Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 127

Lucius wasn’t the only one chilled to the bone. Just reading the first line made Brianna reel from shock. Bracing herself against the desk with one hand, she forced herself to keep reading.

[While investigating at your request, I discovered something. Lucius, this isn’t just a simple case of supply fraud. If my suspicions are correct, the Crown Prince and even the Holy See are involved.]

The Crown Prince? And the Holy See?

Brianna recalled how Lucius had told her to avoid being alone with the Crown Prince at the royal ball. This letter made her understand why he’d said that.

Florian’s death hadn’t been an accident. He had been investigating the military supply corruption at Lucius’s request—and that had gotten him killed. It was a conspiracy between the Crown Prince and officials of the Holy See, designed to lead the kingdom to defeat in the war.

Florian must have sensed he would die and left this letter for Lucius.

Brianna bit her lip hard, her chest tightening. A wave of guilt and sorrow surged through her—for only now learning the truth about his death.

And yet, he had left no letter for her. He had cut off all contact long before his death. And still, he had written this will for Lucius.

How could he…

[Lucius, this is everything I’ve managed to uncover. I hope that even after my death, this information proves useful to you. And now, I need to talk about Brianna.]

The letter now turned to speak of her. Brianna’s fingers trembled as she turned the page. And the moment she read the next line, she stopped breathing.

[If I am unable to return to Brianna and end up dying here, Lucius, I want you to marry her.]

…Marry? Marry me?

Brianna nearly crushed the paper in her grip.

No. That made no sense. Lucius had already been engaged to Countess Kirchner’s daughter at the time—how could Florian tell him to marry another woman? And her, of all people?

[You know this already, don’t you? You bear some responsibility for my death. I was investigating military corruption at your request, and that’s what got me killed.

I don’t mind dying. I don’t blame you, not even a little. Truly, Lucius, I was happy to help you. As your friend, I was glad I could be of use.

But I cannot stand the thought of Brianna being left all alone.]

By the time she reached that line, tears were rolling down her cheeks. The letter went on to say that if Lucius married Countess Kirchner’s daughter but kept Brianna close, it would stir lifelong scandal around her.

[So, Lucius Carlisle, if I die, you must marry Brianna in my place. As her husband, you must cherish her and take care of her for the rest of your life.

This is not a request. This is my first and last command to you.]

Only then did Brianna realize the true reason Lucius had married her, even while bearing so much. It wasn’t out of gratitude, or pity for the fiancée left behind. It was because this was the final will of the friend who had died for him.

Florian—his dearest friend—had taken responsibility for his own sacrifice and forced Lucius to marry the woman left behind.

“Ha…”

A shaky laugh slipped out. Brianna made a strange sound—neither crying nor laughing—as she stood there for a long time. Eventually, the letter in her hand dropped onto the desk.

Tears slid off her chin and landed beside it with soft thuds. As more poured down in a steady stream, pooling on the wood, Brianna finally collapsed over the desk and wept with all her heart.

“Hhhk…”

She was so overwhelmed that she couldn’t even tell what emotions she was feeling anymore.

She felt heartache for Florian, who had worried about her up until the very end. She felt fury toward those who had caused his death and a growing thirst for revenge. But at the same time, she couldn’t help resenting him for not leaving her even a short final message.

And she was deeply bitter toward Lucius, who had so faithfully carried out his will. This marriage, in the end, was nothing more than a debt to a dead friend—it was neither more nor less than that. No, for him, it had been an obligation and a chain. Had it not been for Florian’s letter, he surely would have married Lady Kirchner as planned.

What was most unbearable was the fact that the two men had taken turns claiming her without ever considering her own will.

Brianna had gone through many hardships in her life, but never once had she lived without making her own choices. Leaving Harzen for Bastogne, accepting Lucius’s proposal for a contract marriage—she had carefully thought through each of those decisions herself.

And yet, this marriage had actually been the result of a decision made between two men. If she had known in advance that Lucius proposed for such a reason, she never would have agreed to it.

She probably would’ve turned him down and gone far away…

Brianna recalled the day she left the Kirchner estate—Lucius had chased after her carriage. Had he already received the letter back then? Was that why he had come for her in such desperation?

If only he hadn’t caught up to her—if only she had left for Bastogne—he would have had no way to carry out that will and would have given up, choosing to live his own life instead.

Brianna finally swallowed her tears and stood up. She folded the letter and returned it to the drawer. Then, taking the box that held her father’s watch and the notepad, she went back to her room.

It was a good thing she hadn’t given him the watch yet. She might have burdened him even more.

That night, Lucius came into her room late.

Brianna was still awake, but she kept her eyes closed and didn’t move. Lucius gently lifted the blanket and got into bed, pulling her into his arms from behind.

“…Brie?”

Realizing she wasn’t asleep, he whispered, kissing the nape of her neck and softly stroking her waist.

When Brianna didn’t respond at all, Lucius let out a small sigh and pressed his lips to the back of her head.

“Good night.”

He held her tightly and soon fell into steady breathing. Brianna opened her eyes, feeling the solid warmth of his chest against her back.

Though Lucius had asked for her thoughts, he had left out the most important truth—but now she understood what he was planning.

Daniel Carlisle’s death must also be closely linked to the Crown Prince. Two people close to Lucius had died suddenly around the same time. Only now did it all make sense—after killing Florian, the Crown Prince had tried to eliminate the two brothers who knew the truth.

To avenge their deaths, Lucius formed the House of Commons and began drawing its power to his side. Granting them audit rights wasn’t just about sharing authority—it was a way to entrust them with tasks the House of Nobles couldn’t manage. Only then could he take down the Crown Prince through legitimate means.

And forging ties with the Empress of the Kazakh Empire was the same. Lucius was clearly searching for evidence that the Crown Prince had colluded with the empire—naturally, he would need someone from that side.

What she now realized, more than anything, was that Lucius, though gentle with her, was terrifyingly calculating beneath it all.

“Lucy never had any interest in women. Even if there hadn’t been a war, he would’ve gone straight to the bridal chamber with whoever the Duke and Duchess picked for him. Honestly, I feel bad for the woman he’d marry. He’d be good to her, sure—but he’s not the kind of man who can love.”

And now, Brianna finally understood why Florian had said that.

Lucius had planned to marry Lady Kirchner according to his mother’s wishes. Now, he was married to her because of a friend’s will. That was all marriage meant to him—a formal rite for political gain and societal duty. And now that he was Duke, the need to produce an heir had simply been added to the list.

Brianna stifled a bitter smile. If only he hadn’t been so kind, it would’ve been better. If he had been more distant, maybe she wouldn’t have fallen in love with him. Maybe they could’ve maintained a cool, stable relationship as husband and wife.

With a deep sigh, Brianna closed her eyes.

And then, suddenly, she realized something.

Her period for this month was long overdue.