Chapter 8

First, I had to prove that Linea was being abused and neglected.

Second, I had to have enough wealth and social status to properly raise her.

Cases like this were extremely rare under Imperial law.

However, there had been one successful precedent.

It had been very similar to my situation.

In that case, the wife had divorced her husband and fought to take custody of her adopted son, who had also been abused.

‘The only reason she won… was because the man she remarried was a marquis.’

In short…

I needed someone powerful backing me.

The Delmore family might be declining, but it was still, officially, a count’s family.

‘That means I have to marry someone with at least the rank of marquis.’

A fellow count would have no reason to help me.

Coincidentally, the Marquis of Rivandel possessed exactly everything I needed.

In fact, he was almost too perfect.

After finishing breakfast, I secretly looked at him.

The moment our eyes met, he smiled softly.

In a low, gentle voice, he asked,

“Is there something you need?”

How did he know?!

I was secretly startled, but I shook my head.

‘Not yet. First I’ll get information about the Marquis of Rivandel from the Information Guild!’

Then…

I’d propose a contract marriage.

The problem was that I knew almost nothing about him.

I had no idea what I could possibly offer him in exchange.

‘I’ll figure that out one step at a time.’

For now…

My only priority was increasing my fortune.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Thank you for bringing me here.”

“If necessary, I can come back and take you home once you’re finished.”

I hurriedly shook my head.

“N-No, that’s really not necessary. I do have some shame, you know.”

“Whenever you need me, simply contact me using the card I gave you.”

“Thank you.”

The Marquis of Rivandel continued showing me an inexplicably kind side of himself.

But once today’s transaction was complete…

I’d be rich.

‘Then everything will become much easier.’

Thinking that, I climbed out of the carriage.

Unfortunately…

The land purchase that I had been so certain would go smoothly took a completely unexpected turn.

* * *

“…So you’re saying you came because you saw my land was for sale?”

“Yes. I need some land.”

“Why?”

I blinked.

According to the novel, Lady Enisha desperately needed money because her husband had accumulated an enormous gambling debt.

I thought offering this much money would make her happy.

I hadn’t expected her to question my reasons so carefully.

In the original story, ten years earlier, Lady Enisha had sold this land to Janice’s parents.

That huge piece of land had sold for only 900 gold.

Of course, to ordinary people, 900 gold was enough to represent a lifetime’s savings.

But compared to the land’s true value…

It was incredibly cheap.

I quickly waved my hands.

“It’s always been my dream to build a beautiful house surrounded by nature, raise livestock, and peacefully grow old there.”

“Where is your husband?”

“…Excuse me?”

Lady Enisha sighed quietly before continuing.

“No matter what, you’re still such a young lady. Naturally I’d find it suspicious if someone your age suddenly wanted to buy land.”

She slowly shook her head.

“Besides, one thousand gold isn’t a small amount of money. Paying the entire sum in cash is rather strange.”

“I withdrew it from the bank…”

“Did your husband approve of this purchase?”

In the original novel, women had very limited financial independence.

Only after marriage could an adult woman even open her own bank account.

Naturally, someone as young as me showing up with such a large amount of money and asking to buy land looked suspicious.

“Then… what would it take for you to sell this land to me? Honestly, I fell in love with it the moment I saw it.”

Clasping my hands together, I looked at her hopefully.

That finally seemed to ease some of her suspicion.

“Actually… another buyer with a verified identity has already offered me 900 gold.”

Janice’s parents.

Lady Enisha continued gently,

“Since you’re offering a higher price, it’s naturally better for me… but I’d like you to return with your husband so we can sign the contract together.”

“M-My husband…”

I don’t have one.

I desperately tried to think of a solution.

Lady Enisha spoke firmly.

“The most important thing in any transaction is trust. I don’t want to accept such a large payment if there’s any chance it will create trouble later.”

“Then… if I return with my husband, you’ll sell me the land?”

“Yes. One thousand gold is better than nine hundred. And you’re even offering me five percent of the land’s future profits for the next ten years. That’s hardly a bad deal.”

Exactly.

Even knowing how valuable the land truly was, I felt guilty taking advantage of Lady Enisha.

That’s why I’d offered those generous terms.

Once the mine was discovered…

Five percent of the profits would be worth far more than 900 gold.

It would probably be enough to pay off Viscount Enisha’s gambling debts and still leave them with a fortune every month.

But where was I supposed to find a fake husband?!

As I desperately searched for an answer…

A light suddenly flashed in my mind.

“Please wait just a little longer! I’ll come back today and sign the contract! Please don’t sell it to anyone else!”

“Don’t worry. I value keeping my word above all else.”

She certainly seemed like she meant it.

I immediately rushed out of the estate and looked around.

‘He’s probably gone already…’

I knew that.

But if all else failed…

I’d contact him.

If he’d just pretend to be my husband this once…

I’d treat him to an amazing meal afterward.

Naturally, I expected him to be long gone.

Then—

“Huh?”

A familiar black carriage was parked nearby.

And the moment it spotted me…

It started moving toward me.

The coachman stepped down and opened the carriage door.

Inside, the marquis calmly set aside the documents he’d been reading and greeted me.

“Finished already?”

“Not exactly.”

“Once you’re done, let me know. I’ll take you home.”

He smiled at me with that same mysterious kindness.

Was I becoming too materialistic?

For some reason…

That smile didn’t seem nearly as frightening anymore.

Carefully, I walked closer.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“…I know this is going to make me sound completely insane… but would you pretend to be my husband for just a little while?”

The instant I finished speaking…

His entire body froze.

The papers in his hands slipped from his fingers onto his lap.

I hurriedly waved both hands.

“N-No! It’s not like that! I just need to do something, and apparently I absolutely have to have a husband with me. But my husband is already dead, so…”

Even I knew I wasn’t making any sense.

The marquis quickly recovered.

Without saying a word…

He stood up and stepped out of the carriage.

“Huh?”

“Let’s go.”

“You’ll really do it? I’ll definitely treat you to a wonderful meal afterward!”

He smiled.

“Think nothing of it.”

A quiet laugh escaped him.

“I’m only taking care of my wife.”

He paused.

“Though I certainly won’t refuse the meal.”

“I’m not really your wife…”

As I spoke, he carefully approached me.

“May I place my hand on your shoulder for a moment?”

“Sure.”

Well…

A husband touching his wife’s shoulder wouldn’t seem strange.

I nodded.

His smile deepened.

For a brief moment…

His eyes were filled with an emotion I couldn’t understand.

Something almost… possessive.

“Then let’s go, my wife.”

“…What?”

“If I’m going to pretend to be your husband, shouldn’t we start practicing now?”

I wasn’t entirely convinced…

But he wasn’t wrong.

And he was helping me.

So I couldn’t exactly object.

That was how…

The marquis and I ended up entering together to sign the contract.

And he was far more persuasive than I was.

At first, Lady Enisha had looked at us suspiciously, as though doubting whether we were truly husband and wife.

Before long…

She was praising us instead.

“Your daughter must be absolutely adorable.”

“She resembles the most beautiful mother in the world.”

He smiled warmly.

“So naturally, she’s the loveliest little girl imaginable.”

“Oh my.”

Those mysterious words, spoken so naturally…

I secretly glanced at him in surprise.

“Should we sign here?”

“Both husband and wife should sign. Just to be safe.”

That was the problem.

We weren’t actually married.

As I hesitated, he leaned closer and whispered,

“I’ll erase my name from the contract later. For now, let’s simply use the Delmore family’s name.”

“Alright.”

He signed first.

Then…

My eyes widened as I looked at the signature on the contract.

Carcel.

‘Carcel?’

I was certain I’d seen that name somewhere before.

Maybe…

In the novel.

As the contract was pushed toward me, I signed my own name while desperately searching my memory.

I had an overwhelming feeling that I absolutely had to remember where I’d heard the name Carcel.

‘Carcel… Lakan?!’

I remembered.

The owner of that name…

Was none other than Duke Lakan.

Carcel Lakan.

Linea’s obsessive second male lead.

The scheming final villain.

The very man who was destined to kill me.

And somehow…

His name was written on the contract directly above mine.