OSO Chapter 5

Difficult.

Dylan LeHart was difficult for Mia Blair.

He was the type of man who would toss a pebble into a calm lake and then act as if nothing had happened.

Inside the swaying carriage, Dylan reviewed documents at a steady pace. Mia, her head leaning against the window, appeared to be looking outside, but her attention was fixed on him.

Amused, Mia chuckled silently and slowly turned her gaze from the window.

He was still reviewing the documents with his efficient, no-nonsense manner. Then, as if noticing her gaze, his eyebrow twitched.

Thanks to the streetlights lit by the workers, Dylan’s face was clearly visible. Lost in thought, Mia observed him, feature by feature. It felt as if she was seeing his eyebrows, eyes, nose, and mouth for the first time in three years.

Dropping her gaze, she saw his prominent Adam’s apple bobbing and his broad shoulders. A little lower, his long fingers firmly gripped the documents.

Slowly raising her gaze again, she met his cerulean blue eyes.

“Do you have something to say?”

His eyes, deep as the ocean, were fixed on her once again.

They paused, staring at each other in the close confines of the carriage. The faint sound of rustling, crumpling paper reached her ears.

“Dylan.”

Mia parted her lips.

“Come to my room later.”

Dylan tilted his head slightly, as if not immediately understanding. She calmly added the reason.

“We need to finish the conversation we were having.”

It was the answer she had reached after organizing her thoughts while looking out the window.

There were countless reasons why she hadn’t made a decision in his office. His proposition was absurd; she was flustered by the heated atmosphere; and she was afraid, feeling as if she had been caught in some kind of trap.

But after calmly considering it, there was no reason to be bewildered, flustered, or afraid.

“I’ve made my decision.”

She just had to make it so he couldn’t add any more conditions, get used to the heated atmosphere, and avoid the trap even if it meant breaking her body.

“Dylan, as you said, I’m the one who loses out by delaying.”

“I knew you would make a wise choice.”

A faint sneer played on Dylan’s lips. His previously calm eyes seemed to ripple like a stormy sea. Mia calmly observed him, his features sharply defined.

“I don’t know what constitutes a wise choice, but I always act.”

She had even learned to respond to his sarcasm. She didn’t hesitate in surprise or freeze in bewilderment.

Like a lake returning to its stillness.

The carriage finally entered the residence grounds, and the steadily rolling wheels slowly came to a stop.

“Don’t be late. I’ll be waiting.”

Having said her piece, Mia stepped out of the carriage without waiting for Dylan’s escort and disappeared.

Alone in her room, Mia went through her usual routine. Undressing, washing, and changing into fresh clothes didn’t take long.

Considering the volume of documents Dylan had been reviewing, Mia was certain it would take him a while to arrive. She sat on the couch and calmly examined the contract.

She didn’t forget to jot down points to discuss with Dylan. By the time she had written down everything she had in mind, the hands of the clock had moved more than a full circle.

Checking the time, Mia figured Dylan was running late and leaned back, closing her eyes.

She slowly surrendered to the influx of thoughts. Dylan dominated her mind.

“I don’t want to think about him.”

She meant it.

But it was always like this with him. He slipped past her control, and her thoughts inevitably drifted towards what she didn’t want.

“I don’t want to understand him either.”

She didn’t want to react or understand his absurd words, but she unconsciously found herself trying to decipher his thoughts.

“Does he have no intention of fulfilling the contract?”

Even to her own ears, it sounded ridiculous. A faint chuckle escaped her lips.

She had an unfounded faith when it came to Dylan.

Just as she had lost her parents because of the Murad royal family, he had also lost his entire family because of them. He had lost countless comrades in battle, and his cousin had died because of his choices.

When his cousin, whose body had been lost at sea, was finally recovered, Dylan had sworn to Mia. He had promised to find her parents’ remains, no matter the cost, and to fulfill her wishes.

Remembering that Dylan, this current proposal was outside the realm of Mia’s expectations.

“If he had simply asked me to stay for another year because he needed me, I would have readily agreed.”

That’s why this proposal was unacceptable and even sparked a faint sense of displeasure.

“Did he not trust me?”

She tried to understand Dylan’s thoughts, but to no avail.

Time passed, like repeatedly hitting a wall and bouncing back.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. Knock, knock. It was a straightforward sound. At the same time, Mia’s eyelids fluttered open.

“Come in.”

As her permission was granted and the door opened, she saw Dylan standing at the threshold.

His attire was more relaxed than usual. His hair, which had been neatly styled for the celebration, was disheveled.

Despite his casual appearance, Dylan’s gait remained characteristically steady. He soon reached Mia, who was seated. His slow gaze began to scan her from head to toe. There was no sense of urgency in his movements.

Just as Mia had done in the carriage, Dylan’s eyes meticulously examined every part of her. The difference was that his gaze finally settled on the contract she had been reading and the paper beside it.

Averting her gaze from his captivating stare, Mia spoke.

“There are parts we need to discuss.”

Without a word, Dylan picked up the paper from the desk. It was the paper Mia had scribbled on. Furrowing his brow as if struggling to decipher her handwriting, Dylan scanned the words with his downcast eyes.

「Party B shall fulfill her marital duties as requested by Party A. Party B shall faithfully comply with Party A’s requests.

In return for one year of fulfilling these obligations, Party B shall obtain the right to receive the remains of her parents, as previously promised, and passage back to her homeland.」

The other points she had written were as follows:

A new contract would be drawn up, not bound by the previous one, but with the same legal effect.

Neither party would bring up matters outside the stipulated clauses to avoid fulfilling the contract. If a situation like the present one were to arise again, Party A would delegate all matters to a guarantor and forfeit all rights.

It was then that his lips curled into a sneer.

“Party B, Party B, Party B.”

His cool, low voice resonated.

“Are these the demands and actions of a subordinate party?”

Well.

It probably wasn’t something a typical subordinate party would say or do. But there was no reason to hear such words from the person responsible for this ridiculous situation.

“Dylan, if I weren’t the subordinate party, I wouldn’t even consider listening to your nonsensical demands.”

A chuckle escaped Mia’s lips. It seemed Dylan himself knew best how absurd this situation was.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Mia tugged on the paper in his hand. He released his grip surprisingly easily.

Looking away from Dylan, Mia picked up her fountain pen again. Judging by his silence, he seemed to have accepted her terms. Mia slowly began to add to the contract.

“I have the right to make these demands.”

With a scratch, scratch sound, Mia’s hand moved at a leisurely pace.

Dylan stared intently at her. Unlike when they had written the previous contract, her handwriting was now uneven, but Mia seemed unconcerned, continuing to write without pause.

Having written down everything she wanted, she asked him,

“If you have any further requests, state them now. Don’t bring up anything strange later.”

No answer came to her question.

Only a sudden influx of a fresh scent tickled her nose.

He was close.

The moment she realized Dylan’s face was right next to hers, Mia’s body stiffened.

He seemed to have washed up as well, and a coolness emanated from his damp hair.

“Do as you please.”

At the same time, Dylan’s hand touched the nape of Mia’s slender neck.

“I will observe how well you fulfill our contract.”

Unlike his refreshing, cool touch, a gentle warmth spread where his hand made contact. Mia’s eyes, which had been largely unresponsive until now, widened.

She was surprised by the unfamiliar sensation.

Surprising things happened, but Mia always strived to remain aloof. However, as always, things were different when it came to Dylan.

Four years ago, when they married and she proposed the contract.

Three years ago, before she sent him off to war.

Even after their long-awaited reunion, nothing had changed. It was like the scars remaining on her body.

Mia’s hand, holding the fountain pen, tightened.