“Your infamy will protect me?”

Beneath elegant, long eyes, clear blue eyes narrowed as if hearing something absurd.

But looking into those eyes, I nodded firmly.

“I plan to become someone worthy of that infamy.”

In other words, ‘I’m Your AGGRO.’

“Admiral Richard Aquilus.”

It was quite enjoyable to see ripples form in those sapphire-like solid blue eyes.

Maintaining about two steps’ distance, I slowly walked around him while continuing to speak.

“Have you heard what my nickname was in Rainfeld?”

In the dim interior, shadows overlapped and separated repeatedly.

“Should I know?”

“Hmm, if you don’t know, you could just honestly say so.”

Actually, I didn’t know well myself until two months ago.

“Natural Disaster of Social Circles, Red-Haired Witch, Party Destroyer.”

There are a few more, but well, let’s skip ‘Fiancé Collector.’

“These nicknames didn’t come from nowhere.”

The original owner of this body had collected quite a few titles.

“What do you think?”

“Are you saying you’ll use the excuse of being my lover to act as wickedly as you please?”

Ah. I was so busy praising my good idea that I hadn’t thought of that.

The Admiral’s gaze turned fierce.

Well, he does seem like someone who would personally execute traitors on the spot.

I shook my head slowly with my hands behind my back.

“Don’t misunderstand. I deeply reflected and repented before coming to the South from Rainfeld. I even apologized publicly. Actually, I’ve become a completely new person.”

I tried to show a bright smile, but since the soul inside is quite jaded, I’m not sure how well it came across.

At any rate, I definitely became a new person. After all, my soul was replaced.

“It’s easy to wag one’s tongue. I can’t trust you, my Lady.”

“Then don’t trust me, just monitor and use me, Admiral.”

I shrugged while looking at the face of the man who looked like a fashion model even when suspicious.

“Short-term, it might negatively affect your reputation too. But you don’t have anyone you’re interested in right now anyway, right? If anything, it’s the opposite.”

Of course, feelings could change with time.

“If you actually find someone you truly love, I’ll cleanly break things off.”

“And the opposite case?”

“Me? Ah, about that. Realistically, I don’t want a lifetime position either. Um, shall we contract for about 100 days?”

I suggested that number because a year seemed too long, but after saying it, I realized that in the original <Contract Saint>, the female lead Anael also contracted with the Emperor for 100 days.

The only difference is that she was a real saint, while I’m now a fake villainess.

“During the contract period, Admiral, you can use me to drive away people who approach you.”

I’ll handle everything even if you do nothing.

“At the same time, monitor me all you want. Whether I’m truly suspicious or not, whether I’m a villainess trying to use you or not, whether I reveal the curse’s existence to someone else or not.”

And after that, please let me go.

I just came here to enjoy life as a wealthy unemployed person, what’s all this about?

“You’re already suspicious, my Lady.”

“Because I’m too calm?”

“No.”

The Admiral’s gaze passed over the dried flowers, returning to me.

“…You’re listing conditions that are too favorable to me.”

“Isn’t being able to see your handsome face up close for 100 days advantageous to me?”

There isn’t a single lie in my words.

Being able to monopolize that world heritage-level face is an unexpected bonus.

They say you can’t spit on a smiling face so I tried smiling, but what I got in return was an approaching face…?

“To say such blatant things.”

He instantly closed the two-step distance I had maintained to right in front of my face.

I flinched and tried to step back, but stumbled against the table behind me and sat down.

The Admiral took another half step forward and placed one hand on the table where I sat.

In an instant, I was trapped by his arm.

“You’re the first person to say such things while trembling like this.”

His low voice brushed past my ear.

And when he stood up again, dried red petals fluttered from his white gloves to the floor.

I watched this scene and brought my two hands, which had been supporting me from behind, to my knees.

My hands, stained with the remains of dead flowers, were trembling slightly.

“I’m scared. That’s why I made this proposal.”

But it’s not like you’ll drop your suspicions just because I say this, what kind of bad taste is this?

As if reading my thoughts, the Admiral said with a sneer.

“If you want me to drop my suspicions, speak more honestly about what you want.”

Under long, thick eyelashes, eyes as clear and deep as a lake held my hands in their gaze.

“Then please lend me some paper and a pen.”

I don’t trust verbal contracts.

“Let’s write a proper contract first, including confidentiality clauses.”

***

Mikhail Hasloff hurried his steps toward the Admiral’s residence.

“Why did you move the carriage all the way here?”

“Well, some navy fellow, lieutenant or captain or something, said it was a no-parking zone so we had to move it far away…”

Other carriages were still in their places – it was clearly forced.

The coachman drew in his breath upon seeing Mikhail’s cold eyes. Though the young mistress looked frightening, she was exceptionally kind to the servants, so now they actively denied her infamous reputation to others.

But this butler who served her, with looks that could put any noble young master to shame and a personality as cold as frost, was very difficult to deal with even for someone his age.

“Are, are you angry?”

“No. The young mistress fell in water, so I came to get clothes for her to change into.”

“Oh my, that’s terrible! Is she hurt anywhere?”

“She didn’t seem to be hurt. Still, I must hurry.”

 The last expression he saw on Callia’s face sharply pricked at his nerves.

‘Come quickly.’

It was the first time he had seen Callia Rabius, who usually acted so brazenly, make such a face.

A desperate and precarious expression, as if she might cry at any moment.

As if that emotion had transferred to him, Mikhail was quite anxious right now.

‘Does she know the Admiral? The probability is low though.’

It was extremely rare for the Admiral to leave the South and come to the capital Rainfeld.

At most, he would come to discuss national security matters, so there shouldn’t be any reason for him to be involved with Callia.

Even if they had happened to meet by chance, why would Callia fear him and avoid his touch?

‘Why am I worrying so much?’

No, this is a rational emotion.

If something happened to Callia Rabius, Duke Rabius would hold him responsible.

So there was nothing strange about him being this concerned.

“I am Mikhail Hasloff, who serves Lady Rabius. I’ve brought clothes for her to change into, so I’ll be entering.”

Having practically run to the Admiral’s residence, he said this to the naval guard at the door.

“Lady Rabius?”

“Yes. I heard Admiral Aquilus brought Lady Callia here.”

Since Admiral Aquilus was known to be a germaphobe with no interest in women, they should let him in right away.

However, contrary to what he expected, the naval guard tried to prevent him from entering.

“Not now. Please wait.”

“Is there a reasonable explanation?”

“Orders have come down.”

What reason could the Admiral have for not letting Lady Rabius leave the residence?

“Do you understand what consequences your actions might bring?”

“I-I’m just following orders from above.”

“If word spreads that the navy is detaining the only daughter of House Rabius, you could be executed for treason.”

“W-what?! What nonsense!”

“Does it sound groundless?”

Mikhail explained rationally and concisely what could happen when a naval guard detains a high noble’s only daughter without sufficient reason.

“My-my future grandchildren too…”

“If you don’t want to take full responsibility, you’d better open the door right now.”

The naval guard grabbed the bronze doorknob while trembling.

At that moment.

“I hope you haven’t forgotten military law out of fear of imperial law.”

A gray-haired naval officer who had come around the corner of the residence warned the marine.

“Ack, Sir Zipfel!”

“I understand your loyalty.”

“I-I wasn’t really going to open-“

“Shut up.”

The pitiful naval guard closed his mouth, and Mikhail met eyes with the officer called Zipfel.

“If you heard everything, there’s no reason to stop me.”

“Those threats don’t work on me.”

“It’s not a threat, it’s your future. Open the door.”

“My master is in here, not in the imperial palace.”

The longer they delayed at the door, the more his vague uneasiness took shape.

Looking at Zipfel, who smiled crookedly as if asking ‘What will you do now,’ Mikhail raised his foot instead of opening his mouth.

BANG-!

“You bastard!”

“Lady Callia!”

The heavy bronze door flew open like a plank from one kick, and sunlight poured into the dim interior.

“My master is in here too.”

Mikhail shook off the naval guard’s arm trying to stop him, dodged the officer’s swinging fist, and pushed his way inside.

Lady Callia, who had worried him the whole way here…

“Oh? Mikhail! Hey, I was waiting!”

Greeted him brightly. Seeing her like that, relief and anger welled up together.

“Wait, are you trying to hit my butler right now?”

“Zipfel.”

“I was exercising my arms.”

At one word from the Admiral, the officer looked away and made an excuse.

“Ah, then next time I’ll do some arm and leg exercises in front of you too.”

At Callia’s heated response, Mikhail somehow felt his strength drain away.

“What were you doing here that made the navy prevent me from entering?”

Even as he asked, he didn’t expect any significant answer.

Perhaps because the Admiral, who didn’t associate with women, was alone with a lady, his subordinates had arbitrarily restricted access hoping things would go well… no, that would be unpleasant in its own way.

Anyway, looking at the expressionless Admiral and brightly smiling Callia, it seemed nothing had happened, but.

“We decided to date!”

For a moment, Mikhail’s thoughts stopped.

“I must have misheard, could you please repeat-“

“Dating! A romantic relationship! But only for 100 days!”

He couldn’t catch up with this situation.

The young mistress is going to do what with Admiral Aquilus?