CHAPTER 05
“No, I don’t.”
The answer came out without a second’s hesitation.
“Not at all. Absolutely not. Never.”
“Really? That’s good to hear.”
“Does it bother you?”
Dale looked at me quietly.
“No. There’s a clause in our contract that says no interference in each other’s personal lives.”
I pointed sharply at the contract.
“If you meet someone good, you can date them. We’re not a real couple, after all.”
“…”
“But here, look. Article 3. Obligations as a fake couple.”
“…”
“We must not give others any reason to doubt our relationship as a married couple. So if you do want to meet someone, it has to be in secret. That’s why I asked.”
Dale’s brow furrowed.
“How about we delete that clause?”
He spoke in a low voice, his expression serious and displeased.
“I have no intention of neglecting my duties.”
“You’re taking this really seriously.”
“You saved me. I’ll repay that properly.”
“It was just a common cold…”
But it wasn’t a bad condition for me.
Dale had been living in Grunwald for six months, while I was an outsider.
In other words, there were many people watching my actions with interest, especially regarding Dale.
I had no intention of meeting anyone else either—it was safer for our contract.
“Alright then. Shall we delete it?”
“Yes. Immediately.”
With his agreement, I crossed out the clause without hesitation.
“Okay, shall we go?”
Dale opened the carriage door and gently took my arm.
In front of us stood a massive temple.
The reason our contract marriage was exactly “364 days” long—
That reason lay within this temple.
The Temple: The One Place the Emperor’s Power Cannot Reach.
From ancient times, all marriages across the continent had to be officiated by the local temple.
‘And this one is the most corrupt of them all.’
The Lockhart family had consistently donated to the temple. In other words, they had a cozy relationship.
So I needed a priest who understood the power of money.
Shh—
I handed a priest in the lobby a gem the size of my fist.
“We’re here to register our marriage.”
I linked arms with Dale, acting like a loving newlywed.
The corrupt priest inspected the gem.
“Elopement? Double marriage? Something else? Which is it?”
“Elopement.”
“This way, please.”
It had been a while since I’d visited a temple. Its solemn grandeur overwhelmed me without warning.
‘Dale looks used to this?’
But he seemed calm.
Or was he? Why is his arm so stiff?
Now that I looked closely, Dale’s eyes were tense. Even his walking was oddly rigid.
“Dale. Walk naturally.”
I whispered quietly.
Was it because we were arm-in-arm?
‘If I knew it’d be like this, I would’ve practiced physical contact or something.’
“Remember our backstory? We were forced apart by disapproving parents, but in the end, love brought us back together, and now we’re getting married in a fiery reunion.”
As I held Dale more tightly, his eyes widened and his face turned red.
“Hold me like this.”
“…!”
“We can’t look suspicious, so even if you’re uncomfortable, bear with it for a bit.”
“…”
He walked like a man who had never once touched a woman in his life.
What do I do?
I had planned to divorce him quickly—but was it right to fake a marriage with someone like this?
So pure. So innocent. So clueless.
“Once we go further, this contract can’t be undone. Are you really okay with this?”
Dale looked at me silently, then gave a calm nod.
“I’m fine.”
He clasped my hand, still linked with his arm, in his large palm.
“I have no intention of undoing it.”
Marriage in the Empire was simple.
Go to the nearest temple, pledge your love before a priest, fill out the form, stamp it—done!
Ta-da! Married!
But divorce was much more complicated.
There were six major temples across the continent, and in order to get divorced, one had to visit each and declare the end of love in person.
This made divorces take an average of 3–5 years, with high costs.
It was a system devised by an emperor during a time of rampant divorces—a severe fix to bring the rate down.
As a result, marriages declined drastically, which prompted the creation of a new law:
Even if a couple registered their marriage, they wouldn’t be recognized as legally married right away.
- They must stay together for one year from the date of registration.
Only after one year would the law recognize them as an official couple.
However, during that deferment period, the marriage could be nullified at any time.
Even on the 364th day.
It was, essentially, a trial marriage.
“May I have the documents?”
After completing the initial procedures, we entered a room where a priest greeted us.
“You’re both so young. Will you really not regret this?”
“We won’t. Right, Dale?”
I squeezed his hand and looked at him.
Say you won’t regret it.
Say it.
Say it!
I pressured him with my eyes.
“I’ve been waiting for this day.”
His low voice was sweet like honey.
‘Wow! He’s such a good actor!’
Even I almost believed it was real. His gaze was gentle too.
“Dale, that sounded just like someone who’s finally marrying their long-time love.”
“…”
I whispered with a thumbs-up. Dale gave a faint, unreadable smile.
“Very well. With the blessing of the One God, Jupiter, I hereby declare your union official.”
As the priest laid his hand on the documents, the air swirled and magical text scattered into the air.
“However, you are not yet legally married.”
The priest looked sternly at me.
“According to imperial law, after a one-year grace period, you will be recognized as an official couple on the 365th day.”
I nodded slowly, and Dale followed suit with composed elegance.
The priest, satisfied, bestowed his blessing.
“May blessings follow this couple at the start of their journey.”
“Ah, my coat. Where is it?”
Outside the temple, I looked around. My shoulders felt cold—my coat was missing.
“I must’ve left it in the temple! I’ll go grab it. Wait here.”
“I’ll go.”
“You, Dale? Do you even remember what my coat looks like?”
“It was a cape coat with a white fur hood, lace at the hem, and floral embroidery.”
His photographic memory surprised me. I didn’t even remember those details myself.
“Of course I remember Enya’s clothes.”
He hesitated, then lowered his voice.
“Because I’m your husband.”
“Ah, your contract husband?”
He was thorough. Truly a reliable mercenary.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
I smiled warmly, watching him head back toward the temple.
“So sweet, honestly.”
The priest, now finished with his duties, dozed off in his chair.
Then suddenly—
His peaceful dream turned stormy. A dark vortex pressed on his body, choking his throat and crushing his stomach.
“Urgh… what kind of nightmare…?”
“Where are the documents?”
“H-Huh?!”
The startled priest snapped awake like a man struck by lightning.
“Wh-What do you mean…?”
He rose slowly, disoriented.
‘Oh—it’s just that newlywed guy. I thought it was some evil presence. Must’ve been a silly dream.’
“The documents. Where are they?”
“Oh, I’ve already filed them away…”
Dale, finding the marriage registration form with Enya, picked up a pen and began writing something on it.
“Hey! What are you—”
When the priest saw the large name written on the form, his mouth snapped shut.
That wasn’t just any name.
Dale Blanche Ailkiston.
Ailkiston—the name of the imperial family.
To falsely use that name was to risk execution.
“Y-Young man, why are you using the imperial name…?”
Then the priest’s jaw dropped.
The seal Dale held out—it wasn’t just a badge.
It was a ring engraved with the royal emblem.
A ring that only one person could possess:
The Emperor of the Empire.
Beneath his dark hair, Dale’s cold eyes radiated terrifying pressure.
“N-No…! Could it be… Your M-Majesty…!”
“You can refile it, can’t you?”
Dale lightly tapped the space next to Enya Lockhart’s name—where he had written his real one.
The marriage was sealed.
Even with a year’s deferment—
He was already her husband.
