The Villainess Proposed a Contractual Marriage

Chapter 55: Handing Over Childhood Friends

The hunting festival's location changed annually, selected from different noble territories.

As a grand event wishing for prosperity in the new year, countless nobles participated simultaneously. The festival's prestige was high, even including royalty. Thus, nobles with territories suitable for hunting grounds eagerly anticipated each year.

They hoped their land might be chosen this year.

However, their expectations were brutally crushed. This year's hunting festival was confirmed to be held in Luminel duchy.

Yulian's influence played a significant role in this decision. After First Prince Rupehit's disgraceful failure in the mission to uncover spies, Yulian was granted a wish directly from the Emperor. He used this privilege to designate the hunting festival's location.

Thus, House Luminel, Yulian's strongest backer, became the star of the hunting festival.

The nobles planning to attend had about two weeks to arrive and settle in Luminel duchy before the event.

On the dawn when this news broke, Elphisia's ruby-like eyes traced the starry sky outside her window. Though she longed for deep sleep, the unusually bright starlight kept catching her attention. Moreover, an inexplicable unease troubled her.

'It's going too smoothly.'

Originally, Yulian had to engage in political struggles with only Court Count Arwel as support. Now he had gained the duchy as an ally. Consequently, nobles who would have taken years to recruit in the future were already betting on this new dark horse.

That wasn't all. Meeting Harte early allowed her to bring future connections to her side sooner.

Glen, once his arch-enemy. And Tina, his former partner.

One diligently received Cardi's teachings, while the other basked in affection.

Everything seemed to be a net positive, with no apparent downsides.

In such circumstances, failing to overwhelm the First Prince would be the real problem. So while things progressing smoothly should be expected, an unsettling feeling kept nagging at her.

'Is it because of my conversation with the Holy Maiden?'

It happened just after midnight on January 1st, during the New Year's celebration.

After putting the sleepy children to bed with a promise to wake them for sunrise, Ibria suddenly approached and sat beside her. She even cast a barrier to prevent Harte, who was tending to the children, from overhearing.

Ibria abruptly said...

"Ah, I liked him first."

... lamenting her situation.

Naturally, Elphisia felt no obligation to comfort her. As she remained indifferent, Ibria continued.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery."

"What?"

"You said it yourself. Harte lives by the rule of not committing adultery."

"..."

Ibria's words were difficult to decipher. After a brief silence, she exhaled with relief.

"What can I do? As the Holy Maiden, I can't break the rules more than the knight guard."

"You..."

"It's a shame I couldn't confess before letting him go... but I should release him now. We'll be together in the temple for life, so I was lazy, and now I'm being punished for my sloth."

How unbefitting of a Holy Maiden, such sloth.

Ibria added with a bitter smile.

"So, did you come to acknowledge my rights as his wife?"

"Of course not. I just thought, as a childhood friend and superior, I should properly hand over my duties."

Ibria's bitter smile morphed into an artificial one, as if mocking herself. Elphisia immediately saw through this word play meant to tease her.

Though she would give up, Ibria reminded her that Harte's past was entirely filled with her.

It was quite a mischievous statement.

Nevertheless, Elphisia accepted it calmly.

"Handover sounds good. He'll be my unwavering husband from now on."

"Hehe..."

The past may be long, but is it as long as the future they'll live together?

It was childish banter met with childish banter. Ibria found it amusing and chuckled softly.

"So, what did you want to say? If it's reminiscing from my husband's female friend, I'll leave first."

"Sharing memories would be nice... but there's something I should tell you for the Duchess's sake as well."

"Something to tell me?"

Elphisia already knew much about Harte. Ibria, unaware of her status as a regressor, must have thought of this handover. So Elphisia listened silently, knowing it would be strange to seem too knowledgeable.

However, Ibria's next words revealed information even Elphisia had never encountered.

"His Holiness the Pope regrets only one thing. That is, burdening Harte with excessive karma."

"Karma?"

Elphisia feigned surprise. Ibria gazed vacantly across the pond, lost in old memories.

"... Harte's first kill was at twelve. Around the same age as those children sleeping over there, Harte killed a demon race Holy Maiden who had lived for over a century."

This much she knew. Elphisia had heard in the future about Harte executing the Holy Maiden who caused the Baskhill uprising.

"But isn't it strange? I'm also a Holy Maiden with a baptismal name... why do I need a guard? I'm not as powerless as the demon race's Holy Maiden."

"That's..."

It was indeed strange. Elphisia had merely assumed that the Holy Maiden's high status necessitated an escort. But that assumption seemed incorrect.

Ibria then slowly revealed the truth.

"A Holy Maiden, or Holy Son, is the vessel for the next god - the next Pope. In other words, if the current His Holiness's usefulness ends, I'm the next body for god to dwell in. Harte's role was to protect me until that moment. So Harte essentially killed the next High Priest of the demon realm."

"I... see."

"He probably made many enemies. Moreover, countless demons died in the process of judging the Holy Maiden, so from the demons' perspective, he's already their mortal enemy.

His Holiness worries that this karma might return to haunt Harte."

Elphisia had a hunch about this. Though information was limited, she strongly felt it related to Harte's ultimate fate.

"Wait..."

As she listened, a curiosity Elphisia had never fully resolved suddenly struck her.

"But what exactly is Harte? You, as the next Pope, possess great power... but what is Harte to be strong enough to guard the next Pope?"

"Ah, that..."

Ibria sheepishly rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Neither I nor His Holiness know. We can only assume he was born that way..."

"Huh..."

"That's why Harte's standards are so strange. Since he can survive even if his head is cut off, he thinks all baptismal name holders are like that. It's impossible by common sense."

In the end, Elphisia's question remained a mystery. As disappointment washed over her, Ibria added a crucial comment.

"This might be why His Holiness sealed Harte's baptismal name."

"What? What did you just..."

"Please protect Harte's humanity from now on. Don't let him revert to that twelve-year-old child."

The conversation ended there.

Elphisia tried to continue, but Ibria's barrier had already dissolved. No matter how quietly they spoke, it would be within Harte's range of perception.

Ibria nonchalantly walked away as if nothing had happened and woke the children.

Sunrise was imminent.

"..."

She gazed at the light emerging beyond the horizon.

As she struggled to hide her unease at the final plea, Harte quietly approached and took Elphisia's hand, sharing his warmth.

"Did you have a good talk?"

"More or less. By the way, your childhood friend is quite beautiful."

"Ibria is undeniably gorgeous."

Though Elphisia was the one who acted petty, she was the one feeling strange. As she swallowed her hurt feelings, Harte spoke.

"But my wife is undeniably the world's most beautiful woman."

"Ha."

She caught her breath at the childish flattery. It showed how inexperienced he was in romance. How could he be so oblivious to a woman's heart? But that's what made him endearing.

"What an outdated joke that wouldn't work even in our parents' generation..."

"Hmm, is that so?"

"Yes. Undeniably. It's foolish."

He's truly a fool. A fool.

She desperately tried to control her smile at the compliment that wouldn't work even in their parents' generation.

It's all because he held her hand.

Elphisia's hands were cold, but Harte's were as warm as the sunlight spilling over the horizon. Basking in that warmth dispelled her unease, and her pounding heart spread the lost warmth throughout her body.

So she just got a little feverish, causing her thoughts to go haywire.

Surely, by tomorrow, she'd forget such silly jokes.

---

---

To be honest, she didn't forget.

The dawn beautifully coloring Harte's cheeks remained etched in her memory, tormenting her.

This seemed to have reached a point beyond her control.

She wanted to protect those memories, this scene, his future self. She wanted to repay the trust that despicable woman had placed in him at the end.

'... This time, I'll protect you. I promise.'

Renewing her resolve, she nestled into his embrace under the guise of tossing and turning.

She pushed relentlessly, allowing him to fully indulge in his wife's skin, to struggle with his inner conflict.

Not wanting to be apart again, she clutched his clothes tightly.

Had his broad, twitching chest always been this comforting? Despite its hardness, why did it bring such peace...

Now she felt she could finally fall into a deep sleep.

The same hue of dawn they had welcomed on New Year's was steadily closing in.