TFLMLD 72

Chapter 72

A Dangerous Contract

It was far too brazen a request to ask for another woman’s husband.
But compared to before, her more rational demeanor was at least fortunate—especially when I thought of the children.

When I resolved to leave this place, the hardest part wasn’t leaving Macaron, but… leaving the children whose faces lingered in my mind. If Evelyn’s affection for Macaron was genuine, then surely she would treat the children kindly as well. That was what I told myself for comfort.

But Coral was another matter entirely. In the original story, Coral lived in an orphanage until she became an adult. No one could say for certain how Evelyn would treat Coral now. For that reason, I even considered taking her with me…

Yet Coral had already grown attached to Macaron and Kai. That bond, built over time, was not something I could simply tear apart. I couldn’t bear to be the one to forcibly separate her from them. Besides, if Coral were to follow me, she would have to give up too much for such a small child. She wouldn’t even be able to attend the academy she’d dreamed of going to. Of course, there might be other places, but a life spent hiding would make studying at any academy difficult.

I didn’t want Coral to shoulder such a life.

Most importantly, in the original storyline, Evelyn was not a villainess when it came to Kai. At first, she only tried to win Macaron’s favor. But one day, upon discovering she was infertile, she began to see Kai as her own child. In Kai’s memories, she wasn’t remembered as a good mother, but at least as some sort of ally. Evelyn spared no support from House Rippler so that Kai could ascend the throne.

Her motives were selfish, yes, but since she had both wealth and Kai’s talent to back her, no major problems arose. Considering all of that, and the future the children faced, the most reasonable conclusion was for me alone to step away.

“Is it enough if I leave?”

Evelyn flinched, her brows twitching upward at my response, as though she hadn’t expected me to say it. Then a smile spread across her lips.

“You’re smart. We understand each other well.”

“……”

“If you agree to that, House Rippler will even lend you soldiers.”

I had run through this scenario countless times in my mind. Yet now that it was before me, my heart felt as if it were being torn to shreds.

“I’ll leave on the day news of victory reaches us.”

Evelyn gracefully set her teacup down and placed something on the table with a satisfied smile.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, but with matters like this, it’s best to make things certain.”

“……”

What she handed me was a contract. Contracts sealed with magical crests usually carried collateral in case one side broke the agreement. Evelyn had clearly prepared thoroughly for this day.

It wasn’t going to be easy, I knew that much. Still, I hadn’t expected the contract to include not just terms, but a taboo.

If I violated the agreement, the curse would fall on Coral. The punishment was that Coral would lose all her senses forever.

The thought of Coral—not me—bearing that was horrifying. Evelyn clearly knew my weaknesses down to the bone.

My hands trembled. It felt as if my whole body were bristling with thorns.

But there was no choice but to sign.

So long as I did not break the contract, it would remain no more than a piece of paper. If I could save Macaron, that much I could endure.

Just before signing, there was one thing I had to say to her.

“I have a request.”

Evelyn’s smile froze slightly at the word “request.”

“What is it?”

There was a faint tension in her voice.

“Please take good care of the children.”

Evelyn arched a brow, sipping her tea leisurely.

“Kai often has nightmares. Before he sleeps, you should boil Seselia leaves and place them in his room. And Coral likes dolls. If she shows interest in something, please give her your support.”

“……”

“And the money I’ve left aside for their education—please make sure it’s used for the children.”

Perhaps she thought I was interfering in her business, because Evelyn crossed her legs and answered curtly:

“……Fine.”

She pushed the contract toward me. Once I signed, Evelyn checked it, tucked it away, and rose from her seat.

“Then I suppose we won’t be seeing each other again.”

Even after Evelyn left, I sat there for a long time, staring blankly into the empty space. As the tea grew cold, time passed like a bitter winter.

As always, the day I wished would never come arrived far too quickly.

When Macaron had finished preparing and went down, Calypse was there to see him off. She forced a smile, though Macaron failed to notice her true feelings. He only took it as the kind of comfort a wife gives to her husband going off to war.

But his heart was the same as hers.

Having fought countless battles, Macaron knew well that this one would not be an easy fight. Yet, worried his perceptive wife might catch on, he acted more relaxed than usual.

Only after repeating words of reassurance over and over did he finally turn to leave, her smile still lingering behind him. With every step of their indefinite farewell, he glanced back once more. Each time, he saw Calypse waving with a bright expression.

This war would end eventually, he told himself. And when he returned, Calypse would welcome him back. Not for a moment did Macaron doubt it.

Holding the hope of a happy future tightly in his heart, he pressed on toward that day.

Mounted on a white horse, Macaron looked like a fallen angel turned dark, trailing black energy in his wake.

Under his command, the knights of Crade advanced with high morale. Crade’s soldiers thundered out of the territory in a storm of dust. Passing through several new domains, the army grew larger as reinforcements gathered.

Yet the nobles, realizing they were still outnumbered, did not look pleased.

To survive, most nobles had always adapted like the wind, shifting with the currents of politics and power. No matter how brilliant a strategy one had, the number of soldiers remained the decisive key in any war.

With such worries weighing on them, the army eventually reached the plains of Rippler.

At the signal of a horn, the pounding of hooves ceased, and everyone began to reorganize—feeding horses, repairing boots, taking quick meals.

Meanwhile, the nobles, summoned to the war tent, exchanged uneasy glances. All knew the only way to turn the situation to their advantage was to secure Rippler’s support. Beyond this point, no large-scale aid could be expected.

Though the outward atmosphere was dressed up as calm, beneath it was tense and suffocating.

Even as Macaron’s strategy was drawn across the map, the nobles’ minds were fixed on Rippler’s decision.

But as the break passed with no word from Rippler, their unease grew.

Some, fearing the worst, whispered among themselves:

“If we march on like this, we’ll all die in vain.”

“His Highness is a brilliant strategist. Surely he wouldn’t set out without a plan.”

These nobles had come here entirely because they believed in Macaron. But unlike the retainers who had served him for years under the same roof, their faith was much shallower.

Finally, the Marquis of Ribert spoke up:

“Your Highness, what about requesting aid from House Rippler?”

If Rippler were asked for support, no other noble house could expect the Empress’s seat. For a noble to suggest this anyway showed just how desperate they had become.

“There’s no need—”

At that moment, the thunder of hooves grew so loud the tent itself trembled. Soon after, the flap was thrown open and Momont rushed inside.

A gust of wind swept in with him, and the nobles turned sharply toward its source, eyes alight.

There, Rippler’s purple banner was waving.

Panting, Momont knelt before Macaron.

“Your Highness, House Rippler has sent reinforcements.”

Evelyn’s black steed halted with a cry just outside the tent. Without waiting for permission, she entered, smiling languidly.

“My apologies for being late, Your Highness.”

“……”

“House Rippler, too, wishes to join this battle.”

Though they’d already heard the report from Momont, hearing Evelyn say it herself filled the nobles with relief once again.

Yet none dared speak, sensing the tension in the air between Macaron and Evelyn.

Evelyn swept her gaze across them, then turned to Macaron with a sly smile.

“There’s something I’d like to tell you in private, if I may.”

Macaron let out a long sigh and nodded. Better to set clear boundaries now than let her press further.

The nobles, reading the mood, bowed and filed out.

Outside, they traded glances and hushed suspicions:

“Has His Highness secretly promised House Rippler the Empress’s seat?”

“Otherwise, would that proud duke have come here?”

The nobles were certain Evelyn would ultimately seize the Empress’s place.

Macaron fixed her with a sharp gaze.

“What are you scheming?”

Evelyn tossed her hair over one shoulder and looked at him with her trademark, alluring expression.

Macaron frowned at her strange behavior, his entire face demanding a quick answer.

“What scheme could there be in aiding the Empire? And in aiding Your Highness?”

“I asked what the condition was.”

Though his words were simple, his low voice carried the aura of a predator. Even standing still, his presence alone was enough to overwhelm.

Evelyn’s slim body flinched briefly, but her eyes never left him, clinging to him with fervor.

“Do you really not know what it means for a noble house to stand with you, Your Highness?”

“……”

“House Rippler wishes to be at your side.”

His cold, wintry eyes displeased her, but Evelyn didn’t care.

‘He’ll be my man eventually.’

To her, even those cold eyes were captivating. Just as she believed Calypse’s warm gaze would one day be hers as well.

Macaron tilted his head.

‘What is she truly after?’

Evelyn never moved without purpose. And yet—no condition? That in itself was strange. If he turned away a house’s army without cause, it would be tantamount to treating them as enemies. He knew the desperation of the other nobles weighed on him as well.

More than that, there was nothing in her words he could outright refuse.

“You’ll have to keep your word.”

Evelyn’s rose-colored smile deepened once more.

“Of course.”

With Rippler’s troops joining the march, the army advanced with renewed vigor. The colossal force, doubled in size, thundered across the land as it pressed forward.