Chapter 1

Prologue

Adelia stared at the man standing in front of her, Roerston, with her mouth hanging open.

“What… what did you just say?”

“I said that if you want to repay the debt you owe me, Junior, there is a way.”

“No! I mean what you said after that.”

“Oh, that method?”

Roerston smiled.

In that instant, the atmosphere around him seemed to change.

He truly had the kind of face people would call the most handsome man in the world.

His hair glowed like the evening sunset. His features were perfectly sculpted. His eyes were both masculine and gentle. His confidence made it seem as if his entire body was declaring, “This is what noble blood should look like.”

The problem was that such an amazing-looking man was saying something completely ridiculous.

“It’s simple. You want to continue your research, and I want to get away from my noisy relatives. The best solution for both of us is for you to marry me. If becoming a permanent wife feels like too much, we can make it a contract marriage.”

***

Pretty light purple satin shoes decorated with white lace hurried down the velvet-covered staircase.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

“My Lady! Please come over here and check something!”

“I’m coming!”

“My Lady, the Marchioness you sent a letter to last time has written back…”

“I’ll read it later. Put it on my desk.”

“My Lady! You have to see this!”

“I’m late!”

“My Lady! This must be handled before noon today!”

“My Lady, are you listening?”

“My Lady!”

The woman they were calling “My Lady” stopped while gripping the railing, her eyes wide.

People were rushing toward her from every direction.

Inside her head, she wanted to pull out her own hair.

Dear God, I’m sorry for deceiving everyone!

Somebody save me!

*

8:00 a.m., the dining room of House Ipsel.

The grandfather clock rang.

Dong…

The newspaper folded shut with a sharp sound.

The servants, who had been waiting at a distance, immediately brought breakfast, coffee, and silverware, placing everything neatly on the table.

The Duke of Ipsel, the head of the family, sat quietly at the table.

He lightly brushed back his sunset-colored hair and calmly looked at the clock.

8:01.

8:02.

8:03.

Bang!

The dining room door burst open.

Only then did the Duke smile faintly before taking an elegant sip of coffee.

Meanwhile, a woman with messy brown hair hurried in on tiptoe and dropped into the seat across from him.

As she leaned back, trying to catch her breath, servants placed her breakfast, tea, and utensils in front of her with perfect timing.

After the servants left, she immediately sat upright.

She slapped the table twice to get the Duke’s attention.

His eyes were a deep emerald green, like a dense forest.

They were breathtakingly beautiful.

But today, they were unbelievably annoying.

“This isn’t what we agreed on, Sen…!”

Adelia suddenly stopped speaking.

She glanced at the butler standing stiffly behind the Duke, then bit her lip.

“This isn’t what we agreed on… D-Dear.”

The Duke looked at her over the rim of his coffee cup.

Without taking his eyes off her, he pulled out a pocket watch and snapped his fingers.

“Go and see if any important invitations have arrived.”

“Yes, Lord Roerston.”

The elderly butler left the room.

Soon, the dining room was completely empty except for the two of them.

Roerston, Duke Ipsel, smiled warmly, relaxed his posture, and rested his chin on one hand.

“So, what is my adorable junior unhappy about this time?”

The moment the butler disappeared, Adelia slapped the table again.

“Senior! Are you really going to keep doing this?”

“What exactly?”

“How can every single morning be like this?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Everyone keeps looking for me! I… I…! I’m already busy enough taking care of myself! And I have to wash my face three times every morning. It’s a waste of time and water!”

“That’s how noble ladies live, Adelia.”

She pressed her lips together before arguing again.

“The contract I signed never said I’d have to wash my face three times or deal with this many things every morning.”

Roerston calmly pulled a neatly folded document from inside his jacket.

At the top was written:

Standard Guidelines and Contract Agreement for the Successful Marriage Scam Between Adelia Whitton and Roerston Ipsel

“Now, look here.”

He pointed to the paper.

“Clause 3.”

“…”

“After submitting the marriage registration, Adelia Whitton must behave in a manner appropriate for the lady of House Ipsel.”

“…”

“Behave in a manner appropriate for the lady of the house.”

He repeated the last sentence for emphasis.

Adelia made a strange groaning sound and waved her hands helplessly.

She wanted to rub her face in frustration, but that would ruin her makeup.

All she could do was punch the air.

“It’s clearly written in the contract. Washing your face three times is part of a lady’s duties.”

“Please add a special clause saying I’m only required to wash my face once.”

Roerston clicked his tongue and shook a finger.

“No. Noble ladies normally spend about two hours getting ready after waking up. Since you can’t do that, I already made an exception for you.”

“Once I start experimenting, even a face that’s been washed three times ends up looking like it hasn’t been washed for days!”

“But if we shorten your grooming time any further, even the servants will start talking.”

“…”

“Oh? It’s almost 8:30 already. Aren’t you going to eat? If you go to the laboratory on an empty stomach, you’ll run out of energy by lunchtime.”

Only then did Adelia gasp.

She quickly drank some tea.

She tore off a piece of bread, stuffed it into her mouth, scooped up soup with a spoon, and used her other hand to pick up tender stir-fried green beans with a fork.

Watching her, Roerston laughed.

“Normally, eating like that would also violate the contract, but I’ll overlook it just for today.”

Adelia puffed out her cheeks like a pufferfish.

Roerston chuckled.

“I’ll take you there in my carriage, so eat slowly. Don’t make yourself sick like last time.”

You could have told me that earlier.

Her hand holding the spoon trembled.

***

The carriage slowed as it crossed the main road.

Adelia quickly picked up the leather case beside her.

“Wait a moment, Junior.”

Roerston reached toward her.

The scent of lavender and apples drifted to her nose.

He straightened her slightly crooked collar, and his fingertips brushed against her neck.

Each light touch made her knees feel weak and her toes curl.

“There. Now the ribbon.”

It’s still not over?!

Adelia desperately tried not to lower her head and fanned herself with one hand.

He untied her smooth silk ribbon and carefully tied it again.

Meanwhile, her heart pounded wildly.

W-When are we going to arrive?

Just then…

Screech.

The carriage came to a stop.

The sudden movement made Roerston’s fingertips lightly brush along her jaw.

Why are even his fingertips so gentle?

Adelia’s face turned bright red, and her eyes shook as if there had been an earthquake.

“Hmm… Beautiful. Choosing the blue ribbon was definitely the right decision.”

“Um… may I get off now, Senior?”

“Why are you in such a hurry? We arrived ten minutes early.”

“But…”

Adelia kept looking out the window, then back at Roerston, unable to decide what to do.

Her cheeks were bright red, and her forehead felt hot.

Morning contact like this is a problem. A huge problem!

Ignoring the panic in her heart, Roerston calmly spoke again.

“Take care. When you’re done with your schedule, wait for the carriage to pick you up. Don’t even think about walking back by yourself. Understood?”

“It’s not that far. Walking is good for your hea…”

“What did Clause 3 of the contract say?”

“…”

“Should I read it to you again?”

He reached into his jacket, making a rustling sound.

Is he seriously going to pull out that ridiculous contract again?

Startled, Adelia hurriedly waved both hands.

She was already short on time.

This was no time to keep arguing.

“No, no! I’ll wait. I promise I’ll wait.”

“That’s better.”

Smiling in satisfaction, he stepped out of the carriage first.

Then he held out his hand and gently helped Adelia down.