Chapter 101: No Forcing
by rosalie“What is this?”
Daniel handed me a small container with what looked like a white ointment inside.
“It-it’s a cream that’s good for freckles. If-if-if you apply it when going for walks outside, you won’t get sunburned.”
“Oh my.”
What a great find!
This is sunscreen, isn’t it?
“Did you make this, Doctor?”
“Yes. I-I made it while doing plant research when I was bored the other day. There’s a tree called tanaka. I made it using its extract. Is-is there something wrong, Duchess?”
“No. I just love it so much.”
This is perfect timing since I needed stable funding to mass produce the holy power storage.
Even though I had plenty of money saved up, it still wasn’t enough to continuously make holy power storage for tens of thousands of people.
If I ask Father about distribution channels, that would be easy to establish, and if we mass produce this, we could rake in money!
“I-I’m glad you like it.”
“My eye for talent is spot on. You’re really amazing, Doctor.”
“N-no, not at all.”
“Well then, keep up the good work. Please submit the necessary expenses.”
“Yes!”
Romance fantasy magic engineers really are geese that lay golden eggs. Since he loves research so much, I should keep him around and make good use of him.
Good for the doctor, good for me! Saving people and making money!
Ah, this isn’t the time. I should run before Xavier wakes up.
Like a thief cat, I slipped out of the rear palace before the real cat could see me.
No one’s here.
There was no one in the passage leading to the main building. I walked quickly through the long corridor until I reached the spacious garden between the main and rear buildings.
Though the trees entering autumn had only bare branches left, the short grass in the garden showed off its freshness covered in morning dew.
Just as I was happily hopping along the stone path covered in wet leaves like a carpet towards the main building…
There was a rustling sound.
A black shoe stopped right in front of me.
‘That shoe looks very familiar.’
And then came that charming voice.
“Where did you go so early in the morning?”
I’m doomed.
Following the long legs up from the shoes, there was Xavier’s face, standing there in just his shirt.
“Ah, well……”
I quickly hid the ointment Daniel gave me in my lace sleeve.
He would obviously dislike it if he knew I went to Daniel alone to talk about blood drawing.
No. Why should I be like this? I didn’t do anything wrong.
“I was discussing new mediums with Doctor Daniel.”
“I see.”
I opened my eyes wide at Xavier’s strange, calm response.
“You’re not angry?”
“Yesterday I was because I was worried about you. Thank you for being honest.”
“…I see.”
“I just couldn’t find you.”
The words he always says to me.
But why do those words knock on my heart so much now?
To me standing silently, Xavier showed the coffee cup in his hand.
“Coffee?”
“Thank you.”
I graciously accepted the cup he handed me. The cool morning air filled with moisture blended well with the fragrant coffee aroma.
“When I woke up, I wanted to drink warm coffee with you in the morning.”
“So you came looking for me?”
“Yes.”
Xavier took a sip of coffee and turned to me.
“Have you thought about canceling the contract?”
“Are you going to tell me to leave here if we cancel it?”
“What did you hear yesterday? I said I wanted just the two of us to remain. I never said I wanted you to leave.”
“…Really?”
“If you don’t want to cancel it, you don’t have to. Whether you cancel and leave, or leave without canceling, I’ve decided to respect your choice.”
Why does he keep telling me to leave?
“I told you I won’t leave until I break the curse! How did you hear my words, Xavier?”
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
The dampness of the morning air seeped into my nose.
Gulp. At the same time, I heard the sound of coffee going down Xavier’s throat.
Even that sound seems sexy — I must be crazy.
Slurp. I also swallowed coffee and said,
“Fine, let’s do it. Let’s cancel the contract.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. It’s not very useful anyway and it gets in the way. I don’t mind.”
“Hmm, so we’ve reached an agreement then?”
“Yes.”
As I felt the warmth from the coffee cup in my hands while answering, I suddenly thought I should add one more thing. I quickly raised my head to look at Xavier’s face.
“Alright. But on one condition — no forcing each other to leave!”
“Of course. Let’s agree not to force each other to leave or stay.”
I didn’t expect Xavier to bring up the same condition at the same time.
For a moment, our gazes intertwined in the air. Perhaps because we read each other’s hearts.
Both my ears and Xavier’s turned red. I looked away first and down at the coffee in my cup.
“Our hearts are in sync.”
“Good.”
My eyes automatically went to Xavier’s profile at his unexpected response.
Huh?
Did I see wrong? The corners of his mouth seemed to lift slightly and then lower as he brought the coffee cup to his lips.
*
When I returned to my room, Maya was preparing my clothes.
“My lady, where are you going?”
“Just went for morning coffee.”
“In the morning dew?”
Maya brought a towel and started drying my hair.
“How did you know I went out?”
“Your clothes and hair are damp. Goodness, it’s not like you’re determined to catch a cold from dawn.”
Maya chattered as she carefully dried my hair. Every time she moved, the bracelet on her wrist made jingling sounds.
I have the same bracelet on my wrist too.
‘Rosetta might have taken off her bracelet.’
Maya noticed the back of the Crown Prince’s wedding invitation in my hand and asked me.
“My lady, there’s a dress code.”
“Yes. The Imperial family specified what to wear on the wedding day.”
When we parted after coffee, Xavier handed me the invitation he had kept, saying I would need it. The dress code was kindly specified on the back of the invitation.
[Men must wear white formal uniforms with pink corsages. Women must wear pink dresses and hats.]
People don’t change easily. Rosetta preferred pink in the original story too.
“Pink?”
“Yes, they say pink.”
“It’s not like we’re bridesmaids. Rosetta has worse taste than I thought.”
“Maya.”
“What? It’s just you and me here.”
Maya added that since it’s in a week, we should check the boutique soon.
“Yes, the boutiques will be swamped.”
“I’ll go right away.”
“Thank you. Maya, could you deliver this note to the head designer at Boutique Royale?”
I got up and gave Maya a note with simple contents.
“They’ll know what to do when you give them this.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After sending Maya off, I went down to the dining room for breakfast.
As expected, Xavier was already there having his meal. Since we had coffee in the morning, we ate lightly and met at the promised place.
“Did you bring it?”
“Yes.”
I brought the marriage contract that had been securely hidden in the display cabinet’s secret safe to Xavier’s bedroom.
The four corners were slightly crumpled from holding it close to my chest, afraid someone might see. In contrast, Xavier’s was as square and neat as perfectly cut tofu.
What is this strange feeling of defeat?
Anyway, Xavier combined my contract with his and took out a magical tool from the drawer.
“What is that?”
“Eternal flame. A tool that completely incinerates everything.”
“Ah, a lighter.”
“What?”
“That thing is called a lighter.”
Eternal flame — what a grandiose name.
Hmm. Xavier’s eyes narrowed as he clasped his hands behind his back.
“Lighter?”
“Yes, lighter.”
It even looks similar to the lighter I knew.
Xavier nodded slightly and brought the magical tool close to the documents.
“Are you really going to burn it?”
“Yes.”
“Won’t you regret it?”
“No. Will you?”
“Me neither.”
Click. When Xavier pulled the magical tool, sparks flew and caught on the paper.
True to its name as ‘eternal flame,’ the paper burned completely without leaving even ashes.
“This feels strange.”
“I feel the same.”
We stood there for a while, staring at the empty space where the marriage contract had been.
I blinked rapidly, feeling somewhat emotional.
Xavier spoke first.
“You’re free now, Yuria. I’ll respect whatever you choose.”
“You’re telling me to choose?”
“Yes. I’ve made my choice, now it’s your turn.”
“What did you choose?”
“To see this through to the end with you.”
I remained quiet, trying to gauge his words.
“I won’t live long, and perhaps your life might be in danger because of the curse. If you’re okay with someone like me… I want to see the end with you.”
“…I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Hmm.”
He cleared his throat. Xavier put his hand on his forehead, seemingly struggling with something.
“I’m not good at this sort of thing.”
“What?”
“It’s just… embarrassing.”
“Did you break out in hives?”
“Hey.”
Xavier turned around and wrinkled his handsome face.
“Why are you frowning?”
“It’s not just me, you’re being difficult too.”
“I’m just worried about you.”
“What happened to all those things I said? About wanting you, about you conquering me… I poured my heart out.”
“I heard them with my ears, how else would I hear them?”
“Haah.”
Xavier squeezed his eyes shut and mumbled with his cool lips.
‘Even this is adorably deadly.’
“Are you teasing me again?”
“Wife, it’s time you learned to listen with your heart.”
He flicked my forehead with his finger and turned to leave the bedroom.
“Xavier, you have to tell me properly to understand.”
“I did tell you — I want to go to the end with you. I won’t say anything else until you’ve thought about it so much you’ve boiled it down to stock. It’s kind of annoying, you know.”
“What am I boiling down?”
“Burning the contract by mutual agreement means that from this moment on, you and I are real spouses. Think about it.”
“Real spouses…”
Xavier left the room, leaving me behind.
What does he mean by real spouses?
Making my heart flutter like this.
I pouted sulkily, but my heartbeat was so loud it felt like it would burst my eardrums.