SCGFM CH 06

Chapter 6

When she looked at the clock, it was already 4:00 p.m.

Professor Siern had been very careful when he said that they would sometimes have to leave late.

But Adelia wanted to stay in the laboratory for even one second longer.

“Yes, I understand!”

“Good. That’s all for today. You may go home.”

Go home…?

Adelia’s heart ached again, and her shoulders trembled.

Am I going to become a proper working adult like this?

When she was at the Academy, everyone had high expectations of her, yet she had never been able to easily imagine any future for herself.

She had never even thought she would be able to come to a research laboratory like this.

She hated imagining herself having to survive on a tight weekly wage that was barely enough to live on.

Besides, back then, she had been nothing more than a timid student who knew nothing except studying.

That was why the thought of entering society had frightened her so much.

But that’s not me anymore! Ah, I’m so happy! I feel like I’ve been reborn!

However, her excitement disappeared like melting snow the moment she took off her lab coat.

Now she had to return to being Duchess Adelia, not Researcher Adelia…

No, no. This is my responsibility too, so I should do my best.

Still, pretending to be a duchess simply did not motivate her as much as working in the laboratory.

What if I had rejected Senior’s offer back then…?

“How about this? Instead of my father continuing to support you, I’ll make a contract with you.”

“A contract…?”

Could he be asking me to become a magician or something?

“That’s right. A contract called ‘The Perfect Fraudulent Marriage Between Roerston Ipsel and Adelia Whitton.'”

“A fraudulent marriage…?”

“If you marry me, Junior, you won’t have to worry about anything until you graduate from the laboratory. Money? A house? Expensive books? Just tell me what you need.”

“Ah, no…”

“In return, you have to act as my wife until you graduate from the laboratory. Of course, when it’s just the two of us, you don’t have to do anything that ordinary married couples do. You only need to make it look real to other people.”

No.

Adelia shook her head as she thought to herself.

There was no way she could have rejected that offer.

It had certainly been shocking and confusing, but even if she went back one month and had the chance to make the decision again, Adelia knew she still wouldn’t have rejected Roerston’s proposal.

Getting into the laboratory had been that important to her.

Perhaps it was even more important because she had once tried to give up on that dream.

Adelia left the laboratory and started walking toward home.

Just then, the door of the largest four-wheeled carriage parked by the roadside suddenly opened, and Roerston appeared.

“Where are you going?”

“Ah? Oh, Sen…”

She swallowed the word Senior and turned bright red before saying,

“H-Honey. W-What are you doing here…?”

“Of course I came to pick you up. Please, get in.”

What’s with the polite speech?!

His gentle way of speaking made her head spin for an entirely different reason.

Ah, right! We’re outside.

She suddenly remembered that whenever they were somewhere other people could see them, they had agreed to speak politely and act like a loving married couple.

But remembering that fact didn’t help her much.

Even if he was only her fake husband…

The most handsome man in the kingdom, a man who looked like a perfectly crafted work of art, was calling her “Honey” while speaking politely to her.

Even if this weren’t a fake marriage, that alone would have been enough to make her cheeks turn red.

“T-Then… excuse me.”

Adelia climbed into the carriage with an awkward little greeting.

The moment she got inside, she met Rudolph’s eyes as he sat across from Roerston and immediately held her breath.

This person is kind of scary.

Because of his expressionless face and stiff gaze, Adelia always felt strangely intimidated whenever she stood in front of him.

Then Roerston spoke.

“How was it?”

“Huh?”

“The laboratory. How was it? Was everything okay?”

“Ah! The laboratory! Yes, it was great! No, it was truly wonderful! Senior, did you already know that the development of the 18-H.Mgf microscope has been completed? I only heard about it when I was at the Academy, so I didn’t expect them to finish it this quickly! They say that once the laboratory introduces it, we’ll be able to observe and study microorganisms that we couldn’t discover before! Isn’t that amazing?!”

Roerston smiled politely and kept nodding.

I don’t understand a single word you’re saying, but if you’re happy, then I’m happy too.

His smile seemed to say exactly that.

However, to Adelia, who was already excited, Roerston’s smile only encouraged her to talk even more.

Normally, whenever Adelia started talking like this, even her Academy teachers would soon develop the dead eyes of a mackerel that had been sitting around for three days.

But…

Senior…! He’s actually listening so carefully to everything I say…!

“And Professor Siern was much kinder and more considerate than I’d heard! He explained all the safety precautions very carefully, and even though it was my first day, he let me observe a newly discovered microorganism! And then…”

Roerston’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Professor Siern.

That must be Adelia’s supervising professor.

He had heard a few rumors about the man.

But seeing Adelia’s eyes shining as she described that cold-blooded professor as kind and considerate made Roerston feel strangely uncomfortable.

“Ahem.”

At the quiet cough, Adelia’s shoulders jumped.

She nervously tangled her gloved fingers together.

“I’m s-sorry. I was talking too much, wasn’t I?”

Roerston’s eyes widened.

“No. That’s not why I coughed.”

“Oh! Then… do you feel like you’re coming down with a cold?”

Looking at her genuinely worried expression, he couldn’t tell whether he should laugh or cry.

He had only wanted to tease her by saying, “Even if I’m your fake husband, are you really going to happily praise another man for being kind and considerate in front of me?”

How had things ended up like this?

“It’s not a cold.”

“Then… did something get stuck in your throat?”

At that moment, Roerston lightly flicked Adelia on her round forehead.

“Ow!”

Startled by the sudden attack, Adelia opened her eyes wide as if she had suffered some terrible injustice.

Roerston said,

“If I were really your husband, a little cough wouldn’t have been the end of it.”

“Uh… yes? What exactly do you mean…?”

“You were talking so happily about another man. That’s a violation of the contract.”

There was no such clause in the contract!

“Th-That’s…”

“You were about to say that there was no such clause in the contract, weren’t you? I’ll add one today.”

“Isn’t that a little too much? I only said those things because I respect Professor Siern!”

Adelia made a timid complaint, but Roerston only lowered the corners of his mouth and shrugged.

Seeing that, Adelia puffed out her cheeks in a sulky expression.

Roerston desperately held back his laughter and covered his mouth with the back of his hand.

His face suddenly turned red, and the corners of his lips naturally curled upward.

She’s really cute.

What is she, a squirrel with its cheeks stuffed full of pumpkin seeds?

With that thought, Roerston smiled and gently patted Adelia’s head.

“Even if I’m only your fake husband, I get a little jealous when you tell me how kind and considerate another man is.”

“W-What? Jealous…?”

“That’s right. While we’re married, you have to say that I’m the kindest and most considerate man in the world. You’re my wife, after all.”

And I’ll make sure I live up to it, Roerston thought.

Adelia still looked completely confused.

Then her earlobes gradually turned bright red, showing that she had finally understood what Roerston meant.

“Your ears are completely red.”

At Roerston’s comment, Adelia pressed her lips tightly together and held her breath.

If I tease her any more, she might actually faint.

Just as Roerston decided to stop teasing her, Rudolph, who had been sitting across from them, suddenly spoke into the silence.

“Professor Siern Vitter. I’ve heard of him too. Apparently, he’s famous for not allowing his students to graduate.”

Adelia, who had been looking somewhat down, immediately became more energetic at the mention of her professor.

“Rudolph, you’ve heard of him too?”

“Please just call me by my name, Your Grace. I am merely a servant of House Ipsel.”

“Oh, right… But more importantly! Yes, I heard Professor Siern is extremely strict when reviewing research papers.”

The very next moment, Roerston and Rudolph both stared in disbelief.

A faint blush had appeared on Adelia’s cheeks.

“I’m already looking forward to seeing how strict his evaluations will be! He’ll probably point out every single thing I’m lacking, won’t he? Isn’t it wonderful that I can receive guidance like that?”

The moment she finished speaking, Rudolph gave Roerston a look that clearly asked,

Do you regret this marriage yet?

“Shut up, Rudolph.”

Adelia flinched at Roerston’s words, while Rudolph simply shrugged.

“I have no idea what I did to deserve that.”

Dinner at House Ipsel was much busier than the morning.

Neither Adelia nor Roerston particularly enjoyed going out at night, so the household staff had to work even harder to make sure their two masters could enjoy a peaceful evening.

“You need to straighten your back, Your Grace.”

Liliot spoke gently as she rubbed Adelia’s back with a soft sponge.

Adelia slightly straightened her hunched posture and cleared her throat.