The Maid's Contract Marriage - Chapter 26

Arthur met Julius Marquis, who came to visit him after a day, in his office.

“Your Excellency the Marquis.”

Arthur, who stood up and offered a handshake, had a plain and fresh face as if nothing had ever happened between them.

“……”

The Marquis silently grasped his hand with a stiff face and then let go.

Without mentioning the issue of inadequate supplies, the Marquis said he only came to apologize for his mistake yesterday.

“……”

Arthur gestured with his eyes to dismiss the knights guarding behind him to the outside.

After talking with Arthur alone for quite a long time.

Julius Marquis, who came out of the office, personally visited Lionel and apologized with a polite attitude.

“I’m sorry. It may not make up for the insult you received, but I’ll at least compensate you for the medical expenses.”

Lionel reluctantly accepted the apology.

Later, when Lionel received the compensation, he commented that it seemed like he could take about three more slaps.

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And two days later.

The remaining victorious army all arrived at Julius territory.

It was seven days after Arthur returned to Julius Marquis’s domain.

The newly arrived people were more than five times the number of people who had arrived first for the victory ceremony with Arthur.

‘Wow….’

Reina opened her mouth in surprise as she saw the people packed into the outer city garrison area through the window.

It was an enormous number of people.

“I thought all the people who arrived with you for the victory ceremony a week ago were everyone……”

Arthur smiled gently.

“Only those who could move on horseback came quickly first. Most of the people who arrived with me that day were knights or soldiers who could move on horseback. The soldiers who take time to move were set to follow separately behind.”

Arthur stood beside her and looked out the window along with Reina.

“In fact, the people who arrived today are the real conscripted soldiers of Julius.”

“Ah……”

I see.

No wonder all the people who came first seemed to have similar armor to Sir Arthur.

People who can move on horseback…….

So that’s how they could arrive so unexpectedly quickly.

Reina belatedly understood as everything fell into place.

But why did Sir Arthur come in such a hurry?

“By the way, my lady.”

Arthur playfully flicked the tip of his finger to lightly touch Reina’s forehead.

“How long are you going to call me ‘Sir Arthur’?”

Arthur smiled.

“Ah, I’m sorry. ……Arthur……”

Reina touched her forehead where his fingertip had lightly brushed, feeling shy at his casual playfulness.

Reina hesitated and then said.

“……It’s still a bit…… awkward. When I get comfortable, I’ll slowly call you that. ……You can speak comfortably to me too. I’m younger, after all.”

Arthur asked in return, keeping his gaze toward the window without looking at her.

“By name?”

“……”

Ah.

……Reina ended up not saying anything and just smiled awkwardly.

Arthur smiled silently and said.

“I’ll do that when I get comfortable too, my lady.”

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Arthur went out with the knights to greet the arriving soldiers, then turned around and led them to salute towards the Marquis again.

And then he raised the imperial flag towards the west where the Emperor would be and saluted.

Julius Marquis and his wife watched them silently, seated in a place prepared slightly higher.

For some reason, the Marquis did not overdo it by coming forward to pretend to be friendly or show off to Arthur or the returning soldiers.

And that day, a proper victory celebration street festival was held all day in the territory to celebrate the complete return of the soldiers.

As there had been trial and error a week ago and preparations had been made two days in advance, a much grander scale of street party than the first victory ceremony took place.

This was what Arthur had demanded when Julius Marquis visited two days ago.

As incomparably more money was spent, much more systematic, substantial, delicious, and rare foods were supplied throughout the territory and garrison.

And just as the soldiers, dumbfounded by the Marquis’s changed attitude, had their jaws drop at the enormous war participation rewards that arrived for themselves and their families.

An article appeared in the newsletter.

【 Exclusive! Sir Arthur’s solo interview! ― “Can’t deny there were immature aspects in Julius’s supply. But Julius Marquis is not a petty person” 】

― It’s true that there were deficiencies in Julius’s supply.

― However, I can clearly state that His Excellency the Marquis is not as stingy as misunderstood by the public.

― Supplies can originally be looted in the middle, accidents can happen, and so on.

Arthur, two days ago, demanded appropriate compensation for the returned knights and war veterans from the visiting Marquis.

And the Marquis accepted the proposal of the heir with equal co-ruling rights within the family as the ‘head of household’.

Even though he could have refused as much as he wanted, since family authority and private property are separate.

【 Julius pays largest war reward in history to war veterans! 】

【 Julius opens vault generously! War veterans sit on money cushions 】

It was an enormous reward that even the great Julius momentarily staggered at.

Not forgetting the consolation money for the families of the fallen, the promised pension for the bereaved families was also of considerable scale.

In exchange for paying this compensation for supply omissions to all the soldiers, Arthur agreed to defend the Marquis with an ambiguous attitude.

And in addition, there was one unexpected thing.

【 Lady Christina visits war veteran bereaved families with Sir Arthur, belatedly revealed to be a hot topic! 】

― I didn’t know she was Lady Christina.

― She came with Sir Arthur, and quietly cried in the back……

― We couldn’t even imagine she would be Lady Christina since she wasn’t introduced.

― She was a blonde with beautiful eyes.

A shocking exclusive report followed that ‘Arthur’ and ‘Lady Christina’ personally visited the bereaved families of war veterans on the second day of Arthur’s return to console them.

That ‘Lady Christina’, who was only known as a haughty and picky rich young lady, went without revealing her identity and just quietly shed tears in the back.

The newsletters were in an uproar with praise and surprise for her humane side that had been hidden for a long time.

Julius was revived.

Although not to the level of before, gifts and visitors began to gather again in Julius.

Julius Marquis and his wife, who barely managed to make a precarious comeback thanks to ‘Christina’s’ touching story, breathed a sigh of relief.

And they began to be cautious, watching Arthur’s mood.

They had managed to revive, but. It was a complicated feeling.

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The Marchioness paced anxiously.

From 11 AM for about an hour.

It was the time when Teacher Lorenson visited Reina and Arthur.

And the time he usually returned to the Marchioness was between 12:30 and 1 PM.

Officially, it was the time when Teacher Lorenson came to treat the Marchioness’s arm and leg that were injured when she fell down the stairs a few days ago.

“……”

As she became completely cowed and started watching Arthur’s mood, the Marchioness began to obsess over the ‘Arthur’s weakness’ report entrusted to Reina.

She looked at the clock over and over, sitting down and standing up repeatedly, and as soon as the door opened and her personal physician Alvin Lorenson entered, she jumped up from her seat and asked.

“What did she say? No news today either?”

Teacher Lorenson heaved a deep sigh and shook his head briefly.

“My lady…… She’s only been by his side for a week, how could that innocent little thing already bring something like a weakness? If that were possible, would Reina be working as a maid? She’d already be scouted somewhere as a spy or intelligence agent.”

The Marchioness got irritated.

“Why a week? A week is enough! She’s been by his side day and night, she must have seen and heard something!”

Teacher Lorenson looked at the lady with exasperated eyes along with a deep sigh.

“No, is Sir Arthur a pushover? You said Sir Arthur knew from the beginning that she was fake. He’d guess she received such orders from you, so would he let her easily catch his weaknesses? He’s someone who’s been to real war for five years.”

The Marchioness bit her lips repeatedly and then let out a hysterical “Oooh!”

She was frustrated and about to burst.

I should have given secret orders from the beginning.

Why did I openly pressure Reina and take her out in front of Arthur.

There was no need for a long conversation, but trying to show off my power to Arthur, I openly took Reina out and dragged out the time for a long while.

I wanted to show that I wasn’t watching your mood.

I deliberately dragged out the time even longer and kept her for a while before sending her back, just to make you wonder what we were talking about.

Rather, because of that, it was she herself who ended up worrying.

The Marchioness anxiously chewed on the end of her fan.

Since I did that, he’d guess that Reina received some kind of order from me, right?

It was as Teacher Lorenson said.

She must be being extremely cautious.

“……”

Although she had enough conscience to think so, the Marchioness’s mood was twisted.

‘No, even if it’s been a week, even if she couldn’t bring a weakness, shouldn’t there be some sign that she’s showing sincerity?’

The Marchioness turned her head abruptly and said to Teacher Lorenson.

“Alvin. Go visit my son once. That child who’s with Reina’s grandmother, Taylor.”

I guess I’ll have to throw Taylor as bait once.

The Marchioness’s eyes flashed.

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Arthur’s private garden.

Reina happily stabbed the last mushroom on her plate with her fork and popped it into her mouth, delighting in the warm and savory flavor that filled her mouth.

The moist brown mushroom infused with the steak’s juices was exquisite.

So delicious……

While doing so, Reina sneakily checked Arthur’s plate.

“……”

As expected. He doesn’t eat mushrooms.

Just in case, she checked how many mushrooms were on the plate from the beginning.

Even though the steak had almost disappeared, all three deliciously grilled mushrooms remained untouched on his plate.

He didn’t touch even a single one.

Seeing that, Reina was almost certain.

Arthur doesn’t eat mushrooms.

The other type of mushroom on the steak plate last time too.

The chicken mushroom stew too. The mushroom soup too, Arthur didn’t touch.

It’s delicious though. Why?

“Sir Arthur.”

“Yes?”

Reina placed her gaze on his plate for about 1 second and then looked up at Arthur.

“Do you dislike mushrooms?”

“……Huh? Ah.”

Without answering immediately, Arthur hesitated and seemed to consider whether to pretend otherwise, hovering his utensils above.

But realizing he had already been caught, he just smiled sheepishly and lowered his fork far from the mushrooms.

What is this…… Is he embarrassed about being a picky eater?

Reina suddenly felt a little encouraged.

It felt like she had discovered something about him for the first time.

Arthur smiled embarrassedly.

“……Do you think it’s foolish?”

“No. It’s just…… unexpected.”

Reina bit the tip of her fork and smiled slightly.

“Those are delicious though……”

Arthur glanced at Reina with a slight smile.

“……You seem to like them. Should I have more brought?”

“What? No, it’s okay. If you don’t eat them, I’ll just……”

―Reina stopped mid-sentence.

……This doesn’t seem like proper young lady behavior.

Would Miss Christina have called someone?

But just for mushrooms?

“Hmm……”

Reina was about to decline.

Arthur chuckled and then used his unused dessert fork to stab a mushroom from his plate and held it out.

Their seats were quite close at the small outdoor round table.

“……”

Oh well.

Reina just leaned her upper body slightly and ate it, overcoming a bit of embarrassment.

It’s delicious indeed.

As she chewed while covering her mouth, Arthur stabbed the second mushroom and held it out again.

“……”

Arthur smiled.

“It’s not that I can’t eat them. It’s true that I don’t like them though.”

Reina ate one more and after swallowing it, was about to ask.

―Why?

But the answer came from elsewhere.

“He had a bad experience eating poisonous mushrooms.”

Arthur’s expression showed surprise as he turned his head towards the source of the unfamiliar voice.

“Kyle.”

Huh?

Reina dazedly looked at the blonde handsome man who suddenly appeared.

“……”

As their eyes met, he smiled brightly.

“Hello.”

Huh?

Kyle?

That name from somewhere…….

“……”

Reina froze blankly for a moment and then covered her mouth and shouted like a scream the next moment.

“Crown Prince Kyle?!”