YSLM 04

Chapter 4

In the end, the two of them stamped their seals on a “Marriage Contract” consisting of six clauses.

They had also decided on the wedding date one month later and agreed to obtain both families’ permission within a week.

After finishing the contract, the sun had already set, and the sky had become dark.

Kevin forced Lea, who said she would return on her own, to ride the Holsmecha home.

This one-of-a-kind invention, which could cover a distance that normally took an hour by carriage in only ten minutes, was invented directly by Kevin’s office.

When Lea thanked him, Kevin winked and replied.

“You don’t say that between a married couple.”

After watching the back of the steel mecha speeding toward the sunset for a moment, Kevin returned to his office.

As he sat down at his desk, the “Marriage Contract” entered his sight.

There was not a single clause he disliked.

But among them, Clause 5 was the one that satisfied him the most.

[5. If neither Party A nor Party B clearly expresses their intention to modify or terminate the contract within 30 days before the contract expiration date, this contract shall automatically be renewed for another three years.]

The important part here was not the contract modification or termination.

It was the words “automatic renewal.”

‘Because I never had any intention of ending this contract in the first place.’

One corner of Kevin’s lips slowly rose.

When his gaze reached the “Special Terms” written at the very bottom of the contract, his smile deepened even further.

“You’re surprisingly careless, Lea Flynn.”

Lea hated being indebted to others more than anything.

Besides, she was famous for building not just an ordinary wall, but an iron wall against men who approached her romantically.

Fortunately for Kevin, who had approached her while pretending he had no ulterior motives from the beginning, she had opened her heart to him.

‘Of course, I’ll hug you as much as you want! If you ever have a hard time, tell me anytime. This older sister’s arms are wide and warm.’

One day, unable to hold back his feelings, Kevin had impulsively confessed something similar by saying:

“Can I hug you?”

And Lea had answered like that.

‘Kevin, thank you so much. I love you too. You don’t know how much courage your kind words give me.’

Unable to endure his growing feelings any longer, he had finally said the words “I love you.”

Lea had smiled brightly and said those words.

And that had continued for ten years.

He had planned to use this business trip as a chance to finally put an end to his long one-sided love.

But it was useless.

Instead, he only confirmed how deep his feelings truly were.

However, after returning from his trip, Lea came to him herself and confessed her worries.

Before he could even think, the words escaped his mouth first.

“Then just marry me.”

Kevin never missed an opportunity that appeared before him.

Especially not if that opportunity was something he had waited ten years for.

It was a gamble close to madness.

But the result was beyond his expectations.

A thrilling sense of achievement rushed through his entire body.

Looking down at the contract, Kevin let out a laugh of joy without realizing it.

‘……Young Master?’

At that exact moment, there was someone watching Kevin through the slightly opened door.

It was Theodore, the elderly butler who had watched over Kevin since he was a little child.

Young Master Kevin laughing while staring at a piece of paper.

The butler suppressed the rising sense of unease and carefully made his presence known.

“Young Master Kevin? Is something wrong?”

“Ah, Theodore.”

Kevin said, “Come in,” and then suddenly asked.

“Didn’t you say before that love is a wonderful thing?”

Theodore cleared his throat.

“Ahem. I meant that you should consider dating someone.”

“I have no intention of dating.”

“You always say things like that—”

“Because I’m getting married.”

The butler’s answer came a beat late.

“……Excuse me?”

“I said I’m getting married. To the woman I love.”

Wasn’t this wonderful news that would make the master and madam extremely happy?

“Should I keep this matter quiet from others?”

“No. Not at all.”

Kevin added that he would be getting married one month later.

After hearing the news from the butler, Lady Constance and Sir Herbert also let out cries that were almost screams.

“One month until the wedding! Only four weeks! Just thirty days!”

With Kevin’s sudden marriage announcement, Tillman Manor instantly became a place of excitement and chaos.

＊ ＊ ＊

Lea Flynn was the type of person who did not believe in love.

‘Your mother married your father because she was deceived.’

A woman who married because she was blinded by passionate love.

A man whose attitude changed after marriage.

Growing up under parents who fought almost every day, Lea became a complete realist to the very core.

The only thing Lea believed in was—

“Money.”

“Pardon?”

“At least this can make money.”

“……”

Paula did not answer.

She simply placed the red roses filling the Flynn mansion’s reception room into baskets one by one.

Lea also picked up the flowers and calmly continued speaking.

“Returning expensive gifts is usually the rule.”

Flowers lost their value the moment they were cut.

So even if they were returned, there was no point.

“Send these flowers to little Tom.”

“The person you always trade with?”

In the slums, these kinds of “used flowers” could actually make quite a bit of money.

Paula sighed.

“Miss Lea, you were just thinking this, weren’t you?”

“Thinking what?”

“If this was going to happen anyway, why did you reject that gentleman’s proposal yesterday?”

“You could open a fortune-telling business.”

Although Lea said it jokingly, Paula’s disappointment was obvious.

Lea knew very well that it came from concern for her.

Ten years ago, when Lea’s parents passed away, all the servants of the Flynn family left the mansion, leaving only the teenage siblings behind.

Except for Paula.

She was not just someone grateful to Lea.

She was like a real older sister.

Lea gave a faint smile.

“I’m sorry, Paula. Were you disappointed?”

Paula shook her head.

“It’s not that. It’s just… Sir Oscar seemed like a good person, so I felt a little disappointed.”

She pointed toward the mountain of gifts piled in one corner of the reception room.

“Then all of those gifts from him should be returned too.”

Lea nodded.

They were gifts Sir Oscar had sent starting the day after she rejected his proposal.

On the first day, rare fruits imported from a distant country and precious spices.

On the second day, a newly released dress from the finest designer and dazzling jewelry.

On the third day came this enormous amount of roses.

It was not even a bouquet.

He had sent his family’s servants and completely transformed the Flynn mansion’s reception room into a sea of red flowers.

“Sir Oscar himself came twice as well. He said he wanted to meet you again and clear up the misunderstanding.”

“That’s troublesome.”

Lea frowned slightly, and Paula nodded.

“I suppose it’s uncomfortable when someone whose proposal was rejected keeps coming.”

“That too, but…”

Lea thought of the contract carefully stored inside her dressing table drawer.

“Because I’m getting married soon.”

“……You rejected the proposal, remember?”

Apparently, Paula thought some part of Lea’s mind had broken.

“I rejected the marriage proposal from the Donan family.”

Paula’s eyes widened.

“Wait, did someone else propose to you in the meantime? Miss, you’re more popular than I thought—”

“It’s not like that. It’s just…”

Lea cut off Paula’s words and thought about how to explain.

“You could call it a give-and-take.”

“What does that even mean?”

Paula replied with a dissatisfied expression.

Lea wanted to tell her this happy news right away.

But first, she needed permission from both families.

“Just wait a little. I’ll explain everything properly.”

After saying only that, Lea returned to her room.

When she opened the drawer of her dressing table, the marriage contract appeared.

The clauses from 1 to 5 were all perfect.

Except for one thing.

The special terms written below bothered her a little.

[Special Terms: Party A shall grant Party B one “wish” every week. However, if the wish causes Party A any kind of damage, Party A may ignore it.]

Lea already owed Kevin so much.

And now she had even forced her useless older brother’s gambling debt onto him.

When she felt extremely sorry, her childhood friend had suggested this.

‘Then how about this?’

‘Just one thing a week.’

‘You grant my small wishes.’

That was the entire “Special Terms” he had requested.

No matter how she thought about it, Kevin was losing far too much from this contract.

Lea let out a deep sigh because of her guilt.

‘It was the same when we were in school.’

Kevin always kept a certain distance from others and rarely opened his heart.

But strangely, only toward her did he act warm and playful.

And that was not all.

As if he could see inside her heart, he always understood her feelings.

He was always kind and considerate.

Whenever she felt burdened by such devotion, Kevin would say it was simply his love for humanity or some kind of unconditional kindness and told her not to worry.

‘Even so, how can I not worry?’

Whatever wishes Kevin asked for could not possibly be anything too great.

Lea decided that because she felt sorry, she would sincerely grant whatever he wanted.

She made that promise to herself.