Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 99

He slipped his hands under Brianna’s arms and helped her sit up straight on the bed.

“How about having breakfast in bed?”

Perhaps thinking she wouldn’t even have the strength to walk to the table, he suggested dining in bed. Brianna blankly nodded. As she watched Lucius pull the bell cord, a thought crossed her mind.

What is this…? This empty feeling, as if something was given to me only to be taken away again.

Soon, the maids entered. Upon hearing Lucius’ instructions, they promptly brought in warm water for washing. With their assistance, Brianna was able to wash her face, hands, and brush her hair.

Once the brief grooming was finished, the maids placed a bed tray on the bed, set up the meal, and then withdrew. The table was filled with bread, warm soup, eggs, dried fruits, pastries, and other desserts.

“Eat up.”

Lucius sat on the edge of the bed and placed a spoon in Brianna’s hand. She hadn’t done anything but sit still, yet everything had been prepared for her in an instant. It was almost like magic.

Brianna soon lifted the spoon and began eating. Only then did Lucius also start his meal.

As she slowly chewed on the mushrooms and meat in the soup, Brianna carefully chose her words. She didn’t want to ask something odd and startle him like she had the previous night.

In times like this, discussing the day’s schedule would be the safest choice…

“What’s on the agenda after breakfast?”

Lucius was the first to ask. Brianna quickly swallowed the food she had been chewing and recited her prepared answer.

“Well, first, I should pay my respects to the Dowager Duchess…”

“My mother has an appointment with the Marchioness Schroeder this morning, so you can skip that.”

“Oh, then I should formally greet the household staff…”

“They just hosted a grand banquet last night; they deserve a rest. Let’s do that tomorrow instead.”

Only then did Brianna realize that he had something else in mind.

He smiled softly and spoke, “Just rest today. When I told you to take it easy, I didn’t mean you should get straight to work in the morning.”

Lucius gazed into Brianna’s rapidly shifting eyes and whispered in a low voice, “If I see you walking around as if nothing happened, I might start feeling a bit resentful…”

Brianna felt her ears grow hot and quickly lowered her gaze. Once again, she was reminded of how different Lucius was now compared to the past.

“What about you? What are you doing today?”

She hastily changed the subject. Lucius briefly paused in cutting his food before replying, “After breakfast, I’ll be stepping out for a while regarding the House of Commons.”

“The House of Commons… Are you trying to establish a separate legislative body from the House of Nobles?”

He nodded. “That’s right.”

Brianna recalled a time when she and Leona had once debated the current political system in depth.

Leona had acknowledged that the nobility forming a parliament and taking power from the king was a step forward. However, she had also questioned the system’s longevity and scalability.

“Why are you trying to share power with them?”

After all, power inherently resists division. It seeks to preserve itself and rejects plurality. Yet, here he was, saying he would willingly distribute it to another faction.

“Holding power right now is like holding a bomb.”

“A bomb?”

“The purpose of parliament was to prevent power from concentrating in the hands of a single monarch. It was believed that decisions made by many would be wiser than those made by one. But stagnation always leads to decay. If things continue as they are, a power struggle will inevitably break out over the limited authority we now have. That would bring even greater chaos than before.”

Rather than brushing off the matter as irrelevant to her, he explained everything in detail. Brianna, in turn, asked whatever questions arose, immersing herself in the discussion.

Her knowledge came from books and Leona’s opinions. Hearing how those theories played out in real-world politics from Lucius himself was an entirely different kind of learning experience.

She didn’t even need to think about what to talk about with him. They engaged in a lively discussion about politics—a subject often considered the most boring of all.

“Actually, bringing them in benefits me personally as well. Unlike my father or brother, my political standing isn’t stable. When a new force emerges, the existing factions inevitably become less rigid. Since Count Kirchner has already accepted bribes to sway them, there’s no justifiable reason to stop it.”

“That’s a wise decision. Right now, power may reside in controlling the system, but in the future, wealth will generate power. It will certainly work in your favor.”

He nodded. “The number of bankrupt noble families is steadily increasing. More will follow in the future.”

The land never betrays.

That had been the long-standing belief of the nobility, but as the world changed, crops from the same lands no longer yielded the wealth they once had. For some, this era provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; for others, it signaled an endless downfall. Among the nobility that had fallen to the very bottom, the House of Robert was one of the most ruined.

As thoughts of Florian, which had not surfaced in a while, crept up, Brianna lowered her gaze.

While she had been preparing for her marriage in the Carlisle mansion, the Robert family had completely collapsed. Unable to repay his debts, Viscount Robert had been imprisoned, and his wife had divorced him and returned to her natal family. With no heir left, the House of Robert was effectively extinct.

If Florian could see the current situation, what kind of expression would he make?

It would be beyond absurd. Even if they weren’t close, they were still his parents, and yet they had suffered such humiliation. On top of that, his fiancée had spent her wedding night with his friend. Worse yet, she had reached her peak in that very friend’s arms.

Would you resent me for this? Or would you sigh, saying it couldn’t be helped, and turn away?

As she was lost in these complicated thoughts, a voice broke the silence.

“Brianna.”

Brianna composed herself and lifted her head. Lucius’ dark eyes were watching her quietly. The corners of his lips curled slightly as he gently made a request.

“The pie over there looks good, but it’s a bit far. Would you mind passing it to me?”

Brianna glanced down at the bedside table. He must have meant the pie topped with apricot slices. Though it was closer to her, from what she could judge, his arm could easily reach it. Still, since he had asked, Brianna picked up the pie with her hand. She intended to place it on his plate, but before she could, he suddenly leaned in and took a bite directly from it.

Half of the small pie disappeared in an instant. The problem was the remaining half. As he continued, both the pie and the fingers holding it vanished into his mouth.

“L-Luce…”

His warm tongue languidly wrapped around her fingers. At the same time, his firm teeth gently nibbled at them as he swallowed the pie. The lewd sensation brought back vivid memories of the previous night. It felt just like how her inner walls had clung to him, refusing to let go, as he drove into her again and again…

Now she understood the saying that newlyweds could ignite at the mere touch of eyes or fingertips. Even amidst a rational conversation, their desires inevitably surfaced, leading them back to indulging in each other. And Brianna could no longer deny that she greatly enjoyed their physical relationship.

Only after thoroughly licking away every last crumb did Lucius release her fingers.

“This is the best one.”

Then, smiling shamelessly, he held out the pie toward her.

“You should try some too. Or would you like me to feed you?”

Brianna, her voice strained as if being choked, responded, “No, it’s fine. I’ll eat it myself.”

“Alright, then.”

After observing her dazed expression with clear satisfaction, Lucius rose from the bed.

“I should get going now. You should stay in bed and rest.”

Brianna nodded. After having her fingers nearly devoured along with the pie, she suddenly felt exhausted.

Lucius chuckled softly and brushed his hand over her face. Leaning down slightly, he brought his face close to hers. He paused for a moment above her lips before pressing a kiss to her cheek instead.

“Let’s have dinner together later.”

With that parting remark, Lucius exited through the door connecting to his room.

Once he was gone, Brianna realized something and touched her lips.

Not once had he kissed her on the lips.