Contract Marriage with the Villain Who Will Kill Me

With a bang, the library door swung open. Galad stood in the back, awkward and flustered.

Rohana looked calmly at the duke who had hurried inside. His silver hair was damp, likely from the intense snowstorm.

“You’ve arrived.”

Kaiden opened his mouth as if to say something but instead took a deep breath and closed the door.

“I had some business to attend to.”

In response to Rohana’s nonchalant voice, Kaiden slowly walked towards her.

“The bedroom…”

“The bedroom?”

Kaiden shook his head at Rohana, who repeated his words as if she didn’t know anything.

“It’s nothing.”

“Is something wrong?”

Kaiden’s gaze shifted to the pile of books. From basic books on magic to ancient texts that looked like no one would ever read, a wide variety of materials were stacked up.

Kaiden raised an eyebrow and looked at Rohana.

“I insisted a bit with Sirirul. Since I’m the lady of this house, I thought I had the right to do at least this much.”

Kaiden gave a casual nod, as if to say, “Is that so?” Rohana looked at him for a moment, then, as if making up her mind, she let out a breath. It was time to stop playing hide-and-seek.

“Please have a seat.”

She pushed aside the books and documents piled on the desk. The heavy sound of Kaiden’s boots and the clinking of his weapons echoed through the vast library.

As Kaiden was about to toss his cloak onto a nearby chair, he froze at Rohana’s calm voice.

“What did you say about not being seen?”

Her face, turned toward him, was shadowed despite the morning sunlight. She looked pale and weary, as if she hadn’t slept a wink.

“What are you talking about?”

“Back then, what did you tell me not to reveal?”

Rohana’s question was composed, quiet, and calm—like asking what they would have for breakfast.

Kaiden’s jaw tightened. His deep, dark eyes stared at Rohana as if trying to pierce through her. The boy and girl who had met under the moonlight were now facing each other in the morning sun.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to talk about it like this.”

Rohana lowered her eyes.

It’s time to stop playing hide-and-seek.

The words were on the tip of her tongue but didn’t escape her lips. Kaiden ran his hand through his wet hair.

“Since when?”

“Not long ago.”

Silence followed.

“The person you met today, was it by any chance R.D.?”

At her businesslike tone, Kaiden silently ran his hand through his hair, causing the wet strands to fall out of place.

“I’m guessing they said something about how it would be convenient for a war if I were dead, right?”

It wasn’t a difficult guess. She knew the original story. She understood exactly what they were thinking. Kaiden’s face hardened ominously.

“I met Lazar, the head of R.D., and just as you predicted, they want you dead. You’re the perfect target to provoke both sides.”

Rohana nodded. It felt refreshing to finally lay everything out in the open. She smiled bitterly, thinking she should have done this sooner, and looked back at Kaiden.

“So, what do you want to do with me, Your Grace?”

Kaiden stared intently at Rohana, who spoke in a calm voice. His jet-black eyes shimmered in various hues as the sunlight hit them.

“You’re remarkably consistent.”

There was an odd nuance in Kaiden’s tone, making it hard to discern his emotions.

“Even back then, when you spared my life.”

The memory of that time made Rohana flinch involuntarily.

Kaiden began to remove the leather armor strapped to him, following his cloak. The sound of him untying the tanned leather straps echoed irritably.

After throwing off his armor, Kaiden stood in just his shirt, looking at Rohana. Despite the cold day, his shirt clung slightly to his broad chest, hinting that he had been sweating.

“You gave that maid a dagger, didn’t you?”

As he exhaled heavily, his broad chest rose and fell. It was as if anger was visibly radiating from him.

“And now, here you are, spilling everything to me.”

His low voice muttered under his breath.

“What are you going to do if I kill you right here and now? What if I do exactly what R.D. wants?”

He leaned in close, his face drawing near enough that it seemed like he might touch her.

“You act all clever, but…”

A blood vessel throbbed in his violet eyes. Rohana could feel the tension, not fear, but an inexplicable sense of pressure that made her hold her breath.

“You’re utterly untrained.”

“No.”

Kaiden let out a bitter laugh. He shook his head in disbelief.

“So, are you saying you’re in control of this situation too… like with that maid?”

“You can’t kill me.”

Rohana stared unwaveringly at Kaiden, not even blinking.

“And why is that?”

Kaiden met her gaze with the same unyielding look.

“Because I’m about to make you a very good offer.”

Kaiden’s brows furrowed. A surge of anger roiled within him, wondering why he was having this conversation with her in such an atmosphere.

Why.

How did it come to this?

“Go on.”

But the voice that came out was as composed as ever.

“Use me.”

Kaiden’s brows knit together.

“Don’t kill me. Use me as a weapon.”

Rohana did her best to maintain a calm facade. Though she wanted to cast it aside as she looked at his face, she slowly pulled a book toward her.

It was an ancient magic textbook, one that Sirirul treated like a treasure. She picked up the bookmark and opened the book.

“In rare cases where a non-Karkan possesses magical abilities, it is recorded that their powers can be exceedingly vast and unpredictable, making them dangerous.”

Kaiden’s dark violet eyes gleamed from behind the book, watching her intently.

“Some say that certain people even reach the level of saints, but there is insufficient evidence to support this claim.”

The silence was broken by the sharp sound of a book being placed down.

“Nurture me.”

Looking at the darkened face, Rohana continued.

“Isn’t it important to win the war? If it comes to that, of course.”

As if to preempt any unnecessary rebuttal, Rohana went on.

“You already know the odds of losing the battle are high if we fight, don’t you?”

It was disheartening to realize how useful her knowledge of the original story was at times like this.

“Use me. I’ll stand by your side until the contract ends. Having an Arin join the Kark side will also be a useful case for ideological purposes.”

Kaiden’s sculpted face hardened, expressionless.

“And when the contract ends, I’ll leave, as promised.”

“How can I be sure you won’t betray me?”

“I’ll make an ‘oath.'”

At Rohana’s words, Kaiden’s eyes narrowed.

“You’ve been studying hard all night, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I’ve had plenty of time.”

Rohana let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“You’ll nurture me, and I’ll help you—until the contract ends. Once the contract is over, I’ll leave Ardgold and never return, so you don’t have to worry.”

Rohana quickly recited.

“It seems a lot more profitable to use me this way rather than engage in a war we’re likely to lose, doesn’t it?”

At her quietly murmured words, Kaiden’s eyes flashed.

“Do you even know what an ‘oath’ really entails?”

“If broken, the soul burns for eternity. Yes, I know—it’s a curse and forbidden magic.”

Rohana briefly lowered her gaze, then looked back up.

“I don’t want to die. And this peculiar ability I have—it seems very useful to me. If it’s necessary, I’ll make an oath or whatever you need.”

Rohana cleared her throat.

“In the end, it’s not that different from the contract we made at the beginning. We’re just adding a little more to the exchange.”

Kaiden’s face looked like he was about to shout, yet he remained expressionless, impassive. A heavy silence hung in the air for a moment.

“Alright, I’ll use you.”

Kaiden nodded, and Rohana let out a small breath.

“But I won’t make an ‘oath.'”

With that, Kaiden abruptly stood up.

“Wait.”

Rohana quickly blocked his path.

“What does that mean?”

Kaiden’s dark eyes looked down at her as she stood right in front of him. Slowly, he parted his tightly sealed lips.

“Magic is yours to wield, so do with it as you will.”

His voice was firm.

“We’ll keep the contract—as it was.”

“But that’s…”

“That’s enough.”

Kaiden took another step forward. They were close enough that their bodies almost touched. The mixed scent of cold snow and the heat of sweat made her dizzy.

“In the end, you’re still playing the same old game. Recklessly showing all your cards, gambling away like this—even though you couldn’t wait just a few more days.”

Under his intense gaze, Rohana couldn’t even turn her eyes away.

“Well… this time, it worked out for you.”

His eyes pulled her in like they were binding her.

“You’ve won.”

Rohana’s heart pounded as if it would burst. Kaiden’s low voice echoed in her ears and settled deep in her chest.

“I can’t harm you.”

The light that had flickered in his violet eyes stopped. Rohana clenched her teeth.

“I can’t harm you. Though I doubt you’ll believe me.”

Suppressing some unknown heated emotion, Kaiden whispered in a voice low as a breath.

Kaiden’s eyes never left Rohana. A shallow breath escaped through his tightly sealed lips.

How much time had passed? With a self-mocking smile, Kaiden spoke again.

“You don’t have to make that face.”