I Thought I Was the Only One in a Contract Marriage
Jonathan
나만 계약 결혼인 줄 알았다 Jun 27, 2026 53 views
Chapter 7
Of course—it doesn’t come easily.
Reyna swallowed nervously at the Emperor’s probing question.
That was not a simple question.
The Emperor’s “questions” always contained traps.
The moment one told a lie, the trap would activate, and Reyna would be unable to move, like a mouse caught in a snare.
The Emperor could distinguish those who lied in response to his questions.
That was the divine beast authority he possessed: “Truth Game.”
But Reyna understood his power better than anyone.
And she also knew its flaw.
Because the Emperor himself had once told her.
He must have grown careless, believing she had nowhere to run.
Did he even realize how long she had waited for this moment?
How desperately she had searched for his weakness?
After discovering the core of his authority, she had once already deceived him by feeding him a false prophecy.
She had done it once—there was no reason she could not do it again.
Reyna spoke calmly.
“Three years ago, I received help from the Duke of Crensia during the Founding Festival.”
“Help?”
“At that time, I was not in my right mind due to my brother’s disappearance. That was when I first met the Duke.”
“Unexpected. I didn’t think the Duke had a gentle side. So you fell for him then?”
“I suppose I started thinking about him after that.”
Reyna lowered her gaze and spoke softly, as if confessing.
She mixed truth into her words as much as possible.
Her first meeting with the Duke had indeed been three years ago.
At the time, he had not recognized her because she had worn her hood low.
And his words had been closer to reprimand than comfort.
But sometimes, a careless remark can resonate more deeply than deliberate kindness.
After a moment, the Emperor studied her quietly before letting go of her hand.
“I see. So the Duke has such a gentle side. He acts differently in front of someone he cares for.”
“Yes. He treats me very well.”
Reyna smiled shyly, like a woman in love.
Seeing this, the Emperor laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! I nearly misjudged things. I shouldn’t have recommended Isabelle and caused trouble for the Duke.”
At the name Isabelle, Scarl interjected, eyes wide.
“Isabelle? He rejected her and chose her instead? Does the Duke have strange taste?”
Reyna also blinked at the unexpected name.
‘Isabelle was recommended?’
Isabelle Julied Mernier.
One of the princesses most frequently invited to the Emperor’s banquets, and a woman with a powerful noble backing.
And in her previous life, she had been one of those who tormented Reyna without reason.
A girl who treated Reyna like an easy toy due to her lack of presence.
Compared to the Emperor’s cruelty, she was a trivial existence—but still unpleasant.
Realizing she had impulsively proposed marriage to a man who had rejected such a woman, Reyna’s face grew warm with embarrassment.
It had been a dangerously ignorant proposal.
“Emotions do tend to cloud reason. Though I didn’t expect even the Duke to be affected.”
Siegfried’s snake-like gaze fixed on Reyna.
Scarl scratched his head, still unable to understand.
It seemed the conversation might end there.
But then the Emperor spoke meaningfully.
“Come to think of it, your birthday is soon, isn’t it?”
Thud.
At the sudden mention of her birthday, Reyna stiffened.
She had not expected the Emperor to remember it.
Before she could recover, the Emperor continued,
“The Duke said he wishes to return to the North before your birthday. Still, it is your twentieth birthday. Why not hold a small engagement banquet before he leaves?”
Reyna’s eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion.
In her past life, her birthdays had always passed quietly.
She had often been ill, and she was not an important enough royal to merit celebration.
But now—a banquet?
Reyna quickly analyzed the Emperor’s intent.
Suppressing her growing anxiety, she spoke calmly.
“Ah… I am grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness, but the Duke is busy with matters in the North. I doubt he can remain in the capital for long.”
She spoke in a tone of mild disappointment.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes.
“Even so, it is your twentieth birthday. The Duke seems rather indifferent. You know how important that age is for royalty.”
Ah.
So that was it.
The Emperor wanted to gauge how much the Duke valued her.
If she were important to him, she could become a powerful piece on the board.
She needed to show a moderate level of affection.
If the Duke seemed too indifferent, the Emperor might doubt the engagement itself.
He was a suspicious, slippery man like a serpent.
So to lower his guard, she would have to take some risks.
Reyna casually added,
“Actually, a dangerous monster has appeared in the North. A messenger arrived a few days ago. It would likely be impossible to wait until my birthday.”
“A dangerous monster?”
The Emperor echoed her in curiosity.
At that moment, Michael added,
“Now that you mention it, it’s the century cycle of the Demon Beast. If it’s a Class-1 Sealed Monster, it makes sense that they’re in a hurry.”
Nice, Michael!
Thanks to his unexpected support, the Emperor did not seem overly suspicious.
“I see. Then it cannot be helped. If a messenger was sent, it must be urgent. I do hope the North remains safe.”
His tone sounded like that of a benevolent ruler worrying for his subjects, but his gaze was chilling.
As if he were quietly hoping the North would not be safe.
“Still, I worry they may look down on you if you are sent off like this.”
“Your Majesty?”
“Since you depart in five days, let us hold a grand farewell banquet before then. Consider it my wedding gift. Do not refuse.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Reyna had no choice but to accept.
The Emperor smiled in satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Isabelle’s maid learned of Reyna’s banquet invitation and exploded in anger.
“What does this even mean?! That gloomy princess got invited before Lady Isabelle? She must have used some dirty trick!”
Isabelle herself was equally shocked.
There had to be some deal between Reyna and the Emperor.
But what?
“His Majesty must have his reasons…”
She forced herself to calm down and looked out the window.
By now, the banquet would be over.
Just then, the maid who had been spying returned and whispered into her ear.
At that moment, Isabelle’s calm expression cracked.
“What? Crensia? Marriage? Are you sure you heard correctly?”
“Yes, I heard it clearly. They say she will leave for the North in five days. A farewell banquet has been scheduled for the day before departure.”
“This is insane! How did she manage to seduce the Duke?”
Isabelle’s voice rose sharply in disbelief.
Crensia—the man who never bowed even to the Emperor—choosing that insignificant princess?
Especially for Isabelle, who had been ordered by the Emperor to secure Crensia, this was an enormous setback.
Reyna had taken the initiative before she could even act.
And worse—it was her most despised sister who had stolen the opportunity.
