~Chapter 7~
Contract Relationship:
It had been an impulsive suggestion—blurted out almost without thinking. And yet, within that brief moment, there had been an intricate calculation behind it.
Her husband had already declared he would bring her longtime friend into his life as his mistress.
‘If I were to enter a contract relationship with the Second Prince in a situation like this…’
It might be the perfect way forward.
A way to retaliate.
She had no intention of becoming some tragic heroine in this story.
That role had already been fulfilled during the years she had lived as the obedient Duchess Hamilton.
How long had she forced herself to act like a calm, composed noblewoman—when it didn’t suit her personality at all?
No.
She wanted revenge.
She wanted to become the villain instead, to dance with a blade in her hand and strike back at them both.
‘I could date someone far superior, drive them insane with jealousy, then divorce him in style.’
To her, Enrique—the Second Prince, who was admired simply for existing—was nothing less than a perfectly honed weapon.
‘Shall I join the dance as well?’
She had been pondering how to ruin Kaiden and Tiana anyway.
This felt like a breakthrough.
A brilliant idea.
…Am I a genius?
Genuinely impressed with herself, Cecilia spoke confidently.
“Your Highness, how about a contract relationship with me—”
But when she turned with a faint smile—
She was met with Enrique’s face.
A deeply displeased expression, as if she had just spoken nonsense.
…Right. Of course. This only applied to her.
“…I’m sorry.”
“…At least you know that much.”
Enrique exhaled, as though even engaging further was exhausting.
As if telling her to leave.
“Understood. I’ll take my leave. Goodbye.”
Cecilia bowed and quietly exited the reception room.
Fine. Whatever.
I was joking anyway.
She had no intention of playing some childish game that only existed in novels.
After Cecilia Left
Enrique let out a sigh of disbelief.
All she had to do was sign the statement and disappear—yet she had proposed a contract relationship instead.
What a bold woman.
He recalled the first time he had seen her.
It had been at an imperial ball, where she attended as Duchess Hamilton, holding onto Kaiden’s arm.
At the time, she had only recently married.
She had danced with Kaiden, smiling brightly—genuinely happy.
Enrique had never cared much for noblewomen.
Yet that day, something about her had caught his attention.
Silver hair flowing as she moved, a soft, pure face lit with a radiant smile.
The way she looked at Kaiden was almost childlike.
A happiness that didn’t belong in a political marriage.
What would it feel like to live like that?
He remembered thinking that, briefly.
“…Hah.”
He shook his head.
So that was her reality?
The woman in front of him now was nothing like that memory.
Instead of gentle elegance, she felt like a freshly caught fish—restless, unpredictable, impossible to read.
In any case.
He picked up the contract Cecilia had casually left behind.
Now that there was a written agreement, last night’s incident would no longer become an issue.
For Enrique, last night had been the first and last moment of recklessness in his life.
A duchess. A hotel.
Even thinking about it made him feel insane.
That mistake could not be allowed to create further complications.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
“Your Highness, a summons has arrived from the Crown Prince’s palace.”
“…What? My brother?”
“Yes. His Highness requests your presence.”
“….”
Enrique narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Very well. I’ll go immediately.”
He folded the contract and slipped it into his pocket before leaving the room.
At that moment, he had no idea—
what kind of proposal was waiting for him.
Hamilton Manor
“Madam, you’re back…!”
The head maid hurried toward Cecilia as soon as she entered the estate, clearly anxious.
“Why would the Second Prince suddenly request an audience with you…? Nothing serious happened, I hope?”
“It’s nothing like that. Don’t worry.”
The maid still looked unsettled, but Cecilia smiled to reassure her.
“Camilla, keep it a secret that I met His Highness today.”
“Of course, Madam. As long as nothing serious happened, that is enough.”
The estate felt unusually restless.
Servants whispered in clusters, stealing glances at her.
Camilla sighed softly.
“It’s been quite chaotic. Even though we tried to silence the rumors, it’s difficult to control everything…”
“You mean Kaiden and Tiana’s affair?”
“…Pardon?”
Camilla looked flustered at Cecilia’s bluntness.
Cecilia nodded calmly.
“Yes. That they’re involved.”
She had finally accepted it.
At first, it had been unbearable.
But now, strangely enough, she could acknowledge it without pain.
Maybe it was because of last night… with the Second Prince.
In any case, the problem now was how to respond.
She would not simply watch quietly.
Not when her husband had openly declared he would bring his mistress into their home.
Divorce.
And she would take everything back.
Everything she had given him. Everything she had built for him.
Kaiden would try to prevent it for financial reasons, but—
I will divorce him.
She needed preparation.
Most importantly—money.
Under imperial law, a married woman’s assets became her husband’s property.
She had no intention of letting her father’s investments be swallowed by this cursed household.
Nor would she leave behind the business she had built under Kaiden’s name.
“Camilla.”
Cecilia’s eyes turned cold.
“There are things I need to prepare urgently.”
“Pardon?”
“I’ll need to meet several people before the birthday banquet.”
And so it began.
Her plan.
To remove Kaiden and Tiana completely.
A Few Days Later
“Ugh… my neck…”
Cecilia stepped out of the carriage and entered the manor, rubbing her temples.
Her head throbbed.
She had barely slept in days.
Camilla approached immediately.
“Welcome back. I’ll prepare some warm tea for you right away, Madam. Please rest.”
“Mm…”
Cecilia nodded weakly and headed upstairs to her study.
She collapsed onto the sofa.
I’ve talked too much.
Ever since deciding to remove Kaiden and Tiana, she had spent days meeting people nonstop.
Most were related to her cosmetic business.
The facial products she had been developing under Kaiden’s name.
Good thing this happened before the business fully stabilized.
It wasn’t her only venture—but it was the main one.
She had convinced investors one by one, carefully dropping hints about Kaiden’s affair while playing the role of the wronged wife.
In the end, most of them had sided with her.
After all, they had invested in her, not in Kaiden’s name.
And now—
everything was in motion.
