Harzen hesitated momentarily before approaching her and bending down.

The scent of solid wood, earth embracing roots, and a fresh forest-like woody fragrance reached her nose. It was a scent that suited an earth spirit user well.

“It suits you perfectly. You’re always beautiful, but wearing a blue dress makes you shine even more.”

His lips, which had given such a smooth answer, lightly brushed against her forehead.

‘Wow, that was natural.’

She quietly admired his act with a composed expression. Having already seen the contract and being aware of the regulations regarding physical contact in a couple’s affectionate behavior, she wasn’t particularly surprised.

Next, Harzen bought several more dresses for Rizel and arranged for all of them, except the blue dress she was wearing, to be sent to the Darkus mansion.

After completing the payment, his gaze turned to her index finger. After removing her brown leather gloves, a plain silver thread ring was clearly visible. His eyes narrowed.

“That ring…”

“Ah, this is a magical tool related to spirits.”

Rizel calmly answered while slightly waving her hand. It was a special magical tool that assisted with spirit arts and could house a summoned spirit.

‘Since the Magic Tower Master made it, its performance is certainly reliable, but…’

When she was briefly involved with the Magic Tower Master during that process, it had been quite exhausting. Although he would handle matters promptly when something caught his interest, his temperament was so capricious that he was unpredictable, not to mention arrogant and fastidious.

“A darkness spirit? Interesting.”

“Who else could make something this good but me? Consider it an honor, mercenary.”

The memory of that smiling, smooth face and the trouble she went through to satisfy his demands flashed through Rizel’s mind.

Harzen looked puzzled at her sudden chuckle, but he accepted the explanation about the ring itself.

“I see.”

“Yes. Now let’s move on to the next task.”

“Let’s do that.”

The two left the clothing store and moved to the shoe store right next door. At the shoe store, Rizel personally selected comfortable shoes with thick, low heels.

As Harzen paid for the shoes she had carefully selected, he casually asked.

“Is this enough?”

“Yes. Shoes aren’t very visible when covered by a dress anyway.”

“I understand.”

Harzen nodded calmly. Rizel stretched as she left the shoe store with her employer.

“One more place to go, right?”

“Yes. The jewelry store is a bit further inside.”

Harzen led her down an inner alley. Unlike the clothing and shoe stores near the main street, the jewelry store was located in a somewhat secluded spot.

As soon as they entered, the jewelry store owner greeted them respectfully.

“Welcome, Marquis Darkus. Is the lady with you the one who will be fitted for the rings?”

“Yes. Use the gems as ordered and just adjust the ring sizes.”

“Understood.”

The jewelry store owner moved swiftly. While her employer handled the business, Rizel sat quietly on a nearby sofa and waited.

After some time, Harzen collected the rings and knelt on one knee before her.

“Rizel, may I have your hand?”

“Ah, yes.”

Rizel somewhat awkwardly placed her hand on top of his palm. Harzen gently caressed her hand before sliding the engagement ring onto her ring finger.

The ring he placed on her was an elaborate platinum ring adorned with small white diamonds surrounding a large blue sapphire in the center, like flower petals.

Rizel blinked as she watched the gems on the ring on her finger sparkle brilliantly.

“Hmm, it’s more elaborate than I expected. It might be a bit uncomfortable to wear all the time in daily life.”

“Engagement rings tend to be that way. The wedding rings we’ll be fitted for later in the south
will be less elaborate, so don’t worry.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Rizel nodded.

‘Since the wedding ring is what I’ll mainly wear after marriage, I’m sure my employer will consider practicality too. Besides, this marriage won’t last long anyway, so it doesn’t matter.’

Dismissing it casually, she silently followed her employer out.

* * *

Having completed all their errands, the two returned to the town house. Harzen personally escorted her to the guest room.

“Thank you for your hard work. Rest for the remainder of the time.”

Rizel caught his sleeve as he was about to leave.

“Just a moment. I have a suggestion before we go to the Darkus mansion.”

“What is it?”

Harzen tilted his head, unable to grasp her intention. She took a breath and carefully suggested.

“How about forming a spirit communion with me?”

“…Are you serious?”

His eyes widened slightly.

Spirit communion, true to its literal meaning, was a secret conversation using spirit energy.

However, because it involved creating a connection through each other’s spirits and once established, couldn’t be broken unless one party died, it was usually only formed between highly trusted and compatible relationships.

When spirit communion was established, depending on one’s capabilities, not only was secret conversation possible within a certain range using spirit energy, but one could also know the other’s approximate energy state, level, and whether they were alive.

If both parties had high affinity with each other’s spirit energy and mutually agreed, they could even borrow each other’s spirit energy and lower-level spirit arts. Of course, since it wasn’t one’s own power, there were limitations and burdens, but they were bearable.

Unlike Harzen, who showed subtle agitation, Rizel explained with a composed expression.

“Yes. I think it would help with improvisation during our work. It would be useful when we need to communicate secretly while in the presence of others.”

“…For just that reason? Are you really okay with this? Our marriage is just a contract with a set time limit.”

Harzen spoke as if testing her, but Rizel nodded and assured him.

“Of course. It adds credibility to our relationship as a couple, so it’s beneficial. Everyone will think it’s real and romantic if we’ve gone as far as forming a spirit communion.”

“That makes sense, but you’re quite bold. Are you so familiar with spirit communion because you’ve formed many before?”

“No. I’ve only formed spirit communion with two people.”

Rizel cleverly raised her index and middle fingers to form a V. A hint of curiosity appeared in those half-skeptical gray eyes.

“Who are those two people?”

“One is the friend who was with me at the tavern earlier, and the other is my mentor. They’re both women, and they won’t cause any problems while we maintain our contract marriage, so you can rest assured.”

“I see.”

Harzen stroked his chin and lowered his eyes. His long, delicate eyelashes cast shadows over his eyes. He didn’t seem to dislike the idea, but there was a subtle awkwardness.

‘Hmm, is he uncomfortable because he’s never formed a spirit communion before or because it doesn’t match his personality?’

Since spirit users tended to be individualistic with strong opinions, that part was quite understandable. Rizel casually asked him.

“Harzen, have you never formed a spirit communion with anyone before?”

“No. There was exactly one person. It was my mentor… who passed away in a spirit rampage accident.”

Harzen’s voice dropped low. His expression was calm, but rather than emotionless, it seemed to hold a dry sadness. She momentarily lost her words and could only move her lips.

‘His spirit communion partner died in a spirit rampage accident? Who would have thought my employer had such a background.’

Spirit rampage referred to the phenomenon of being harmed by one’s contracted spirit. If one could control the unstable, rampaging spirit well, they might survive, but most died helplessly without even a chance to respond.

Thinking it was unfortunate, Rizel quickly changed her approach.

“Oh, I see that happened. I’m sorry for bringing up unpleasant memories. If forming a spirit communion with me makes you uncomfortable, you can refuse. It’s just a suggestion after all.”
“It’s fine. Let’s try it as you suggested.”

Harzen sat on the sofa in the guest room with a composed attitude. He immediately summoned his earth spirit and placed it on the small table. Rizel sat across from him and summoned her darkness spirit.

The earth spirit, a brownish-gray sphere with dark brown eyes and mouth, and the darkness spirit, a black sphere with white eyes and mouth, faced each other. Both were small and translucent, looking like decorative items.

The darkness spirit blinked its round eyes and looked around.

[Rizel, where are we?]

‘This is the town house of the spirit user contracted with the earth spirit in front of you. I summoned you to form a spirit communion.’

[You said you’d carefully select partners for spirit communion. But now you want to do it with a human you just met?]

The darkness spirit’s energy tickled her cheek. Rizel shrugged and replied nonchalantly.

‘Yes, because I’m going to marry that person.’

[…What? What are you suddenly talking about?]

The startled darkness spirit’s mouth opened wide. Rizel gently soothed the spirit and explained.

‘Calm down, Nix. This is a contract marriage request. In other words, that person is my employer and contract husband.’

[His energy is surprisingly calm, but… are you sure this is okay? What about the contract period, the employer’s temperament, and other conditions? Is he paying a lot?]

Rizel smiled softly as she listened to Nix’s barrage of questions.

‘Yes, everything seems fine to me so far.’

[Then that’s good. I respect my contractor’s decision.]

‘Thank you, Nix.’

Rizel smiled at the spirit before looking at her employer. Harzen, who had been waiting silently, gestured to her and asked.

“Rizel, are you ready?”