Chapter 4 …

In the end, the two of them stamped their seals on a “Marriage Contract” consisting of six clauses in total. The wedding date was set for one month later, and they also agreed to obtain both families’ approval within a week.

By the time the contract was completed, the sun had already set and the sky had grown dark.

Kevin forcibly put Rea—who insisted she would return on her own—into a Horsemeca and sent her off. This extraordinary invention, which could cover the distance of an hour by carriage in just ten minutes, was directly developed in Kevin’s workshop.

When Rea thanked him, Kevin replied with a wink.

“Don’t say things like that between spouses.”

After briefly watching the steel machine speeding toward the sunset, Kevin returned to his office. Sitting at his desk, his gaze fell upon the “Marriage Contract.”

There was not a single clause he disliked, but among them, clause five pleased him the most.

[5. If neither Party A nor Party B expresses a clear intention to amend or terminate the contract within 30 days prior to its expiration date, this contract shall be automatically extended for three years at a time.]

What mattered most here was not contract modification or termination—but “automatic renewal.”

‘I never intended to end it in the first place.’

A corner of Kevin’s lips slowly curled upward. His gaze shifted to the “Special Clause” written at the very bottom, and his smile deepened.

“She’s unexpectedly naïve, Rea Flynn.”

Rea Flynn hated being indebted to others to the point of disgust. Moreover, she was famous for erecting not just walls—but iron walls—against men who approached her romantically.

Fortunately, she had opened her heart to Kevin, who had approached her from the beginning while pretending to have no ulterior motives.

‘Of course, of course, I’ll hug you as much as you want! If things ever get hard, just tell me anytime. This big sister’s arms are wide open!’

Once, when Kevin impulsively half-confessed by asking, “Can I hug you?”, Rea had replied exactly like that.

‘Kevin, thank you so much. I love you too. You have no idea how much courage your kind words give me.’

And when he could no longer contain his growing feelings and blurted out “I love you,” Rea had smiled brightly and said that.

It had been ten years since then.

He had planned to end this long unrequited love during this recent business trip—but it was pointless. Rather, it only confirmed how large his feelings had grown.

But when he returned from his trip, Rea had come to him herself and poured out her worries.

Before his thoughts could catch up, his words had come out first.

‘Why don’t you just marry me?’

Kevin never missed an opportunity that came before him. Especially if it was something he had waited ten years for.

It had been a gamble, but it succeeded beyond expectations. A thrilling sense of achievement ran through his entire body.

Kevin looked down at the contract and suddenly burst into laughter of pure joy.

“…Young master?”

At that very moment, someone was watching Kevin through the open door.

It was Theodore, the elderly head butler who had watched Kevin grow up since childhood.

To see the young master laughing to himself while staring at a piece of paper… The butler suppressed rising anxiety and carefully made his presence known.

“Kevin young master? Is something the matter?”

“Oh, Theodore.”

Kevin replied, “Come in,” then suddenly said something unexpected.

“Didn’t the head butler once say that love is a very wonderful thing?”

“Ahem, I said that meaning you should try dating.”

“I have no intention of dating.”

“Again with tha—”

“I’m going to get married.”

The butler’s response came a beat late.

“…Pardon?”

“I said I’m getting married. To the woman I love.”

Wasn’t this wonderful news that would make the master and madam overjoyed?

“Should I keep this matter confidential from others?”

“No, not at all.”

Kevin added that the wedding would take place in a month.

After hearing the news from the head butler, Madam Constance and Sir Herbert both let out near-screams of shock.

“Marriage in just one month! Barely four weeks! Only thirty days!”

The sudden announcement of Kevin’s marriage plunged the Tilman estate into chaos and excitement.

＊ ＊ ＊

Rea Flynn was the type of person who did not believe in love.

‘Your mother was fooled into marrying your father.’

A woman who married blinded by passionate love. A man who changed after marriage. Having grown up under parents who fought almost every day, she became a realist down to her bones.

The only thing Rea believed in was one thing.

“Money.”

“Pardon?”

“This… at least this will turn into money.”

“……”

Paula did not respond. She simply placed each red rose filling the Flynn mansion’s reception room into a basket, one by one.

Rea also picked up flowers calmly and continued speaking.

“It’s usually proper etiquette to return expensive gifts, but…”

Once flowers are cut, their value drops. So returning them was meaningless…

“Send these flowers to little Tom.”

“You mean the boy you always trade with?”

In the slums, these “used flowers” earned quite a bit of money. Paula let out a sigh.

“Paula, you were just thinking this, weren’t you?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re thinking: If that’s the case, why didn’t you just accept that gentleman’s proposal yesterday instead of rejecting him for no reason.”

“You should open a fortune-telling shop.”

Though her tone was playful, Paula clearly looked disappointed. Rea knew it was out of concern for her.

Ten years ago, when Rea’s parents died, all servants of the Flynn household had left, abandoning only the teenage siblings in the mansion.

“Sorry, Paula. Were you disappointed?”

Everyone except Paula.

To Rea, Paula was not just a helper—she was like an older sister.

Seeing Rea’s faint smile, Paula shook her head.

“That’s not it. It’s just… Sir Oscar seemed like a decent man, so I was a little disappointed.”

She pointed to the mountain of gifts in the corner of the room.

“Then we’ll have to return all the gifts from him over there.”

Rea nodded. These were all gifts sent by Sir Oscar since the day after she rejected his proposal.

On the first day: rare fruits and exotic spices imported from distant countries.

On the second day: luxury designer dresses and dazzling jewelry.

On the third day: this enormous quantity of roses.

Not a bouquet—but enough to turn the entire reception room into a sea of red flowers using his servants.

“Sir Oscar himself also came once or twice. He said he wanted to meet you again and clear up any misunderstandings.”

“That’s troublesome.”

Rea frowned, and Paula nodded.

“It is a bit uncomfortable when the rejected party keeps showing up.”

“That’s part of it, but…”

Rea thought of the marriage contract carefully stored in her dressing table drawer.

“I’m getting married soon.”

“…You rejected the proposal, don’t you remember?”

Paula seemed to think Rea had completely lost it.

“I did reject the Donon family’s proposal.”

Paula’s eyes widened.

“So you received another proposal in the meantime? My lady is quite popular—”

“It’s not that. It’s just…”

Rea cut off Paula before she could continue.

“Let’s call it give and take?”

“What does that even mean?”

Paula replied grumpily. Rea wanted to tell her the good news immediately, but she needed both families’ approval first.

“Just wait a bit. I’ll explain properly later.”

With that, Rea returned to her room.

Opening the dressing table drawer revealed the marriage contract. Clauses one through five were perfect, but one thing remained troubling.

[Special Clause: Party A shall grant one “wish” of Party B per week. However, if the wish causes any harm to Party A in any form, it may be ignored.]

She already owed Kevin a great debt—and now even her useless brother’s gambling debts were being dumped on her.

When she had felt guilty, her childhood friend had suggested this:

‘Then how about this? Just one small wish per week. You grant me one small request.’

That was the entirety of the “special clause” he had demanded. No matter how she thought about it, Kevin was losing far too much in this deal.

Rea sighed deeply, feeling guilty.

‘He was always like that even in school.’

Kevin had always kept a certain distance from others, rarely opening his heart. Yet for some reason, he was friendly and playful only with her.

Not only that—he seemed to understand her heart as if he had stepped inside it, always kind and considerate.

Whenever she felt burdened by such devotion, Kevin would say it was agape or simple love for humanity and told her not to worry.

‘Even so, how could I not care?’

Whatever wishes Kevin might ask for couldn’t possibly be anything major. Rea resolved to sincerely grant whatever he asked, out of gratitude.