Is it wrong for me to like seeing the villain suffer [28]
Huan, standing behind Arkell, realized in a moment of intuition:
'It's ruined...'
As for Martha, who was looking up at Arkell, she remained silent, but her looks clearly said, 'Are you really in your right mind?'
However, Arkal, with his usual coldness, did not pay attention to the matter and said with a face devoid of any emotion:
“It is true that it is a sham marriage with a temporary contract... at least for the time being.”
“Sham marriage?”
“Yes, for now.”
Arkell emphasized the phrase for the moment, but paid no heed to Martha's indifference to his words.
“So a contract says...”
“Yes, that's how it is now.”
“Stop making noise, and calm down a little.”
“….”
While the two brothers were talking to each other as if each of them could only hear himself, a feeling of humiliation began to grow heavier in his chest:
'This dialogue is doomed to inevitable failure.'
“Explain to me the terms of the contract in detail, and quickly.”
“I have the same contract.”
Arkell took out from his chest a copy of the contract which Huan had drawn up at his command.
This surprised Hwan:
'Do you think he keeps it with him all the time?'
But Martha did not notice this; As she was busy reading the contract carefully and quickly, she sometimes issued a short murmur, “Hmm...”, or a relieved sigh when she reached the clause that stated that Lizzie Alheim had soothed Arkell’s pain with the power of her healing, so she murmured:
“Well, good thing the treatment worked.”
As soon as she finished reading it, she carelessly threw it on the table.
“The conditions don't seem bad, but there's something strange... What do you do?”
She looked up to see Arkell gently pick up the paper, dust it off, fold it carefully, and then return it to his chest.
“Keep talking and don’t worry.”
“How can I not care when you get back a worthless piece of paper with such exaggeration?”
Huan shuddered slightly; Martha said what he was thinking.
“Not a trivial paper.”
“So what are you?”
“It's my marriage contract with Lizzie.”
Martha looked at him with a surprised face:
“But it's paper, isn't it?”
“It's a marriage contract between Lizzie and me.”
“That is, it is a paper.”
“But...”
“Ah, stop!”
Martha shouted angrily, while Arkell looked at her in bewilderment as she held her head in her hand.
In Huan's eyes, you have been patient too long.
“It is impossible to reach an understanding with you! I do not understand a word you are saying... I understand that there are special circumstances, but for you to decide on marriage when it is a fateful matter in such a hurry?!”
“I thought carefully before I decided. Rather, I thought you would be pleased, my sister.”
He said, staring at Martha with a fixed eye:
“You have always sought to marry me.”
“……”
“Even when I refused, you were looking for a fiancée for me. You always said that you wished for my happiness.”
“…Yes, I said that.”
Martha turned her face to escape his sight, and inside her hesitation:
'Of course, because your marriage is another opportunity to expand our family's influence...!'
She was always sending pictures of girls from noble houses, hoping he would choose one of them. But he never paid any attention to any of them.
'So what happened to you, Erkel, in my absence?'
Martha asked, giving him a sharp look.
“Didn’t you repeatedly tell me that you wish I would find a companion who would understand me as soon as possible?”
“I said so.”
'A memory that only forgets what is useless!'
Martha thought exasperatedly.
But Arkal, not caring about what was on her mind, went on to say calmly:
"Isn't that a good thing, then? I've finally found a companion, and on top of that I'm making use of her power to control my magical reserves. Isn't that the solution to two problems at once?"
“The strange thing is that you, who usually hate talking, suddenly loosed your tongue.”
“Do you see it as well?”
“There you are.”
Martha sighed, rubbing between her eyebrows.
Things have gotten complicated.
Going to the capital was not in vain; Part of it was searching for a family to suit Arkell's engagement to. Even her hatred of aristocratic society did not prevent her from attending a young lady's tea party in search of a connection that would bring her closer to this goal. Rather, she found one of the girls who showed clear interest in Arkell, and the inviter promised to arrange an introduction meeting soon.
But Martha was never one to sanctify promises.
Situations fluctuate and there is no point in clinging to things that may change.
'The most important thing is to be flexible.'
She simply put that noble name out of her mind.
In all accounts, what is happening now is in fact...an overwhelming success.
Her family avoided the relationship with Eliheim from sliding into the abyss, and found a solution to the problem of Arkell's lack of magic, which almost turned into a disaster.
Really, as he said: two problems solved at the same time.
But the strangeness remained:
'Why is Lizzy Alheim doing all this?'
It is true that she grew up in a religious family, but is it possible that she would be this kind to those who kidnapped her? It's suspicious.
‘Unless she’s hiding something else….’
Perhaps it was a conspiracy to sow discord within the House of Kayin.
She intended to listen to Arkell's opinion on these doubts, but as was happening now, it seemed impossible for a dialogue between them to be fruitful.
In the end there was only one conclusion:
'I have to question her myself.'
She knew everything about contract marriage through the document, and it remained to reveal the true purpose behind it.
With this, it seemed that confronting Lizzy Alheim was no longer something that could be avoided.
Martha said:
“Huan, bring Lizzy Alheim to my office, I will talk to her myself.”
A strange expression appeared on Arkel's face upon hearing this.
“Arkel, you can go now... Why are you so grimacing?”
“I hope you don't hurt Lizzie.”
Martha raised an eyebrow in surprise at her brother's sudden words:
“What?”
'Here it starts again...'
Huan thought and wondered if he should intervene to calm the situation.
But Arkell said in a low, steady voice:
“I know you have a virtue, but I hope you don’t hurt my wife.”
His words were so calm that he dissipated Huan's anxiety. So Martha and her brother exchanged silent glances for a moment.
Then Martha sighed and said:
“What do you think I am? I have enough work to do, and I have no time to harm such a naive girl. It is my duty as the head of the family to take care of her affairs, so bring her in immediately.”
“Thank you, sister. I will go then. But I hope you can rest too, don’t just be busy with work.”
Martha had returned to her papers, and answered him without raising her eyes:
“Leave my worries, and go with your wife.”
Arkell nodded his head in agreement and left.
Huan said:
“I'll get it right away.”
“Yes, hurry. Time is precious.”
'Really, she's a woman who doesn't know how to compromise...'
Hwan thought to himself.
‘Can that strange saint, who turned the House of Cayin upside down, gain the favor of this iron lady who would hardly shed blood if she was stung?’
❖ ❖ ❖
Light knocks on the door - knock.
Martha raised her head from the papers, after putting the pen aside.
'Here it is.'
“Come in.”
“I ask your permission...”
‘Hmm?’
The girl entered cautiously. It was undoubtedly Lizzie Alheim, with her silver hair that shone like snow, her light pink eyes, and her delicate features that suggested an innocence that would not dare kill an ant.
Yes, she was the one who kidnapped her. And yet...it kind of looks different.
Martha learned that after she regained consciousness, she was eating regularly and had passed the fever that struck her at the beginning of her detention.
“Sit in front of me.”
Martha did not take her eyes off Lizzie's face as she sat down.
The features are the same, but there is a change that is difficult to deny. Not only was she adjusting to her new situation, but she seemed more comfortable being at home.
The strangest thing was that she showed little fear in front of the one who kidnapped her.
Martha's astonishment increased, then she said sternly:
“I'll get to the point. Why are you helping us?”
“Because I like you.”
Lizzie answered immediately, her eyes sparkling. Then she continued enthusiastically:
“I've always admired you, Miss Martha. I didn't dare show it because of my family environment, but I always saw you as a role model. The more I heard about you, the more I respected you.”
“What are you saying?”
“You became Kayne’s housewife at the age of fifteen, and you have maintained his position without anyone’s help until today.”
“True, but...”
Martha murmured lightly:
“I didn't invite you here to gossip. State your true purpose.”
Her voice was as stern as a sword, a voice that would have terrified any normal person, but Lizzie continued with the same luminous words:
“This is natural... and I like this strictness in you too.”
“……”
“I want to be like you, Miss Martha.”
Martha's eyes twitched in surprise at her confidence.
“And I am here to learn from you. Please accept me as your student.”
“Ha…”
Martha gave a short laugh.
'Trying to evade me with words then.'
She intended to plant some fear in her heart to reveal her true intentions, but Lizzie took the initiative:
Of course, I wouldn't ask for it for free! I will give you a price that satisfies you, even now, if you wish...”
“And what do you even have to offer me? “I don’t remember you coming with anything valuable.”
“There is something more precious than jewelry, and I don’t need to carry it with me.”
“And what is it?”
“Information.”
Lizzie smiled faintly, and leaned in in a whisper:
“This is a secret that few people know... The truth is that His Majesty the Emperor is sick.”
Martha's eyes widened at the word.
'Emperor...?'
****
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