IBTCETEC 08

~Chapter 8~

There was no need to say more.

All the things Regina had achieved as the captain of the Permang magician corps were enough proof.

Conrad knew this, so he took back the sharp energy he was aiming at Regina.

As the pressure in the room disappeared, Regina took a deep breath. The air felt lighter.

Conrad’s eyes, now hiding his anger, curved slightly.

“So, are you saying you want to be my lover?”

“If I have to stay close to Your Majesty… I don’t care if I’m your lover or even your mistress.”

She noticed his eyebrows go up, but Regina did not take back her words.

“What if there’s a better way?”

“Then I’ll do that too.”

There was no way back. Regina’s last hope was to stay by Conrad’s side, break the magic seal, and return to Permang.

She looked at Conrad with tense eyes. He was silent for a moment, thinking about something.

Then he spoke.

“How about marrying me?”

Regina couldn’t believe what she just heard.

“…What?”

But Conrad didn’t care about her surprise and said again:

“How about becoming the Empress of Fredericks? Of course, only until we both get what we want.”

He crossed his legs and looked down at Regina with his usual beautiful, proud face. He seemed perfectly calm, as if he had planned this from the start.

Regina froze, her head spinning with confusion and suspicion. Then she remembered what she knew about Fredericks Empire.

Right now, things in Fredericks were complicated.

Conrad Fredericks was a Swordmaster, but because of the endless monsters, he often had to leave the capital.

This meant the Empress Dowager was running the country in his absence.

But—

‘Empress Dowager Chloe Fredericks doesn’t have a good relationship with him.’

Chloe was not Conrad’s birth mother. His real mother died soon after giving birth, and Chloe, who was once a concubine, became the Empress.

She had a child around the same age as Conrad, and worked hard to put her own son on the throne.

‘Also…’

Regina had heard from spies that Conrad had two former fiancées, both killed by Chloe’s schemes.

Other noblewomen had wanted to marry Conrad, but they either disappeared or changed their minds in a few days.

By law, only nobles could marry royalty in Fredericks. Chloe used this to control all noblewomen close to Conrad’s age.

‘Even without the Dowager’s threats, who would want to marry an emperor always risking his life against monsters?’

Besides, the palace was dangerous for any woman who married Conrad—there had already been assassination attempts while he was away.

Most of the best knights were away fighting monsters, so the palace was less safe than before.

If Conrad didn’t marry and have an heir, the throne would go to Chloe’s son.

Regina was sure Conrad wouldn’t want that. From what she’d seen, he was a born ruler, not someone to give up what he had.

‘Still, I should learn more about his relationship with the Dowager.’

But she knew for sure they were not close. There were even rumors Chloe was involved in the death of Conrad’s real mother.

As Regina thought, Conrad was also reviewing his own plans.

‘I need an empress.’

At the very least, he needed someone to gain the support of nobles and strengthen his power while he was gone.

He needed someone to enter the social circles run by Empress Dowager Chloe, take power from her, and attract the nobles’ attention.

Conrad’s gaze slowly moved over Regina.

Red hair and blue eyes. She was the first princess of Permang, but as a magician, she always wore a robe, so few had seen her face.

Conrad knew about her reputation: she was good at palace etiquette and could handle noble pressure.

Maybe she was the one he had been looking for.

To break the seal on her magic, she would need his aura—so she wouldn’t betray him easily.

He couldn’t find a better partner than this.

‘I hope my act of getting angry pushed her just enough.’

Regina finally made her decision. When their eyes met, both had a determined look.

“I have a responsibility heavier than my own life. I must save my subordinates, who suffered because of me, and take revenge on my enemies.”

Her precious people were still in Permang’s hands, so she had to go back. Now, she even had a chance to fix the magic barrier—a weight on her heart.

“I accept your proposal.”

“A wise choice.”

When Regina reached out her hand first, Conrad took it.

“You get stronger royal power and the barrier destroyed. I get my magic back and can return to Permang.”

Regina felt Conrad’s aura tickling as it flowed into her hand, making her mouth dry.

But she acted calm, let go of his hand, and made a request.

“For trust, I want to put all the details in a contract.”

“Good idea.”

Conrad quickly pulled a cord. Limutan, the aide, came in with a tray and a document.

“Did you call, Your Majesty?”

“Leave it and go.”

Limutan set the tray on the table and left. Conrad moved first, and Regina followed.

As she touched the document, Regina felt a strange energy.

“Why is this here…?”

“Is there any reason something from Permang Empire shouldn’t be here?”

Conrad smiled and waved the paper.

This was a special contract from Permang Empire, made with magic so it could be called from a vault at any time. If enough magic was used, the contract could even summon the other person.

There were only five such contracts in Permang—Regina herself had developed and made them.

‘One of them is here, in Fredericks. That means there’s a spy near me.’

Regina tensed up, but Conrad didn’t care and started writing the contract.

His writing was elegant but sharp.

Contract

‘Conrad Fredericks’ and ‘Regina Permang’ agree to act as a temporary married couple and follow these rules:

1. ‘Conrad Fredericks’ will do his best to help ‘Regina Permang’ recover her magic.

2. ‘Regina Permang’ will cooperate in exchanging magic with Conrad.

3. When Regina’s magic is fully restored, she must destroy the magic barrier immediately. Conrad will handle the divorce and her fake identity.

4. Both must faithfully keep up the marriage to keep the contract true.

After finishing, Conrad signed. Regina read carefully, then took the pen and signed as well.

The contract glowed brightly, then disappeared, but the light hovered around their hands.

Soon, the white light faded. The contract was complete.

Regina opened and closed her hand, watching the traces of light.

‘My mana core is sealed, but I could still feel the contract’s magic. Why?’

It was strange.

But before she could think more, Conrad spoke:

“Then, how many nights will it take to recover all your magic?”

Regina hesitated, but then answered calmly:

“…Maybe we’ll have to spend many nights together.”