The Maid's Contract Marriage - Chapter 40

After receiving information about ‘Rembrandt’ from Kay, Arthur subsequently ordered an investigation into another person.

It was about Rembrandt’s attendant.

“He seems to be a diplomat belonging to the imperial family, and his name is Francis.”

After finishing his order with instructions to inform him as progress was made, Arthur told Kay he could leave now.

Since Rembrandt was a relative of the imperial family and thus somewhat of a celebrity, information about such a person would already be known to a high-ranking noble like Kay, so he could get an immediate answer,

But Rembrandt’s attendant would be different from such a famous person, so Arthur thought it would take time to investigate.

However, Kay, who received the order, paused for just 1 second and then immediately answered.

“…He’s my elder brother.”

Arthur, unusually, was momentarily at a loss for words.

“I think I can report right away.”

Kay calmly began to speak.

“Francis Ford. The second son of the Ford Count family. He’s twenty-eight years old. From a young age, he decided on a career in diplomacy and administration, following the elite course attended by the imperial family and high nobles in order, and graduated with excellent grades from Westriver College as a prodigy.”

“…”

Arthur tried to concentrate on the content of Kay’s report while struggling to maintain his composure.

“He’s a classmate who studied together with His Highness the Crown Prince and Lord Rembrandt. He caused some trouble when he was young, but now he’s a proper 6-year imperial diplomat, as far as I know. He speaks 4 or 8 languages. I know for sure about four, but the other four were somewhat clumsy. As of five years ago, that is.”

“…”

Kay continued speaking calmly.

“He has Knight Kay Ford as his younger brother. Now he’s assisting Lord Rembrandt by order of His Majesty the Emperor. …As you know, the younger brother is assisting Lord Arthur.”

Arthur couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Kay also smiled slightly in response.

“We reunited here a few days ago and exchanged recent news. It’s not so touching that we shed tears of joy at the reunion, but we’re close enough to meet and greet each other, confirming we’re alive.”

Kay continued speaking.

“If you want, I can find out about ‘Francis Ford’ in such detail that there’s no privacy left. How much do you want to know?”

Arthur cleared his throat and said.

“…This is somewhat embarrassing. I’m sorry.”

When Arthur apologized, Kay laughed.

“What is there to apologize for? You’ve found the perfect candidate.”

Arthur rubbed his forehead, showing an awkward expression.

“I didn’t know he was your elder brother. If I had known his surname was ‘Ford’, I would have guessed. I only knew his first name.”

“That’s understandable. It doesn’t matter. It’s not like you ordered an assassination or anything.”

Arthur chuckled.

Kay said brightly.

“In what direction are you curious? He wasn’t particularly well-regarded in the family, but he was a brother who could take care of himself normally. But I don’t think that’s what you’re curious about.”

Arthur asked after a brief pause.

“Is your elder brother still unmarried?”

“Yes. He’s still unmarried.”

“Twenty-eight is a bit late. Did he miss the timing because of the noble marriage ban?”

“That’s right. There was someone he was talking about getting engaged to at one point, but it became ambiguous when the war broke out. I believe it fizzled out during the marriage ban. As far as I know, he’s not seeing anyone now, but I haven’t had a deep conversation with my family since I returned. If you command, I’ll find out more details.”

Arthur was briefly silent.

It seemed he hesitated to order an investigation according to his own purposes, given that it concerned the sibling of the subordinate before him.

Kay waited for Arthur’s next order, keeping in mind that his first additional question about Francis was whether he was ‘unmarried’.

Arthur soon opened his mouth.

“You must be curious why I’m having your elder brother investigated.”

Kay answered calmly.

“Before being Francis’s brother, I am a knight and a soldier. I have no intention of questioning orders presumptuously. But if you feel uncomfortable asking me, I’ll have someone else investigate.”

“No. I’m asking you.”

Arthur said plainly.

“I’m investigating my wife. I was wondering why. I’m concerned whether it’s ‘Rembrandt’s attendant’ being investigated or ‘Francis Ford’ as an individual.”

“Ah.”

Kay let out a short exclamation.

It was a reason that made sense as soon as he heard it.

Kay quickly went over the possibilities and circumstances that could be inferred from his words in his mind.

“What kind of person is your elder brother? Is he the type to take an interest if there’s a beauty? If he’s not that type, it was likely ‘Rembrandt’s orders’ with high probability.”

Arthur asked next.

Kay recalled his brother’s personality.

“…”

Unfortunately, there was something that came to mind.

“…Yes. He likes beautiful women. He dates quite a lot secretly. He’s made quite a few women cry.”

Kay answered miserably, feeling somewhat ashamed.

Arthur’s suspicion was so reasonable that Kay didn’t even consider other possibilities at that moment.

Feeling like he had to prove his own purity while being embarrassed by his brother’s bad behavior, Kay reported his brother’s past in a very critical tone.

And then, as if making excuses, he poured out details about his brother’s history with women and the resulting awkwardness.

He felt that if he didn’t, he might be lumped together as being similar.

While listening with a smiling face saying, “I see.”

The veins on the back of Arthur’s hand, which was clenched into a fist under the desk, stood out blue.

“…?”

Feeling an eerie sensation on the back of his neck for some reason, Francis, who was sitting at his desk writing something, looked around.

After finishing his official yet personal report to Arthur.

Kay, who was leaving the room with a long sigh, discovered a lady waiting for Arthur in front of the path blocked by knights.

Lady Christina.

Arthur’s real wife, her face hidden by a bonnet.

She was dressed in a splendid dress that, although meant to be modest in her own way, couldn’t hide her usual taste for extravagance.

“…”

Whether she intended to apologize or engage in a battle of wills.

Perhaps it was her way of maintaining her pride.

Christina glanced at him as he came out opening the door,

Then, holding the edge of her skirt with her fingertips, she curtsied slightly in greeting.

Gold glitter sparkled on her eyelids as they gracefully lowered and rose.

“…”

Splendid. Overwhelming.

At first, he thought they looked quite similar, but

The more he looked, the more he felt she was definitely different from the current wife.

She had the unique aura of a lady who had lived her whole life naturally commanding her subordinates.

Instead of replying, Kay slightly lifted his uniform hat and put it back on.

As if she hadn’t expected his response anyway, she calmly faced forward again.

“…”

Their personalities are definitely different too.

‘Is that woman here again?’

When a knight coming for his shift asked another knight with his eyes, the original knight just shrugged silently.

‘When did she come?’

‘About thirty minutes ago.’

Answers exchanged only with lip movements.

“…”

Kay passed by them pretending not to have seen.

Anyway, Arthur’s policy was not to cooperate in settling the ‘fraudulent marriage issue’ until the ‘inadequate supply issue’ was resolved.

Christina probably guessed this too, but what she was doing now seemed to be her way of showing sincerity.

Some of the young knights treated her coldly, but

In any case, since it was clear that she would become Arthur’s wife someday, it was awkward to treat her with contempt.

Now the knights are much closer to Arthur, but

Eventually, in 5 or 10 years, she will become the wife of their far superior who they must serve.

Will that ill-tempered Christina then leave alone the knights who ignored her today?

By that time, Arthur will probably value his wife more than his subordinates.

Even if she doesn’t become more valued, she will certainly become someone difficult to ignore.

By then, there will also be children between them.

As the mistress of Julius and the mother of the children, she couldn’t be ignored too much just because of the current situation.

Although she’s holding back outwardly, who knows how much resentment she’s harboring inside…

It was clear that she was someone who shouldn’t be antagonized unnecessarily.

“…”

Kay briefly called Lionel, who was keeping watch, to the reception room with a glance, and advised him with a similar intent.

Although she’s in this state now, considering the future, it might not be good for Lord Arthur or the knights to treat her too dismissively.

So he should caution the knights not to disrespect or offend Christina too much.

Lionel listened to his advice silently.

When Lionel returned.

Christina was still standing in the same place with not a single change in her posture.

“…”

He sighed silently before returning to his position.

And he quietly instructed the knights to step back a few paces.

So that the knights wouldn’t stand around staring at her waiting for Arthur like spectators.

As the knights moved to the back of the passageway.

Only Lionel remained standing in his original position, keeping watch.

After a while, when an hour had passed.

Christina took out her pocket watch with a click to check the time.

With a smile that looked as if it had been painted on as usual.

“Please tell him that I waited.”

She left with a greeting, only her long golden eyelashes fluttering down gently.