The Unemployed Prince Covets My Nephew - Chapter 17
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Between the princess’s palace and the prince’s palace, there was a large garden called the Spring Garden.
The mages of the palace had cast a special spell on this garden, making the flowers bloom all year round.
It was intended to keep the path between the princess and the prince filled with the excitement of spring whenever they went to see each other.
Listening to Merrill explain the history of the palace on her way to the prince’s palace, Hailey felt awkward.
‘This is an unnecessarily romantic place for a short-term contract princess and a giant prince.’
Hailey was not a particularly sentimental woman. Only Theo was fascinated, exclaiming ‘Wow’ with his mouth open as he looked around.
“I’ve called you today to make our marriage vows.”
It was the ‘simplified’ ceremony they had agreed to handle briefly.
The two sat across from each other at a table in the prince’s reception room.
Theo was busy looking at the bundle of candies the prince had bought him last time.
“Of course. But before that, there is something most important.”
At Axel’s gesture, Khalid placed a document in front of Hailey.
Marriage Contract
A marriage contract was indispensable in noble marriages. Since they were only a contract couple for a year, Hailey thought it was natural.
“There are two copies. Read through it and sign the last page. If there are any parts you want to amend, we can discuss and modify them right here.”
“Understood.”
Without any idea of the astonishing contents inside, Hailey turned the first page.
1. Axel von Otte takes Hailey Langston as his bride and registers her son Theodore as his adopted son.
2. The marriage will begin in the Winchester territory and will last for one year. (The period spent together in the capital is not included in the contract period.)
3. The Winchester registration of Hailey Winchester and Theodore Winchester will end as soon as the marriage relationship ends.
4. Hailey Winchester and Theodore Winchester do not have the right to any substantial inheritance from Axel Winchester.
5. Hailey Winchester must fulfill her role and duties as the Grand Duchess for one year, and Theodore Winchester must receive successor education for one year.
Reading smoothly through the contract, Hailey raised her hand, pointing to clause 5.
“The role of the Grand Duchess is one thing, but since Theo doesn’t have inheritance rights, why does he need to receive successor education?”
“That old, strict man hates rude and dumb people the most.”
“My Theo is not dumb!”
“You haven’t even taught the child proper etiquette, have you?”
“That’s…”
Hailey was at a loss for words.
It was true that she hadn’t properly taught Theo etiquette. She hadn’t learned it well herself, and she hadn’t thought Theo would need to use it anytime soon.
Who could have predicted she would suddenly marry a prince, have her in-laws be the royal family, and become a prospective Grand Duchess?
“But I can’t force him to study. Please let me have a say in choosing Theo’s teacher.”
“Very well.”
Khalid immediately noted the amendment.
Hailey calmly continued reading the next clause.
6. Hailey Winchester and Theodore Winchester must dine with the Grand Duke of Winchester daily, except in cases of illness or reasons acceptable to Axel Winchester.
Here, Hailey had another question.
Wanting to clarify, Hailey pointed to clause 6 and raised her hand higher than before.
“About clause 6. Dining together is fine, but the Grand Duke of Winchester here is not Your Highness, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“…Then what about Your Highness? Why do the both of us have to dine with him alone?”
“I have many unavoidable situations.”
‘So, work hard on my behalf?’
Hailey pointed to clause 7. Her raised arm didn’t seem to want to come down.
Watching this, Khalid struggled to hold back his laughter.
“Clause 7 says we must have tea with the Grand Duke of Winchester at least twice a week. And Your Highness?”
“I have many unavoidable–”
“Situations, right?”
“You understand well.”
‘What nonsense.’
Hailey smiled wryly and pointed to clause 8.
“Clauses 6 and 7 have logical errors.”
“There are no errors. I reviewed it three times.”
“Look here. Clause 8. Hailey Winchester and Theodore Winchester must do their best to fulfill their roles as members of a harmonious and happy family.”
“What’s your point?”
He reviewed it three times. It was unthinkable for Axel, who hated documents, to read it three times.
He had produced a perfect contract that he was very satisfied with. Errors were out of the question.
Axel was confident.
“A harmonious and happy family can only exist when all family members are present. Our family members are me, Theo, and Your Highness, right?”
“……”
“If Your Highness is absent, this ‘happy’ family can’t even exist. Isn’t that an error?”
Khalid pinched his thigh to keep from laughing out loud.
Hailey firmly pointed to clauses 6, 7, and 8.
“It seems we should include ‘Axel Winchester’ in these three clauses. Do you have any objections?”
“…Fix it quickly.”
Axel, annoyed, ordered Khalid to fix it quickly.
Khalid cheerfully responded, ‘Yes!’ and made the corrections.
‘Living long enough to see this.’
Someone who could give that crazy prince a hard time had finally appeared, bringing joy to Khalid.
Hailey continued reading the next clause.
9. Axel Winchester and Hailey Winchester are allowed physical contact if necessary.
Hailey raised her hand higher than ever.
Axel could guess why she was reacting this way but pretended not to know.
“W-What is this! Remove it immediately!”
“What’s wrong with physical contact between a married couple?”
“You, Your Highness! What kind of physical contact for a fake marriage?”
“Physical contact is essential for a harmonious family. Who would look at a couple who doesn’t even touch and say, ‘They look very happy and harmonious’?”
Although Axel’s words weren’t exactly wrong, Hailey didn’t want to acknowledge them.
In her previous life, she had never dated anyone until her age. Across both her previous and current lives, Axel’s sudden cheek kiss was her first and only physical contact with the opposite sex.
Hailey, her face flushed with embarrassment, protested to Axel.
“Aren’t you taking too much from a one-year temporary wife?!”
“That’s harsh. Taking too much, you say. And how are you so sure it will only be temporary for one year?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Read the last clause.”
Hailey hurriedly read clause 10.
10. After one year, if Axel Winchester becomes the official successor, the two will divorce, and upon the divorce, Axel Winchester will pay Hailey Winchester 100,000 zenia. (However, the marriage period can be extended by mutual agreement.)
Hailey paused at the condition that the marriage period could be extended.
‘Could that really happen? Why?’
Hailey couldn’t understand why such a condition was included.
Of course, Axel had included it in case he didn’t become the Grand Duke within a year, but he thought Hailey didn’t need to know that.
“Who knows? We might fall for each other.”
“Y-You’re crazy…”
As harsh words slipped from Hailey’s mouth, Axel frowned.
Hailey quickly pretended to apologize, ‘I’m sorry. It slipped out instinctively.’
Axel accepted it like a gentleman.
“I promise to act like a gentleman. I will refrain from any contact you don’t want. It would be troublesome if you fell for me too much.”
‘This crazy prince is seriously delusional.’
Hailey cursed him inwardly.
As she scanned the contract again, another question suddenly came to her, one that was more fundamental.
“Your Highness is currently a prince, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“But yesterday, the Queen told me that all the expenses for the palace I will be staying in will come from her personal budget because Your Highness…”
“……”
“She said His Majesty took away all your budget as punishment for your insolence?”
Hailey was a practical woman. In her previous life, she had done numerous part-time jobs.
She was confident in her ability to manage living expenses and, having been scammed before, was particularly sensitive to financial matters.
“Moreover, even when we go to Winchester, the Grand Duke is already there, right? Your Highness is not the Grand Duke. I am not the Grand Duchess. So, in other words, Your Highness is ‘unemployed,’ isn’t that right?”
“Kuh.”
Khalid, who had been struggling to hold back his laughter, finally couldn’t suppress it any longer and burst out laughing.