The corridor leading to the grand duke's bedroom was long and dark. As she followed behind Alfredo, Ariel's heart thudded in time with her footsteps.
If he's back to his senses… will he remember me slapping him? Would that ruthless grand duke really accept my full-swing slap as a noble act of purification?
"Please enter."
Alfredo stopped in front of the heavy door and opened it.
Creak.
The heavy hinges groaned, revealing the bedroom.
Thick blackout curtains hung over the windows, keeping the room dim. The air reeked of metallic blood, bitter medicine, and the pungent smell of burnt mana stones.
And right at the center of it was Caelus.
Ariel involuntarily gasped.
Shirtless, Caelus sat leaning back against the massive headboard.
Cold sweat beaded and dripped over his sculpted muscles. Mana-measuring patches, wired and clinging, dotted his chest and forearms. He radiated a precarious, dangerous aura—like a wild beast bound in chains.
…Why isn't he wearing a shirt?
Just as Ariel was about to turn her head away in embarrassment, Caelus slowly opened his eyes.
Crimson eyes.
Though he did not seem entirely back to normal, his eyes were no longer the dark blood-red they were when they first met. The murky, boiling bloody tint had settled, leaving a faint crimson spread across his gaze.
"Your Grace. I have brought the saintess."
Alfredo approached the bed and spoke cautiously. Tension still lingered in his voice, clearly on guard in case his master suffered another overload.
Caelus's gaze slowly shifted to Ariel.
[Status: Mana Poisoning 20% (Stable)]
An S-rank item really is overgeared for this. The effect is solid. But…
With his fierce aura completely drained, his eyes were languidly unfocused. No, not just unfocused… he actually looked gentle.
Instead, that sight sent a chill down Ariel's spine.
Caelus's gaze shifted from Ariel's face down to the hand that had slapped his cheek.
Without realizing it, Ariel hid her hand behind her back.
After a moment of silence, Caelus finally spoke.
"Alfredo."
A low, raspy voice echoed in the room.
"Yes, Your Grace. I shall wait outside the door."
Alfredo bowed with respect, then turned and exited with crisp, disciplined movements. The sound of the closing door rang unusually loud.
Alfredo! Don't go! Don't leave me alone!
Ariel screamed internally. Even if an overload was off the table for now, her opponent was still the Mad Dog of the North. Being left alone with him was hardly welcome news.
In the quiet room, only the sound of their breathing broke the silence.
As the silence stretched, Ariel felt suffocated. She forced the corners of her mouth upward and cautiously broke the silence.
"Um, Your Grace? How are you feeling…"
"Come closer."
Caelus flicked his finger. Though strangely devoid of energy, it was a gesture impossible to refuse.
He tapped his index finger toward a chair placed right beside the bed. A silent command to sit.
Ariel hovered hesitantly as she approached the bedside. When she sat nervously on the very edge of the chair, Caelus let out a soft chuckle.
"Speak honestly, saintess."
His crimson eyes stared as if seeing right through her.
"What is the Order's true motive in sending you? Assassination and brainwashing didn't work, so now you plan to act as a savior?"
Caelus leaned forward menacingly.
As he moved close enough for his breath to brush against her, the smell of blood and pungent mana stones washed over her at once.
Talk about shifting the blame.
Ariel clicked her tongue internally.
He was the one who said he'd show her something interesting, only to suddenly overload.
However, since Ariel was entirely at his mercy rather than holding the upper hand, she forced the brightest smile she could manage.
"Oh, come on, Your Grace. You have it all wrong. A savior? Me? How could I ever?"
Ariel waved her hands dismissively and rummaged in her pocket to pull out a sheet of paper.
"Of course, I did stop your overload and saved the Grand Ducal Castle from collapsing, but it's not like I have some hidden motive. It's just right here…"
"A piece of paper?"
"Yes, as you can see right here, it's very reasonable…"
"Ha!"
Just as Ariel tried to unfold the crumpled paper, Caelus scoffed as if he had expected this all along.
"I have no need for a useless piece of paper like that. The contents are obvious anyway."
"Pardon?"
"Though the North may be isolated, I'm not deaf."
Caelus crossed his arms and looked down at Ariel.
"I've heard plenty of rumors about saintesses seeking refuge in noble households after being cast out by the Order."
"…"
"A helpless saintess leeching off a powerful noble… that sort of story."
A strange silence fell over the room.
Ariel nodded.
Well, it's not like I'm the only victim of an unfair deal.
"Yes, that's right. Honestly, I'm in that boat too."
Ariel admitted casually.
Caelus's crimson eyes flickered slightly. He clearly hadn't expected her to admit it so openly.
"…How brazen."
"I have no intention of dying a useless death. To survive, I need a solid safety net."
"A safety net?"
"Yes. Something where the Order can't mess with me, and Your Grace can't easily throw me out."
Ariel looked straight up into Caelus's eyes.
"I want a personal contract with you, Your Grace."
At her words, Caelus's eyes narrowed.
A personal contract?
He studied her closely to figure out her true intentions.
She wants to form a relationship that neither the Order nor I can discard?
A safety net to ensure a helpless saintess, seeking refuge with a grand duke, could not be cast aside on a whim.
Something right out of a third-rate novel…
…A contract marriage?
It was an absurd idea. Yet the thought crossed his mind that it might not be so bad after all.
The position of the mistress of the North. Filling that seat would simultaneously block both imperial political marriage proposals and interference from the Order.
Of course, if news spread that the grand duke had taken in a saintess, the Order would turn upside down, but that would actually…
"So here it is."
Ariel said, shoving the paper forward once more.
Caelus took the paper, clearing his throat quietly. Though he feigned reluctance, a strange mix of expectation and curiosity glittered in his eyes.
He casually unfolded the sheet.
"Fine, let me see. This contract marri—"
Purification Service Subcontract Agreement
This agreement is entered into for the purpose of executing a purification service subcontract between Grand Duke Caelus Hart (hereinafter referred to as the "grand duke") and Saintess Ariel (hereinafter referred to as the "saintess"), acting in the capacity of an independent purifier rather than a saintess affiliated with the Order or the Northern Temple.
"As you can see, it's structured around a pay-per-case fee."
Ariel spoke in a cheerful voice, gazing at the paper.
"Originally, I planned to just stay tucked away in the temple without doing anything, like we agreed."
Ariel shrugged.
"But I've already done work, and it seems like there will be more work to do in the future."
"…"
"Instead, since it's on a per-case basis, Your Grace can terminate the contract whenever you no longer need me. Reasonable, right?"
Ariel's golden eyes sparkled in sales mode.
"Besides, I actually paid a heavy price for this past job, so it should be paid for. But since it happened before the contract, I'll let it slide and offer this one as a freebie. Honestly, if you knew what I gave up…"
"…You."
At Caelus's low call, Ariel—who had been babbling non-stop—finally raised her head.
Her clear, sparkling golden eyes stared straight at Caelus.
"Yes?"
Caelus peered into those eyes for a moment.
There was no malice. She was genuinely waiting for his response.
"…Never mind."
He looked back at the paper—or rather, the contract—once more.
"Ah, I rushed to write this draft on paper while waiting for you to wake up. Once you review and finalize the details, we'll draft the official contract on crisp parchment."
Not a contract marriage, but a purification service subcontract agreement.
Not the mistress of the castle, but an independent contractor.
Without a word, Caelus slowly folded the contract. Then he placed it on the side table beside the bed.
"…I will think about it."
The words slipped from Caelus's mouth before he even realized it.
"Thank you!"
Ariel stood up briskly.
"Ah, and Your Grace."
She paused on her way out, turning back with a bright smile.
"I also included the clause regarding maintenance allowance that we discussed verbally. If we rely on word of mouth, our memories might differ later. Keeping things clear is easier for both of us."
Ariel paused briefly before adding:
"Oh, I left the amount field blank. I felt it was only fitting for someone as generous as Your Grace to fill that in directly. I look forward to a positive response!"
Ariel bowed deeply, then quickly opened the door and slipped out.
Caelus stared blankly at the door Ariel had just stepped through.
Get the latest chapter and best reading experience at www.novatls.com
Comments