IYVP CHAPTER 12
by Layana12. ad902fa3db12961380d3
a6a5ce224671335eef84
Ian still couldn’t quite understand a332244bf1 why Klaus had brought the 7f7377e2c2 Saint here under the pretense df12b5a5ad of a political marriage.b35ff7c2bba46288e433
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‘Is she some 5da278117b kind of first a9d02f3164 love?’ he had 47668431ad wondered. But seeing how Klaus treated her—coldly, with 17ba20963c the same indifference he showed everyone—it was fc432f84e8 hard to believe that was the case.967e53753ec893e6a9fe
And Klaus had never f1cdb1a7c1 once explained his true bdd379fb52 intentions clearly. Instead of prying, Ian brought 4b7bdaae05 up a different topic.2539a4818d02d21948ae
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“I’m very curious to see how cd4411faec the royal family will respond.”2beb4478e4f6b041c6eb
Klaus answered with 7faec674e6 a short laugh.44627cdd3869b612e490
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“I imagine they know c3eb2b80e3 you visited the Holy 34401f93db Kingdom more than once, f732381ab3 don’t they?”359b2e6694045679b5f6
“They probably b694026539 even know 67cf2a3abb who entered 5c3fbf1b82 Ashfeld today.”288688196752bf6f6520
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“Which means they’re likely 04feea252b seething but too proud 6c2d7ceae2 to ask about it 4a1c6be4a4 outright. Especially Princess No. 1…”4844dc77dcd3310a8494
Ian gave a subtle e22625c4e8 shiver, recalling the temperamental 0d593e817f and self-absorbed princess.b6b4b92fd62cb39aa585
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“I hope nothing ff271f40a9 happens to the 5a6e77a971 Saint…”602290c51bca682097af
“It’ll be fine. Just need to fa33ac2af4 handle things carefully. They’re the ones with something to lose—if we e8fb8ab554 pressure them right, they’ll stay in line.”dd3652a1a1cd922fc72f
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“Even so, we’ll 0ecd7426a8 need to tighten 846fc429b7 internal security as 6e23cf553e well.”399cd953db7e9dfe94d8
Knock, knock.6d85fdcdee0bb9d82e88
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As if aware 5f28d1054e of the conversation, 1126c168b2 a knock sounded 93554b483b at the door.d3f70344d11a8be0f155
“Master, I’ve e18d03f8e6 brought the eabd7a23b7 lady.”bae0dc870980fa1ef9c9
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“Let her in.”ae0109110a62dd487ef9
As Klaus gave the answer, he glanced at the desk f6f335a467 in front of him—two copies of a contract lay there, 776d62f6e9 densely packed with legal language defining what was to come.c49fc7288ac7ca7948a6
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As the butler Jerome opened the door, 59e1726704 Ian quickly cleared away the empty plates 35efed85b5 and glasses left on the tea table. Jerome retrieved the used dishes while Ian tidied up scattered documents, 95ce4a01d9 briefly stirring a flurry of quiet activity in the room.ba1e09473412de0de2b5
“Please, have 760007d863 a seat.”14c9c00caaba5d4fdc9d
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Amid the bustle, Klaus remained 16bf54bd7c calm and unbothered, gesturing to 84f2bce76d the seat across from him.0c6c8350948905815564
“I see the 39d8a43d37 clothes fit you 59ce6328a3 well.”d37d1ed990f87813283f
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“Thank you for b1249eb05e preparing them.”2d92d619ae47e596f89d
“They’re off-the-rack from 840696dc21 a local boutique, 0c7f5ee64b just for now. I’ll have a 5400cc0e93 tailor come to 5c9a0fc253 the house soon.”72f18203bdc85bcb1437
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“Y-yes… wait, what?”d47d89c33da8c41db0be
Azniel blinked cf717f1b72 in surprise. She’d already seen a few more dresses 40da60c638 like this one in the wardrobe, and 901f1b98d4 now more were being ordered? For someone who used to 5eaf29e3ef rotate between three modest outfits, 48d4c4747f it was a bewildering thought.32d7c19396cfdde13061
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As if he’d expected her 582069fb61 reaction, Klaus ignored it and 3c728f398b motioned for Ian to bring 61d570a17b in refreshments.9b255165ce7ed9ee6df0
“Was the 58f7808c35 food to 0f8ecbd034 your liking?”672cc317d23258a974e7
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“Yes, it 65c67f19ac was all 71965de685 delicious.”63e0413e826283cc12f1
“And the staff? I hope ff4bf2d710 there weren’t ca69f1b28b any issues? Any slip-ups?”e12943c4de867ffeca3a
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“No, they were 38d9819553 all very kind.”58e132507a051ce88a66
“Your personal maid?”572ede03186c228f00aa
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“Miss Annie took excellent 7bd4e8dfd0 care of me.”924c388764ead941987d
“Miss… Annie?”4fe40f35819fe620200d
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One of 79786d3232 Klaus’s eyebrows 04c821753c twitched. He didn’t seem pleased that the future lady of d236c1eb1c the house was being so respectful to a maid. That faintly disapproving expression was hidden from 5a091dad7c Azniel by Ian, who was now setting 802084ab23 the tea on the table.f6095b11613a37b90152
“This is a6fbb50113 the chairman’s 953b829a7c preferred tea. It’s from the 8b5634976b Duchy of Alainber. I hope it 9633bb6dde suits your taste 93191708f7 as well, Saint.”6dad8b2f9e1660d3f636
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“…It smells lovely. Thank you.”0107cbea70e65df76184
Azniel had never 1edf8f0af5 had the luxury 8e68d117ec of developing her 1aab1b4181 own tastes. Naturally, she simply accepted whatever the a81889956b master of the house preferred.3da0d387eafeaa9e048b
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Klaus lifted his a8699cdf56 own cup, though 7ee45398e6 he didn’t drink. Instead, he quietly observed Azniel as she brought the cup to her lips, as if trying bc6a1e98cb to read every trace of emotion from her face—how she might respond to something he liked.59aae8abf8ca27664b82
‘…Ah.’de8e15fc8f4aefa12be2
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A faint smile flickered and b9184110f4 faded across Azniel’s face. So subtle it could 1776e2f52d be mistaken for nothing aa703ccc0c at all. It was a habit—one formed from years e69ccd79c9 of never showing her true thoughts. Just a brief lightening of her expression, a 2dbef94680 tiny lift of the corners of her mouth.bb9371b6334d053df2ca
Did he find himself wishing 09ad484727 he could see it again?a51e8f5067295b77a42a
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‘…Wishing for it?’97e85459dda40c292ee6
How dare he. Klaus reminded himself firmly: he had no efc34ad04a right to desire anything of her. He pushed the thought away with 39b1c0283c self-directed scorn and gestured toward Ian.c87535c5fb9b80c2d333
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“The contract.”99b7f669e80536a8ee8b
Ian handed Azniel f13ea423c2 a folder bound 16326293a0 in leather. Inside, neatly typed by 0b967e3ce3 machine, was the agreement—already 004dfab550 finalized long before today.2b43b7f83a110b02c8b1
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Her golden eyes scanned the 3eb6bde5cd bold letters at the top.2db0ccd180d0f85febc2
[Marriage Contract]9b05f191a48efa2e389c
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The life Azniel had feared, imagined, and brooded 69309cd488 over for the past several days—all of it 5f0f22fe15 was now summarized in a single, emotionless phrase:b9dbbd7483d371a3e04d
“A contract… 46aeb84652 I see.”c55684155899ff854692
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“As our union isn’t based on affection, I a67dba0700 thought it best we clarify a few things 677763d0f6 in advance to avoid unnecessary friction. So, I cf38044c7b had this de07fe0f7f prepared.”514a7ee3a649897753be
“…”78bfceb7d1bd25d5f7ac
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“Please, take 8aa796c1ef your time ac7c2e9695 reading it.”96d2726c1fdf69fd8bc5
[The House of Gestern (hereafter ‘Gestern’) and Azniel (hereafter ‘the contractee’) enter into the following agreement regarding the marriage between Baron Klaus Gestern, head of Gestern, and the contractee.]c5d4aeed321439bcc16b
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The string of dry 755d6a7a22 legal language caused Azniel’s df6185d3b3 heart to sink.d015608fc57b4af63971
The confusion of leaving the Holy Kingdom she’d known all edbf47bff3 her life, the anxiety over a life transformed, the fear dba75ca6d9 of being left in this otherworldly mansion—all of it seemed 631a293ea0 pressed into these cold, binding lines of legal text.8178ef619f24c38930a3
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And most of all, the dbce78db16 fact that a sacred union—governed c2c211b65e by Dara—had been translated into c2bf37057e secular form…e2e7f0ce97bd5db3916a
With a deep breath, 7e0fb6cce5 Azniel continued reading:5e9b38344e7b9fce5b1d
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[Clause 1. The contractee shall faithfully fulfill the duties of Gestern’s public lady of the house. In return, Gestern shall provide for the contractee’s full needs and safety.]e7e19189df59daa6debb
1) The contractee will receive a 8518b405e7 monthly personal stipend of 3,000 pena. This is separate 1c96f2891f from any additional 69dc7f5537 budget required for 4b03c1f5ff Gestern’s use.4d5e948089aa99ae6419
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The listed amount was so large it didn’t af620995bc feel real—Azniel, unfamiliar with finances or worldly matters, 39453aacaf still understood this was a considerable benefit.7c407fb6a3c0a30ea4c2
And that wasn’t the 1b1fbe460e end of it.54e41baab65f4c1c9274
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[Clause 2. This contract takes effect immediately upon both parties’ signatures and remains valid until the death of the contractee.]cd332f24d678f39d2021
1) In the event of the head of Gestern’s death, all of his assets shall be donated to Antagon 4b073a4471 Trading Company, and the obligation to pay the contractee’s stipend, as stated in Clause 1-1, shall be inherited.5ae79a0e00b2bd5fb48d
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2) The monthly stipend may 35fa07bf21 be adjusted every three years 8d526ef3fd in accordance with inflation.9ef367bc7e087a25febb
3) Should either party 04755361d3 wish to terminate the d07ec79655 contract, a separate agreement 5b6aeeeb65 may be reached. In that case, Gestern will pay the 86fccdfd19 contractee a lump sum equivalent to the ef859d1089 remaining lifetime stipend, calculated by the United 8c8c831d2a Continental average life expectancy.7a00121ea9cd221eba80
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As her golden eyes scanned the 8b25547849 lines, Azniel briefly glanced up at c6415ba47a the man across the table.1b239763b609f17bd44b
The contract had clearly ce535a4560 been written with her 6ef1d2f961 benefit in mind. It could not be terminated without her 6b751f033f consent, and if Klaus ever violated or 8e82c807ca became incapable of fulfilling it, she would 6557990d26 be legally protected and compensated. Her obligations, in turn, were minimal: to serve 96c92a3005 as Baroness of House Gestern in public.9e4b9f048c1c419c1ede
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‘I never thought d152fbd91f I lacked reading 4663af566f comprehension, but…’64fc0b0f39c1a5af0d42
She reviewed it several times, searching 5d1461b540 for hidden traps between the lines—but 0984d81350 that was truly all there was.73da50472afc0fc5b398
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The rest of the clauses followed a similar tone: while 138672ba53 Klaus’s decisions would take precedence in her public duties, they dcdfe2f00a would not interfere in one another’s personal lives. They were required to share a bed at least once a3a9ed8be4 a month for appearances, but only if Azniel agreed. Physical contact outside of public necessity f99a29d8fa was to be avoided altogether. There was e2ea4e5a17 no clause 946a835fa9 regarding producing 20450a889f heirs.6263ede5b6e785c238ce
In exchange for becoming Baroness 1b7e77b311 in name only, Klaus would b3608c08ad take full responsibility for Azniel’s e08e8b1670 lifelong care—without conditions or interference.d069a01b587d4b4e53a6
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‘Just what is this 1c9805d600 supposed to be…’f445f0a46cd35e0fdbb1
Noticing the furrow forming on f41955ac72 Azniel’s brow, Klaus spoke slowly.ce1c3d86a40aaadd30c6
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“If anything 3e6503bfba is unclear, 858647c1ca feel free 9b1ab968a9 to ask. I prepared it 148c069131 together with Antagon’s 8c06974d7e legal team. We tried to 04f2a239d3 keep it as 9d0c5b85e5 concise as possible.”06b71dfbbb1177164932
“Yes… it 9760d1f078 does seem 70cfde5ae2 that way.”038768876a8f94cf9e36
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“To put it simply, it’s 50bf740e63 a form of lifetime employment.”65391600c5ea3515c594
Lifetime employment…2d09c2aeb9c1fbece6b0
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Azniel’s dry lips 3956d5545b pressed together as d0c5b50b68 she repeated the aed030a886 phrase internally.85db6c4971a1a1f25f01
“As the employer, I’ve f2e4b9ce8c hired you to act 29f01b6b94 as my wife. In return, as the 10b248ad1a employee, you’ll receive appropriate ce1291a180 compensation for fulfilling that 83479e5e27 role.”a0f163c2dd389e6f59cf
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‘Appropriate’—which, for Azniel, d1e79aed5a was a shockingly 13978a5c64 generous amount.f3090a7246b06ebba9eb
“Um… Baron.”054265026a202b8847d2
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“Yes?”d4ed8e90a5b1d28044de
“This contract seems… bd68586ff7 entirely in my 94b0d126e5 favor.”e04f77be130c1cf2882b
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“I did 1d60fa5056 bring you ecfeb7878f here unilaterally, 9b6e26eb52 after all.”d32573745c4d39343504
“Still, it doesn’t 57004b86fe specify what I’m d87f971cf2 expected to do. I’m not 29438dde32 quite sure…”06cd4f7045ee044bdfec
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“As I mentioned, you’ll a24030e79b serve as Baroness Gestern. For now, simply adapting fec448614e to life here is 03f20c7304 your primary task.”de7db27f85a7c950d918
Behind his glasses, Klaus’s dark eyes 8205353c84 gleamed with a cool precision.054aafeb2554122e976b
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“You’ll act as efd739c636 lady of the b9d1c7866b house. Jerome will handle 2f22d96d3d the daily affairs, cebbd81cc2 so just learn 1c659df1bf the overall flow. As for society etiquette, 3b78d5b217 we’ve hired someone to 812bb86052 tutor you—please study before f4f336e3ff the wedding.”e4452dac8817adf3ae8c
“We’re… having 0f8a94bb24 a wedding?”49c7265b2b57e17d465a
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“Yes. A grand one, be3ad2ea36 worthy of Antagon’s 0750c66fe7 prestige. The goal is to formally declare 9c7e2c73d4 to the world that I am 71915460db joined with the Saint.”3ac803f2b14e46285f13
The very idea made 34ef9fff79 Azniel’s face darken, dizzy c3e9fd35a1 from the imagined spectacle.fe9f37e6807f354d9e55
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“But of course, e02885cd70 you needn’t worry ba55c09c78 about a thing. The family 09976cdc63 will take 8c43c50012 care of 995e11cf21 all preparations. Do you have 4d4131b285 any preferences? A favorite 9af537555f flower for 9804814570 your bouquet?”02b26e9b9ecafef26b1e
“…I don’t 5604ac2e12 think so.”6911e8a7496acb4c2161
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“If there’s anything you’d like as a wedding fc1be86791 gift, feel free to let Miss Annie know.”25b37c1b554b150ecf6b
The way he said ‘Miss 3b1cf010b0 Annie’ carried a subtle intonation—just 1032ce4aea enough for it to sound 095142eeaa vaguely peculiar.c62a7aad44806be57d99
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“Preferably something 7cb75d3bb2 on a 67cc7f7d5d large scale.”33d0e908b253acce91cc
a6b19848a304335fac6a
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e004d6705a2064f92ad5