Chapter 15
“…So, I’m fine.”
“If something happens to you, I’ll be the one to hear unpleasant things.”
“I know.”
“If you’re in pain, make sure you say it. Hearing complaints is enough on the battlefield.”
Clea looked into Isaac’s crimson eyes and nodded with a reluctant expression.
It was admirable how committed he was to their contract, but it was also a bit embarrassing.
Still… they had promised to do their best for each other.
‘Am I breaking the rules?’
Telling a lie like this.
Because it would mean taking away his chance to do his best.
Clea nodded again.
“Alright. I’ll speak up properly from now on.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Nothing’s broken, so let’s get up now.”
Just as Clea reached out to support him, Isaac sprang to his feet.
She almost fell forward from the sudden movement.
“You shouldn’t strain yourself.”
“Yes, yes, I know.”
She replied in a slightly tired voice.
As she let out a short sigh, Isaac finally took his eyes off her.
There was something strange about Clea, he thought.
Her presence felt faint—like she could vanish at any moment.
But whenever he looked straight ahead, she was definitely there.
Her voice was dry, as if she had no attachment to the world.
Maybe it was just her natural tone, but to Isaac, it was unpleasant.
“May I sit now?” the emperor asked.
Clea sat down before the emperor did.
It was a disrespectful act, but Isaac didn’t seem to mind at all.
In fact, no one seemed to care much.
Clea was the only one feeling nervous for no reason.
Tea and refreshments were brought to the table.
Just as Clea, parched, reached for a teacup, Isaac snatched it away.
“That’s too heavy for you to lift.”
He lifted it a few times, then shook his head.
Clea wanted to go back in time and smack herself for falling earlier.
‘I didn’t even fall that hard!’
Clea sighed again.
Forget Isaac—the Crown Prince staring at her as if he’d seen a ghost was much more irritating.
Clea just wanted to rest.
“I didn’t expect you to marry. I was quite surprised when I heard,” said the Crown Prince, Epiole.
“Yes, I was surprised too,” Clea replied in a dull, indifferent tone.
There was no hostility in her words.
Clea Leno had always shown animosity whenever she saw Epiole and Leno.
She had openly said that Epiole was lowering himself by associating with a woman beneath his status.
But Epiole and Lily had ignored her, and in turn, Clea Leno’s hostility grew.
Of course, that was all Clea Leno’s business—it had nothing to do with the current Clea.
Now, she had to build a relationship with Isaac, which meant making a good impression on those around him.
She had no desire to pick fights unnecessarily.
“By the way, it seems your health has declined,” Lily said.
“Ah…”
Clea responded with a sigh and a shrug.
It had been easy to say it was a chronic illness since she had no connection to Isaac, but she wasn’t sure what kind of relationship she might have with the others.
“Come to think of it, I heard a rumor that I was interested in the Crown Prince,” she said, recalling what Isaac had told her, and asked Epiole directly.
Epiole’s face twisted as if he’d heard something unpleasant.
“Surely you’re not still clinging to that, right? That marrying the Grand Duke was just a ploy to get close to me or something…”
“…”
Lily’s face turned anxious at Epiole’s words.
Clea looked at Epiole with a dazed expression.
She rubbed her eyes and pressed both ears with her palms, then tilted her head.
‘That level of narcissism must be a disorder…’
She had a skill to enhance her hearing, so she was sure she hadn’t misheard.
Which meant the conclusion was inexcusable.
She glanced at Isaac—his expression unreadable.
“I just wanted to make it clear that’s a misunderstanding.”
The emperor watched the situation with great interest.
Biting into a cookie, he leisurely observed the scene.
To him, both the son he adored and the brilliant, self-reliant nephew were like his own children.
It felt like only yesterday they were toddling around—and now they were practically having a turf war with their spouses. The emperor was deeply pleased.
To him, even their growling tension was endearing.
“You didn’t know, but I’ve liked Isaac for a long time.”
Isaac flinched.
He turned toward Clea, surprised by her unexpected remark.
The woman sitting next to him had a blank expression.
Isaac couldn’t understand her at all.
Did she really like him? If so, how could she say it in such a dry tone?
After much contemplation, Isaac stayed silent.
“What? I still remember how you used to chase after me.”
“Are you referring to when I told you to stop seeing Lily and find someone more suitable?”
“…Yeah.”
Epiole nodded.
He vaguely remembered something like that.
To Clea Leno, it had seemed foolish for the Crown Prince to date someone beneath him.
He must have mistaken it for courtship.
He probably thought of himself as such a prize.
‘Yup. Definitely a narcissist.’
Clea nodded, confirming Epiole’s egocentrism.
“I wasn’t one of those ‘suitable women’ you mentioned.”
“What?”
“So, I just wanted to clear up any misunderstandings. I need to build affection and progress step by step with Isaac, and misunderstandings like that would only get in the way.”
As she spoke without a flicker of expression, everyone except the emperor froze.
Was that something to say with a completely straight face?
Everyone knew exactly what that “step by step” implied.
Lily’s face turned beet red and drooped like a ripe stalk of rice.
The truth was, Clea was serious.
She wanted Isaac to grow fond of her, to like her, and ultimately, to go all the way together.
But they weren’t making any progress.
Sure, it hadn’t been many days yet, but still.
“Haha, seeing the two of you, I feel like I might be holding my grandchild soon.”
“Why would a child between us be Your Majesty’s grandchild?”
“Oh dear, Isaac. I raised you like a son, and now you speak like that.”
“…”
With the sudden mention of children, Clea’s lips clamped shut like they’d been glued.
She lowered her gaze slowly.
She didn’t like to lie, but conversations like this made her shrink back.
‘The whole relationship started with lies anyway.’
Clea sighed inwardly.
“Are you tired, Clea?”
“No, I’m fine.”
Clea shook her head.
She had plenty of stamina, and the paralysis symptoms seemed to have worn off during the conversation—the notification window had disappeared too.
Epiole couldn’t make sense of this new Clea.
Could someone really change that much just because they fell in love?
‘…Though that attitude is still the same.’
That cold, indifferent gaze—as if looking at a speck of dust—was just the same as in the past.
“I leave my nephew in your care, Grand Duchess.”
“…Yes, of course, Your Majesty.”
Clea at least answered the emperor with as much courtesy as she could muster.
Regardless of titles, the emperor was far older than she was.
And since she came from a country that strongly valued respect for elders, she was extra cautious around him.
“By the way, I heard your brother achieved a great accomplishment recently. Did you hear?”
“Yes, although he abandoned the Leno name. Isaac told me.”
“Abandoning a family name is no easy feat. His name still remains in the Leno family registry.”
Clea nodded at the emperor’s words.
Was that how it worked? Well, if the emperor said so, it must be true.
After all, running away from home didn’t automatically erase your name from the family register where she came from either.
“But I heard he left behind a signed waiver giving up all his inheritance.”
“A waiver?”
“Yes. He said he would give up everything from the family and no longer receive any support.”
Clea Leno hadn’t thrown that away—she kept it in the bottom drawer of her office desk.
The folds were well-worn, clearly indicating she’d taken it out and read it many times.
‘I wonder what she was thinking.’
Clea fell into thought.
When she met the Demon King and took over this body, she had inherited some of Clea Leno’s lingering memories.
But they were incomplete.
The soul the Demon King had shown her was nearly shattered.
「…I understand why you summoned me. But I still don’t get it.」
「What don’t you get?」
「If you could save this body, couldn’t you just give her the six months to live a happy life herself? Or are contractors not allowed to come back to life?」
「Look.」
The Demon King looked annoyed, but showed her something floating above his palm.
It was a blood-red orb the size of a fist.
