MTMLF CH 22

Chapter 22

A Contract Marriage, Not a Job Contract

Rupert’s eyes widened at Jania’s words.

“Where exactly do you mean…?”

“Ah.”

She realized she hadn’t said the destination. Quickly, she added,

“I want to go to the capital.”

“You mean… you’re leaving this place?”

“Yes.”

Jania nodded firmly. Now that she knew the whole truth, she couldn’t stay here anymore.

Just because the druids were caught didn’t mean it was over. There might be others out there.

That’s why leaving as soon as possible felt like the safest choice.

“There could be more druids, and this place doesn’t feel safe anymore.”

“You’re right.”

Rupert nodded in agreement.

His lukewarm response surprised her a little, but she kept her calm and continued,

“So… about the proposal you made before—”

“You mean marriage.”

“What?”

“Understood.”

“…?”

Jania had only intended to say, “I want you to take me to the capital and protect me as a purifier.”

But instead of talking about protection or travel, Rupert jumped straight to marriage.

Jania blinked, dumbfounded.

“I didn’t mean marriage. I was thinking more like… an employment contract—”

“Marriage is safer than employment.”

“….”

His words made her freeze. She stared at Rupert in shock.

When Noah had pressured her before, saying she had to marry Rupert for tradition’s sake, it had felt absurd.

But now, Rupert himself seemed to be seriously considering it.

“But how could a commoner like me possibly marry a Grand Duke?”

She just couldn’t accept it easily. She wasn’t a noble heroine from the original story, only a human woman with purifier powers.

To everyone else, she was still just a commoner. Who would welcome such a marriage? The thought made her uneasy.

“Don’t overthink it, Jania. Marriage will benefit you more than a contract.”

“Benefit me?”

“I also need to fill the empty position of Grand Duchess. And for you, having the knights guard you would be far more natural as the Grand Duchess than as just a hired servant.”

“Hmm…”

So, in short, it was a win–win deal. Jania, who a moment ago had thought marriage unnecessary, suddenly wavered.

“…Or do you simply not like me?”

“What?”

She flinched at his sudden question.

Rupert, who had been sitting beside the bed, had moved closer without her noticing.

His face filled her vision. Jania’s heart raced in panic.

“Wh-what are you—”

“I’ll do my best to make you like me, Jania.”

“…!”

When she realized it, Rupert had already taken her hand.

He lowered his head and brushed a kiss across the back of it. Jania stared at him, stunned.

“Jania, what are you doing?”

“Ah!”

Ella, who had been quietly watching, suddenly spoke with innocent curiosity.

Startled, Jania quickly pulled her hand away from Rupert.

What was I thinking, doing that in front of a child?!

She clutched her chest, trying to calm her pounding heart, and turned to Ella.

“N-no, it’s nothing. Ella, can you give us a moment? I need to talk with Rupert.”

“Okay…”

Ella glanced at Rupert uneasily, then nodded.

As a rabbit beastmen, she naturally disliked predator beastmen.

She often fought openly with Noah, who was close to her age.

With Rupert, she didn’t dare, but his aura still intimidated her.

Normally Ella would cling to Jania, but this time she obediently left the room.

“…You shouldn’t do things like that in front of a child.”

“I didn’t actually do anything yet.”

“….”

His calm reply left her speechless.

Frowning, Jania sighed.

“Since you proposed marriage, I have something I’d like to suggest too.”

“What is it?”

She admitted to herself that he was right.

Being the Grand Duchess would be safer than staying in the Grand Duke’s house as a mere servant.

But this was still a world with its own original storyline. She couldn’t just recklessly alter it.

She needed a way to protect herself without breaking the story too much.

“…Let’s marry. But only as a contract.”

“A contract… marriage?”

“Yes.”

The classic romance fantasy setup—contract marriage.

She almost laughed at the irony. She, an “extra,” was now suggesting it herself.

But if she wanted to preserve the original story while surviving, this was the only path.

I’ll leave the empire when I get the chance anyway.

In the original story, there was no mention of a purifier. The real Jania would have been trapped in the forest forever, used by the druids until she died.

But now, because she had appeared, everything could change in unpredictable ways.

So, I’ll rely on Rupert only until I save enough money… and then I’ll escape to another country.

She hadn’t planned out the details yet, but that was the only way she saw.

Until then, whether by job contract or marriage contract, she had to stay close to Rupert.

“I only want the title of Grand Duchess in name. I don’t want a full, proper marriage—it’s too much pressure.”

“I see. Understood.”

To her surprise, Rupert showed no objection. Instead, he accepted her terms easily, as if he welcomed her idea.

Clearly, he hadn’t been thinking of marriage in a romantic sense either.

He just needs my purification power.

If Rupert lost control, countless lives would be at risk. By keeping Jania close through marriage, he ensured he could receive purification whenever needed.

That was all.

But if I leave, what will happen to Rupert…?

In the original story, Rupert died when Noah was still a child.

The details weren’t explained, but it was probably because he lost control.

That must mean, in the original timeline, Rupert and Jania had never met.

So if she left the empire, Rupert might die just like in the book.

“….”

Her face darkened at the thought. A large hand rested on her forehead.

“Good. No fever.”

“Ah, um…”

“You must be tired. Rest more. We’ll talk again later.”

“…Alright.”

Strangely, her eyelids suddenly felt heavy. Maybe it was because she had eaten too much soup earlier—she had practically inhaled it in excitement.

With a full stomach and a warm body, drowsiness quickly took over.

Well… I already set up the contract marriage idea. I can figure out the rest later.

Reassuring herself, Jania closed her eyes.

***

Rupert quietly watched her sleep, then rose to his feet.

Step, step.

As soon as he went downstairs, he saw Noah and Ella quarreling.

“You’re mean!”

“Rabbit beastmen really have terrible vocabulary.”

“You bad wolf!”

Ella waved her tiny hands angrily, but Noah only crossed his arms and smirked.

Rupert sighed.

“Stop it, Noah.”

“Yes, Father.”

Noah’s mischievous expression vanished instantly, replaced by a cold, composed one.

Walking past him, Rupert stopped before Ella, who flinched as he approached.

“W-what…?”

“I have something to ask you.”

“…?”

Ella’s pink eyes trembled as she looked up nervously.

Rupert bent to one knee so they were eye level.

Ella froze, her gaze shaking.

“I-I don’t know anythi—”

“Elena Loengrin.”

“…!”

The softly spoken name made Ella’s eyes widen.

Her real name—something she had never told anyone—came from the lips of the terrifying wolf before her.

She didn’t know what to do.

“Why did you come to the empire?”

“Uh…”

His sharp golden eyes pierced her.

Ella stiffened like prey caught by a predator, blinking in fear, unable to answer.