“Is this really the contract you all want notarized?”
The priest handed the contract he was holding to the Duke and Rose.
Instead of the word ‘guardian,’ it was written as ‘lover’s contract.’
Before Rose could say anything, the Duke nodded and answered first.
“Yes.”
Since he had already agreed, she also glanced at the contract and nodded with a sigh.
“Yes, Priest.”
Hearing the answer, the priest was even more at a loss.
‘Is this something to answer so plainly? Who openly makes a lover’s contract in the temple, and even writes it as a covenant! It’s blasphemy, blasphemy!’
Though he had dedicated his body to God, knowing the value of his own life, the priest could only force a smile.
Even so, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of lamentation as he looked at the two who explicitly stated ‘lover’ instead of the dignified term ‘guardian.’
Moreover, what about that beautiful young lady?
No matter how outstanding the Duke was, the priest couldn’t understand why he decided to become a lover, knowing the history of Aytan.
‘Sigh, it’s the end of the world.’
Amidst the priest’s internal struggle against a shameless world, Rose was looking at the contract, where the word ‘guardian’ had disappeared, with a peculiar gaze.
Judging by the nuance of the phrase, it was clear that it was the Duke’s doing, who seemed to have a straightforward personality.
However, Gray, who promptly changed it upon request, was also quite an incorrigible person.
Perhaps he hoped the Duke would be in trouble, but why would the one who ordered it feel embarrassed?
In reality, the Duke seemed perfectly fine.
‘Sometimes, Gray is careless in strange ways.’
Swallowing a sigh at the shamelessness of the two, the priest closed his eyes tightly for the profit earned from the covenant.
Though he calculated profit and loss like a merchant, outwardly, the old priest, who appeared purer and cleaner than anyone, took his place in front of the rectangular white marble.
“Both of you, place the contract on the altar and kneel.”
As the Duke and Rose complied, he instructed them to draw blood from the fourth finger of their left hand and sprinkle it on the contract.
As he recited the prayer presiding over the covenant with a solemn expression, a faint golden aura rose like a mirage from the old man’s wrinkled fingertips.
As the holy power enveloped the contract on the altar, the drops of blood from the two seeped into the paper and then rose again to form beads.
When the small blood beads fell into the priest’s palm, the old man, looking somewhat weary, withdrew the holy power and spoke.
“From now on, the seal of the contract will be engraved on your hearts. It won’t be painful or difficult, so don’t be surprised or move when the holy power touches your chest. It can only be done once a month, so please pay attention.”
As if to confirm they had heard correctly, the priest looked at the two and continued the prayer.
As the golden aura rose again from the fingertips of the white-haired old man, the blood beads floated into the air and settled on the altar.
The holy power passed through the beads and slowly circled around the hearts of the Duke and Rose before penetrating into their bodies.
The priest, who was proceeding smoothly, frowned.
‘Huh? Resistance?’
The Duke’s mana was pushing away the holy power.
Having presided over covenants for a long time, the priest was flustered as it was the first time he encountered such a situation, but he was relieved to see the Duke accepting the golden aura shortly after.
Then, when he met the eyes of the young master of Aytan, he was so startled that he almost made a mistake in the recitation.
‘… Is the Duke glaring at me now? Does he think I’m tormenting him with holy power? No way! Why is he venting his temper on me when he knows he’s a special constitution!’
As the recitation neared its end, the holy power naturally grew stronger, but for some reason, the Duke’s gaze became increasingly fierce, causing the priest’s heart to race wildly.
The priest barely managed to finish the last verse while watching the Duke’s mood.
When the blood beads disappeared and the contract was completed, the contract on the altar turned to dust and vanished.
‘It’s over! It’s over!’
The priest, who had completed the ritual, wiped the sweat from his forehead and solemnly declared to the two.
“The covenant is complete.”
At the old priest’s words, the Duke took out the money pouch he had tucked away and placed it on the altar.
The priest’s face, which had been somewhat tired and weary, brightened up.
“How grateful. I will use it for the abode of God.”
“… As you wish.”
The priest, who had taken the money pouch, disappeared with delight.
The Duke stood up and suddenly extended his hand to Rose.
Rose asked with a doubtful face.
“Are you telling me to hold it?”
“Yes.”
When she extended her cold hand, the Duke grasped it firmly.
The calloused palm was colder than expected, but suddenly warmth spread, and the Duke’s entire hand became hot in an instant.
Thanks to that, warmth returned to Rose’s frozen fingers.
Momentarily dazed by the unexpected consideration, she tried to pull her hand away, but he instead pulled her closer, causing her forehead to bump against his chest.
Looking up with a cold expression, Khan was looking down at her with a gaze as chilly as Rose’s.
“If you break the contract between us, your heart will now be shattered.”
In response to the Duke’s rudeness, Rose’s tongue also grew sharp.
“I am a merchant who lives on trust, so as long as it’s not unfair, I will gladly adhere to the contract. But I don’t know about you, noble sir. The higher the status, the more they tend to belittle promises with others. So, Duke, you should pay special attention to your heart. You already have a record, don’t you?”
“That’s true.”
The Duke chuckled and released Rose’s now warm hand.
“Congratulations on becoming the Mistress of Aytan.”
Looking at the indifferent handsome man who didn’t seem to be congratulating her at all, Rose sighed.
Not wanting to overthink the actions that seemed like consideration but weren’t, she responded with a bright smile.
“Is it really something to celebrate?”
The Duke only smiled without giving any answer.
Feeling as if his somewhat hollow expression was piercing her heart, Rose turned her head and walked towards the group approaching from afar.
Left alone, Khan watched her small back before turning around and clutching his aching chest.
Due to forcibly suppressing the resistance to the holy power, blood from the bruised skin stained his fingertips.
He pulled the edge of his cloak to cover his chest and whispered to the approaching Jack.
“Quiet.”
The butler bit his lips tightly and silently stayed by Khan’s side until Rose’s group departed.
*** *** *** *** ***
Jack was startled every time the carriage shook, but the Duke was simply staring out the window without any expression.
He had been like that ever since parting ways with the woman named Rose.
It was impossible to know what he was thinking.
Jack couldn’t understand why Khan, who had never shown interest in people, was so fixated on Rose, whom he had only met once.
Perhaps he didn’t even want to understand.
Even though he knew he shouldn’t view his master only as the child he once was, perhaps it was because he had grown old.
The Duke, who seemed to have only grown physically, appeared pitiable.
‘Still, if I want to see him live long, see descendants, and build a family… is that my greed?’
Jack knew well that from an outsider’s perspective, he might seem very selfish and bad for thinking this way.
Aytans had never been particularly good husbands, and even Khan’s father ended his life in suicide after a terrible marriage.
Knowing all this, Jack couldn’t help but be someone who only thought of his master.
‘That woman is too strong. That’s why I’m concerned.’
Even though it seemed like his master was leading the situation, he felt as if Khan might eventually be drawn to her.
Jack wondered if he was overreacting, but he shook his head.
‘What does our master lack! Except for the family history, he has the looks, the body, even the voice. Is there anything missing? No, there isn’t.’
Jack looked at Khan with eyes full of affection, and their eyes met.
“Why are you… Ah! Is your chest hurting a lot?”
“No.”
“Then why…”
The Duke frowned.
“Stop staring.”
“…Yes.”
Jack had no choice but to reluctantly acknowledge that his master had one more flaw.
‘Being too perfect means there’s no warmth. Yes, maybe his personality is a bit sharp.’
The butler smiled bitterly and lowered his gaze.
*** *** *** *** ***
About a week after the contract was finalized at the temple, a letter arrived from Khan.
[Let’s meet at the Duke’s house.]
Seeing just a single line, Rose asked the employee from the Chaos Merchant Guild who brought the letter.
“Who brought this?”
“Oh, they just left. They probably haven’t gone far. Should I go call them back?”
When Rose shook her head, the employee bowed and left the office.
Left alone, she let out a hollow laugh.
“No need for a reply. So that’s how it is.”
She had already anticipated this.
There was no need to enter the Duke’s house, but since it aligned with the terms of the deal, she couldn’t refuse.
They promised to block troublesome matters from the local nobles and the central nobles of the capital.
They said they would assist her.
Still, though.
“Just one line.”
Rose looked down at the letter and then at Gray, the head of the merchant guild.
Gray’s face had become gaunt over the past few days, likely due to worry.
Rose looked at him with concern and said, “You don’t look well. You should rest.”
He shook his head.
“If you’re going to the Duke’s house, the guild will move with you.”
“No. The main office should stay in the capital. Keep me informed of the news here. It’s not been long since we settled in Terran. Above all, keep a close eye on the movements of the central nobles. Especially there.”
“Are you referring to the Argar Empire?”
“Yes.”
Gray looked at Rose as if she were his daughter.
His grayish-white hair seemed to have become more speckled over the past few days.
“But if you go like this, the elders will be in an uproar.”
“Is that so?”
“The concerns of the elderly always have a reason.”
Gray, about to place a hand on Rose’s shoulder, withdrew it and smiled bitterly.
“I… lost my family, wealth, and friends at a young age. Then I happened to meet you. The young girl scolded me, saying she wasn’t crying, so why was an adult crying. The heavens are truly strange. Just when you’re about to give up, they casually throw you a lifeline.”
Gray’s blue-gray eyes looked sad.
The heavens had cruelly taken away his wife and daughter when he needed them most.
His harmonious family shattered in an instant, and when he couldn’t trust anyone, he took the small hand Rose extended.
Not because he truly believed he would succeed, but because the child, as young and small as his deceased daughter, seemed pitiful.
As the years passed, Gray came to regard Rose more and more like a daughter.
Though he considered her family, he always maintained a boundary, but today, perhaps feeling more sentimental, he muttered in a slightly sulky voice.
“But Rose, you’re not someone who looks up at the sky assigned to you. You might worry and bear it alone. I know, I know well… but seeing you struggle makes me angry.”
Gray, who had been silently listening, looked into her eyes and then turned his gaze to the noisy voices beyond the study.
“I may not know everything, but I can guess some of it. Everyone has their own nightmares. It’s something that can’t be shared with others. I have such nightmares too.”
Rose said nothing, but Gray seemed to understand.
He looked at Rose with the heart of a master and a father and said, “I just hope you remember one thing. I’m always ready to remain silent. Of course, this is only for you, Rose.”
“Thank you.”
It was overwhelming.
While building the Chaos Merchant Guild together, there were times when she gave absurd orders and made him stop everything he was doing.
Each time, Rose never gave a plausible excuse or answer.
Gray’s face, which had always been puzzled, eventually became calm, and he simply smiled and said he understood.
When it seemed impossible, he would desperately try to stop her, but in the end, Rose always won.
Once, with a bitter smile on his face, Gray had said.
‘I’m afraid I might be unnecessary to you, Rose, just a burden.’
Rose often felt the urge to tell him everything, to the one who did so much for her.
There were times when life felt too overwhelming and difficult, and she wished he would share the burden with her.
But didn’t Gray and the people of the guild each have their own lives to live?
While they could share things as a guild, she couldn’t ask too much of them as individuals.
Swallowing the countless words that lingered in her mouth, Rose looked at Gray.
She held his hand, looking at his hair, more wrinkled and graying than when they first met.
“Sometimes I think you forget… You’re the first person I’ve ever relied on in my life. For me, you’ll always be the only person who fits the meaning of an adult.”
Gray blinked for a moment, and his neck turned red.
Unlike the man known as the vicious gentleman of the upper world, he looked as if he might burst into tears at any moment.
He cleared his throat loudly, perhaps flustered by the surge of emotions.
“This is sweat. Dust, no…”
When Rose just looked at him quietly, Gray protested with a face that seemed to say he was caught.
“Do you think I won’t follow you because of this?”
“Wow.”
“Yes, even if you tell me not to come… huh?”
Surprised, Gray widened his eyes, but then, seeing Rose’s laughter, he became suspicious.
“If I don’t let you come when you want to so much, you’ll resent me.”
“Are you being so compliant?”
“What is that expression? Are you doubting me now?”
Quickly erasing his doubtful expression, Gray firmly denied it.
“Me? That’s unfair. Absolutely not! I’m just curious why our Rose suddenly gave in.”
Seeing Gray becoming more shameless, Rose chuckled.
“We need to establish a base in the North. Isn’t it too late to prepare now?”
“Don’t worry. We’ve already acquired a castle near the Aytan territory…”
“So you did?”
With a face that seemed to say she caught him, the middle-aged head of the merchant guild hesitated and then forced a smile that had opened many noble ladies’ purses.
“The shareholders of the guild have already agreed. What could I do when everyone was in favor? It’s quite disappointing that you don’t understand my sincerity.”
“Stubborn as ever.”
“Look who’s talking.”
Rose, as if she couldn’t stop him, waved her hand as if to say do as you please and looked up at the main office of the guild.
Moments from settling in the capital of Terran after leaving Argar flashed through her mind.
All her joy and success were here.
After a brief sigh, Rose looked at Gray and said, “I’ll leave this place to you. See you later.”
“Yes.”
Seeing Gray’s smiling face, Rose also smiled back.
A clearing of the throat was heard outside the study, and a young man with red hair appeared.
“Casa.”
“Were you planning to leave me behind?”
Rose laughed as if she couldn’t help it.
That afternoon, a carriage from the Chaos Merchant Guild headed towards Aytan.
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