Chapter 8
On the road from the temple to the North.
It was the beginning of a bright, pleasant day, with cool breezes and clear skies.
“I’ll fetch some water while the coachman is sleeping, Your Grace.”
“I’ll go hunting…”
“Forget it. There’s no need to prepare such a grand meal.”
“…One of our companions looks like she’ll starve to death if she doesn’t eat something soon.”
Tepe and Gorgo glanced at Lucy, who was still sleeping on Edward’s lap, then looked toward him.
Only after Edward looked down at Lucy for a moment and nodded, as if to say they had no choice, did the two knights leave.
Edward was still in an excellent mood.
They had hurried away from the temple, traveling through the entire night.
As a result, he had barely managed to sleep.
No…
It was a miracle that I managed to sleep at all.
Lately, his headaches and berserk episodes had become so severe that he suffered from insomnia.
But after laying the girl across him and sleeping with her in his arms…
He had finally managed to get some rest.
Even after spending over half a day cramped inside a rattling carriage…
His condition had never been better.
Flap. Flap. Flap.
That was…
Until Tepe and Gorgo left to hunt…
And a white sheet of paper began fluttering in front of his face.
“…”
Edward looked at the woman standing proudly before him.
She had clearly just woken up.
There were marks on her cheeks from where something had pressed against them.
Her white hair was messy from sleep.
Coincidentally…
The marks on her cheek had been left by Edward’s armor.
Like a seal proving she belonged to him, the crest engraved on his armor had left a faint imprint on her soft skin.
For some reason…
He found it strangely satisfying.
Even so, he frowned.
Even in broad daylight…
She’s still tiny.
Still skinny.
Still filthy.
Yet somehow…
Her round cheeks and large eyes naturally drew his attention.
Though I’ll only use her for a while before getting rid of her.
“So…”
“What is this?”
“A contract?”
“Yes! First of all, my name is Lucy. Actually, I’m one of the temple’s—”
“You already told me your name yesterday.”
“And I more or less figured out you’re one of the temple’s test subjects.”
Lucy immediately fell silent.
Her eyes widened.
‘He already figured out I’m a test subject?’
‘The male lead really is something else.’
‘Well… there goes that plan.’
She had intended to tell him her tragic life story in the most pitiful way possible.
That idea had been crushed instantly.
Still…
Lucy didn’t lose heart.
Actually… that’s even better.
If he already knew what kind of experiment she had been used for…
Then surely his attitude would—
“The holy power I sensed felt familiar.”
“It seems you were the source of the power enhancing Lady Sepina’s purification.”
“…”
“…Yes.”
“That’s right.”
“I see.”
“…Do you have anything you’d like to say?”
“Should I?”
He had even figured out the nature of her holy power.
She expected him to question her.
To get angry.
To demand answers.
But…
‘He knows everything… and yet nothing has changed?’
Perhaps it was because Edward treated everyone except the heroine equally badly.
Lucy felt her spirits sink.
Even so, she tried again.
“Then let me explain.”
“The temple treated me terribly.”
“They starved me and—”
“I noticed that just by carrying you.”
“…Excuse me?”
“By carrying me?”
Where exactly did you touch me while I was asleep?
The words sounded suspicious enough that Lucy instinctively crossed her arms over her chest.
Then she realized what she’d just implied.
She had accidentally treated the person she needed to impress like some kind of pervert.
She hurriedly uncrossed her arms.
But…
Edward’s smile had already deepened.
“What exactly did you think I touched?”
“…”
“You’ve got quite the imagination.”
“Uh…”
“I simply meant you’re so thin that you felt like nothing but bones when I carried you.”
Lucy bit her tongue.
Pull yourself together!
She cleared her throat.
“Anyway…”
“Since you already know everything…”
“Everything?”
“I wanted to settle something clearly before you take me to your duchy.”
Edward tilted his head dramatically.
His platinum-blond hair shimmered beautifully in the sunlight like threads of spun gold.
“What exactly do you want to settle?”
Then he smiled.
It was the kind of smile that looked capable of making someone confess the combination to an imaginary underground vault.
For Lucy…
It was simply terrifying.
‘What kind of trick is he planning now?’
She had already experienced a sample of the rotten personality hidden beneath that beautiful face yesterday.
Lucy swallowed nervously.
“So…”
She slowly held the paper out again.
“I learned something after living through the temple.”
“It’s important to make contracts clear.”
“…”
“This contract says I’ll provide purification.”
“And in return, you’ll protect me.”
Edward raised an eyebrow.
“Is that really necessary?”
“Yes.”
“It is.”
“I already told you I’d take responsibility.”
“Verbal agreements don’t count!”
Maybe presenting a contract to the man who had just saved her was a bit much.
But…
You always need documents and evidence!
After surviving both her previous life and this one…
Lucy had become an adult who understood the importance of written contracts.
Besides…
She had some confidence.
After all…
He already decided to take me with him.
If he hadn’t wanted her…
He would have thrown her aside the moment she’d fallen onto him yesterday.
But he didn’t.
Sure…
They’d had a strange conversation before that.
Still…
He had obviously found her useful.
He recognized my holy power.
That means he likes what I can do.
Purification was an incredible ability.
That’s right.
He’s the one who needs me.
She didn’t know the details of a Dragon Incarnation’s berserk condition.
So she simply thought of it as a chronic illness.
Imagine suffering from constant migraines, back pain, and indigestion…
Then suddenly carrying around one tiny keychain makes all of it disappear.
I’d become obsessed too.
She wasn’t asking for anything unreasonable.
Just let me live.
And…
Give her enough food and shelter to live comfortably.
She had even waited until the other knights left to fetch food and water before bringing out the contract.
Lucy nervously bit her lip as she watched Edward.
He still wore that unreadable, beautiful smile.
Finally…
His elegant lips slowly parted.
“I thought you were simply weak.”
“…”
“But you’re quite sly too.”
It was impossible to tell whether he was angry or amused.
Lucy answered quietly but firmly.
“I know you saved me.”
“And I’m very grateful.”
“But that’s one thing.”
“This is another.”
“And yesterday…”
“You called me ‘Master’ so easily.”
“…What does that have to do with anything?”
“Didn’t that mean you wanted to serve me as my slave?”
“…Of course not!”
“When you said contract…”
“I thought you were handing me a slave contract.”
“I said that’s not it!”
Lucy nearly jumped in shock.
“This is simply a perfectly fair contract between the two of us…”
“I don’t think so.”
Edward took the contract from her hand.
Then he stepped closer.
Lucy missed her chance to run.
The next thing she knew…
Edward had wrapped an arm around her shoulders, trapping her against him.
“You even brought me a fraudulent contract.”
“What do you mean, fraudulent?!”
She protested…
Even though she felt slightly guilty.
‘Well… maybe a few clauses are a little questionable…’
She had secretly included several tiny conditions.
For example…
The workday was listed as eight hours.
But lunch break wasn’t one hour.
It was two.
The safety guarantee was written as 10 years…
Except she’d secretly added a tiny little circle after the number.
Making it read 100 years instead.
‘Maybe I should’ve written it differently…’
She had no intention of staying beside him for a hundred years.
It was simply a precaution.
‘Besides… I didn’t even ask for money.’
Though…
She had quietly included a clause stating that Duke Edward Le Tesseron would be fully responsible for her food and lodging.
And…
She had also written in special paid leave after every purification session.
‘Surely he’s going to delete those clauses too…’
Just as Lucy anxiously looked up at him—
He chuckled.
Then, as casually as if they were close friends, Edward pulled her even closer with one arm around her shoulders.
His cool, refreshing scent instantly surrounded her.
“For example…”
“Article 2, Clause 2.”
“Huh?”
“Clause 2?”
That wasn’t what she’d expected him to point out.
‘Wait… what did that clause say again?’
Edward slowly read it aloud.
“Purification shall take place once a week… by holding hands.”
