Chapter 29
Contract Terms in Detail (3)
I reached out toward Ginger, who was creeping closer.
“…What are you doing?”
“Pause. Just pause for now.”
As I struggled in panic, Ginger ignored me and grabbed my arm.
“Hey! I said pause! Stop!”
“Says who?”
“Ahh!”
I hastily grabbed the hand that was inching down toward my waist and looked up.
Ginger’s eyes were serious.
Even if I screamed and cried, it was clear he wouldn’t stop.
“D-Details!”
“…?”
“The third clause—details! We’re not allowed to harm each other! That’s the rule!”
“That’s not a problem.”
Ginger whispered soothingly as he lightly bit my earlobe and pressed his body closer.
“You’ll feel good soon anyway.”
This bastard has officially lost it!
I bit the hand that was crawling up my side.
With a short groan, Ginger let go and pulled back slightly.
“I’m saying no! Whether it feels good or not, it’s still a no!”
“…Then I won’t give you the carriage.”
He muttered regretfully as he looked down at his bitten hand after I shouted from a distance.
Oh, come on. That’s low, you petty jerk.
“My wish doesn’t even go against any of our detailed terms.”
“I don’t give anything to a partner who doesn’t fulfill wishes. Give and take. Ever heard of it?”
His calm voice irritated me, and I bit my lip.
He just refuses to lose in an argument.
Well, neither do I.
“Fine. Then slightly revise the wish.”
“I won’t change it.”
“Then make me your girlfriend.”
Ginger’s expression stiffened in a strange way.
“I can’t touch you, but I can date you?”
He frowned like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“If what you want is me, isn’t that enough? A romantic relationship.”
How could it not be weird? No man would easily accept being in a relationship where physical contact is forbidden.
But right now, I needed to push forward.
If I wanted to survive.
“If you don’t like it…”
“You can’t always do only what you want in life, right? And it’s a shame to end such an interesting situation today.”
I can do even more ridiculous stuff later.
What’s happened so far was just the beginning. From now on, it’s the crazy show of Odelia, who lives only for today!
…Excited yet?
I threw out the pitch with a salesman’s grin, but Ginger remained expressionless and stood up.
“How boring.”
“Good. Glad you’re bored.”
I genuinely felt relieved as I watched him lean against the sofa across from me.
His hardened expression didn’t soften easily.
Just like the novel described: a face like stone.
After a long silence, Ginger finally looked at me.
“This ‘girlfriend’ thing is just a title, isn’t it?”
“Of course.”
Since I had no intention of hiding it, I answered confidently. Ginger scoffed in disbelief.
But even so, he would accept it without a fuss.
Because Ginger didn’t want to see me mentally collapse. At least for now.
One thing I had always felt—the male leads all shared one thing in common: they wanted to possess Odelia completely.
Her heart, her body, her soul.
They wanted all of it.
Maybe because they were all emotionally lacking in some way. Or maybe they just didn’t know how to care about others.
So the way they tried to have Odelia was cruel.
As a result, Odelia got hurt, and all they were left with were the broken pieces of her.
“Still, this is the only way.”
What would happen if I tossed a sweet candy to those guys?
Sweet enough to make your tongue ache. Whole and perfect.
To Vizen, it was Odelia the little sister.
To Ian, Odelia the friend.
To Rudolph, Odelia the emotional companion.
“The only way to have me.”
Could they really refuse that candy sitting in their hand?
What will you do?
“…You’re cunning.”
“Better than being stupid.”
I reached my hand out to Ginger again.
“Isn’t it better to have at least the name?”
Take my hand.
Was that how it sounded to him?
Ginger hesitated for a moment, arms crossed, then placed his hand on mine.
“Fine. But one day, it won’t just be a name anymore.”
“Wow, dream big, don’t you.”
I chuckled mockingly, and Ginger sat beside me with a knowing smile.
“What, why are you sticking so close?”
“You said I’m your boyfriend.”
“I said fake boyfriend.”
“It’s not like I’m hugging you. Can’t I even do this?”
He boldly put his arm around my shoulders and whined as if hurt.
Anyone could tell it was fake.
“Shut up.”
“I didn’t even say it loudly.”
I swatted his hand away and muttered curtly. He playfully replied,
“More importantly, get the carriage ready. I want to go home and rest!”
“Can you rest if you go back to the mansion?”
“…No.”
“Oh dear.”
Ginger laughed teasingly, but I ignored him and brushed my hair back.
Sadly, once I returned, this battle would start all over again.
Vizen was the first target I went for—what do I try next?
My head honestly started to ache.
Maybe I should shamelessly crash here for one more day… but I decided not to.
Even if I’d put a leash on him temporarily, the man in front of me was still dangerous. I never knew when he’d break free.
“Still, it’s better to face things than sit here with a headache.”
“How brave.”
“That’s just how I am.”
After replying confidently and standing up, Ginger followed and offered me his hand.
“Preparing a carriage is easy. So how about dinner, to celebrate becoming lovers?”
Maybe he liked the terms of the contract.
His face looked far happier than when I first met him.
Smiling faintly, I placed my hand in his.
Then he cleared his throat and tried to fix his expression.
“Wow, good-looking and cheesy.”
“Is that a complaint?”
He held my hand tightly and asked with a smile.
Unusually polite for him.
“No, I like pretty and handsome things.”
“An honor.”
Looking satisfied, he brought my hand to his lips.
And at that moment, Ginger let out a groan and collapsed to the floor.
“Gin—”
“I’ve let this go long enough.”
A white hand grabbed me just as I turned toward the fallen Ginger.
“Rudolph?”
When did he get here?
Rudolph frowned and pulled me into an embrace.
Only then did I understand why Ginger had flown so far.
All because of that stupid jealousy. He used violence over a mere contractual interaction.
Still, at least Ginger wasn’t seriously hurt.
“You shouldn’t go around throwing people.”
“He’s not dead, so it’s fine.”
“Even if you don’t kill him, don’t hurt him.”
“He’s probably fine.”
Rudolph buried his face in my shoulder like he’d done nothing wrong.
Just a while ago, he was agreeing with everything I said. Now he’s back-talking like a pro.
My hand itched to smack him.
“When did you get here?”
I couldn’t bring myself to look him in the eye, worried he’d overheard everything.
If Rudolph knew I wasn’t the real Odelia, not just Ginger and Vizen, I’d have to revise the whole plan for Odelia’s happy ending.
Expecting a runaway ending, I glanced up to see Rudolph avoiding my gaze in embarrassment.
Whether I turned right or left, he dodged my eyes.
“…How long have you been following me?”
“……”
“Hey.”
Still holding me tightly, Rudolph finally opened his mouth.
“Since… last night…”
“I knew it!”
I shouted in disbelief. Rudolph flailed, not knowing what to do.
He clearly wanted to defend himself, but his excuses weren’t convincing.
“But I held back all this time while that jerk was touching you!”
“Wow, great job! You should’ve stepped in and helped me instead!”
“Should I kill him now?”
“No!”
Our pointless argument gave me a headache. I grabbed the back of my neck.
Rudolph, when did I ever teach you to act like this? I never raised you like this!
With a throbbing head, I leaned it against his chest.
“…If you hug me now like you’re happy, I’ll never let you touch me again.”
“Ugh…”
“No acting cute.”
I warned lightly as Rudolph reached to hug me again, seizing the moment.
There was no point scolding someone who didn’t even know what they did wrong. So I decided to end it there for now.
But the bigger issue was something else.
If he’d been with me since last night until now…
“You heard everything, didn’t you?”
“Yep.”
I was honestly dumbfounded by Rudolph’s cheerful reply.
What the hell, am I the only one who takes this seriously? The only one anxious and worried?
But he didn’t look like he was lying.
Vizen had reportedly been quite shocked.
Or maybe Rudolph just didn’t consider me that important?
Feeling a little down, I pushed him away.
Worried he might cling, I was surprised when he stepped back immediately.
Was I the strange one for feeling hurt by that too?
“Now that you know—”
“Hey. Can I call your name too?”
His cheerful tone made me look up.
Though he sounded playful, his gaze was serious.
“I want to say your name too.”
Like a child reluctant to part, Rudolph gently held my hand and smiled.
His eyes were desperate, like he was about to kneel.
He was asking me.
To let him be someone special to me too.
If he couldn’t have me completely—
At least let him know my real name.
“…Ginger.”
I turned back to Ginger, still lying on the floor.
His furrowed brow made it clear he didn’t like this situation one bit.
“Let’s postpone dinner. The first wish is on hold. I’ll make another one next time.”
“…As you wish.”
Leaving Ginger, who wisely nodded, I took Rudolph’s hand.
“Rudolph, let’s go home.”
“…Didn’t you say you couldn’t go back?”
As if he’d heard everything, Rudolph asked carefully.
He was right—the marquis’ house only brought hardship.
But even if I planned to escape, I still had to face it once.
And that went for Rudolph too.
“Take me back.”
I pulled him close and lightly bumped my forehead against his.
Rudolph nodded.
“Okay.”
He snapped his fingers, and a light breeze blew.
When the wind settled, the scenery changed.
Back to Odelia’s room—so familiar now that I was sick of saying it.
