I Was Tricked into This Fake Marriage!

Chapter 4

Ugh, so greedy...

I figured that any particulars I’d need to know would be included in the final cache of information anyway, so I started listing off some other conditions.

“I want someone who’s not ambitious about rising through the ranks of nobility. And someone who doesn’t mind adoption.”

“Huh.”

The man clicked his tongue.

“Aren’t you trying to get married within the month? What incentive does a quasi-noble without ambition have to rush into marriage?”

“Well, they can focus their ambitions on spending money. They can be greedy, and I don’t care if they’re a womanizer either.”

The man fell silent. He studied me closely, and the smug, sly smile he had on his face started to disappear.

“Think that’s too hard?”

“Money, women, and ambition tends to be a set deal. It’s tricky.”

“Then someone nice,” I said.

“You’re just throwing around conditions to see what will stick, huh?”

I shrugged. He mulled it over for a moment before asking me again, as if he still couldn’t make any sense of it.

“So, either someone who likes money and women, or a nice guy?”

I nodded.

My answer seemed to only confuse him further, and he produced another rolled smoke and fingered it furtively.

The way I saw it, if my suitor liked money, he would easily agree to a contract for a payout, and if he liked women, then I could negotiate by promising him complete romantic and sexual freedom.

“What do you mean by ‘nice’ exactly?”

Someone who helped others? Someone who liked kids? A lover of animals? A so-called voluntarily eternal bachelor?

No, a nice guy would probably be someone who was benign and unassertive to a fault. I wondered about the niceties of saying this outright when my gaze absentmindedly scanned the man’s taut body.

He was tall with large, long-fingered hands. His sturdy arms were like tree trunks that could sweep me off my feet.

I blurted out without thinking, “Someone handsome?”

The man went silent.

Fine, you got me! That was what I’d wanted to say all along!

Someone absolutely drop-dead handsome!

While everyone else was racking their brains trying to find a nice, decent husband for me, this was what I’d secretly been afraid to say out loud. I didn’t want to stay married for even a single day if I didn’t like looking at my husband!

Personality was important, true. But if I had to choose between someone who’s a three looks-wise and a seven in everything else or someone who’s a nine in the looks department but a one in the rest, I’d choose the latter.

Every. Single. Time.

And why shouldn’t I have a good-looking man? I would be bringing home the bacon anyway!

“Are you saying that, for you, anyone who’s good looking is a ‘nice guy’?”

He was so spot-on that all I could do was plead the fifth.

“Hahaha, I guess that makes me a ‘nice guy’ now?”

“Shut up!”

I couldn’t stop myself from thinking out loud. But my irritation did nothing to stop the man from cackling with laughter.

“Anything else?”

“I like dark hair, and I’d prefer it if he didn’t drink, smoke, or gamble. Someone who’s affectionate and assertive but also intelligent. I don’t like men when they’re too much of a muscle head...”

“Of course, of course. And?”

“Uh... Someone who helps others in need but doesn’t drop everything to rescue every tragic victim he comes across? And someone who likes animals?”

“Okay. And?”

“Umm...”

As I wondered what else there was, I caught the smirk hanging on the man’s lips.

“I want someone who’s at least 180 centimeters tall and weighs 90 kilograms, but it can’t be from fat. It has to be muscle. He should know his way around a sword and the bedroom. He needs to be a good listener, a good cook, treat his subordinates with respect... and also his wife.”

As I rattled everything off without stopping to breathe, the man’s smirk grew even wider.

“Is that what you really want, Countess?”

I let out a sigh.

“I’m joking, obviously,” I replied.

“It didn’t sound like you were.”

I scoffed, then jumped right to the point.

“All I need is to find someone who’ll be my husband for a year. That’s it. They just need to be an aristocrat.”

The man stopped short for a minute, then nodded slowly.

“I see... So that’s why you said you wanted someone unambitious who likes women and money. It makes sense now.”

The man lit the rolled cigarette in his hand. He inhaled deeply, then funneled the smoke out from his lungs.

“And you’ve already talked this over with your people?”

“No.”

“Was your beau demoted to a commoner? Is that what this is about?”

Who was he talking about? Me have a lover? I said nothing as I struggled to understand the direction the conversation was taking, and the man kept puffing away on his sedative.

“Tricky. Might I suggest giving up on that guy and seeing if you can just live happily ever after with your future husband?”

I shook my head. The empire’s idea of a family framework was so loose it was meaningless. Could I even bring myself to trust a man from a country that allowed him to openly abandon his spouse for an extramarital companion?

“When can I expect to receive my matches?”

“Hold on and tell me more about your conditions—in greater detail. You never know. There’s no telling if there might actually be someone out there who meets all of your criteria.”

“I already told you I was joking.”

“How much compensation are we talking here? Will you require conjugal duties, and to what degree? What about child custody rights?”

“My husband’s compensation will be proportional to what he brings to the table. At the bare minimum, that would be his status as a noble so I can maintain my title. And for that, I think the standard of living he would enjoy from being married to me would be more than fair compensation.

“Don’t worry, I’m also prepared to provide for him so he can maintain the same lifestyle once the contract ends. Anything more than that is unnecessary, but if he wants to do more, I’ll give just as much back in return. What I want is for the people of my domain to live in safety and security. And if he does decide to keep a separate companion, I want him to prioritize keeping up appearances by my side when I’m required to appear in public.”

“And will you do the same?”

“Naturally. I will uphold all of my duties and obligations as a wife. I may not be perfect, but I’ll do everything I can to honor that role for the duration of the contract.”

“Hmm... Why is the length of the contract for a year? ...Ah. Because of an heir.”

The man murmured to himself under his breath until he came to his conclusion. I
unconsciously took a look at my surroundings. Though there was no indication that anyone else was present, I couldn’t help feeling that someone was feeding his answers to him.

Under imperial law, a woman without a spouse could still hold a title as long as she had a direct heir. An adopted child could also be made a successor, but spousal consent was required to adopt.

Moreover, in order for the adopted child to be legitimized, they needed to debut within high society. And they couldn’t just debut anywhere; it had to be the spring imperial ball.

This year’s imperial ball was coming in a month. It was the very event that I was to attend to pay my respects to the emperor. But pulling off a marriage and adoption at the same time was an impossible feat.

Seeing as how whomever I chose to adopt would become heir to the county, I thought it best to deal with the more pressing issue of marriage first and select a successor later, once the elders of the household returned.

Which was why I needed a year. One year for me to safely secure my title at this spring’s imperial ball, and to select and present a successor at the imperial ball the following year.

“So until your heir makes their debut?” the man asked.

I nodded.

“Anything else you need?”

That’s all.

I shook my head.

“So I guess babies are off the table? Since you’re planning to adopt.”

“Making babies isn’t part of my plan.”

“I thought you said you’d be performing conjugal duties?”

“What for? What I need is to keep up appearances.”

Couldn’t that just be negotiated in exchange for turning a blind eye to my husband’s lovers? I pondered for a while before deciding this was something to be discussed with whomever I’d make a deal with, and not the man standing before me.

“Think that’s too hard?” I said.

Now it was the man’s turn to shrug.

“When will I get to meet the suitors?” I asked him.

“You should pack your bags and leave for the capital tomorrow. We’ll meet again there.”

I’d meet them at the capital. Of course.

In all my naïvety, I assumed that my potential suitor somewhere in the far reaches of the empire would slog all the way over here to strike a contract before the two of us would traipse back to the capital.

I had wondered how he had two hundred suitors from the imperial realm on standby when there was hardly enough time to even find one from the Kingdom of Sopen.

But now I knew. It was because I could choose a candidate from all of the nobles who would be gathering in the capital for the ball.

I nodded.

Claiming he needed time to think, the man extinguished his lamp and waved me off. The errand boy from earlier opened the door as if he had been waiting in the shadows.

Sir Heiden came into view behind him. I squinted from the sudden brightness.

Sir Heiden looked inside the door as I emerged. After closing it, the boy clapped his palms together.

“The commission fee is expected to be in line with the information you requested previously. We doubt this is a case that will require any additional legwork, after all. We will send for you when it is ready.”

“I’m headed to the capital. So you’ll be there as well?”

“Why yes. Of course. Now, shall I direct you back out?”

For some reason, I felt a sense of unease at the boy’s glib response.

I sure hoped Sir Heiden hadn’t heard any of what I’d said. Gosh, I’d just die if he had!

Especially the stuff I said about nice guys... and good-looking ones.

* * *

It seemed Sir Heiden hadn’t heard anything, thank God!

I’d maintained a facade of coy innocence in front of him for so long there was no way he’d be able to look me in the eye if he had.

The next morning, the estate was humming with activity as we made preparations to leave. By the time Mother, who had been tossing and turning all night according to a maid, finally peeked out of her chambers, preparations were well on their way to being finished.

“Ley?”

“Mother. You’re up.”

“What’s all this?”

My perplexed mother glanced to and fro at the fully loaded carriage and the servants readying themselves for travel.

“But Ley, your father is arriving in three days. I’m sure he’ll know what to do.”

“If you find a solution, Mother, please send me a letter. I’ll be in the capital to put my ear to the ground and find out what I can.”

“But Ley...”

Now fully perturbed, Mother grasped at my arm.

“But you’ve never spent a night away from home! It’s dangerous out there.”

“I still need to go. A bit of danger doesn’t change that.”

My mother gawked at me helplessly, her pupils quavering.

My mother, ever the meek and genteel lady. She seemed at a loss as to whether to let me do as I intended.

“Mother, just trust me.”

“But Ley...”

I could sense her panic washing over me. She was worried about the prospect of her family’s future and safety.

“I’ll be back soon,” I assured her.

Mother nodded weakly, barely blinking back the tears in her eyes. I climbed aboard the carriage.

Then we took off. Scenes of the city I had grown up in for the last twenty years passed by me. The streets looked peaceful and lively.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The king had lost his head, and lords and ladies had become commoners. Now a tender young woman of 21 had inadvertently ended up a countess, but none of that had any real effect on this place.

The region had been spared from the ravages of war. The local populace, who had always been common folk, blissfully awaited for their family members to return. I had gladly paid the empire its ransom to free our kinfolk from being prisoners of war.

That was why they put their trust in me. That was why they believed that their families would return and that their new young countess would protect them. A bittersweet smile crept over my lips as I sat up a little straighter, the carriage bouncing and shaking as we moved along.

However, I was just a regular person. I had no business being responsible for anyone as a pampered young woman who thought she’d be able to rely on her parents forever, even in the midst of a war.

Learning to stand on my own two feet was something I only knew about in theory. I’d never thought that someday I’d be the one who had to make hard decisions and risk everything I had for the people who believed in me, even if I didn’t want to.

All I could hope was that we’d make it out to the other side.

* * *

Once we left Sopen territory, the effects of war became all too obvious.

I saw stretches of abandoned farmland and razed villages as far as the eye could see. The servants, who had been as giddy as school children when we’d left the estate, were gradually overcome with a sense of gloom.

The few people still living in the area were wary and inhospitable, making it difficult to find rest. And it seemed that we came upon more wandering refugees and vagrants with each passing day.

At times, I swore I could hear the din of weapons clashing in the distance.

The gentle peace of Efran Manor and the Kingdom of Sopen seemed like a miracle in comparison.

After a fortnight, we encountered a group of nobles who were also heading to Delpice’s capital to seek an audience with the emperor.

They milled this way and that, inching their way forward. Imperial soldiers dotted the area, patrolling the roads and manning checkpoints.

“How strange. Isn’t it still a long way to the capital?”

Having heard what I said, Sir Heiden approached the carriage.

“They say that the local lord here is on the run after raising an insurrection, and imperial forces are doubling down their efforts to find him.”

“I feel like something awful is about to happen. We must quicken our pace so we don’t get separated from the group.”

Aside from myself, five others were in our party. Two knights, one handmaiden, and one squire to be precise. I had decided that Seira would stay behind at the estate so I could bring Ann, who was exceptionally talented in her beautifying abilities.

I had grown up in the peaceful safety of the Kingdom of Sopen. So had Sir Heiden. It made sense that the sight of nobility traveling with an armed escort of a dozen soldiers would make me nervous.

Was this journey really treacherous enough to warrant that kind of protection? Were we like ignorant little moths who had recklessly thrown ourselves into the flame?

I was nervously observing my surroundings when I noticed one of the splendidly dressed groups of nobles traveling on the same path had suddenly ramped up their speed as they passed the gate.

Suddenly scared, we took off after them, afraid that we might fall behind.

But we were hardly in a position to keep up with their powerful steeds and sturdy carriages. To borrow some imagery from my past life, it was like trying to catch up with a sports car in a beat-up rental.

Then again, my carriage was nothing to sniff at. It was spacious and a smooth ride, but it was still no match for the massive stagecoach that was hurtling swiftly down the unpaved road.

Exhausted from the constant sting of the riding crop, the horses began to fumble.

Jen, the squire driving the carriage, gently cajoled the horses and started slowing down.

“I’m sorry. If we push any harder...” he trailed off.

I watched the stagecoach vanish into the distance as the squire offered his apologies. Something was amiss.

I was certain that the vehicle ahead had suddenly sped up as if it were being chased.

I looked back, but all that I could see was a thick cloud of dust settling in our wake.