Contract Marriage Interrupted - Chapter 53



Only Noblemtl

Episode 53. You’re a Bad Person
2023.08.03.

“Walter?”

In a moving carriage, a black-haired man turned his head at the call from the other side.

The man’s face was as sharp as a blade, but he too had softened by the time he turned to face the other person.

“Speak.”

“You’re not really angry, are you? I explained it to you. It was just a coincidence that Louis was there.”

“Of course. What else can I say when you say so? It’s very strange that he was there at the wrong time at a place where people are supposedly rare, but I still trust you.”

“… … Just say you don’t trust me.”

Odette protested in a sharp voice.

If it had been another time, it would have been a cute protest—according to Walter’s words—that would have made him want to seduce him right away, but right now, Walter was in no position to easily talk to his fiancée.

The moment he witnessed Louis and Odette fighting, his heart was so scratched that it wouldn’t come back.

‘I shouldn’t have delayed.’

Walter originally left the banquet hall just like Odette.

It was natural because he followed Odette after seeing her leave.

However, while following her from a distance, he discovered an unfamiliar shadow following her.

‘It took time to chase after it.’

In the end, it became unclear whether it was the shadow following Odette.

If Russell had been with him, there would have been no delay, but Walter sent him to the carriage first because he didn’t want to miss the precious time he would have alone with Odette, so it was inevitable.

If it weren’t for that, he wouldn’t have seen Louis and Odette together.

– Walter Ertmann, he’s deceiving you! Please tell me once!

The moment he saw Louis’s expression as he held onto Odette and cried out desperately, Walter had to suppress his rage.

He wanted to cut off the hand that was holding onto Odette’s arm, which he had always been cautious about touching.

Every time he saw that strange face, a voice from the past came to mind.

– Walter Ertmann, you were just that kind of writer. A shameless writer who coveted another man’s wife. Otherwise, there would be no reason for you to come here and grab my collar, right?

– No matter how much you struggle, Odette is my wife. That won’t change.

That cold, sarcastic voice.

The voice that pushed Odette to death must have had that kind of temperature, that kind of color.

Thinking about it like that, he couldn’t bear it.

Of course, at the root of this twisted feeling, there was also anxiety about how much Louis would have revealed.

So for that reason, it was better to talk to Odette and resolve the situation appropriately.

I know that, but… … .

In the end, Walter clenched his molars.

“… … Odette. This isn’t the first time?”

“What do you mean, not the first time?”

“Louis Clovis. You didn’t seem that surprised when he grabbed you. Are you used to this situation?”

Ah.

Only then did Odette lightly touch the wrist where she had been grabbed.

She didn’t think he had grabbed her that hard, but she felt a slight stinging sensation, as if there was a mark left behind.

However, after hearing it, she was puzzled.

‘Strangely, it felt familiar earlier.’ She

had probably gotten slapped more often than she had been grabbed by someone.

Why didn’t she even think about shaking him off?

Was it because it wasn’t as threatening as when she had been grabbed by Regis?

‘Rather… … .’

Her heart sank. Was it

because of Louis Clovis? Or was it because, as Walter had said, she was unconsciously used to this situation?

Odette shook her head lightly, though she didn’t know.

“It’s not that big of a deal. It didn’t hurt.”

“So… … you stayed still in that situation?”

“I know basic self-defense. It’s not like I can’t get out of that situation.”

Walter frowned at Odette’s words. It was as if he was angry.

“Even so, don’t tell me it’s not a big deal. Do you realize that this is the second time something like this has happened to you?”

Judging from the way he spoke, it seemed like he was angry.

‘Now that I think about it, Walter was very concerned about saving face.’

Odette recalled how Walter had told her before, ‘You don’t have to put up with it. ’

She had simply thought that as long as she didn’t get beaten up, that would be fine, but thinking about it, this kind of thing must have been included.

‘I was careless.’

I still don’t know why I didn’t even think about rejecting him, but let’s be a little more careful.

Odette nodded lightly.

“Okay. I’ll behave better from now on.”

“I trust you.”

“So you should relax your expression too.”

“I can’t relax. Didn’t I tell you? When I see my wife looking at another guy, I want to give him his head as an anniversary present.”

So if he hadn’t trusted Odette’s words, Louis would have already been a corpse. Odette’s face turned pale at Walter’s words.

“Wasn’t that just a passing remark?”

“You should know this now. Your husband doesn’t say empty words.”

“I’ll just consider it as me saving someone’s life.”

How did she end up marrying someone like this?

Walter’s harsh words and actions still made her feel like she couldn’t get used to them sometimes.

Especially since Walter didn’t use those words and actions often.

‘He’s usually a little more polite… and… gentler.’

Now she knew.

That was the way Walter spoke when he was in a bad mood.

Walter’s slightly frowning face looked complicated. His face looked angry, and at the same time, a little sad.

‘It must have been me who got hurt.’

Why was he making that face?

It was right after he heard those words, so a corner of his heart felt uneasy.

-Why are you next to Odette!

-Isn’t that obvious? Because I love you.

Walter’s words to Louis kept coming to my mind.

Love. Thinking about it again, my cheeks felt hot.

‘It would have been a natural answer to tell the outside world that we decided to get married for that reason.’

It felt strange to think that such an unfamiliar word came out of Walter’s mouth.

Of course, I knew that Walter wasn’t sincere.

‘Nothing happened after that until we got to the carriage.’

Walter led Odette to the carriage with such a stiffness that it made you wonder if it was right for someone who said he loved her to act that way.

His actions were always like that. Polite and somewhat cautious to the point of being excessive.

‘What he says and what he does are completely different.’

Even so, he must have been a well-educated duke.

‘He seemed really fierce to Count Clovis… ‘

Odette thought back to when she had just met Louis.

The actions Louis had shown in front of Odette today were completely incomprehensible.

‘Especially the part where he said he had lied.’

What on earth had Walter lied to her?

No matter how much she thought about it, there was nothing that could be described as ‘lied to her.’

In the first place, before signing the contract, he had already heard an explanation of what had happened at the tea party and why he had deliberately dragged Elodie into it.

Did he say that because he thought Odette didn’t know about those facts?

Louis also needed to get married, so he might have been trying to sow discord because he felt bad about losing a good partner like Odette.

‘Anyway, I guess we can ask about that later.’

Odette now had a strange trust in Walter.

-Nothing I do will harm you.

As Walter said, none of his actions were harmful to Odette.

And in the future, Walter would never harm Odette, who would become his wife.

‘Despite his feelings for me… … even for Ertmann’s sake.’

Walter would stand up for Odette.

‘For me.’

Odette stared at Walter without realizing it, feeling really strange. She

had always thought she had to deal with everything alone, but now she was no longer alone.

There was someone who told her she didn’t have to endure it, someone who could be angry at the injustice she was experiencing.

She had a partner with whom she could overcome her problems.

‘Of course, it wasn’t because of love.’

Whatever the reason,

was this why everyone got married? As

Odette’s gaze grew longer, Walter chuckled.

“My face is going to be worn out, Princess.”

“… … ! Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

As Odette hurriedly lowered her head, Walter’s hand cupped her cheek and made her look up again.

“You can look at her more. While I’m at it, I’d like to see your face too.” As

Walter’s gaze drew closer, Odette’s face grew hot again.

Before his gaze could even rest on her green eyes, he saw the lips underneath them first.

And it was natural for memories of the past to come to mind reflexively.

In the end, Odette tightly shut her eyes.

“Look, don’t look.”

“Isn’t that unfair?”

“Life is unfair… … You don’t know.”

Odette answered in a crawling voice and dug into Walter’s palm.

The carriage was too narrow to escape, so she chose to bury her face in Walter’s hand rather than trying to push away.

His palm, with its distinct calluses as expected of someone holding a sword, was larger than she had thought, and it was also warmer than she had thought.

Perhaps it covered most of her face.

She felt like a peacock burying its head in the bushes to escape from a hunter, but it was okay.

Odette held her breath and hid her face in her palm, then slowly opened one eye.

And then, she faced Walter’s face with a fierce expression.

“Ha, damn it… … .”

And her voice seemed to be enduring something.

At Walter’s angry appearance, Odette was startled and turned away.

“I’m sorry if it was uncomfortable. I just… …”

“I didn’t say anything about being uncomfortable.”

And the arm wrapped around her waist blocked her escape route.

In an instant, the distance between them narrowed again.

No, they became closer than before.

　
Walter, who pressed his forehead against Odette’s round forehead, whispered from a close distance.

“You’re not just trying to make excuses because you don’t like me, are you?”

“That, that can’t be.”

“Of course I believe you would. You’re supposed to love me, aren’t you?”

That’s our contract.

“So from now on, hug me more like someone who loves me. Like that… … Don’t look at me like you hate me.”

Walter whispered as he released his arm and let Odette go.

Odette’s face turned red for a moment as she was released.

“… … You’re a bad person.”

“I know. Get used to it. We’re going to have to live together starting today. And, there’s that too, right?”

“That?”

“Your way of persuading your grandfather.”

“… …!”

Odette’s face burned again at those words.