Contract Marriage Interrupted - Chapter 49



Only Noblemtl

Episode 49. I Have a Way
2023.07.20.

Regardless of what Walter thought, Odette was extremely confident in her reasoning.

No, she was so confident that she believed without a doubt that this was the truth.

The reason was simple.

– I think Walter is better off living alone. He’s a guy who will make my wife cry tears of blood!

As Walter had expected, Arnold came to dissuade Odette.

And of course, Odette had no way of knowing how much Arnold had tried to get Walter married.

So in Odette’s eyes, this is how Walter’s situation looked. ‘

Walter… … maybe he didn’t have anyone he could marry as much as he thought.’ Of course, Cedric and Ellie had opposed the marriage. Ellie, in particular, was still suspicious of Walter. – If Duke Ertmann shows any suspicious signs, you must tell me without hesitation, okay?! You can’t just ignore it! – My, when did I ever fall for it… … . Odette blushed and shook her head, but Ellie was firm. Thanks to that, there had been quite a bit of bickering before she came to see Walter today. If today hadn’t been the day of the wedding announcement banquet, the bickering might have been even longer. Ellie was really… … firm. – If you move to Duke Ertmann’s residence, you must call me! It’s a promise! – I’m good at interfering without notice! I’ll definitely make Your Majesty’s newlywed life difficult! Ellie seemed to firmly believe that if she took her eyes off Odette, she would be devoured in one bite, and because of that, Odette was truly in trouble. But how could you blame Ellie? Ellie was just doing it for Odette, and the real problem was Walter. “My maid and my brother are not the type of people to easily express their opinions about someone. Especially if they’re negative.” “Those two must have talked badly about me.” “Hmm… … Regardless of whether a person is good or bad, there are certain stereotypes about a good marriage partner.” “There’s no need to beat around the bush. I’m just saying that I’m not a good marriage partner.” “… … .” Odette closed her mouth for a moment, watching as her explanation was abridged in an instant. Of course, it wasn’t long. “… … Anyway, in that situation, I knew that your grandfather said you should live alone.” “Are you saying that I have no one to marry?” “Yes. Am I right?” Odette’s golden eyes sparkled with conviction. To borrow Walter’s expression, they were very lovely. ‘Is it okay for ignorance to be this lovely?’ When you see someone talking nonsense or doing something annoying, shouldn’t you feel the urge to immediately get rid of them right in front of you? However, Odette felt strange because she had exactly the opposite thought. Even though what she was saying was nothing more than cursing at her. So Walter didn’t deny it and let Odette continue to misunderstand her own situation. “To be honest, I just couldn’t understand why you would make such a condition.” Love? Isn’t that such an absurd condition? It wasn’t that surprising that Walter needed to marry. The position of hostess had been vacant for a long time in Ertmann. But then, if she could have just gotten it through a political marriage, why did she need to make the condition of love? “I understand now. You needed that excuse to go ahead with this marriage, right? The excuse that I loved you so much that I chose you over all the people around me.” Odette nodded slightly, as if she was very satisfied with her own reasoning. “And since I needed to get married right away, I had no reason to refuse your request, and if I was going to get married anyway, it would have been better to find someone close by, so I guess she chose me, the younger brother of Cedric, who had a connection with you.” If Cedric had heard it, he would have flipped the table over and asked what was going on. It was the moment when Cedric’s letter, in which he had mentioned that Odette was quite close to Walter while trying his best to dissuade her, backfired. “I have to become Ertmann’s mistress right away, so I have to be well-educated, but I can’t choose someone of too low a status, so I’m sure I’m the right person for the job.”

And Odette had even calculated that her marriage could be a countermeasure against the useless tricks that Empress Katharina was extending to Ertmann, but she didn’t bring it up because it seemed too far-fetched.

The important thing was that in Odette’s mind, her marriage with Walter was extremely reasonable, and even the ridiculous reason that Walter had set as a condition for the contract marriage, such as ‘love,’ was perfectly acceptable.

“In this situation, it would be difficult for me to create a scandal with someone else outside. That’s why I made the clause regarding infidelity so strict. Right?”

“… … Very good. Everything is correct.”

And Walter decided not to refuse this well-prepared meal.

He had already been worried that Odette would ask about the conditions of the marriage or try to push back on the marriage, so this situation was rather welcome.

‘It’s not unreasonable.’

He was truly grateful to Odette for finding a good rationalization on her own.

In that sense, when Walter clapped his hands a couple of times, a satisfied pride passed over Odette’s face.

It was certainly a pride that her deduction was correct, but in fact, there was another reason.

‘I finally found it. The reason Walter wants to marry me.’

In other words, it also meant that Odette had found a card that would give her an advantage in marrying Walter.

‘Wouldn’t it be that Walter is in a similar situation to Count Clovis?’

Odette had chosen Count Clovis as her marriage partner because he had no suitable marriage partner.

Walter was in a similar situation. It seemed like she was on the right track.

And Odette planned to actively utilize the card that had come into her hand.

Naturally, she had no intention of listening to the dissuasion of others.

‘I feel a little sorry for Cedric, but.’

Since she had nothing else on her mind, she planned to quickly get the marriage over.

It would be ridiculous to look for another marriage partner now that she had already kissed Walter.

‘Besides, Blake’s behavior is a bit strange.’

Since Blake suddenly visited, he kept asking questions that seemed to test Odette.

Or deliberately leaking information that would make her nervous.

– The bootlegging business is booming these days, so keep that in mind. If you get involved in it, it won’t be just a crime.

– I heard that Cedric will be back next week, but I don’t know if it’s a rumor or not. What do you think, Odette?

Every single question was a minefield.

If you step on it wrong, it will be revealed that you were the one who gave Cedric information about the palace, and of course, you will be questioned about your abilities.

No matter how you look at the speed at which Odette exchanged letters with Cedric, it was abnormal, and it had been a while since Odette had gotten rid of the homing pigeon she raised separately because she was afraid of being suspected.

‘At least if I leave the palace, I will be free from these kinds of suspicions.’

In that sense, Odette also did not like the opposition of those around her.

Of course, that did not mean that Odette was planning to get married as recklessly as Walter.

“Isn’t it right to announce our marriage at the banquet today and go to Duke Ertmann’s residence, Walter?”

“Yes. Why are you asking that? I’m telling you in advance that I can’t back down.”

“I don’t care about back down. I just thought it would be better to hurry up and get married. But your grandfather is against it.”

Odette was lost in thought for a moment, so she didn’t even notice Walter’s eyes widening and then returning to their original size.

Thanks to her question and answer just a moment ago, Walter was going back and forth between heaven and hell in real time.

“If you want, I’ll get married as soon as possible. You don’t have to worry about your grandfather’s opposition.”

“How can you? He’s your family.”

“That’s okay. Even if you were to oppose him, he’d say we did a good job when we got married.”

“It’s rude. If we get married like that, there’d definitely be gossip.”

Odette’s words were definitely reasonable.

Walter, who was planning to touch all the people who were talking if there was any gossip, still didn’t understand what the problem was.

Fortunately, Walter really liked the voice of his fiancée, and thanks to that, Odette was able to continue her prepared speech.

“If you get married like that, it’s a loss overall, so let’s try to persuade your grandfather.”

“Is that possible?”

“Of course. I have a way.”

Odette motioned for Walter to put his ear close to her.

And, after hearing the story, Walter nodded.

“That’s a good idea.”

It was truly an extremely satisfying method.

* * *

Some time later.

The banquet hall where the Emperor announced the marriage of Odette and Walter.

Russell noticed that his master’s lips were much more relaxed than usual.

“Is there something good going on, Your Majesty?”

“Isn’t it easier to find a reason to be upset on a day like today? The wedding announcement.”

“No… … I don’t think that’s the reason.”

Russell glanced at the other side of the banquet hall. He

saw Odette surrounded by a crowd.

Naturally, it was because people had gathered as soon as the Emperor announced the marriage.

People who wouldn’t have approached her before were desperate to say one more word to Odette.

The problem was that Walter was now quite far away from Odette.

‘The crowd is also here… … .’

And Walter usually got irritated in situations like this.

It was even worse now that he was separated from Odette.

Russell guessed that there was only one reason why Walter would be so happy.

“… … “ Is it really that good to invite the 4th Princess to the Duke’s residence?”

“Everything is going well, so I am satisfied.”

“You haven’t convinced your grandfather yet, have you?”

“That’s fine. Odette has come up with a solution.”

If this method works, it seems like the wedding date can be brought forward significantly.

Everything is really going well. However

, Walter did not notice one thing.

Who was present in this crowded place?