When I signed, as if fine gold powder were being sprinkled over that spot, a small burst of golden light flared out.
Then the ink of the signature was sucked into the paper and vanished.
“Uh…?”
While I was still startled, the ink that had been absorbed came back out, spreading as if seeping through from the back of the paper.
And as if nothing had happened, it reverted to the same ordinary signature I had written at first.
“Th-this… what is this?”
“Ah, I did not mention it beforehand. It is a double-binding device created by magic.”
“A binding device?”
The word felt chilling somehow, so I asked again.
Rastan, as always, said something outrageous with a face that looked like it was nothing at all.
“As you know, this contract is legally binding. On top of that, with this magic device, the parties to the contract are doubly compelled to faithfully carry it out.”
“Compelled? How?”
From a moment ago, it felt like I was stupidly repeating Rastan’s words, but it couldn’t be helped.
Because of this man who casually tossed out terrifying words.
In an instant, images of punishments bordering on torture flashed through my mind. It was thanks to the fairy tales with mages that I had read as a child.
Fortunately, Rastan’s answer was more civilized than I had imagined.
“It does not force each and every one of our actions. Rather, if a serious breach of contract occurs, it gives a chance to correct it.”
“For example…?”
“If I bear no fault, and you simply change your mind and try to leave this estate within the contract period, this magical power would activate and prevent you from passing through the main gate. Something like that.”
Unexpectedly, my mouth fell open at how extremely specific its function was.
“Why are you only telling me this now? You should have told me before I signed.”
“If you have no intention of violating the contract, then it is a device that poses no problem at all. As I said, it does not penalize every minor violation one by one.”
Even so, the thought that he should have told me everything before I signed didn’t change.
Still, as he said, if I intended to faithfully carry out the contract, it was also true that it was a device that made no difference whether it existed or not.
“Haa… alright. I am someone who keeps my promises honestly.”
When I said I would accept it, a look of relief surfaced on Rastan’s face.
Seeing his eyebrows relax slightly, my desire to argue strangely subsided.
“That is right. Evelyn, now we are truly engaged.”
With a rarely bright expression, Rastan picked up one copy of the contract I had just signed, the one he would keep, and put it away.
It almost got buried beneath his cool, sharp features, but because I was familiar with his face and expressions, I could tell that he was very happy and pleased right now.
“You look relieved. You seem to be in a good mood.”
“I was worried that, on the off chance, you might change your mind and say you would not go through with the engagement.”
“Unless there were a reason I absolutely had to, I am not the kind of person who overturns something already agreed upon just because I do not feel like it anymore.”
“Of course. Even knowing that you are that kind of person, I was still anxious. Because I am the one in the weaker position.”
Rastan moved to sit right beside me and lightly kissed the back of my hand.
It was newly difficult to tear my gaze away from his blue eyes, which shone mysteriously as if a galaxy had been embedded within them.
“Thank you. For agreeing to be engaged to me.”
At his gentle voice, I felt inexplicably shy, my face heating up slightly.
It felt like I was receiving excessive thanks for a contract in which I had nothing to lose.
“…There’s no need to thank me. Please take good care of me during the contract period.”
“I will do my best.”
Then Rastan took something out from his coat.
It was a very small box wrapped in luxurious dark blue velvet. Inside were a pair of rings, gleaming brilliantly.
“Ah, this is…”
He took out a ring densely set with tiny diamonds and gently took my left hand.
“Will you accept an engagement ring?”
No matter how wealthy he was, I was nothing more than a one-year contract engagement partner.
‘Besides, we haven’t even announced the engagement publicly yet.’
There was no need yet to show any sign of being engaged in front of others, so I hadn’t expected him to give me a ring that was obviously expensive the moment the contract was signed.
‘But still, even if it’s only by contract, we’re engaged, so there’s no real reason to refuse the ring.’
When I nodded slightly, Rastan carefully slid the ring onto the fourth finger of my left hand.
Holding my ring-adorned hand, he looked at it as if admiring it and smiled faintly.
“Beautiful.”
“It is. It is a truly beautiful ring.”
“I was not talking about the ring. I was talking about your hand.”
It was nothing special, but coming from him, it felt strangely different, and my cheeks grew warm in an instant.
Embarrassed for no reason, I averted my gaze and noticed another ring still inside the ring case.
Unlike mine, it had no gemstone and a simple, masculine design.
I picked up the ring a little clumsily.
“Y-your hand is beautiful too. I will put your ring on for you.”
“Gladly.”
I slipped the ring onto his long, thicker-than-expected finger.
“It suits you… well.”
After exchanging rings like this, it felt as if we were truly engaged.
Unlike when I had been truly engaged to Gerald, even though I kept telling myself that this was only a contract engagement, my chest felt oddly ticklish.
“Oh, by the way.”
I looked up at his handsome face, smiling at me like a spring breeze, and a question came to mind.
“When did you prepare the rings? And they fit my finger perfectly.”
Wasn’t it just last night that I verbally accepted the engagement?
But unexpectedly, Rastan lifted the corner of his lips slightly, as if amused.
“It seems Raven’s advice is useful at times.”
“What did Raven say?”
As if recalling that moment, he let out another soft, deflated chuckle before answering.
“Since we did not know when you would agree to the engagement proposal, he told me to prepare in advance so that if you said yes, I could put a ring on your finger at any time.”
He really lived up to being a Duke’s aide.
“So how far in advance did you prepare it, then?”
“Hmm…”
Rastan searched his memory briefly, then answered right away.
“Do you remember the day I returned from the northern wastelands and came to see you at dawn?”
“Of course.”
“It was probably around the next day.”
“You had already prepared the engagement ring back then…?”
Was he the type who would worry about the names of future grandchildren even before making a confession?
‘With such a cold yet dazzling face, too…’
I suddenly wanted to ask how far along things had gone in his head, but I held it in.
I was afraid that if I asked, he would calmly answer everything in detail.
‘Sometimes, ignorance really is bliss.’
Rastan smiled faintly at me, lightly kissed the back of my hand out of habit, and then stood up.
Walking leisurely to the desk and setting down the empty ring case, he spoke in a relaxed voice.
“As for our engagement, we will announce it to the outside world after giving it some time.”
The reason wasn’t hard to guess.
“Ah, because it has not been long since I broke off my previous engagement?”
“That as well, and because I would like to announce it after House Lansval has been completely dealt with.”
That made sense too.
If our engagement became known and House Lansval once again became a topic of public discussion, I, as Gerald’s former fiancee, could end up being talked about unnecessarily as well.
‘I also want to finish my revenge and focus on this engagement.’
As I nodded, something suddenly came to mind.
“Oh, right. Even if we delay the official announcement, shouldn’t we inform the Imperial Family in advance?”
Only then would we be able to achieve the original purpose of this contract engagement, which was to avoid marriage talks with the Imperial Princess.
“The Imperial Family… ah, I see. I will make sure to mention it when I have an audience with His Majesty soon.”
I had said it thinking it was the most urgent matter, but Rastan reacted as if it had slipped his mind.
“Well, maybe he didn’t immediately understand because I didn’t explicitly say ‘marriage talks with Her Highness the Princess.'”
Not wanting to nitpick his reaction, I decided to understand and let it slide.
As if trying to change the subject, Rastan soon returned to the sofa and sat down across from me, then asked,
“You have been staying in the manor constantly these days. You must have felt stifled. Is there anything you would like to do?”
At the welcome words, I clapped my hands together and answered brightly.
“Oh, there is!”
Coincidentally, there was a place I had been thinking of wanting to visit lately.
