiating table. For a while, it seems he wants to keep you by his side and flaunt you as if he has some leverage over us. It’s childish, but well. We’re also preparing something to give him as compensation anyway. It would be fine to give him some time. I ask for your cooperation a little longer.”
The marchioness put on a sweet voice with cold eyes.
Not showing her impatience in front of a maid girl was the marchioness’s last pride.
“It’s fortunate that you’re a quick-witted child. If you were a useless child, it would have been difficult, but I’m relieved it’s you. I’m always grateful.”
“…….”
What does that mean?
While listening to the insincere compliments that didn’t feel genuine at all, Reina stared blankly at the lady in fear.
The marchioness looked at Reina briefly and then turned away.
Clatter.
Somehow, the head maid Mrs. Hurst had approached with a teacup on a tray.
“Drink this.”
The marchioness said.
Reina stared at the mysterious teacup, slightly frozen.
It was a teacup filled with dark liquid with a faint reddish tint.
“What… is this?”
The marchioness smiled.
“It’s medicine I’m giving you out of gratitude.”
The lady personally took the teacup from the tray and handed it to Reina.
“It will protect your dreams.”
“…….”
As soon as Reina heard the lady’s words, she realized what kind of medicine it was.
I see, it’s medicine to prevent pregnancy.
Although it was her first time seeing it in person, Reina remembered hearing stories about the ‘red water that removes children’ circulating among the maids.
She also knew it was medicine that was not good for the body, to the extent that many maids became infertile or ill after drinking it, but Reina received the poisonous cup from the lady without being able to explain that nothing had happened with Arthur.
“…….”
Even if I say I didn’t sleep with Lord Arthur…… would she believe me?
If I try to avoid drinking the medicine with such words, it might look like I’m trying to get involved with Lord Arthur somehow.
Honestly, whether we slept together or not, there’s no reason for the lady not to give me this medicine as a precaution…….
There was nothing to say if she said it was a preventive measure since we don’t know what will happen in the future.
For the lady, she just needs the assurance that I won’t become an obstacle to Lady Christina.
“If you don’t want to, we won’t do it.”
“…….”
Why am I thinking of that now…….
Reina brought the cup to her lips, holding it with both hands.
The medicine was bitter and unpleasant.
“……Cough.”
After swallowing it all, a small cough came out.
Seeing Reina drink all the medicine, Mrs. Hurst handed her a piece of candy.
Reina received it with both hands and said “Thank you” while obediently putting it in her mouth.
Madam’s orders continued.
“Refrain from going out as much as possible, and especially avoid appearing in front of ‘Lord Rembrandt’ under any excuse. You know the royal guest staying at the mansion, right? If you show your face to that person, things will get complicated. Make excuses like you’re not feeling well or you don’t want to meet any man other than your husband.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The marchioness spoke after a short pause.
“And one more thing, there’s something I want you to do.”
What more……?
A bad feeling came over her.
The marchioness continued.
“If you can do that job without any mistakes, I’ll give you ten times your weekly wage. No matter how long the period is, every week.”
Reina was surprised.
Ten times? Was such a wage possible?
With that money…….
“…….”
Reina hesitated for a moment, but soon her heart leaned towards giving up.
It’s already dangerous.
If it’s a job worth offering that much compensation, it must be an extremely dangerous job.
Such money wasn’t more precious than life.
For Reina, returning safely to her grandmother was the most important thing.
Reina, with a pitiful and desperate expression, furrowed her brows, trying to express in advance that ‘I am afraid and inadequate, and do not dare to take on such a heavy responsibility.’
“Madam…….”
But the marchioness added an offer that Reina couldn’t refuse.
“I’ll send Taylor to your home. Taylor Lorenson, the son of Dr. Lorenson.”
“…….”
Reina paused at the unexpected proposal.
Taylor Lorenson.
The son of Dr. Lorenson who stays at the marquis’s house with him, and the second doctor of the marquis’s house.
“Taylor, that child is quite skilled for his age. He’s also the one who will become the Julius family’s primary physician when Dr. Lorenson retires, so his skills are reliable.”
‘Grandmother.’
Her heart pounded.
The marchioness continued.
“What do you think? I know you have a special relationship with him. Isn’t this quite an appealing offer in many ways?”
[This is the timeline separator]Arthur quietly leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, tapping his arm with his fingertips.
After a moment, he uncrossed his arms and reached out to the desk to pick up a cigar and lit it.
He blew out a long puff of smoke that spread throughout the room.
……I see.
There could have been a man.
That side probably wasn’t a real marriage either…….
His aura flickered.
A sensation only Arthur could feel.
A gently cynical atmosphere settled on Arthur’s lips as he waited for them on another floor.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
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