CHAPTER 46.5

" – You only want a redemption contract? I would be fine with a more radical contract than that."

I knew what he was saying.

The kind of contract that Sejan wanted. A destruction contract, one that separates blood, flesh, and bones in the case of a contrary act to the terms of the contract.

Either one who breaks the contract will have his heart bursting out.

I could guess why he thought I would have such a kind of contract. Sejan had executed those mostly risky agreements in the back alleys before.

'But before was before and now is now.'

I shook my head and refused.

" – I don't like that. You can easily kill me without any needs of a destruction contract."

'Do you understand?'

" – Ok, sure, sure…"

Sejan had a long face, but fortunately, he never pushed further.

Just like that, the contract was established verbally, but unfortunately, it was not a contract in due form. I didn't want the Grand Duchy's employees to buy it on their errands since it might have been strange to buy such a thing all of the sudden.

The contract was a formality in the first place, so it didn't matter much.

For this reason, Sejan and I later decided to go to the magic shop to have the contract written down in due form.

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Feeling liberated when the contract was done, I scratched my face and said goodbye.

" – Sejan, although, you and I are in a contractual relationship, I think we need a minimum of trust. How about we build some trust between us?"

Sejan laughed at a slightly tacit remark, and finally replied.

" – I'll do as you ask your Highness."

" – Yes."

" – Your hand please."

I gave my hand to his request without hesitation.

" – With this knight's blessing to her beautiful Highness."

He sat on one of his knees, kissed the back of my hand, and swore a knight's oath.

It was the beginning of the contract.

***

"Your Highness, I'll be safe and sound. Thank you very much for seeing me off."

The next day, I went to the gate early in the morning to see Marina off.

Touched, she bowed her head over and over for a while and barely stepped away, while I stood there, excessively sweating.

'Really. She's too affectionate.'

Well, Marina is Marina, she was also not the cause of my cold sweat.

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"Oh, my God! I can't believe her Highness would see a maid off, even though she's her exclusive maid."

"Surely. How can her Highness be overflowing with compassion and kindness?"

"I'm sure she's an angel."

"Yes, angel, an angel."

I can hear everything. I can hear everything… The other employees were making a fuss over nothing.

'I wish you wouldn't let me hear those embarrassing words.'

Unfortunately, they didn't seem to have any intention of controlling their voices.

'Wow, I'm so embarrassed.'

At this point, I wondered how the other nobles actually lived. How arrogant could they be to be amazed by such little things. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to check now.

'I need to go back to my room.'

I turned around away thinking about it.

"…!"

Then, I stiffened up in an immovable position. I was surprised to find someone behind me, and even more surprised that my opponent was Sejan.

Eventually, I asked, raising my eyes towards him.

"What, Sejan, since when have you been there?"

"When? I've been here since the beginning?" Sejan replied insignificantly.

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Lies, there wasn't a single sign.

As if reading my suspicion, Sejan replied lightly. "I wasn't right behind, but I was staying within reach. I'm your private escort, is it not obvious that I would be nearby?"

Sejan was right. He became my private escort last night.

'But not for too long.'

If there was a problem now, that would be that I haven't officially informed anyone as of yet.

What's more, I didn't even tell Jean.

"Well, what does that mean? What does he mean, Sejan being a private escort?"

"Was that possible?"

"What happened?"

As expected, the employees around us were visibly buzzing.

Their responses were ones that couldn't believe what they just heard.

'That's understandable.'

Originally, Sejan was always next to Kyle. Devoting himself only to Kyle. Loyal only to Kyle.

However, when Kyle was cursed, his heart frozen by the dragon, Sejan showed signs of dissociation towards him.

Those who usually coveted him saw this as an opportunity and approached Sejan. He was a big deal.

Even so, no matter what kind of man came his way, no matter what method they used to seduce him, he refused to be exclusive to anyone, furthermore when those lions behave arrogantly, parts of their bodies were cut off and sent away.

'… I'm scared.'

Anyway, Sejan, who was so stubborn, made an exclusive declaration publicly, so they must be surprised.

Amidst the thrilling crowd, I was filled with a different meaning. My stomach was boiling. Sejan was quick-witted.

He knew, through my actions and yesterday's conversation, my disposition to some extent. Therefore, he understood that I was uncomfortable with excessive eyes towards me.

'I'm sure he did it on purpose even though he knew it.'

You're such a jerk.

I felt very annoyed by the unnecessary attention, I smiled disapprovingly at him, but it wasn't in Sejan to pay attention to even the slightest bit.

He laughed with a refreshing smile, and immediately replied.

"Then, business seems to be over, I'll take you to your room, your Highness."

Oh, my. Since when have you been so diligent?

"Good."

I was grumbling inside, but I didn't say no. It was something I would go through anyway.

'You think you have beaten me up in advance, don't you?

As I turned and walked into the castle, Sejan followed me from behind. The knight did not stand side by side with his master, and he seemed to observe the first line of conduct. This was a nice requirement.

"Then, it looks like we have arrived, so I'll be around." Once we arrived at the doorstep after walking through the long corridor, Sejan quickly announced and disappeared.

Purely arbitrary.

As I walked inside, I felt that there were more maids than usual for some reason. They soon found me and smiled brightly.

"Oh, your Highness, you're here?"

"Your Highness, I've been waiting for you!"

"Your Highness…"

"Your Highness…"

Well, why? It was not just my feeling, it felt too welcoming.

I thought so…

Of course, just as expected.

After that, the servants showed me excessive kindness.

"My lady, how about a cup of tea in the afternoon as the weather is so nice today? I brought a delicious tea from the East."

"How are you feeling, your Highness? Are you feeling stiff or sick? Shall I give you a massage?"

"If you need anything else, feel free to let me know. We are all here to help you at your side!"

"Yes." I thought, casually answering them.

'This isn't just a feeling.'

The maids were always good to me, but it was especially too much today. The image of them smiling and chattering tirelessly was giving me the chills.

'What's wrong with everyone?'

Did the rumor that Sejan was my personal escort already reached their ears? No, it doesn't seem to have much to do with that.

My question was quickly solved.

"By the way, your Highness. Marina is on vacation for the time being, right? I'll stick by your side so that you don't feel lonely."

"Me too, your Highness."

"I can also do anything for you."

Ah, that's it.

The word "Marina" helped me figure out why they were acting like this. Somehow, the title of "The Handmaiden of the Archduchess" is a great help to the maid's career. Depending on your experience, you can become a maid right away without starting from the bottom as a low-rank maid.

This world was a careerist society just like Korea.

Furthermore, nobility's exclusive maids could change at any time.

'In other words, without Marina, this is the right time to make a self-appeal.'

I suddenly felt strange. Come to think of it, why was my exclusive maid, Marina, on vacation now?

The preparations for the wedding, one of the most important events as a noble, were in full swing. It was definitely strange that Marina, my exclusive maid, was away.

Even without Marina, wedding preparations could be made, but still, weird things are weird.

'Jean is the butler and manages all the employees and maids. He is very competent.'

However, the Great Duchy was wide enough that the work was overflowing, and the number of employees was quite large. It is said that there are few people in the first place, but it is relatively small compared to the size of the castle and the work to be done.

'Then there must be a middleman.'

As a result, someone may have sent Marina.

'But why?'

The most likely reason was someone's greed for power. Maybe that person wanted to stop her because she was going to be my exclusive maid, resulting in her having a legal position.

I finished organizing my thoughts, ignoring the maids around me.

'I'll have to ask him to hand over the employees' rights soon.'

If common corruption wasn't in the Great Duchies' books, it might be happening somewhere else.