Chapter 5. After the Negotiation

The two quickly finalized their agreement and drafted a prenuptial contract with remarkable efficiency. The terms were roughly as follows:

This contract serves as evidence of the premarital agreement between Party A and Party B. The terms are as follows:

– Terms

1. Party A guarantees Party B’s succession to the title of Count of Barishart by submitting the required marriage registration to the authorities.

2. While legal marital status will be established during the process outlined in Term 1, this is a secondary effect of the agreement and does not require Party A and Party B to adhere to the responsibilities or obligations of a conventional marriage.

3. Despite Term 2, Party A and Party B must attend events and functions deemed essential for maintaining their legal marital status.

4. Party A and Party B will make efforts to appear as a harmonious couple or an equivalent relationship in public.

5. Party A and Party B must maintain a minimum level of humane respect toward each other.

[…terms omitted for brevity…]

32. Party A and Party B shall not disclose the contents of this contract to any third party.

33. In return for submitting the marriage registration, Party B shall pay Party A 3,000,000 krovats.

34. Any violation or non-fulfillment of the terms by either party will result in the offending party paying the other twice the total contract amount (6,000,000 krovats) as compensation.

After drafting two copies of the contract, Serenia picked up a fountain pen. Without hesitation, she signed her name in the designated spot for Party A.

‘Party A, huh.’

The title felt oddly out of place for someone like her.

For a brief moment, she worried about the possibility of having to pay six million krovats if things went awry, but she quickly scoffed at herself.

‘I’d have to lose my mind to break such a favorable deal.’

Confident in her reasoning, Serenia handed the signed contract to the man.

“Here. Your turn now.”

Although he accepted the document without complaint, he didn’t immediately sign.

Growing anxious that he might back out at the last moment, Serenia pressed him.

“It’s late. Let’s wrap this up so we can both be on our way. You must want to call it a night, too.”

Her words seemed to amuse him. Instead of signing, he tilted his head slightly, his expression more curious than annoyed.

Serenia, puzzled by his reaction, replayed her own words in her head.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

Finding nothing amiss, she then wondered if there was an issue with her signature. She craned her neck to check the contract in his hands.

But his gaze wasn’t on the contract at all. It was fixed firmly on her.

Realizing this, Serenia tensed, pulling back slightly.

“Why… why are you looking at me like that? Is there a problem?”

The man’s lips curved into a faintly crooked smile.

“Yes. I think there is a problem.”

“What? What problem? Is it me? Or is it you?” s

She stammered, caught off guard.

His smile grew sharper, and he leaned forward slightly, speaking with a teasing lilt.

“The problem is, you’ve been calling me ‘you’ this whole time.”

Serenia froze, her shoulders stiffening.

Caught off guard, she averted her gaze awkwardly, avoiding his.

Seeing her flustered state, he sighed dramatically, though his expression was an odd mix of disappointment and amusement.

“My lady.”

He began softly. His voice was calm, but to Serenia, it felt as though it resonated directly within her.

Her spine tingled, and without realizing it, she held her breath.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice as he asked.

“You don’t remember, do you?”

“R-remember what?”

Serenia stammered, a bead of sweat forming on her temple.

With a sly grin, he leaned in slightly and whispered.

“My name.”

‘Ah. I’ve been caught.’

She thought, closing her eyes tightly in embarrassment.

The power dynamic shifted instantly. He crossed his arms, feigning a pout like someone deeply offended.

Serenia, feeling the weight of her mistake, looked down in silence.

He let out a series of exaggerated sighs, shaking his head in mock disbelief.

“We introduced ourselves at the bank, didn’t we? Or am I imagining things?”

“…”

“And that’s not all!”

He waved the contract in front of her as if to emphasize his point.
“As soon as I sign this, we’ll officially be engaged. Yet you don’t even know my name?”

Serenia felt her face flush as she lowered her head even further, thoroughly defeated.

He let out an incredulous laugh, muttering to himself.

“I knew times were changing, but I didn’t realize people were proposing to strangers now. Incredible.”

Hearing that, Serenia momentarily forgot her guilt and shot him a glare.

“P-proposing? Wait, what do you mean proposing?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Though honestly, doing it without a ring or bouquet was already bad enough.”

“Excuse me?”

“But then I find out you don’t even know my name? Really, this is a new low.”

Serenia’s jaw dropped, unable to believe what she was hearing.

“Wait, hold on, I never—”

“Not even a single flower.”

He continued, shaking his head dramatically.

“And to think you proposed to me like that. Truly impressive.”

“To think you proposed without even knowing my name. Truly impressive.”

His voice was filled with mockery as he clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Serenia, unable to stand his condescending expression, snapped.

“Proposed? When did I ever do such a thing?!”

“Oh? So now you’re denying it entirely?”

He feigned shock, his exaggerated gestures only making Serenia gape in disbelief.

He crossed his arms and fixed her with an unrelenting gaze.

“Not only did you propose marriage out of nowhere, but you even drafted a prenuptial contract. And yet you claim it wasn’t a proposal? What kind of twisted logic is that?”

“That… that’s true, but!” Serenia raised her voice in defense.

“What I suggested wasn’t some cheesy proposal. It was a purely business-oriented offer!”

Her tone grew firm, though her confidence wavered slightly.

Granted, her so-called “offer” had been more extortion than business, designed to fleece an infamous loan shark. Even so, Serenia held her ground.

Unmoved, he replied calmly.

“Even if it was just ‘purely business,’ my lady, there’s still a significant issue here.”

“…What issue?” Serenia’s brows furrowed as confusion overtook her frustration.

“Who in their right mind enters into a three-million-krovat deal without even knowing the other party’s name?”

Serenia opened her mouth to retort, but no words came.

Her face flushed, turning crimson with a mix of embarrassment and indignation.

‘He didn’t even give me a business card. All he did was casually mention his name in passing,’ she thought bitterly.

But there was no escaping the truth. She had made a mistake, and she had no choice but to own up to it.

Lowering her gaze, Serenia gave a deep bow.

“I’m sorry. Truly, sincerely sorry. I apologize.”

Straightening slightly, she flashed an awkward smile.

“I promise I’ll never forget it next time. So please, just sign the contract, and I’ll make sure to learn it properly afterward…”

Her tone was pleading, bordering on desperate.

He tilted his head, his smug grin widening.

“Just like that? No cost?”

“…What?”

Before she could fully grasp his meaning, he continued nonchalantly.

“As I said before, I’m a meticulous man. Ignoring what happened earlier will require compensation.”

Serenia clenched her fists under the table. She fought to keep her temper in check, forcing a stiff smile.

“Fine. What do you want? A gift as a gesture of apology? Would that suffice?”

“I don’t believe the Barishart household is in a position to afford such a gesture.”

Her forehead throbbed, a vein pulsing visibly.

“…”

He clearly enjoyed her visible frustration, his face alight with amusement.

“Then no need for a gift,” he finally said, after savoring her discomfort.

“Great,” Serenia replied flatly, barely restraining herself.

But then, his next words sent a chill down her spine.

“I’m talking about what you mentioned earlier.”

“Earlier?” Serenia’s unease was now unmistakable.

“Yes,” he said, his grin widening further.

“You said that you were completely smitten with me and willing to give up everything for my sake. Let’s make that our official story.”

His tone was deceptively cheerful, but Serenia couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling it gave her.

Forcing a smile, she stammered.

“Oh, that… uh, yes, I might have said that. But why…?”

“Simple.”

His voice remained light, yet carried an unmistakable firmness.

“Let’s officially establish that as the premise of our arrangement.”