I skimmed through the contents several times over. But no matter how many times I read, it didn’t appear to be a slave contract rather a marriage contract.
The first thought that occured to me was a simple one. Isn’t he crazy?
This turn of events is such a creative development, far beyond what my poor imagination could conjure up. I’d prepared myself to freak out, thinking that at the very least I would be imprisoned in an isolated tower or the like.
Married? Did the protagonist ever get married? I don’t think he did, at least until the last part I’d read of the novel. Or maybe since the storyline has been altered, the protagonist has gone mad…?
“If you sign the contract, we will immediately pay back the 5 billion Marcas as promised. Tomorrow morning, you’ll receive a certificate from the Vatican that you’ve paid your debt in full.”
The old gentleman gave me a slightly worried look as he spoke. He seemed concerned that I might not be able to comprehend the complex clauses pertaining to repayment of debts and debt service.
I couldn’t even get angry at his assumption because of his genuine look of worry. There was nothing to get angry over, really. All I could do was laugh at the incredulous situation unfolding before my eyes. Nevertheless, I was left with no choice but to sign the contract.
“I’ll sign it.”
With a dejected mutter, I set it down on the table. However, I couldn’t find anything remotely as fancy as a quill pen in my house. It’s such a waste to put charcoal markings to such fine stationery. I glanced pointedly at the elderly gentleman and he opened his bag immediately.
A lavishly designed letter tray and quill pen were placed on the decrepit wooden table with missing corners that had fallen off a long time ago. The legs were unstable and feeble as well, so I tucked my knees beneath the table top for support as I signed the contract while the gentleman observed me curiously from the sidelines.
The protagonist is ambitious, but he isn’t interested in avaricious women. While I may be indifferent to power, wealth and material gains, I couldn’t say the same for the woman who flocked around him and hankered after those.
As such, a Duchess was born overnight.
The protagonist only chose the most effective plan to bind me after having considered various factors. But the general public, oblivious to the truth, would never think so.
I do admit that I’m quite pretty but I’m definitely nowhere near an ethereal beauty. They would no doubt wonder what sort of destitute slum girl had gotten married to the Duke.
After I finished scribbling my signature, the gentleman put away the contract in his bag and made his introductions.
“It was rude of me not to greet you earlier. My name’s Dimon Sheikh and I’m the butler of the Duke of Carnor.”
Hearing his name instantly brought to mind his identity. He has worked as a butler since the passing of the protagonist’s parents, and was portrayed as the most dependent person in the novel.
After Dimon talked about all of this, he cautioned me not to tell a peep to anyone else or I’ll find a dagger flying into my neck.
“He wants you to enter the ducal mansion as soon as possible.”
Reading between the lines as I listened closely, I inferred that I should clean and pack up everything today posthaste and enter the Duke’s mansion tomorrow.
Dimon went as far as to hand me a pouch of gold coins, saying that I can avail myself of them should I be in need of anything. As I looked into the pouch, I spoke up hesitantly.
“My younger siblings…”
“Bring them along with you. I’ve got that matter handled as well, so please don’t worry about it.”
After seeing Dimon out, I sank down in a chair, my face set in a troubled expression. I wanted to make sure that my siblings will not have to worry about eking out a living… so how did it come about to result in a marriage?
What in the world is Zahid hiding up his sleeves?
No matter how hard I racked my brains, I failed to put a finger on the protagonist’s hidden agenda. It turns out that my mediocre intellect is as befits a minor supporting character; I couldn’t get into his head easily.
Feeling eyes on me suddenly, I looked over my shoulder towards the bed where my siblings lay fast asleep.
Or not.
Two pairs of round eyes watered up. They’d been pretending to sleep in all along.
“Charles, Ethan.”
As soon as I called out their names, they shot up, clambered out of bed and instantly bombarded me with questions.
“Sister, what’s happened? Marriage?”
“Sis-sister, wh-with whom are you getting married? Why?”
I couldn’t very well say that I’d just sold myself off to the protagonist. I chose to cover up my lies and instead presented my marriage as a love match fairytale romance to them.
“I fell in love at first sight.”
Of course Charles didn’t buy it.
“… It’s because of us.”
“No, Charles.”
“You’re lying! It’s because of me and Ethan…”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t need to eat delicious food anymore. One meal a day, no, it’s fine to starve the entire day. So… please!”
“Charles.”
“…”
“It’s my choice. It’s not for anyone else.”
I lied again, in an attempt to pacify her,
“I really love him.”
The tears gave way to a fierce glower as anger shone in her red eyes.
“I can’t wait to be an adult. When I grow up and become strong…”
She clenched her little hands tightly and muttered furiously,
“I’ll kill everyone who belittles and pokes fun at you.”
I almost told her sotto voce that there was no need to wait until adulthood when in five years’ time both she and her twin will actually come to possess those fearsome sort of powers
I shuddered inwardly as I recalled how the twins had cut off the wrists and tongues of Ertha’s naysayers in the novel. I made up my mind to educate them from this point onwards.
“Um, by the way… who are you marrying?”
Ethan asked in a thin, quavering voice.
Too engrossed in imagining the measures I’d take with their future education, I replied without thinking,
“The Duke of Carnor.”
The twins flinched then froze, looking as if they’d seen a ghost.
I went to the places where I’d worked previously one by one. Knowing that I’ll most likely never be allowed to work after tomorrow, I handed in my resignation notice along with my gratitude and profuse apologies for the suddenness of it all.
I kept breaking out in cold sweat because everyone unexpectedly demanded to know why I was leaving. I couldn’t disclose the truth about my upcoming marriage to the Duke so I provided them a false tale I’d prepared beforehand.
After completing my rounds, I was utterly drained but managed to drag myself off to the market to make a significant dent in the pouch I received from Dimon by buying lots of delicious foodstuffs, before heading for the small inn where the twins worked.
They’d finished their allotted chores for the day and decided to quit their job at the end of the day. I told them I would pick them up on my way back after finishing my errands.
Neither of them caused a ruckus before leaving for work today. They’d asked why I was getting married to the infamous Duke and even claimed that my marriage is nothing short of a fraud. I’d managed to allay their frustration and coaxed them into dropping the particular sensitive topic by promising to talk it at length when we returned home later in the day.
Tonight would be the last night the three of us will spend in the rickety old shack. We would talk all night long while tucking into a delicious spread. I hummed happily in anticipation at the thought as I walked.
Yet as I neared the inn, the blood leached from my face when I saw the person skulking in the shadows.
It was Kayle. And he wasn’t alone.
Charles and Ethan stood in front of him and a bunch of goons that constantly hung out with him. The two terrified adolescents were clutching each other’s hands tightly. My eyes throbbed in anger seeing their ashen and tearful faces as they trembled in fear.
I started running towards them immediately.
“What are you doing?”
Kayle turned to look at me, eyes narrowed in glare that seemed almost manic.
“You said you were leaving, Ertha.”
He said loudly.
“You must have made quite a fortune from selling your body?”
“…!”
My body stood rooted to the spot as if it had been hit by glacial waters, fear paralyzing me. I wanted to rip open the mouth that spoke so crassly in the presence of my younger siblings.
Kayle grabbed my wrist viciously and led me away from them.
“Let go of me.”
“I’ve given you the benefit of being cheap, and what, you go ahead and sell yourself?”
I repeated, this time in a quieter voice.
“I said let go, Kayle.”
And then all hell broke loose.
Ethan, who was shivering like a leaf bare minutes ago, ran towards Kayle and bit the latter’s forearm with all the might contained in his small, undernourished frame.
Kayle howled in pain, and I was released at once. However he quickly sent Ethan flying with a kick.
“You son of a bitch…”
I could only watch on helplessly as Ethan’s small body hurtled through the air and crashed onto the ground sickeningly.
“Ethan!”
Charles and I screamed out at the same time. I tried to make a run for him but I couldn’t approach Ethan since Kayle’s goons restrained us.
“Ethan, Ethan!”
Charles called out his name desperately, struggling to break free from the goons’ hold on her. A ten year old girl couldn’t overpower an adult men let alone several but she kept on thrashing wildly.
Ethan rolled in the dirt several times. Kayle grabbed the child by his throat—although Ethan was coughing up a fit and breathless—and slapped his check sharply. Ethan’s head turned to the side with a jolt. Kayle then took hold of Ethan’s forearm and kicked him as his head lolled to the other side. His soft skin bruised and swelled up rapidly before he threw up a mouthful of blood.
[Royals: Everyone, gather your pitchforks and poisoned darts!]
At that instant, I saw red and my emotions snapped but I couldn’t move, imprisoned, and started struggling even more, shouting myself hoarse like a madwoman.
“Stop it! Don’t you dare touch Ethan! Son of a bitch! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”
My eyes blazed hot in fury. If I had a sword at this moment, I would have stabbed Kayle on the spot. Unfortunately, I did not.
I had something much greater instead.
“Oh, dear. That’s not a very good sight.”
My ears pricked up at a clear voice that appeared out of nowhere. The noise fell to a hush in the blink of an eye. There was total silence. Even I kept mum despite my rotten mood.
The protagonist’s voice carried through the air as he jumped down from his horse gracefully. He was dressed in a stylish riding coat and breeches that clung to him like a second skin, and moved at a leisurely pace, a whip in one hand. There was no reason for someone like him to be in the slums.
Everyone looked at him blankly. Kayle let go of the tight, ferocious hold he had on Ethan. The owner of such beauty that even stunned men chuckled lightly as he looked in my direction.
“Ertha.”
“Sir Zahid…”
I called out to him in a raspy groan. His dark purple eyes watched me in fascination before he asked simply,