Chapter 3 – Don’t Use Work as an Escape

Among the 144 standard contracts of the Roigar Kingdom, the standard engagement contract for nobles included a humanistic and romantic clause added during the reign of the great-great-previous King. This standard contract was also used when a ten-year-old boy and girl were engaged. Amidst the rigid and bureaucratic clauses concerning noble lineage, inheritance, succession, rights, and obligations, there was an additional phrase tucked under Article 27-2, Section 3, Subsection 2-3. It read as follows:

Article 27-2 (Termination of Engagement)  

③ Notwithstanding Clause 2, neither party shall be held responsible for the termination of the engagement under the following circumstances:  

2-3. When one party falls into an irreparable love with a third party.  

Love? What love could possibly exist in the marriage contracts between noble families? Of course, even this seemingly vague, immeasurable, and absurd exemption clause had its reason for existence, much like other strange laws or contractual provisions in the long history of ruling families. It stemmed from none other than a scandalous murder case that shook the entire kingdom.

The Countess of Lovron, who conspired with her lover to murder her spouse, became infamous. With her pitiable appearance and tragic circumstances, contrasted by her unyielding demeanor that invited no sympathy, the entire kingdom split into two factions: supporters of the “villainous woman” versus those who saw her as a “tragic heroine.”

Her husband was murdered, her lover committed suicide during the trial, and the Countess, left alone and even stripped of her child, uttered the words “irreparable love” in her final statement. This phrase swept everyone into a whirlwind of tragedy. Although the Countess could not escape execution, the term “Lovron” left its mark on novels, plays, poems, songs, child welfare laws, and, finally, the standard engagement contract. The fact that no one remembers the original name and family of the Countess of Lovron is one of the few ironic details of this story.

In any case, the Lovron Clause firmly established itself in a corner of the standard contract. It was immediately included in the engagement of the Crown Prince and the Count’s young lady, the first contract of the following year. Concerns from elders about the rise of promiscuous romances gradually subsided as the two married without issue and ascended to the throne. After all, if two people were so in love that they would break an already established engagement, allowing them to share a bed might actually promote moral decency. Surprisingly, the Lovron Clause indeed had such an effect.

Of course, the long-standing noble custom of having separate spouses and lovers did not disappear overnight. Public and explicit applications of the Lovron Clause were rare. Nevertheless, societal rules sometimes need to drag social consensus forward by force. Quietly and as if nothing had happened, the number of young men and women ending engagements and going their separate ways began to increase. Messy and unfortunate stories involving lovers or illegitimate children gradually decreased, albeit at a slower pace. The fact that the Lovron Clause subtly facilitated the dissolution of strategic marriages among nobles, indirectly benefiting the royal family, was merely a trivial side effect.

***

Fortunately for the dignity and honor of Marquis Alexander Odillon, he completely forgot the nonsense he had muttered to his daughter upon waking up in the study the next morning. Even the lingering unease he felt was swiftly erased when the Marchioness entered with honey water and smacked him on the back.

Soon after, he heard news of his youngest daughter’s outing. The servant reported, ‘Sir Cyril Frey has arrived to escort Miss Odillon for preparations for the summer ball.’ The Marquis, visibly pleased, handed over a checkbook for pocket money, suggesting that his quarrel with Viscount Frey the night before was likely of little consequence. As always, alcohol was the root of most problems.

Danielle rode in the Frey family’s carriage, visiting the tailor and jeweler in turn. She even entrusted her usual tailor with Cyril’s menswear for the first time. The staff, thrilled, measured him and recommended various outfits, leaving Danielle more exhausted than she had anticipated.

After selecting a set of subdued colors that seemed to suit Cyril better than herself, Danielle felt a sudden sense of injustice. She stopped by a second tailor to purchase two unnecessary outfits. Cyril, with his sincere and composed demeanor, helped her choose between flattering and unflattering clothes, making Danielle realize for the first time that his inability to lie could be useful. Her mood improved.

Next came a third tailor, a jeweler, a separate hat and glove shop, and another jeweler… Each time she climbed in and out of the carriage and accepted Cyril’s escort, her eyes fell on the back of her hand, where he had kissed her the night before. Danielle had to look away to avoid lingering on the thought. She didn’t even realize that choosing lace gloves to match her dress in the middle of summer was because of that tingling sensation on her hand.

No, a kiss on the back of the hand is just a greeting, not a real kiss… Cyril’s expression, calm and indifferent, was the same as when he had said, ‘The yellow dress doesn’t suit you.’

Danielle began to wonder whether her excessive reaction was due to Senior Lawrence’s love for his wife or her father’s sudden mention of the Lovron Clause and marriage. Of course, she completely overlooked the fact that she herself had been the one to bring up the idea of marriage with the words, ‘Should we just get married already?’

“Oh, this. It would suit you well.”

While browsing men’s jewelry, Danielle picked out a pair of cufflinks. The simple gray stones, minimally adorned, stood out among the colorful gemstones and gold.

“Cufflinks? Didn’t we already pick a pair to match the formal attire earlier?”

“Stop complaining and come here. These match your eye color.”

Summoning both Cyril and the clerk, Danielle pulled Cyril’s arm and fastened the cufflinks to his wrist. The gray stones on his plain white shirt gave off a refreshing look perfect for summer.

“Raise your arm a bit. Like this… Ah, stay still.”

“Am I supposed to move or not…?”

“Just do as you’re told, Sir Cyril Frey.”

Danielle moved his arm like a doll’s joint until she was finally satisfied. She smiled triumphantly.

“See? When you raise your hand to your face, it matches your eyes and looks fantastic.”

“Ah.”

Whether it was fortunate or not, the clerk hadn’t brought a mirror. Cyril stared blankly at the modest gray stones on his wrist. 

Are my eyes really this color? 

As the clerk carefully removed the cufflinks, Danielle replaced them with the original gold ones and grinned.

“I’ll buy those for you. Wear them outside of the ball.”

“No, I can’t accept a gift without a reason…”

“Reason, my foot. You paid for all the clothes earlier.”

“That’s just common courtesy when inviting a partner to the ball.”

“Well, if it’s not common courtesy, you won’t do it, will you?”

Danielle exaggeratedly made a face of exasperation and let go of Cyril’s wrist with a sudden motion, as if pushing a swing. As he adjusted his arm, which dangled like it was broken, and looked up, Danielle was already some distance away, speaking to the clerk. She turned back while pulling out her checkbook and stuck out her tongue.

“Consider it payment for your apology yesterday. That’s enough, isn’t it?”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“And I don’t need a ring. The gloves I bought earlier already match the outfit.”

Cyril’s weak protest, ‘I wasn’t even looking at rings for the ball…’, dissipated along with the ring itself. Danielle finished signing the receipt with a sharp flourish and tore off the check with a satisfying rip. She hadn’t even touched the Marquis’ pocket money.

***

The person most delighted by the visibly improved relationship between Miss Odillon and Young Master Frey after twelve years was, of course, Viscount Winoc Frey.

The Viscount, who had been incessantly talking about their engagement and marriage since before the children could even hold their heads up or roll over, wasn’t shameless enough to force things when the parties involved were against it. However, he had never abandoned the vague and baseless hope that they didn’t really dislike each other.

When he received the report, ‘The two exchanged plenty of clothes and jewelry and even promised to go out together in the city on the day of the ball,’ it was only natural that he became excessively excited. 

See? I knew they’d get along someday! I’ve known since the moment they were born that they’d suit each other perfectly! 

The Viscount chuckled to himself without any semblance of dignity.

The Frey family’s long-standing ambition, secretly nurtured since they settled in the capital—an alliance with the Odillon family! Once a noble family is tied by an equal marriage, no matter what happens afterward, they can never return to being mere retainers. The best way to stand alongside the Odillons, casting off the outdated master-servant relationship, was through a strategic marriage as traditional as it was effective.

What? A strategic marriage? Outdated? Who cares! In fact, it’s great! Traditions are meant to be broken by other traditions. And what completes a traditional strategic marriage more than the production of heirs? 

The Viscount took immense pride in his ability to ‘produce exceptional descendants.’

In his mind, the future of “Finance Minister Winoc Frey,” with adorable grandchildren sitting on his knees, half-resembling both parents, unfolded warmly. 

What should I name them? The firstborn should learn finance to succeed me. Would Marquis Odillon prefer a grandchild in legal affairs? No, if the Freys are to gain a new title and land, finance would be more appropriate than law… 

The drunken brawl he had with the Odillon Marquis was long forgotten.

However, all the pleasant atmosphere and the Viscount’s dreams of a happy future were rendered meaningless when Danielle and Cyril had an unprecedentedly large fight the day before the summer festival, canceling their attendance at the royal ball. The number of people clicking their tongues and saying, ‘I knew this would happen,’ was too many to count, including Danielle’s maid, Brie.