VOLUME 1

Chapter 2. It All Begins with A Contract Marriage

Adelia arrived at the townhouse the day before the ball.

“Bring the lady’s dress!”

“Where did the order for the rose pack go!”

“Prepare the bathwater!”

Adelia entered the mansion, but surprisingly, no one paid any attention to her.

This was because all the servants were mobilized for the ball preparations of the real ‘lady’ of the Count of Vita’s family, Robelia.

The Count of Vita’s family had three children. Adelia, born from the previous wife. And David and Robelia, born from the current Countess.

Because the Countess hated Adelia terribly, her relationship with her siblings was not good. It was hardly a relationship that could be called familial.

‘I should just keep quiet.’

Thinking about what they had done to Adelia made her blood boil.

She quietly went up to her room. She preferred not to encounter anyone from the Count’s family.

With everyone busy with the ball, no one looked for Adelia. Thanks to that, her day passed quietly.

The next day. After sleeping in for the first time in a while, she idled away her time. Then, in the evening, she started getting ready.

“Not bad, huh?”

Adelia twirled in front of the mirror after changing her clothes.

Thanks to three years of eating well, she had filled out nicely, and her once dry hair now shimmered. Turning twenty seemed to have given her a more mature look.

The dress she had prepared for today suited her very well.

The dress, daringly revealing her shoulders and back, was a nice and natural blend of white and navy blue. Thin lace added made the hem flutter gracefully with every movement.

Though it lacked grand ornaments, small jewels and gold threads embroidered with branches around the waist made it far from plain.

“It’s a bit simple, but it makes my hair decoration stand out more.”

Lastly, she adorned her long hair with ornaments.

Alternating between leaf- and flower-shaped magic stones around the back of her head, several gold threads with magic stones at the ends dangled among her hair.

The unenchanted magic stones were transparent and not very flashy.

‘I hope they don’t try to kill me right away.’

Considering their temperaments as described in the original story, it wasn’t unlikely for them to draw their swords.

It wouldn’t kill her, but if her identity was revealed, she’d have to give up a lot. Her name, status, and face. Perhaps even the existence of Adelia herself.

Being a lady of the Count of Vita’s family meant she couldn’t escape her father’s clutches.

“I can’t deny my existence. That’s all that’s left.”

To prevent such a disaster, she leaked information about a white mage.

A frail daughter of a count wouldn’t be as trustworthy as a merchant who didn’t fall for offers from other countries, paid taxes diligently, and reported faithfully.

“If they think I might be a merchant, they won’t kill me right away.”

Her merchant group had enough influence to shake the empire’s economy. If she’s associated with the merchant group, not even the emperor or crown prince could touch her.

Having prepared herself mentally, Adelia finally draped a white shawl over herself.

It wasn’t cold, but she needed something to cover her back.

“Shall we go?”

Most of the servants were resting after their hard work, so the hallway was empty.

As she descended the stairs, people were visible at the entrance of the mansion. Among them were faces she didn’t want to see.

“Father, how do I look? Will His Majesty approve?”

“Of course. The most radiant one at the ball will be our daughter.”

“Oh, honey. What about me?”

“Perhaps Robelia is beautiful because she takes after her mother.”

It’s a very warm and affectionate family scene.

Adelia looked down at them with a cold gaze.

She really didn’t want to encounter them, but today was unavoidable.

“Hello.”

“Ah… there you are.”

As Adelia approached with a bow, they responded coldly.

Robelia and the Countess glanced at Adelia irritably before boarding their carriage.

The Count glanced at her coldly, as if he were looking at an object.

“You’ve gotten quite healthy. You might fetch a good price.”

The Count murmured while stroking his mustache.

Seeing his eyes ripple with filthy greed, Adelia felt the urge to storm off.

‘Should I just hit him.’

She knew through memory that the Count always spouted such garbage.

But hearing such words in person made her feel sick to her stomach.

“You take that carriage in the back. Don’t embarrass our family and just stay quiet.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Adelia suppressed her anger. Now was not the time to attract the Count’s attention.

As Adelia moved towards the carriage in the back, someone grabbed her hand.

“It’s been a while.”

“…David.”

“Haha. You’re calling me so harshly? I’m so happy to see you after such a long time. You seem well… very healthy.”

The young count looked her up and down openly.

His gaze was sleazy and sinister, unlike the Count’s indifferent look.

‘She’s gotten prettier than before. Wasn’t she supposed to be sold to Count Karla? Before that… ‘

The young count smirked ominously.

To others, it might have seemed normal, but Adelia found even his appearance repulsive.

‘A s*x offender bastard.’

There wasn’t a decent person in the Count’s family. The one she wanted to avoid most was the young count.

Relying on his status and wealth, he harassed lower nobility and commoners alike, settling matters with money multiple times.

She knew from the information she gathered through guilds that he was despicable company.

‘Disgusting. Seriously.’

She hadn’t expected him to lust after his own sister as well.

Suppressing a murderous intent, Adelia shook off his hand.

He gripped her so tightly that red marks appeared on her wrist.

“We’ll be leaving soon.”

Adelia hurriedly climbed into the carriage behind.

Staying any longer with that cursed man might disrupt all plans.

Settling into her seat, Adelia sighed deeply,

‘The carriage I rode when I arrived was better than this one.’

The carriage bore the family crest but was a shabby one that barely maintained appearances.

Its exterior was passable, but inside, the old wood creaked and the cushions were worn out.

“Ah… I want to hit him.”

Really.

* * *

Entering the ballroom, Adelia naturally found a corner away from chattering people.

No one paid attention to her self-chosen solitude.

“When will they come out?”

Adelia sipped her drink as she looked at the entrance where the imperial family would enter.

‘What happened in the original story?’

Adelia closed her eyes briefly to recall the original story’s content.

Today, only the emperor and crown prince would attend. The crown prince would point out faults in each lady who approached him and conclude that none were suitable as his bride by the end of the ball.

‘It was a threat to expose any noble family’s dirty secrets if they coveted the position of crown princess.’

A very royal method indeed. Since the crown prince married late for political reasons in the original story, it was considered a successful strategy.

Ding- Ding- Ding-

The bell announcing the imperial family’s entry rang loudly.

Everyone who was talking or tasting food stopped and turned towards the large doors.

Deep sighs erupted from various places. Most were from heads of noble families attending a noble council.

The large doors, previously shut tight, opened, and two people walked out.

“Blessings to the radiant sun!”

The nobles bowed in unison, showing their respect.

“Rise.”

It was a low and chilling voice.

The presence of the Emperor and the Crown Prince, seated at the high table, was threatening in itself.

The Emperor, with his long hair tied up high, and the Crown Prince, with his hair neatly combed back. Their black hair and red eyes were strikingly alike.

Adelia looked at them, enchanted.

‘Ah… how perfect.’

Adelia placed her hand over her fiercely beating heart.

The surrounding noise was drowned out, leaving only the thumping sound of her heart in her ears.

The world from the books had unfolded into reality. It was irresistible.

‘Facing the world I’ve imagined countless times is more overwhelming than I thought.’

Her blue eyes, resembling those of the imperial family, sparkled with joy.

A smile appeared on her lips, and her calm eyes drew a line of emotion.

That expression did not last long. Regaining her senses, Adelia averted her gaze and composed herself.

‘Shall we begin?’

Adelia walked forward, letting her long hair flow behind her.

As she stepped out of the shadowy corner, a hidden silver magic stone between the shadows found its golden light, imbued with power.

Since she was at the very back, no one noticed the change.

She stood just beyond the shadow, in a place not clearly visible but within the sightline of the high-seated imperial family.

‘This should do.’

Adelia smiled leisurely and gathered her hair to the front.

The sparkling golden magic stone also settled near her chest.

Those who encountered white magic felt its energy keenly. Others might just feel good, but the Emperor and the Crown Prince could immediately sense the energy of white magic from the large magic stone.