Prologue
A contract marriage.
A word that refers to a loveless marriage formed purely for mutual benefit.
It was a deal I proposed, and we were both satisfied with the outcome.
So I planned to live quietly as a “show-window couple,” not interfering in each other’s lives.
That was—until a clear tear fell from the eyes of my husband, Shubel, who had been nothing more than a handsome statue to me.
“…You already have someone you love.”
What is he talking about?
“Ours is only a contract marriage, and despite having a lover, you sacrificed yourself for your family…”
“Excuse me? A lover? What are you—”
“You don’t have to deny it. I know it was before the marriage. Still… I can’t help but feel a little jealous.”
With a guilty expression, Shubel continued,
“My wife is someone who struggles to save her family even with a sick body, yet here I am feeling such sinful emotions.”
I stared at him blankly as he spiraled deeper into his grand misunderstanding.
‘So basically, the only man in my life who could even remotely be called a “lover” is you, and this whole “terminal illness” thing is just a misunderstanding.’
Not a single thing he said was correct.
I don’t even know where that “lover” nonsense came from, but fine, let’s ignore that for now.
I am not terminally ill.
I just cough up blood occasionally as a side effect of changing the original story.
I tried explaining countless times—leaving out the part about the original story—that my body was perfectly fine, but…
“Just how much pain must you be in to look so lifeless even now…”
“…I was just spacing out.”
“You don’t have to hide it from me.”
It didn’t work at all.
Why are you denying what I am saying?!
“No… please don’t hide it from me, my lady…”
Seeing him smile so tragically, I panicked.
“W-wait a second… don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry, Elysia. I originally planned to send you away once your health improved. I was going to… divorce you.”
Tears streamed down his beautiful face as he desperately clasped the back of my hand.
Then Shubel raised his head.
“But I don’t think I can anymore.”
“I… keep wanting you.”
Watching my husband, who had somehow awakened into an obsessive man, I thought:
I’m doomed.
Chapter 01
[Will the ‘Great Runein’ that ended the Thousand-Year War fade into history?]
[Imperial Treasury: ‘The Runein Grand Ducal House on the verge of bankruptcy…’]
[Why has the Guardian of the North fallen? – Focusing on the dangers of reckless investments]
I slammed the newspaper I was reading down on the table.
“They’re practically cursing us to fail.”
My day always began with reading the daily paper. It was a habit.
My parents had been the owners of “Seton,” a massive merchant guild spanning the empire. After they died in a carriage accident, I inherited everything.
At one point, a saying had even spread:
‘Whoever claims the empire’s greatest heiress gains everything.’
‘I have a proposal.’
Not long after my parents’ funeral, I was nothing more than a lucky heiress burdened with a merchant guild too large for me.
To protect it, I concluded that I needed the backing of a powerful noble house—and so I sought someone who could help me.
‘There are many people targeting Seton. A commoner woman holding this much wealth alone must seem easy to them. So I’d like to propose a contract.’
‘A contract, you say?’
‘Yes. A contract where neither side needs to grovel, and both sides benefit.’
Since I needed protection to maintain control of the guild, I chose a house that had long traded with Seton and had never caused trouble.
That place was—
Please lend me the name of Runein. If I successfully secure Seton, I will pay off all of Runein’s debts.’
The Grand Ducal House of Runein.
‘Let’s get married.’
Shubel Runein.
The sole heir of the Runein Grand Ducal House.
Jet-black hair, languid violet eyes, and an aura that seemed to look down on others from birth.
A man who had lived his entire life as a high noble—and would continue to do so.
He replied:
‘Shall we?’
I proposed marriage as a contract, and Shubel accepted.
Thus, we married to compensate for each other’s shortcomings.
A contract marriage.
“Right, getting married was fine.”
After six hectic months of engagement spent defending the guild’s management rights, we held our wedding.
I became Elysia Runein instead of Elysia Seton.
Full control of Seton fell into my hands, and the guild stabilized just as it had before my parents’ death.
Since I had to stay in the capital to run the business, I rarely had to interact with my in-laws.
For a marriage that wasn’t even in my life plans, I was fairly satisfied.
But then—
“Something unexpected happened…”
The problem arose one week ago—on the day of the wedding.
The moment Shubel placed a family heirloom ring on my finger—
[Change the future.]
A grand voice echoed in my head, and memories of my past life resurfaced.
‘So this is a world inside a novel, Shubel is the protagonist, and I’m just the deceased wife who barely appears in flashbacks… Have I gone crazy?’
I had lived 21 years as Elysia Seton.
My current identity was too strong, and my memories of my past life were faint, so I didn’t feel particularly attached to it—but the knowledge remained.
For example—the original story.
Three years later, the Runein family is destroyed under false charges of treason.
Everyone dies—his parents, his wife, his retainers—all except Shubel, the protagonist.
Originally, he had no interest in restoring his declining family, but this tragedy awakens him. That’s how the story begins.
“Ha… being treated as a plot device for the protagonist’s awakening is infuriating.”
It was so absurd it made me angry.
Isn’t that kind of role usually reserved for a tragic unrequited love interest?
‘Why me, when we’re just a business show-window couple?’
Over the past week, I went through denial, anger, bargaining, and depression—before finally accepting reality.
“To survive, I’ll have to go to the grand ducal estate.”
I have two choices.
Ignore everything and break off the engagement.
Or dive in and change the future.
Logically, the first option was the obvious choice.
Of course, I did consider running away—anyone would if their future was a death ending.
But—
‘The grand ducal debt isn’t something trivial.’
The contract hadn’t been fulfilled yet.
Seton had already received its benefits. The guild, which had been on the verge of collapse, had miraculously recovered thanks to Runein’s name.
And now that my problem was solved, I should just run away?
‘No way.’
For a merchant guild, trust is everything.
If word spread that we failed to honor contracts, the reputation we built would collapse instantly.
I couldn’t destroy the legacy my parents left behind—the very reason I got married in the first place.
‘And my pride won’t allow it either.’
This was a marriage I chose. A proposal I made.
Divorce without fault? Even if merchants are known to be pragmatic, I’m not that shameless.
‘And lastly, the reward.’
Reviving Runein would bring benefits great enough to outweigh all risks and costs.
A prestigious house that had ruled for over a thousand years.
If I wasn’t tempted by its reputation and connections, I might as well quit business altogether.
“And…”
I trailed off, then shut my mouth.
Why did his face suddenly come to mind?
That annoyingly handsome face made me frown before I shook the thought away.
Right. Even if we’re just a show-window couple, I can at least help before his family collapses.
According to the original story, I only have three years left to live.
No time to worry about appearances—first, I’ll stick close and clear that false accusation of treason.
“Alright.”
Let’s do this.
I’ll bring plenty of gifts and pay them a visit.
Surely they wouldn’t throw out their daughter-in-law, right?
…
They would?
