The Price of Breaching the Contract

“You remember the terms of our contract, don’t you?”
At the sound of Yulania’s cold voice, Santia gave a slight smile.
“Of course. We will make a fine duke and duchess.”
For two years, they had lived as a married couple in name only, more distant than strangers.
They had spent that time suppressing each other and pretending everything was fine.
But the contract was already starting to fall apart.
“Instead of sitting around like this, why don’t you go out and find someone to date?”
“Date who, exactly?”
“Anyone. You’re quite popular, aren’t you?”
Santia responded sharply to Yulania’s remark.
“Is that really something a wife should say to her husband?”
The strict rules they had always followed between them collapsed without warning.
“Do you realize you broke your promise today?”
“What promise?”
“You didn’t come to meet me like you said you would.”
Once their hidden emotions started to surface, their marriage could no longer be called just a contract.