OSO Chapter 1

Sunlight from the late summer poured into the office.

Amidst the gentle rustling of documents bathed in the warm rays, a dry voice cut across the room.

“Dylan, it’s your turn to keep your promise.”

Mia, her back ramrod straight, spoke to the man before her, her husband, Dylan LeHart.

He glanced once at the contract placed before him. Mia gently pushed the document slightly towards him, seeing he hadn’t moved. Dylan’s gaze followed her white fingertips as they slid the paper forward. 

His eyes traveled up her wrist, meticulously covered despite the summer heat, past her concealed shoulder and collarbone, and finally landed on her impassive face.

Basking in the sunlight streaming through the window behind Dylan, Mia’s fair skin was tinged with a faint blush. Her hair, the color of sand scattered on a beach, and her emerald green eyes, reflecting the lush greenery outside, were particularly dazzling.

Despite witnessing such beauty, Dylan said nothing, turning his gaze back to the documents.

His gaze, sharp and devoid of any superfluity, was exactly what you’d expect from an admiral.

Mia was unfazed by Dylan’s indifferent attitude.

It was nothing new. As if to ensure he heard, she calmly recited the clauses of the contract.

「Party B shall actively cooperate to end the war with Murad and shall provide Party A with confidential information from within said country.

Furthermore, Party B shall faithfully perform the role of Saedimia, the first princess of the Murad royal family, until the contract is terminated.」

A refreshing voice, cool enough to dispel the summer heat, filled the room. It was a tone that didn’t quite match Mia’s expressionless face.

「Upon the conclusion of the war, Party A shall locate the remains of Party B’s parents, who were murdered by Murad, and arrange for Party B’s return to her homeland (Philat).」

Dylan’s eyebrows twitched several times, as if displeased with her actions. However, that was all; his gaze remained fixed on the documents.

Having fully anticipated his uncooperative stance from his previous behavior, Mia continued to speak calmly, undisturbed.

“I, as Party B, have fulfilled everything stipulated in the contract. Now, it’s your turn to fulfill your part of the agreement.”

Scratch, scratch. As if deaf to her words, the pen in Dylan’s hand moved ceaselessly, engrossed in his paperwork.

“Dylan.”

Despite Mia’s urging, Dylan continued his work.

No response came.

A suffocating silence followed. Perhaps it felt even more so because of Dylan’s insistence on wearing his uniform even within the residence’s office, his attire impeccably sharp.

Mia felt as though the clothes clinging to her whole body were constricting her breath. Her hand, clutching the hem of the fabric, tightened unconsciously.

“It’s been a week since the declaration of the end of the war. Please take action to fulfill the contract.”

With no reply forthcoming, she placed the contract on top of the documents Dylan was reviewing. It was then that his hand, which had been moving gracefully across the paper, stopped.

Dylan’s face was clearly etched with annoyance.

“If you hadn’t avoided me for the past week, I wouldn’t have had to come find you like this.”

At her words, a short sigh escaped Dylan’s lips.

The silence was broken, but the atmosphere grew heavier. He furrowed his brows and slowly raised his head to look at Mia.

His ocean-blue eyes stared straight at her.

With an enigmatic expression that made it impossible to discern his thoughts, Dylan slowly scanned her from head to toe.

His oppressive gaze made her forget even to breathe. His slow, deliberate movements gave Mia the strange illusion of being stripped bare in this vast space.

The heavy air that settled in the office made her feel as if she were plummeting downwards. However, it seemed that only she felt the weight of it.

Unable to bear the sensation of the hairs on her back standing on end, Mia averted her gaze from him.

Dylan, who had observed her every move without missing a beat, let out a silent chuckle and put down his fountain pen. He asked in a low voice,

“You say you’ve fulfilled the entire contract. Can you take responsibility for those words?”

At Dylan’s question, Mia carefully recalled the purpose and reason for the contract between them, and further, what she had been obligated to uphold.

The beginning of everything was the war between the two nations, Murad and Hippoli.

To end this twelve-year war, Murad proposed a political marriage to Hippoli with their first princess, known as the Divine Devotion. However, it was Mia, raised as the princess’s double, who arrived in Hippoli. Murad, buying time, was secretly preparing to attack Hippoli from behind.

“I informed you of everything. I promised to bring an end to the war and usher in peace by sharing all the knowledge, information, and confidential matters I possessed.”

Mia had kept every single promise she made back then.

She had led the Murad royal family, the people who waged this war, to ruin and minimized unnecessary casualties. It was something that even those unaware of the contract between Mia and Dylan praised endlessly.

“You asked if I fulfilled the entire contract.”

“…….”

“Yes, I kept every promise I made to you.”

It was a straightforward answer, unwavering and resolute.

Upon hearing her words, Dylan let out a slow laugh. A faint crease appeared on Mia’s beautiful face. Without further comment, Dylan turned the contract back towards Mia.

Then, with his long finger, he casually tapped a specific point.

「Article 4 (Marital Duties and Maintenance of External Relations)」

Mia’s gaze naturally followed his fingertip to where it rested.

As she carefully read the contents, deep confusion settled in her eyes. This was because his fingers had stopped at an unexpected section.

“This clause about deception was only added as a precaution, in case of unforeseen circumstances.”

What was the problem?

As if answering her unspoken question, Dylan calmly recited the clause.

“Party A and Party B must fulfill their marital duties and maintain their conjugal relationship through regular sexual intercourse.”

It was a ludicrous statement.

For one year out of their four years of marriage, Dylan and Mia hadn’t even been in the same space. He was at sea as an admiral, and Mia was at his residence.

It was a clause that couldn’t possibly be fulfilled from the start.

Dylan was undoubtedly aware of this fact. Nevertheless, he continued reading.

“Refusal or evasion of this clause can be considered a breach of contract.”

After reading the stipulated content in a monotonous voice, Dylan slowly rose to his feet. He walked towards Mia with an impeccably elegant gait and stood before her.

They were close enough to feel each other’s breath.

A faint scent of fresh grass brushed against Mia’s nose. It was a scent that didn’t suit a man of the sea.

“Mia Blair, you haven’t properly fulfilled the contract.”

His tone was blunt, as if delivering a verdict.

It was so absurd that Mia couldn’t even think of a rebuttal. She stared blankly before finally exhaling a shaky breath. Watching her, Dylan calmly continued, as if nothing was amiss.

“Therefore, I have no reason to fulfill the contract either.”

It was a firm declaration.

After regaining her composure and grasping the gist of his words, Mia calmly asked,

“You’re saying the clause I haven’t fulfilled is the one about sexual intercourse?”

It was a preposterous claim.

But even if she argued and pointed out the absurdity, would Dylan retract his statement?

Mia briefly shook her head. She hadn’t spent a long time with him, but she knew what kind of person he was. Therefore, her answer was predetermined.

“If that’s what it takes, then let’s do it.”

Her words implied a willingness to indulge him a few times.

Dylan tilted his head, a sneer playing on his lips. At the same time, words Mia hadn’t anticipated flowed from his mouth.

“For one year.”

“……Pardon?”

“For that duration, fulfill the terms stipulated in the contract diligently.”

One year? This was not part of the plan.

She stared at Dylan with downcast eyes. Mia’s once vibrant green eyes had now faded.

“If I accept, will you also fulfill the contract after one year?”

“Gladly.”

Momentarily stunned by his immediate, clean response, Mia parted her lips, which had been trembling slightly.

“……Give me some time to consider.”

“The longer you deliberate, the longer it will take to achieve what you desire.”

The words, This wouldn’t even be a consideration if this wasn’t your playful whim, tickled Mia’s throat. However, she simply let out a soft sigh and began to calmly organize her thoughts.

Dylan, standing before her, gently grasped the ends of her hair as she pondered. As he loosened his grip slightly, her hair scattered like grains of sand slipping through his fingers.

The distinct sensation froze Mia, interrupting her thoughts.

Holding her breath unconsciously, she stared at his fingertips resting against her chest. She tried to tell him to stop, but her tightly closed lips refused to part.

“Breathe.”

A voice laced with amusement echoed in her ears. Only then, realizing she had been holding her breath, Mia gasped. At that moment, their lips met.

A hot breath and a soft tongue invaded her parted lips. Mia’s pupils dilated instantly. It was at that instant that she met Dylan’s gaze, fixed on her. His ocean-blue eyes held no flicker of emotion.

The urgent kiss gradually clouded her mind.

“Mmh, mm, Dyl…”

In the brief moment their lips parted, she tried to call his name, but her mouth was covered again before she could resist.

The more she tried to escape, the tighter his tongue coiled around hers, like a serpent. The deep kiss continued, sucking her tongue until her cheeks hollowed.

The previously quiet office filled with a sensual heat.

A soft moan escaped from deep within her throat. Unable to bear the overwhelming sensation, Mia pushed hard against Dylan’s chest.

Dizzy from the unfamiliar feeling, Mia’s legs gave way.

Dylan wrapped an arm around her slender waist, catching her as she swayed. Only after sucking hard on her lower lip, as if reluctant to let go, did he finally pull away.

Mia’s lips were swollen and red. Her pupils, reflecting her confusion, trembled uncontrollably.

Returning to his usual demeanor as if nothing had happened, Dylan whispered a warning in her ear.

“If you can’t even handle this much, don’t even think about starting.”