Contract Marriage with the Villain Who Will Kill Me

Chapter 23

The fact that there was a succession to the throne while the first emperor was still alive, no matter how powerful he was, was an unsettling move for the young empire.

At that extraordinary event, the existing crown prince’s fiancée was replaced, and the former fiancée had already promised to marry the imperial Duke Kaiden Delcliff.

Because of these events, no one could return home even after midnight had long passed.

The banquet continued with an air of excitement as if it had just begun, and an unexpressed tension.

As always, Kaiden maintained his courteous demeanor, and Rohana, too, did not lose her natural and elegant smile throughout.

Aurelia’s splendid red dress and Bardi’s red robe attracted the crowd, whose eyes repeatedly turned towards and away from the new and intriguing couple.

“Let’s go in now.”

Rohana was the first to whisper. Kaiden tilted his head slightly to listen, then nodded.

Though most eyes in the banquet hall, including those of Crown Prince Bardi, followed them persistently, Rohana ignored them all and stared straight ahead.

Even after returning to the mansion, Rohana didn’t respond to the curious looks and questions as she dried her wet hair alone, thinking of the past.

In the original story, she dies on the longest day of the year, a beautiful summer day. Because war breaks out then, she remembered this detail clearly if nothing else.

‘So this time, whatever it takes. I’m going to cut ties with this place.’

Feeling foolish for her earlier scattered thoughts, Rohana couldn’t help but reproach herself inwardly.

Then it happened.

Bang.

The sound of a door opening echoed down the hallway. From the hasty footsteps alone, she could tell who it was. Rohana’s brows furrowed deeply.

Knock, knock.

With the continuing knocks, Rohana rose from the dressing table and slowly walked to the sitting room, a sigh escaping her lips.

The sound of urgent knocks, though polite, and the hurried footsteps of confused maids and servants continued.

Bang, the door opened again. Rohana knelt respectfully in front of the sitting room. Even more politely than usual.

“Your Majesty.”

Though her hair wasn’t properly dried, Bardi, as usual, didn’t care.

The lavish decor of the imperial coronation starkly contrasted with Rohana’s unadorned appearance.

“Is it true?”

“Yes.”

When she answered without hesitation, Bardi’s blue eyes flashed.

“So you’re leaving for Nopthal?”

“Yes.”

“How could you….”

At the slightly faltering voice, Rohana slowly raised her lowered eyes. The emperor’s face, now in her view, was astonishingly filled with pain.

“Why?”

Why, indeed.

“For the stability of the empire, this is not a bad option.”

When Rohana repeated Kaiden’s words, Bardi’s powerful fist struck the wall with a bang.

The tall cabinet beside them shook violently. The expensive glass ornaments inside rattled precariously. Yet Rohana looked up at him with calm eyes.

“Do you think I’m doing this out of concern for such trivial matters?”

Rohana looked straight at him.

“The alliance between the Dukes of Delcliff and Hanover will contribute to the stability of the imperial family. You know that Shatonwell has shown interest in Duke Delcliff.”

Careful not to mention Duke Hanover’s machinations, Rohana continued.

“Enough!”

The sudden shout reverberated through the sitting room.

“Stop it.”

Pressing his temples, Bardi stood up abruptly and paced back and forth anxiously.

“Rohana.”

He came closer with a firm stride, almost touching her as he stood in front of her. Bardi’s furrowed brows deepened as he stared down at her for a long moment.

“Rohana, don’t go.”

His voice was confident.

“I’ve never considered the possibility of you leaving this place.”

With no words to reply, Rohana narrowed her eyes slightly, and Bardi dropped his gaze.

“I’m sorry.”

His anguished voice filled the sitting room.

“But that can’t happen.”

And Rohana could no longer listen.

“Your Majesty.”

Rohana slowly took a step back. Despite the quickly darkening expression on his face, she strangely felt no fear.

Then she said what she, as the former crown prince’s fiancée, would never have uttered. As politely as possible.

“As long as it doesn’t bring disgrace to the empire, my marriage is not something Your Majesty should concern yourself with.”

Bardi’s blue eyes fixed on her lips, then met her gaze.

“Then, please go back now.”

Moonlight shone softly behind Rohana, who bowed gracefully with her head lowered.

“It is late.”

Bardi looked at her with pity and bit his lip. Such a nervous expression was something she had never seen on him before.

“Kaiden is…”

For the first time, a serious voice emerged from the one who had always seemed like an immature boy, cutting through the silence.

“He may not be the hero you think he is.”

Rohana’s brow furrowed. Of course, she knew that better than anyone.

Who could know more about that ‘villain’ than her? However, the emperor in the original story had trusted his cousin with a naïve faith until the moment of betrayal.

But to see the seeds of doubt growing now, Bardi Rentworth was more perceptive than she had expected.

“There’s no way.”

Rohana smiled faintly.

“Didn’t he defeat that ‘Axebone’ so that we could live comfortably?”

She chose words that a precious noblewoman of the Arin tribe might say.

“There’s no need to worry.”

She wasn’t sure which side she should take to survive, but today was not the day to decide that.

Especially not agreeing with Bardi Rentworth’s words.

“Congratulations again on your engagement.”

As she heard the commotion outside, Rohana bowed deeply.

Sensing Gregory Hanover’s presence, Bardi Rentworth did not say anything more and turned to leave the inner room.

The sound of the door being roughly opened and the urgent voices and footsteps followed quickly.

Rohana remained bowed, taking a deep breath.

***

Early in the morning, Kaiden sent a letter saying he would visit in the afternoon. Regardless of any contract, the card she held was ultimately the Hanover duchy.

Why would he say he would let her go?

For Rohana, who knew his intentions well in this clearly arranged marriage, it was a thousand times more suspicious.

She felt she was missing something crucial, but no matter how much she reconsidered, she couldn’t guess what it was.

Kaiden claimed he would stop Gregory Hanover from allying with Shatonwell for the empire’s stability.

Nominally or practically, what card could she present to him now?

Despite its flaws, the only idea that came to her was her status as a Hanover.

It was the only privilege she still held. Although Gregory knew she planned to escape, he hadn’t said much yet.

Then there was a knock.

“Yes.”

Rohana, having barely slept, pressed her hands to her pale cheeks to restore some color and answered.

“My Lady.”

One of her new dedicated maids bowed politely.

“You have a visitor.”

“Duke Delcliff?”

The cream-colored dress she saw in the mirror was simple yet full, with elegant, translucent silk sleeves. The maid hesitated to answer.

“What is it?”

“Well, Lady Aurelia is here.”

With a momentary pause, Rohana regained her pace and entered the sitting room, where Aurelia, with her shining blonde hair tied with a ribbon, sat in a lilac chiffon dress.

“Wow, the Hanover duchy is indeed different.”

Aurelia clasped her hands and spoke.

“Please leave us.”

At Rohana’s command, the maids withdrew and the door closed.

“My Lady, I don’t think I’ve properly apologized.”

She was a face Rohana didn’t want to see and words she didn’t need to hear.

“No, there’s nothing for you to apologize for, Lady Aurelia.”

Rohana cut in firmly.

It was a fact. She couldn’t blame the woman who fell for the wandering man.

“Unless His Majesty himself comes to apologize…”

Noticing Rohana’s overly polite yet subtly condescending tone, Aurelia’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

“Lady Rohana, I heard about your engagement to Duke Kaiden Delcliff.”