Contract Marriage Interrupted - Chapter 81



Only Noblemtl

Episode 81. Are you angry?
2023.11.09.

Odette had come straight to the crown prince’s palace with Arnold’s help.

When she first heard the story from Arnold, Odette was skeptical about Cedric’s request.

Even though she had married Walter, Odette had no intention of revealing her relationship with Cedric.

However, if Cedric met Odette in a noisy manner as soon as he returned, most people would have noticed that the two were having some kind of relationship.

At least Cedric and Walter were close, and Cedric knew that Odette didn’t like being the center of a fuss, so he didn’t think that Odette’s name would be involved in this kind of incident.

So he was planning to refuse and keep his mouth shut.

-Rejection? That’s too bad. His Majesty will be upset.

-Please tell my brother. It’s too sudden to have tea together, and I don’t know what you want…

– Hmm, is that so? His Majesty the Duke Ertmann is also at the Crown Prince’s Palace. I think His Majesty wanted to see you two since you’re married.

– … … Walter is there?

And at that moment, the image of a ‘smiling face’ flashed through Odette’s mind.

The words of Duke Pavel, who said that it was an ultimatum, and the earnest letter from Cedric, who was dissuading her from marrying Walter.

‘ … Could it be that the problem was that I got married before my brother came back?’

So she thought that I ignored my brother’s request and insulted him?

And she was taking out her anger on Walter?!

Odette’s imagination, not knowing the situation, grew bigger and bigger.

In the end, she imagined Walter being hung upside down and beaten, and finally left the front door in a solemn manner.

And she ran quickly, anxious that Walter might be persecuted.

” … … Brother Cedric? Walter?”

After opening the door, what she saw was Cedric’s collar dangling in Walter’s fierce hand.

Only then, as all her imaginations were shattered, did Odette realize one thing.

In most situations, Walter was someone she didn’t need to worry about… … .

“W-what the heck is this… … ?”

Unlike Odette, who was shaking in shock, the two were calm.

“It’s been a while, Odette.”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Cedric released Walter’s grip as if nothing had happened and smiled brightly, straightening his clothes.

“As we live, there are bound to be people who grab the crown prince by the collar. I felt a little choked up and my life was in danger, but I’m okay.”

“Your Majesty has always enjoyed the tension of life-or-death situations, so don’t worry.”

“Haha, it seems like the Duke has lost his mind a little while ago. Should we put him in the ward and have a cup of tea together, Odette? “ I think we have a lot to talk about.”

“I’m afraid that won’t happen, Your Majesty. My wife will be returning with me right away.”

Walter said and held out his hand to Odette.

But Odette didn’t take his hand.

For some reason, she looked a little hurt, and Walter raised one eyebrow.

“… Odette?”

“… Walter, I came here worried about you. I was afraid that my brother might cause you trouble.”

“I really did. If you hadn’t come, I would have definitely beaten that face.”

“And you’re being arrested for assaulting the royal family?”

Odette sighed and furrowed her brow.

“Don’t be rude to my brother.”

“… Are you protecting him?”

“I’m asking you to be polite. I don’t mind if you’re rude to me, but my brother isn’t.”

The moment she saw Walter grabbing Cedric by the collar, numerous imaginations flashed through Odette’s mind.

She knew that Walter was originally mean and unruly, so the fact that he grabbed Cedric by the collar wasn’t all that surprising. However, the fact that

Cedric could easily kick out anyone he knew with a smile made Odette’s heart sink.

‘The mansion is already under control for insulting the royal family.’

What if Walter were to be rude to Cedric’s brother and aggravate his crime?

The ‘smiling face’ drawing in Cedric’s letter, which was supposed to be an ultimatum, floated through her mind.

Odette had never even dreamed that Cedric cared for her, so the thought that both Walter and herself could be cut down by Cedric suddenly occurred to her.

No, even if he himself was safe due to their blood ties, Walter might not be.

‘Walter is… … Ertmann.’

Ertmann. A high-ranking noble family that was said to have nowhere higher to go within the empire, with a little exaggeration.

At the same time, a family that had suffered a crisis of extinction once before and had incurred the emperor’s hatred.

Because it was Ertmann and Walter, if they were to incur the imperial wrath again, it would be difficult to get a second chance at salvation.

That’s why nothing was as terrifying to Odette as the current situation where Walter could be harmed.

‘It’s fortunate that I’m not too late… …’

She sighed and opened her mouth.

“Walter, I’ll talk to my brother and go back, so you go back first. Since the control of the mansion will have been lifted while I’m here, you should be able to enter.” Walter

‘s face twisted, but Odette didn’t comfort him.

The priority right now was to prevent Cedric from harming Walter and Ertmann.

“Brother, I apologize for Walter’s rudeness. Walter, I’ll see you later.”

But there was no answer.

“… … Walter?”

When Odette called Walter once more in confusion, he finally turned around.

Knock. The sound of the doorknob turning echoed eerily.

Before leaving the room, Walter added,

“I’ll see you again when we’re done talking, Cedric. I think I have more to talk to you about.”

As Odette had said, it was a declaration that he would not return to the mansion.

The problem was not the content, but the fact that the voice was so cold that it was chilling.

Odette unconsciously narrowed her eyebrows at the familiar voice.

It was a tone she had heard once before.

‘That voice… … .’

　
That was definitely the voice Walter had heard when he had grabbed Russell by the collar.

So what it meant was… … .

‘… … Walter, are you angry?’

* * *

No matter how much he thought about it, he had done nothing wrong.

That was the conclusion Walter had reached after careful consideration.

‘If it weren’t for that damn Cedric, this wouldn’t have happened.’

How could he have brought Odette to his side, and now he’s taking her back?

Of course, Walter was aware that he had fallen for Cedric’s provocation too easily.

If someone else had said the same thing, Walter wouldn’t have been so angry.

No, it was closer to agitation than anger.

Walter felt uneasy at Cedric’s words.

‘If it were Cedric, it would be possible.’

It wasn’t because Cedric was the crown prince, but because he was Odette’s only family member who was not sparing any affection.

Arnold couldn’t get Odette to divorce, but maybe he could if he persuaded Cedric.

‘Odette never really wanted this marriage in the first place… … .’

If my beloved brother had said a few words, he might have easily fallen for it and suggested that we call off the marriage.

Walter was shaken by that fact.

Odette, who appeared in that situation, went around beating Cedric and even told him, “Don’t be rude to your brother.” He

felt really uncomfortable.

No, strictly speaking, it wasn’t just uncomfortable, but his mind was twisted and he was swearing.

“Don’t be rude to him?” She was

saying that no matter what Cedric did, he would still fight him

because he was her brother. Odette’s attitude was like proof that she could never reach Cedric.

“No, that’s natural.”

He was just someone he had chosen to avoid an unwanted marriage, and Odette had built a long bond with Cedric.

Above all, Walter knew very well that Odette had a hard time with him.

“She probably hates me.”

And he also thought that was fortunate.

Since he was going to leave anyway, there was no need to get too close and make things difficult for Odette, right?

But… … .

‘… … It seems like you ’ve lost your mind .’

After spending a few days as if Odette and I were a newlywed couple who were truly smitten with each other, I felt like I had mistaken myself without realizing it. Maybe Odette also had feelings for me a little. Maybe the cheerful attitude she showed me and the time we spent together were a little sincere. ‘How stupid.’ From the beginning, I was the one who set the condition that Odette love me.

Of course, it was a condition that Odette had set out out of fear that she might fall in love with Louis and walk the path of ruin, but it cannot be said that she had no personal desires at all.

Odette had been faithfully fulfilling the terms of the contract.

However, she was not satisfied with that and kept wanting more, which was pitiful.

The anxiety that still did not subside and the anger that made a fuss inside her seemed to represent her foolishness, and she felt bitter.

‘If this continues, I will even think about wanting to live longer.’

Walter leaned back against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes.

A furrow appeared between his straight eyebrows.

This was why the pain in his heart, which he had become accustomed to, was deepening day by day.

‘Is this what it means to take on misfortune?’

As Odette’s name became more familiar in society and her life became more stable, the ‘misfortune’ that Walter had taken on became more persistent.

Thanks to that, at some point, Walter began to vaguely feel that his end was not far away.

It would probably be only this year.

So Walter definitely needed to die before then.

It would be more nutritious to be angry about that than to be jealous of his wife’s blood relatives.

‘Odette will be spending time with Cedric anyway.’

It would be better to check and see what he can at this time.

He happened to see something on the way here from the Empress’s Palace.

The moment Walter was about to take a step to recall his memories,

“Walter!”

A familiar voice stopped him.

It was Odette.