5. Warning: Beware of double contracts!
Lillian Taillard.
Evren thought a lot about how to deal with this woman.
Heh, he really didn't want to increase his weaknesses.
'It was a woman who was about to destroy herself by eating poisonous herbs that grew in the soil.'
Does he just let it crash?
He couldn't allow himself to be led by her.
'Since I'm tagged with it, I'll take a hard hit too.'
Massive mental pollution, cessation of the functions of some organs, and so on.
But his S-class body would endure to some extent.
Does he accept this?
But at that moment, Lillian's eyes sparkled.
“Your Highness. Have you ever heard of a mineral called Nightfall?”
“Are you trying to market to me, miss?”
“The mark can be broken using an artifact that combines that metal with the Control Stone.”
“How did you know something like that?”
“Hoho, didn’t I tell you that I am from the Taillard family?”
Lillian said that as if her origin was the antidote to every disease.
'But it's not unlikely'
She belongs to the most ancient ruling families in the empire, and indeed in the entire world.
Even if she was hiding secrets that the imperial family didn't know about, it made perfect sense.
“But why should I wait a year?”
“This artifact must be created by the controller who was marked in order for it to be effective.”
“Mmm...”
“It also only works on the day one full year has passed since the hashtag was created.”
“…….”
“If you give me the time and resources, I will do my best to remove this tag.”
Evren narrowed his eyes; She didn't look like she was lying.
But the words Lillian said while she was awake and asleep suddenly came to his mind.
'Where did those days when you were annoyingly clinging to me go?'
It seems that her relationship with her fiancé, Karkin, was good at one point...
However, once she knew he was tagged with it, she offered to return it immediately.
What is this contrast in feelings?
'Okay, I'll put off the idea of smashing it for now.'
They are useful anyway.
But since he felt a little provoked, he wanted to tease her.
“Lillian. So, how about we get engaged first?”
"Yes?"
* * *
Lillian thought again: Long live my former self who diligently read the original novel!
'I never imagined that the method of decoding the mark would occur to me like this!'
Truly, one must get used to reading texts accurately and storing them in one's brain; Every piece of information could save your life one day.
But his talk about engagement confused her a little.
However, when I listened to him, his words were not just nonsense.
“Think about it. I was marked with you, so you should be in control of me for at least a year.”
“That's right”
“Don't people think our relationship is a bit strange? Right?”
“Hmm, what you say makes sense.”
“Plus, your family and Pavel’s family are currently giving me a headache.”
“I understand that”
“Especially since they are spreading that my brother Cale will be a better emperor than me.”
'Well, because he's the hero of the original novel...'
But Lillian wasn't inclined for that side to win either.
'In the novel, that prince knew I was being exploited'
A hero who ignores injustice is not a true hero.
But the morality of heroes only works for the sake of the heroine.
No, you didn't even need to go back to the original novel's story.
'Bear it, Lillian.'
When she was suffering from Karkin's betrayal in the imperial palace, the hero of the novel passed by her and saw her miserable condition, so he merely said those words coldly and moved on.
Lillian's pain meant nothing to him, because Iris was not the one suffering.
...Very well.
'Anyway, I have to stay by this guy's side for a year maximum.'
During that time, I will teach the Taillard and Pavel families a hard lesson, and get what I want through smart negotiations.
'And if I make things go this guy's way?'
Perhaps the prince's war will not break out in four years.
Peace is necessary for Lillian's modest and abundant future.
For this, it is worth the risk and investment.
First…
“Your Highness, shall we make an agreement in the name of the Governor of Genesis then?”
“Am I not inspiring that much confidence, miss?”
'Yes'
'Remove the spider web pattern from under your eyes first and then we can talk about confidence.'
"Wow, of course not! But humans work harder when there's a compulsory element, right?"
'I know the events of the novel so I'll do fine, but what about you?'
“And maybe someone will come along that makes you really want to call them honest.”
“Huh?”
“Why are you laughing? Love might knock on your door one day.”
'I know he won't knock on your door'
This man is not the type who is saved by the heroine's love.
But she had to say to him: “For your sake, too, we must conclude the contract by mentioning the ruler,” so that the other party would feel that he was not losing in this deal.
“Miss Tillard, love? What foolish talk is this in a contract between the imperial family and the nobility?”
“He was there for me, throughout my ten years of engagement.”
Lillian's eyes turned to the tent window.
Thinking had drained her energy; She has to hold on a little longer.
While Lillian was looking outside absently, the villain spoke again.
“So, Miss Tillard.”
“Yes?”
“It seems you don't intend to love anyone anymore?”
“Yes”
Lillian nodded.
“I will never love anyone anymore”
This was not a lie, but a truth coming from her heart.
Seconds later, the villain laughed lightly.
“Okay, miss. The feeling is mutual.”
Huff, that was a really comforting statement.
The most comforting of all he said.
* * *
Now that the decision has been made, it's time to write the contract.
The relationship between the power holder and the controller is very ancient, but the terms of the contract were very brief.
The first clause cannot be changed according to the teachings of the Ruler of Genesis:
This was a strict rule that had been in place since the White Night Incident a thousand years ago.
I will not go into explaining what that incident was; Those who are curious can search in history books.
What is important is that marking, or even contact that goes beyond hand-holding, is impossible without the will of the dominant.
What happens if he breaks the rule?
'It is said that a lightning bolt would fall from the sky and kill him?'
Vernis, what a fearsome empire!
A terrifying state that takes into account the weak in this way!
However, it is still an unfair world where the possessor of the ability can kill you using his magical power...
Since Lillian wasn't branded a villain, she could offer help to others as well.
Up until this point, Lillian and the villain had been in complete agreement, but…?
“Your Highness, why is there a clause stating that I must taste my food before I eat it?”
“Because if I ingest poison, I will automatically destroy it. I am not the one to be afraid of.”
“Ah... I see...”
The power of annihilation works this way within the body as well.
I learned redundant information.
But that wasn't all.
“‘It is forbidden to carelessly touch sharp objects, and if you have to take medication, this must be under the supervision of Evren Taranidia’?”
When Lillian was sick, she would pull up the Tillard family's weeds and survive.
Nursing care had never been present in her life.
So, when she saw these items, her mind was confused for a moment.
“You are my lifeline for a year, miss.”
“Ah”
“I can't let you get hurt.”
Now, as he struggled with his violent destructive desires, the man was carefully calculating how useful Lillian would be.
It was a process of careful tool management.
Lillian decided to think positive again.
'This means that he won't let me get hurt for the duration of the contract, right?'
Then Lillian's eyes stopped for a long time at the “budget” item.
Although it is called “prestige-preserving costs,” it is actually a budget to support research to remove the marking and other things.
Huff…
The evil one has a wide conscience in these matters at least...
'I have to prove my usefulness well'
She realized that this was “instead of risking her life.”
However, there is a big difference between risking your life for free and doing so for a huge sum of money.
Lillian smiled and narrowed her eyes: “Your Highness, I would like to add one item here.”
“What is it?”
“I want you to always listen to my advice, even if it sometimes seems like crazy nonsense to you.”
“…….”
“Advice will never hurt you.”
The information you will derive from the “original novel” will increase in the future.
Thinking of logical justifications is annoying, and lying and claiming that she knows everything because she is a Tillard has its limits.
Since she received this huge amount, she had a desire to do well.
“I will do it”
“Wow... you are more generous than I expected.”
“I already know you're not normal.”
“…….”
The heart that beat with joy at the money immediately cooled.