Chapter 05
If they force a marriage on me, then I’ll counter it with a fake marriage.
No path? Then I’ll make one.
Whether it’s a forced marriage or a fake one, it still looks like marriage from far away. So why not just switch the partner and hold the ceremony my parents want so badly?
First, I need to clean up the situation.
After I suddenly threw out those words, an uncomfortable silence continued all the way until the parfait and coffee were placed in front of us.
Noticing the employee walk away, I finally opened my mouth.
“I know it must’ve shocked you when I suddenly mentioned marriage. I’d be confused too. I’d probably wonder, ‘Are my ears aging too fast? Did I mishear something?’”
Of course, I meant what I said—he wasn’t hearing things.
“But what I said earlier was sincere.”
I could see Etienne’s dazed expression. No matter how sociable you are, it’s normal to lose your composure when you hear something so unexpected.
“Let’s take this step by step, okay?”
Until Etienne could accept this marriage proposal, I had to guide him through it.
“There’s a truth well-known to the people around you—and noticeable to someone like me who’s observant. Yet, only one person refuses to accept this truth.”
I took a bite of the parfait, and as the sweetness spread, my brain spun faster.
“That truth is that you feel uncomfortable around the neighboring kingdom’s princess. And the only one denying this truth… is the princess herself.”
If he asked for proof, I could mention the gossip in the weekly magazines—how he openly grimaced at her and a few other obvious reactions he failed to hide.
Etienne’s eyebrow twitched. Bullseye.
“Of course, many people besides the princess don’t believe it either. After all, who would dare reject a princess adored by the entire nation?”
Princess Sehera Blanche.
Loved by the country since before she was even born. And the only man who avoids her… is sitting right in front of me.
“Now let’s talk about you. Any noble family would want to marry off their children—eldest or not—to continue the family line.”
Life is unpredictable. Anyone can die tomorrow, and to avoid dragging in distant relatives as heirs, the more direct descendants, the better.
“So even if you aren’t inheriting your dukedom and instead took the position of Tower Master, your family could still push you to marry.”
Sure, he’d insist that he’ll never marry because his younger sister will inherit the title anyway… but if that were true, he wouldn’t have ended up as the villain in the original story.
“And right when your family needed a suitable partner, the perfect one appeared: not some minor noble, but a princess from a kingdom that trades with the Empire. They probably didn’t hesitate at all.”
So he must have been pressured by them this whole time.
When I finished, Etienne smiled.
“You don’t need to explain more. But there’s just one thing I need to confirm.”
He removed all traces of his usual polite smile and asked quietly:
“What exactly are you trying to say?”
If he asked, I had to answer.
“I said it earlier: I want to marry you. That’s it.”
I ate the strawberry on the parfait and continued calmly.
“I figured if I were in your situation—being pushed into marriage with someone you dislike—I’d want a fake marriage partner to get out of it.”
He didn’t deny it.
“So let me ask again: will you marry me?”
Of course, as a temporary contract.
I wasn’t sure yet whether I would run away or not. And if I didn’t, then after the contract ended, we could talk about extending it or going separate ways.
“I really need this marriage right now.”
And if Etienne ever wanted a fake spouse, it’d be perfect if he chose me.
Etienne took a sip of his coffee, enjoying the aroma, then set the cup down lightly.
“First of all, everything you said is correct, so there’s nothing to object to. And like I wrote in my reply before—your proposal is quite tempting.”
He smiled politely again.
“But there’s one part I don’t understand.”
“…?”
“If you can explain that, then maybe we can form a friendly agreement.”
What more did he want to ask now?
I hid my nervousness and waited quietly.
“If we do this fake marriage, I get plenty of benefits. But you? I don’t see what you gain.”
He asked bluntly:
“There’s nothing in it for you. So why help me, Miss Loren?”
Nothing in this world is free. And people rarely help others without reason. He wanted an explanation he could accept.
I can’t reveal everything.
It was the original story, and I couldn’t mention events that hadn’t happened yet.
I hesitated, then finally spoke.
“I grew up never lacking anything… but things changed.”
Time to speak vaguely.
“In short, I made a pretty big mistake. I can’t explain the details—it’s personal.”
At the word mistake, Etienne’s eyes widened.
“But if this marriage works out, I can fix that mistake.”
Broadly speaking, it wasn’t a lie.
Though he must’ve been curious, he didn’t ask what kind of mistake. As if respecting my privacy—or sensing I wouldn’t answer anyway.
“I’m not sure if that explains it enough, so let me add one more thing.”
“Oh? I’m curious what more you have to say.”
“It’s both a compliment and a reason this marriage would work well.”
I smiled, picked up my spoon, and started the next move: “Highlight the partner’s strengths to win his favor” strategy.
Before I complimented others, I always complimented myself first.
“You probably know this—but I’ve long been called the ‘Diamond of the Social Scene.’ I’m confident in my looks.”
I even posed cutely, inviting him to take a closer look if he wanted.
“But even someone like me can’t help staring at your face. You look like a perfect flower.”
Being handsome and beautiful—that’s rare.
“And let’s talk about how special you are. While I was busy attending parties and earning my Academy diploma, you became the youngest Tower Master in history.”
I hadn’t found my own ‘specialness’ yet back then, but he already had.
“And on top of that, you’ve never been rumored to date anyone. Just like me.”
My sister had found true love and married, and I adored my brother-in-law like family. But I’d never experienced love myself. And, of course, Father wouldn’t let me marry some mediocre man anyway.
Similarly, this man had never been known to date anyone seriously.
“If this works out, we’ll experience all of our firsts together.”
Meaning all romantic experiences would be shared only between us.
“Marrying someone as perfect as you won’t harm my dignified reputation. It’ll be safe and clean. That’s why I really want this marriage.”
I clapped happily.
“So let’s be husband and wife for just one year. Then we’ll divorce.”
A year should be enough. That’s when the original events would begin.
When I finished, Etienne spoke.
“So you’re proposing a one-year contract marriage. Correct?”
“Correct. And I think it’s a pretty good deal.”
Then I added the biggest advantage.
“No matter how eagerly Princess Sehera welcomes you, the kingdom will never accept a divorced man as her husband.”
Etienne burst out laughing.
“Haha!”
My offer must’ve really appealed to him.
With a genuine smile unlike his usual polite one, he said:
“Niveia, I guarantee you—there’s no more suitable partner than you.”
“That’s a compliment, right?”
“Of course it is. What else would it be? Anyway, since we’re in agreement, I’m thinking of giving you an advance payment of five hundred million gold. What do you think?”
Not a contract fee. An advance payment.
Five. Hundred. Million. Gold.
Hah! So that’s how he planned to influence me with money?
But my mouth said something completely different:
“…Please make me your May bride. As soon as possible.”
Yep. Money really does solve everything.
Well, I was planning this marriage anyway.
Now that I’d confirmed his agreement, it was time for the next step.
Everything helps me survive.
Before visiting the bank—or rather, right after my sister gave me some allowance—I had prepared the contract in advance. Being thorough is always good.
“I expected a good answer, so I prepared this.”
I placed a paper in front of him.
“And I think even a fake marriage needs to be treated seriously. So during our one-year period, neither of us can date anyone or keep lovers.”
After the divorce, fine. But during the marriage? Never. That would stain my image and my family’s.
I had to prevent that at all costs.
“For the sake of our smooth marriage, you can agree to that, right?”
And of course, I’d follow the same rule.
“Now then. Read it and sign. Go on.”
I smiled brightly—straight from the heart.
