Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 2

As his hard fingers brushed against the nape of her neck, a shiver ran down her spine, making the fine hairs on her skin stand on end. When she bowed her head so he could fasten the delicate clasp, she could almost feel his breath, making it nearly impossible to breathe. Apart from that night which had led to this contract marriage, it was the first time he had touched her so closely. Naturally, she was incredibly tense.

Thinking back, it had always been this way. Being near him made her feel uncomfortable and breathless, as if the air itself were insufficient…

Brianna bit her lip to hide her trembling. She exhaled the breath she had been holding only when his hands finally left her neck.

“It’s a necklace made of beryl. I’m glad I could give it to you without delay.”

“Ah…” Brianna murmured, her fingers tracing the pendant that hung just below her collarbone. The clear teal stone, so much like her own eyes, sparkled against her pale skin. As the maids had mentioned earlier, the necklace completed her look perfectly.

Turning around, Brianna looked up at him and, grasping the ends of her skirt, curtsied with impeccable grace.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

For a moment, disappointment flickered across his face. Had she made a mistake?

Brianna watched him anxiously. Was her thanks too brief? Considering the value of his gift, she felt she should express her gratitude more sincerely.

“It’s the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen. It’s far too precious for someone like me…”

He sighed deeply this time, even furrowing his brow. Clearly, this wasn’t the right approach either. He looked at Brianna, who was now flustered and unsure, then gave a wry smile.

“Yes, both you and I will need more time.”

Time, he said…

Reflecting on the past year, Brianna realized just how much had happened.

After the death of Dowager Countess Linares, who had been like a mother to her, Brianna had left her hometown and come here. And Florian, whom she had expected to spend her life with…

Thinking of Florian’s ever-smiling face made her eyes fill with tears. In truth, she still couldn’t believe he was dead. It felt as though he might appear any moment, saying, ‘Just kidding!’

No, I need to stop thinking like this.

Brianna shook her head slightly, banishing thoughts of Florian from her mind. It was inappropriate to think of another man in front of her groom-to-be. No matter how shameless, it was something she must not do.

“I will do my best to avoid bringing shame upon you or your family.”

As she spoke these determined words, the man’s dark eyes met hers directly. Brianna quickly averted her gaze and added, “After all, it’s only right, considering you’ve had to enter into this unwanted marriage because of me.”

He was only getting married because of her. Helping her had dragged him into an unforeseen situation, leaving him with no other choice.

But why me, of all people?

Brianna revisited the question she had asked herself countless times. Of course, his sense of responsibility towards his deceased friend must have been a significant factor. As the head of his family, he likely felt compelled to fulfill his duties and obligations.

Even so, he could have chosen someone more suitable for him. If he had wanted to cancel this marriage and find a new bride, many of the ladies outside would eagerly compete for the position.

Maybe that was the reason. He couldn’t bring himself to marry a cherished lady from a good family solely to bear an heir.

I don’t know. Unlike Florian, whose thoughts were always transparent, this man was hard to read. What was he thinking? Why had he proposed this contract marriage? Yet, one thing was clear: through this marriage, she could live without the constant threat hanging over her.

Once she fulfilled her promise and bore an heir, the contract would naturally end.

“I know what you want from me, Your Grace. It’s for me to quickly bear an heir. I will do my utmost to make that happen.”

“What I want…,” he murmured as if to himself, sounding somewhat deflated. “Do you even know what you mean by doing your utmost?”

Brianna’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. She hadn’t meant it that way, but her words could easily be interpreted differently.

“I didn’t mean it like that…”

“You don’t even know what I truly want. You probably can’t even begin to imagine.”

As he spoke, he reached out and turned her back towards the mirror, his arm encircling her waist. His body’s warmth enveloped her from behind, and she found herself trapped between the mirror and the man.

She looked up, startled, into the mirror. His dark eyes, filled with an inscrutable desire, locked onto hers. His hand moved up to cover hers, which was still holding the pendant. Each shaky breath she took caused their joined hands to rise and fall softly on her chest, reflected perfectly in the mirror.

“As I gaze at you wearing this necklace I gave you, you can’t even begin to imagine the thoughts running through my mind right now,” he whispered.

It was a look of hunger after a long period of deprivation, a primal desire to never let go of the hard-won prey.

Why now? Why was he looking at her like this? Brianna had no idea.

***

One Year Ago

“Lucy! Lucy!”

At the urgent call from upstairs, Lucius stopped in his tracks. Florian was bounding down the stairs, nearly tumbling in his haste. His cravat was crooked, and part of his sleeve was scorched—he must have dashed out of an experiment midway.

What on earth has he done this time? Did he blow up the entire lab?

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Florian didn’t even pause to catch his breath before shouting, “I’m really sorry, but I need you to do me a favor!”

“No,” Lucius replied flatly, without leaving room for negotiation.

Florian, panting, grabbed his arm desperately. “Oh, why not?”

“You’re asking for a favor, and that’s how you call me?” Lucius arched an eyebrow. Anyone else would have already found themselves with a broken limb for such disrespect, but Florian was an exception.

“Oh, right, right. Lucius, no, the great Lucius! Please, please do me this one favor!” Florian begged, bowing repeatedly with his characteristic cheekiness. But Lucius turned his back.

“I need to get home quickly. I don’t know what’s going on, but ask someone else…”

“Brie is coming!” Florian interrupted.

Lucius turned back, looking at Florian’s face.

“Brie? Brianna Everett?”

Brianna Everett. He had never met her, but her name, or rather, her nickname, had become familiar.

“Brie will arrive at the train station soon! But the telegram only arrived just now. Can you believe it?” Florian shook a piece of paper angrily, venting his frustration at the country’s poor postal system, while Lucius murmured absently.

“Now that I think about it, don’t you have your thesis pre-presentation today?”

Florian’s major, chemical engineering, required a graduation thesis, and the pre-presentation was an essential step. Missing it meant waiting another year.

It wasn’t just about waiting another year. Skipping the pre-presentation would anger the professors so much that graduation would become impossible.

“That’s exactly it! What am I supposed to do? If I had known in advance, I would have prepared. Why today of all days!” Florian clutched his head in frustration, almost howling like a wounded animal. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he grabbed Lucius’s shoulder.

“So, Lucy, you have to meet Brie for me!”

“Why should I…?” Lucius began.

“You know her better than anyone except me. Please, I’m counting on you! Santarino Station, 2 PM! Don’t be late!” Florian, like a whirlwind, left as quickly as he had come. Alone, Lucius realized too late what crucial detail Florian had omitted.

“That idiot, how am I supposed to find someone I’ve never even seen?”