Chapter 38: The Posture for Signing a Contract Marriage

When I suggested we get to work, Xavier responded with a soft smile.  

“Let’s head to the space I reserved in advance.”  

Reserved? Was there such a space here?  

I looked around in confusion. The café patrons who made eye contact with me quickly turned their heads and shrank back.  

After the commotion caused by the duel, the people who had been watching us didn’t dare make a sound.  

Having witnessed firsthand that any reckless behavior could result in facing the wrath of Duke Auguste, they remained silent despite the earlier uproar.  

Regardless, I asked Xavier again.  

“Reserved?”  

“Didn’t you know? Yesterday, the Baroness mentioned that you come here often, so I rented a VIP room.”  

“When did you do that?”  

“When I moved your snoring self into my carriage.”  

“Haha.”  

I was wondering how the Duke knew about this café. And a VIP room? This was news to me.  

With an elegant gesture from Duke Xavier, a café employee approached and guided us to the VIP rooms. The employee resembled Brad Pitt.  

“You’re back again, my lady.”  

“Yes.”  

“Your Grace, allow me to guide you. Which VIP room would you prefer?”  

“Well, shouldn’t I ask the lady?”  

“Of course. My lady, our café has themed rooms prepared for distinguished guests.”  

“I didn’t know there were VIP rooms here.”  

The employee smiled warmly and pulled out a brochure to show me. Party Room, Honeymoon Room, Love Room, Family Room, Deluxe Room, and so on.  

The illustrations depicted elegantly decorated private rooms.  

‘Honeymoon? Love? What kind of rooms are those? Absolutely not!’  

“I’ll take the Deluxe Room.”  

“Why not the Love Room or the Honeymoon Room?”  

“No way!”  

I jabbed his side with my elbow, and he furrowed his brow slightly. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to have much effect.  

“I’ve heard saints have bad habits with their hands.”  

Ignoring his comment, I responded to the Brad Pitt-like employee.  

“Please prepare the Deluxe Room.”  

“Understood. I’ll prepare refreshments as well.”  

“Wait until I call for you.”  

“Yes, Your Grace.”  

Once the employee left, Duke Xavier casually placed his hand on my shoulder. Since it was summer, I was wearing a light, thin dress, and I could feel his body heat directly.  

“Why are you suddenly doing this?”  

“We’re going to get married, we’ve kissed, and you’ve even seen me naked. Are you being shy now?”  

“Aren’t there other people in the VIP rooms?”  

“There aren’t.”  

“What?”  

“I rented all of them.”  

What?  

As my pupils widened, Duke Xavier’s gaze grew livelier.  

“But earlier, you asked me to choose a room…”  

“I didn’t know what you’d like, so I rented them all. You still have to pick one, don’t you?”  

“……”  

The arm around my shoulder tightened slightly.  

“Now, shall we go sign the contract, my future Duchess Auguste?”  

He looked down at me and winked with one eye.  

I was the one who suggested signing the contract, so why did I feel so uneasy?  

The Deluxe Room resembled a hotel suite. Luxurious leather sofas, a marble table, a large terrace overlooking the Pins region, and even a mini bar for wine on one side.  

“First, sit down.”  

“Yes.”  

“Do you like it?”  

“I never imagined there’d be a space like this inside the café.”  

“It’s perfect for discussing secret matters between two people, isn’t it?”  

“Yes, it is.”  

“It’s even soundproof.”  

“Oh.”  

Duke Xavier observed me closely.  

“By the way, why is your face red?”  

“Well, it seems summer has arrived. It’s hot.”  

“I’m not hot.”  

“Oh my.”  

I glanced at him with a side-eye before opening my handbag on my lap to take out the contract.  

“Here, please read it and sign.”  

He took the contract from me and began reading.  

[Marriage Contract]  

1. Xavier Auguste and Yuria Graham agree to a contract marriage.  

2. The contract marriage will last for one year. The duration can be adjusted by mutual agreement but will not exceed two years.  

3. Both parties will respect each other’s consent in physical contact, and nothing beyond kissing will occur.  

4. Yuria Graham, as a saintess, is obligated to lift Xavier Auguste’s curse. However, if the curse is fully lifted, she may demand a divorce even within the contract period.  

The Duke’s expression turned subtle. He rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought, a habit of his.  

“What’s wrong? Don’t you like it?”  

“Yuria.”  

“Yes.”  

“What do you think marriage is?”  

“Something people who love each other do?”  

“Hmm. Judging by this contract, it seems you don’t love me at all anymore.”  

Feeling a pang of guilt, I gripped the strap of my bag tightly.  

“I’ve already told you before that I don’t have feelings for you anymore.”  

“Yes, I remember. I’m the one who wants you, so let’s move on.”  

As I sighed in relief, the Duke tapped the document with his long index finger and looked at me.  

“And here. I don’t like it.”  

“What part?”  

“Why is physical contact limited to just kissing? A contract marriage is still a marriage.”  

“That’s because kissing doesn’t turn you into a cat.”  

“True. Thanks to that kiss, the nights are less painful.”  

“I’m glad to hear that.”  

“But I can’t agree to this part.”  

“What?”  

The Duke placed the document on the table with a firm sound, stood up, and walked around it to approach me. His teal eyes burned so intensely that their afterimage lingered.  

His gaze had already captured mine, and soon I found myself trapped between his firm body and the sofa. His delicate, long eyelashes framed the beautiful eyes that were now so close.  

The sound of his heartbeat and mine overlapped, leaving me even more disoriented.  

‘This is dangerous. I’m reaching my limit!’  

I just wanted to stamp the contract and go home!  

Trying to keep my voice steady, I looked up at Duke Xavier and asked, 

“Your Grace, why are you suddenly doing this?”  

“How long are you going to keep calling me ‘Your Grace’?”  

“Oh, then what should I call you?”  

“I’ve heard ‘Your Grace’ enough times to last a lifetime.”  

“Then what should I…”  

“Xavier.”  

“Oh, that’s a bit…”  

“Then, how about ‘darling’?”  

“……”  

D-darling?  

That’s too much!  

“Choose one.”  

“Isn’t there another option?”  

“Do you think there would be?”  

As I remained silent, staring up at him blankly, his long fingers brushed my hair near my ear, trailing down to my lips. Goosebumps spread across my skin.  

“X-Xavier! Stop it!”  

“Oh, so you’ll call me that if I do this?”  

“No!”  

“When you held my hand earlier in the café, I thought it was a sign of permission.”  

“That was to avoid Viscount Harris.”  

“Ah, I see.”  

His teal eyes darkened as he leaned closer, his upper body tilting toward me.  

“W-why?”  

“Don’t you remember what I said earlier in the café?”  

“You challenged Viscount Harris to a duel and got rid of him?”  

“Not that. I said something in front of everyone that you’d remember for a hundred years.”  

For someone who didn’t seem like the type, Xavier had a surprising tendency to fixate on certain points.  

I replayed the lines he had said.  

‘That pretty face?’  

‘Get lost in front of my woman?’

‘Let me make this clear. This marriage is happening because I pursued her.’  

‘I, Xavier Auguste, proposed to Yuria Graham. Spread the word.’  

The more I thought about it, the hotter my face grew. I pointed a finger at his chest.  

“You want me to say that out loud? Do you even have a conscience?”  

“It’s worth losing a bit of conscience if it means I get to chase after and propose to someone as beautiful as you.”  

His beautiful eyes crinkled with a smile.  

Why does he talk so smoothly?  

And why is he acting like this? He used to avoid even mentioning marriage!  

“You said you weren’t interested in marriage before. How can you flip your words like flipping pancakes?”  

“Well, even I didn’t expect this. I have no excuse.”  

His leaning body came even closer, and his knee rested on the sofa. Supporting himself with both arms on the backrest, he looked down at me.  

“What can I do when you look so beautiful to me?”  

“……!”  

“I might be going a little crazy. So, before I lose it completely, why don’t you call me by my name?”  

His half-lidded eyes gleamed mischievously.  

His red lips moved tantalizingly close.  

‘Say it like this: Xa-vi-er.’  

Without realizing it, I followed his lead and moved my lips.  

“…Xavier.”  

“That sounds good.”  

“Now, are you satisfied? Please sign the contract.”  

I averted my eyes to avoid looking at his lips, but when I turned, his broad, firm chest greeted me.  

‘This is driving me crazy.’  

I looked back up at Xavier’s eyes.  

“You’re unusually fond of contracts, aren’t you?”  

“What’s more reliable than a contract?”  

“If you trust it too much, you’ll regret it.”  

Scoffing, I smirked.  

“Now, could you move that overwhelming upper body of yours? Xa-vi-er?”  

But he didn’t budge. Instead, he leaned in closer and said,  

“In the contract, wasn’t kissing considered a mutually agreed-upon, legitimate act?”  

His moist, red lips glistened seductively.  

“Prove it, and I’ll gladly sign.”  

“What?”  

I let out an incredulous laugh.  

His languid, half-closed eyes urged me, as if he were a playful cat.  

“Can I kiss you?”  

Looking into those eyes, I nodded without thinking.  

“…Fine, just a kiss.”  

His handsome lips curved into a smile. His soft lips descended, capturing mine.  

“Ah, mm.”  

His entire body pressed against me on the sofa. His strong right arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him.  

Ah.  

Why does this man smell so intoxicating?  

His sweet scent made it impossible to think straight.  

His long fingers tangled in my golden hair, softly stroking as our lips met and parted repeatedly.  

Between his soft lips, a sweet sensation poured into me, stealing my reason. He lingered inside me, exploring and savoring, before finally pulling back.  

As he gently lifted his lips away, his warm breath spread across my face.  

With a charming smile, he cupped my face in both hands and softly called my name, as if casting a spell.  

“Yuria.”  

“Y-yes?”  

“A kiss doesn’t seem to be enough. What should I do?”