‘It’s been two weeks already.’

Charlotte stared out the window, lost in thought. The sky outside had turned a deep shade of crimson.

It had already been two weeks since she dismissed Patrick from his position as her personal guard.

The second son of the Marquis of Unimede, his replacement, was not a bad choice. Among the many who had proposed to her, he had a commendable character, a cooperative family, and notable martial prowess.

‘…Though not quite like Patrick.’

She froze at the thought, then let out a self-deprecating laugh.

‘Will I ever be able to forget?’

Though she had dismissed him determined to let go of her feelings, the truth was she wasn’t confident. Even after two weeks, it only took the smallest loosening of her emotions for her thoughts to return to him.

‘At least work is keeping me busy.’

There was less time for idle thoughts now.

She shook her head with a sigh and returned her eyes to the paperwork. Just then, she sensed someone approaching.

“Your Highness.”

“Ah, Duchess Powell.”

When she looked up, she saw Anais Powell, still youthful and lovely as ever. With a bright smile, Anais dipped into a curtsy.

“I’m about to leave for the day. Thank you again for your hard work.”

“You’ve worked harder than I have. But you’re leaving early today?”

Charlotte asked suddenly. Anais was one of the few, along with Lucian and Charlotte herself, who usually stayed late at work. Leaving before sunset was out of character.

It was a casual remark, really—just polite conversation. She didn’t expect the reply that followed.

“Yes. There’s a duel happening soon, and I’d like to observe.”

“…A duel?”

Charlotte’s eyes widened at the antiquated word, one she’d only seen in old books.

Anais, however, remained perfectly composed. She brought a hand to her lips with a small gasp and said, as if surprised,

“Oh, but I suppose Your Highness wouldn’t know, given how busy you’ve been lately. Sir Bryan and Sir Unimede are set to duel over the position.”

“What?”

This time, Charlotte truly looked shocked as she shot up from her seat.

Who? Is dueling whom? Over what?

Dueling was a long-forgotten tradition, a formal means once used to prevent royal knights from engaging in personal conflicts over assignments.

Even Charlotte wouldn’t have known about it if she hadn’t scoured the imperial archives out of boredom back when she was still a princess.

So how on earth did Patrick and Sir Unimede know about it—and how had it come to this?

‘How is it that I’m only finding out about this now…!’

Charlotte was about to erupt in anger, but her lips closed at the sudden recollection of a memory.

Her emotions were tangled because the one who had ordered that no reports concerning Patrick be delivered—was none other than herself.

Of course, the reason she was only hearing about the duel now had more to do with Lucian and Anais cleverly shielding her eyes and ears. They were the ones who had dug up the regulations and informed Patrick about the duel in the first place.

Even the palace servants, who would have otherwise offered unwavering loyalty to Charlotte, vaguely guessed what was going on this time and collectively chose to remain silent.

‘If the information I saw back then was accurate, aura use is prohibited in a duel.’

Completely unaware of this, Charlotte felt like her insides were burning to ash as she quickly rose from her seat.

“I’m coming too. Where is it being held?”

“I shall escort you.”

A subtle smile flickered at the corner of Anais’s lips, but she concealed it deftly and led Charlotte.

Around the knights’ sparring grounds, a sizable crowd of nobles and servants had gathered—startled by the news of the duel, just like Anais and Charlotte. The murmuring crowd quickly parted, bowing and stepping back the moment they saw the Crown Princess.

Beyond the cleared path stood Patrick, dressed plainly.

Seeing him again for the first time in a while, Charlotte instinctively stopped breathing.

But only for a moment.

Suddenly, a surge of anger welled up from deep inside her—an anger she couldn’t even name. Her fists clenched with growing intensity.

She strode forward to where Patrick stood. A voice colder than she expected escaped her lips.

“What do you think you’re doing, Sir Bryan?”

“Your Highness?”

The second son of the Marquis of Unimede, who had been standing near Patrick, bowed in surprise.

But Charlotte’s burning red eyes remained fixed on Patrick, unwavering. The man receiving her ferocious glare, however, simply smiled warmly.

“Your Highness. You’ve come.”

“Even if you win, I have no intention of reinstating you as my guard. So call this off now.”

No matter how superhuman he might be as an Aura Master, that was only true when he could use aura. In a duel, aura was prohibited. He would have to face his opponent purely with his physical strength.

The Marquis’s son, though not an Aura Master, was an outstanding knight who had reached the level of Aura Expert. He was visibly larger and stronger than Patrick. Expecting Patrick to prevail against such a man was unrealistic.

Why on earth was Patrick Bryan doing something so reckless?

Charlotte had agonized over it all the way there, but the only possible reason for this duel kept circling back to one thing—her dismissal of Patrick from his position as her personal guard.

‘Why on earth…?’

An ache of sorrow rose in her throat. Charlotte bit down on her lip.

Wasn’t it true that he had no special feelings for her? That he only stayed by her side because of duty, or pity?

Then why go to these lengths? What did her guard position mean to him?

A storm of questions and emotions raged within her. Charlotte took a deep breath to crush her rising hopes and imaginings.

At that moment, Patrick, who had been quietly watching her, opened his mouth.

“That… won’t be possible.”

“What?”

Patrick rarely gave such firm refusals, perhaps because of his inherently gentle nature. But now, he was strangely resolute.

His light green eyes shone steadily. He spoke calmly.

“I am no longer a duke, just a knight. If I am to return to Your Highness’s side, I must prove it to myself as well.”

“…!”

“That I am worthy to stand by your side.”

Charlotte stopped breathing for a second. The wild questions buzzing through her mind froze, suspended in time.

As she stood frozen, Patrick lowered his gaze. After a moment of hesitation, he reached out carefully and untied the ribbon wrapped around her wrist in place of a bracelet. He gently wrapped it around his own wrist.

A lovely crimson—just like her eyes. A soft smile touched his lips.

“I’ll take this as a token. Please watch over me.”

With that, Patrick hurriedly stepped away, like a man afraid she might snatch it back.

Charlotte only came to her senses when the arbiter began calling for the observers to clear the space.

It was too late to call off the duel now. Whether or not she accepted the victor as her guard was up to her, but the duel itself—being a matter between knights—was beyond her interference.

She had no choice but to step back. Her heart was pounding strangely. Her breathing grew shallow. Unconsciously, she clasped the wrist where the ribbon had been.

[If I am to return to Your Highness’s side, I must prove it to myself as well]

On the surface, it sounded like he was talking about the position of her guard. But…

‘No way.’

No way. No way.

Though she had told herself countless times not to hope, not to be deluded—expectation bloomed again.

Eyes wide, Charlotte stared at Patrick and the Marquis’s son as they drew their swords.

Aura was banned, but the duel would be fought with real blades, not wooden ones. Injuries—and even death—were not uncommon.

Worry and tension made sweat bead in Charlotte’s hands.

The moment the arbiter lifted the sword that had stood between them, the duel began. The spectators fell silent all at once.

Aside from aura, their sword skills were evenly matched. However, as time passed, the larger man from the House of Unimede began slowly pushing Patrick back.

Then, his blade narrowly grazed Patrick’s face.

Patrick quickly turned his head to avoid a direct hit, but a long red mark bloomed across his cheek. Blood began to seep from the cut.

“…!”

Charlotte nearly lost control and rushed out then and there, but forced herself to remain in place. She clenched her fists and waited.

Patrick—her knight—had promised to prove himself.

So she had to believe.

And as if to respond to that belief—

“Ugh!”

Clang!

Patrick skillfully slipped in at his opponent’s side and swung his sword. A sharp metallic clang rang out as the second son’s sword flew from his grasp and clattered to the ground.

The tip of Patrick’s blade stopped just before his opponent’s neck. Only the sound of the two knights’ heavy breathing echoed through the air, until at last, the second son of the House of Unimede’s voice rang out, filled with frustration.

“…I concede.”

The duel was over, but the spectators remained silent.

Patrick slowly lowered his sword and turned. As though they had been waiting for it, the crowd stepped back to clear a path. Patrick walked straight toward Charlotte, who stood at the end of that path, and knelt on one knee. He drove his sword into the ground with a firm thud and bowed his head.

“Patrick Bryan. As the victor of an honorable duel, I humbly make a request to Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

“……”

“Please appoint me as your guard and…”

Patrick paused briefly and took a deep breath. Then, in a clear voice, he confessed,

“…let me stand by your side as a partner for life.”

Charlotte blinked blankly.

It was something she had dreamed of countless times, yet had convinced herself could never happen. She had thought that if Patrick ever confessed to her, she would either cry or laugh—one or the other.

But when the moment truly arrived, she simply felt dazed. It was as though something had clogged her throat.

After a long silence, her lips barely moving, Charlotte finally spoke with a trembling voice.

“You’re too late, Sir Bryan.”

“My apologies.”

“I’m not so generous as to let a talent who came of their own will just walk away. Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

With her emotions in turmoil, Charlotte couldn’t help but speak a little pettily. Patrick smiled gently and murmured,

“I’ve already had enough regrets.”

That was his answer.

Charlotte closed her eyes for a brief moment, then opened them again. At last, as if she could no longer resist, a faint smile curved her lips and she held out her hand.

“Stay by my side, Patrick.”

“It would be my honor.”

Patrick pressed a deep kiss to the back of her hand.

Only then did the spectators begin to applaud, one by one. A whistle rang out, and the applause swelled until cheers and clamor echoed noisily across the Imperial Palace.

It was the sound of a long, long wait finally coming to an end.

***

After Patrick’s proposal, Charlotte had braced herself for backlash from the nobility. But to her surprise, there was almost no opposition to their marriage.

Seeing her puzzled expression, Anais remarked with a hint of pride,

“Your Highness, you tend to underestimate me and Duke Esperanza a little. I do hope you’ll take this opportunity to realize that’s a mistake. Especially considering the duke isn’t someone you need to be worried about.”

A meaningful tone. A cryptic expression. And the perfectly timed unfolding of events.

Recalling those details, Charlotte finally asked—half in disbelief,

“…Don’t tell me this was Laviela’s doing?”

“Who else would be able to move both of us at once if not her? Ah, of course, my affection for Your Highness is sincere.”

Charlotte let out a small, helpless laugh at that response. Then she picked up her pen and wrote a thank-you letter to her longtime friend.

About a year later, the royal wedding of Charlotte Bentley and Patrick Bryan was held.

In attendance were Jack and Gretel’s one-year-old child, Benjamin—fresh from a campaign against the barbarians—and many others, including Laviela and Lucian. They all offered their heartfelt blessings to the picture-perfect Crown Princess and her knight.

“Urk.”

“…Laviela?”

Laviela had been gazing up at the colorful confetti fluttering against the clear blue sky when she suddenly covered her mouth. Lucian, who was standing beside her, reacted instantly.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine…”

Laviela, face pale, shook her hand dismissively but couldn’t hold out for long. Clamping both hands over her mouth, she darted through the crowd. Lucian, equally pale, quickly followed after her.

It wasn’t until that evening that people would learn the newlyweds weren’t the only ones celebrating a new beginning—Lucian and Laviela had brought their own child to the wedding as well.

~~The End of ‘Looking For The Villainess’s Contract Husband’~~