My Mom Got A Contract Marriage

Lilica sighed, causing Ludia to look over.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

Lilica shook her head. Ludia smiled slightly and asked.

“Come to think of it, how is Diare? Do you like her?”

“Yes.”

Lilica nodded. “Thank goodness,” said Ludia briefly.

Diare Wolfe.

Before her return, when Ludia was sentenced to death and was about to die.

She had already become one of the empire’s top three knights.

Although she was also famous for her headstrong personality. 

‘She was definitely the Wolfe family’s artifact user, wasn’t she? The artifact was called ‘Fangs’, was it?’

The ancient families possessed several artifacts.

The number of artifacts in their possession also symbolised the family’s greatness. 

Amongst the ancient relics that were taken from the sunken main island, some were famous, and some were shrouded in mystery. 

As artifacts cannot be made anymore as the magic was lost, all the families treated their artifacts preciously. 

Some of them have complicated requirements, and the same was the case with the ‘Fangs’.

‘Fangs’ has only been an artifact in name for the longest time, since an eligible user hasn’t appeared in the Wolfe family.

Diare was the youngest wielder of that ‘Fangs’.

‘I’m not too clear on the details, though.’

All that Ludia knew was that it was an artifact that boosted physical ability.

Since she knew of such a promising talent that was around Lilica’s age, she couldn’t help but attach her to Lilica.

“Despite her young age, she’s already called ‘Diare the uncompromising’.”

Ludia thought that it would be nice for Lilica to build some connections, so she chose Diare. 

“If you’re feeling down, you have to tell Mom, okay?”

“Yes,” replied Lilica and nodded to Ludia’s words.

While Diare was also great, she was reminded more of Fjord.

Fjord will be quite happy to hear this news. 

‘But Atil might be angry.’

No, he’ll definitely be angry.

Lilica swallowed down a groan. What should she say to Atil?

Lilica swallowed down a snack while agonising over it. It was a sweet snack, but she found it slightly discomforting because of her worries. 

Lilica jumped out of her seat to soothe her mood.

“Mother, I’ll take my leave first.”

“Are you leaving already? Mom is going to order a tailored dress, so let’s also order one for Lilica.”

“I’m alright. Even if I get fitted for one today, it’s already my second time this week.”

Lilica shook her head. Actually, she wanted to have a princess dress, but her mother only wore bustle style, so she can’t request that. 

Ludia kissed her daughter on the cheek reluctantly.

Lilica returned to her room, closed the study door tightly, and took out the note in her pocket.

Supplies: Pendulum

“Pendulum? What’s that?”

The unexpected word caused Lilica to have a blank look.

The hesitant Lilica hid the note and came out.

“Brynn.”

“Yes, my princess.”

“Do you know what a pendulum is?”

“Yes, of course. It’s a ball with an attached string. It was popular in the past. It’s used to locate water veins, or to find directions in fortune-telling.”

“!!”

Lilica’s eyes sparkled.

Upon seeing that expression, Brynn immediately noticed the situation and whispered softly.

“Do you need one? Do you want one?”

“Can you order that?”

Magic tools?

“Yes, of course. If you choose the gemstone that you want, they’ll make it for you.”

“But I need it today……”

“Then let’s make something that can be used temporarily for today.”

“Is it possible?”

“Yes, I’m the princess’s Brynn Sol.”

Brynn spoke confidently and got a maid to bring over the jewellery box.

She removed the pendant from a gemstone necklace that she carried around and skillfully connected it to the necklace string.

“Now, this should be enough for temporary use. Hold the end of the string like this. And with this, the pendant will move like a pendulum, right? This is a pendulum.”

“I see.”

Lilica looked at the swaying pendant and then at Brynn.

“Thank you, Brynn.”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll arrange for a craftsman first thing tomorrow.”

As it was popular among aristocratic children along with astrology, pendulums made with various gold, silver and treasures were once all the rage for a period of time. 

It won’t be hard to find a craftsman.

‘Since it’s the princess’ item, it has to be cute, no matter what.’

Brynn smiled brightly. Lilica hesitated again when she looked at Brynn’s appearance. 

Brynn bent her knees in front of her and asked. 

“Is there anything else that you’d like?” 

“That’s…”

Today was her first magic class. As such, she wanted to dress a little formally.

Now, she knew that she had to dress properly in front of His Majesty. However, Lilica lacked the strength to change her clothes by herself.

‘When we were talking about the magic book, Brynn said it was alright.’

Lilica whispered quietly, thinking about that.

“I’m supposed to meet His Majesty tonight, but my outfit.”

“Do you need a pendulum because of His Majesty?”

Lilica nodded, and Brynn didn’t ask anymore questions. 

“Understood. I’ll prepare something pretty.”

Lilica was so thankful that Brynn recognised what she wanted and told her exactly what she wanted that she hugged her tightly.

“Thank you, Brynn.”

“No, I’m thankful too, my princess.”

It was a confidant’s pride that they’re trusted enough to be informed about an important issue. 

Brynn could only do her best if she’d gained the affection and trust of such a small princess. 

It might seem a little strange for several people to prepare clothes in the middle of the night, so Brynn prepared an outfit by herself. 

After dinner, she put on the prepared clothes one by one. 

A dress with a wide collar, a cute ribbon, lovely knee socks, and leather shoes with gold buttons.

Her hair was tied tightly to make it easier to move, and a hat as the finishing touch. 

With a pendulum held tightly in her hand, Lilica exclaimed in front of the mirror.

“I look like a student.”

Didn’t the animal student in the fairy tale illustration wear something like this frequently?

Lilica felt better in an instant, as it felt like she could learn and use magic at any moment.

She imagined waving her pendulum coolly, protecting her mother and defeating the villain.

“Huhuhu.”

At the sound of laughter, she couldn’t help but feel awkward. Brynn whispered.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Mm.”

Lilica nodded, and Brynn closed the bedroom door quietly and left. 

Lilica sat by the window and waited quietly with her hands on her knees.

‘Is he not coming?’

She glanced out of the window and kept an ear out in case she missed the sound of someone throwing stones.

‘He might be busy.’

Just as she let out a sigh, a voice came from behind her suddenly.

“You’re already prepared for class.”

“!!”

Lilica jumped up in surprise.

Altheos caught the chair that almost fell onto the floor. 

“You’ve become as strong as a colt.”

“How…”

The emperor shrugged his shoulders at Lilica, who was muttering in surprise.

“There’s no place in this palace that I can’t enter.”

Physically and legally.

Lilica was impressed by Altheos’ words. He held out his hand.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes, yes.”

A gust of wind blew past when they held hands.

‘A gust of wind while we’re in the room?’

“Woah?!”

She raised her arm to cover her eyes unknowingly, but everything stopped.

When she lowered her arm, Lilica’s jaw dropped.

They were standing in the garden at night.

There wasn’t a single lamp, and only the moonlight dying the garden silver quietly.

“Wow……”

She couldn’t help but let out an exclamation. She didn’t know where to start looking. 

The night was completely different from the day, so even if it was the same place, it felt unfamiliar. 

“What did you say to Brynn?”

Lilica raised her hand and answered the question.

“I said that I’m meeting with His Majesty. Brynn said she’ll help me order a pendulum, and helped me make a temporary pendulum with a necklace like this.”

She raised a pendulum.

Altheos looked at the sapphire pendant that shone in the moonlight and said. 

“Got it.”

He looked at the tiny wizard, who’s life was much shorter than a shooting star when compared to him.

One that wishes upon the stars,

God’s beloved.

The dragon-man felt that it was a little ironic for him to be teaching her, but it’s better than leaving her alone.

“There are three things that wizards have to be cautious of.”

Things like violating someone’s mind, 

Things like mocking life and death

And things like desecrating lives are forbidden. 

“Being cautious means that it can be done. In the past, wizards were that powerful.”

Altheos stared at Lilica.

“I don’t know what you’ll be like.”

“I won’t.”

Lilica shook her head. She didn’t want to do such scary things.

“Alright, then for the first class. Close your eyes and listen to the pendulum.”

Lilica did as she was told.

“Imagine a path in your heart reaching the pendant through the string.” 

“…….”

A path in her heart, a path in her heart. 

If it’s a magical path, it must be made of shiny pebbles, and a flowing stream passing over it lightly. 

She suddenly felt the string she was holding turn cold.

“!”

The astonished Lilica felt relieved when a pair of large hands supported her shoulders. 

“As a wizard, the first magic that you should learn is light. Unearth the light in your heart. Take that light out and send it through the string to the pendant. Light. A light source that doesn’t generate heat.”

‘Something that gives off light but not heat.’

She thought of something instantly. The moon that shines brightly in the night sky.

“If you’ve gathered light in the pendant, say Erhi.”

“Erhi.”

She could feel light through her closed eyelids.

“Now, open your eyes.”

When she opened her eyes, the pendulum shone brightly.

“Wow!”

After letting out an exclamation, Lilica paused when she looked at Altheos. 

He was expressionless. 

It doesn’t mean that it was just expressionless, but he looked like an old statue that she’d seen in an illustration, a face that seemed as though it was weathered by everything. 

‘He looks tired and lonely…’

Lilica became sad. Altheos made eye contact with her and smiled faintly.

“Why do you look so gloomy when you’ve managed to succeed?” 

“That’s…”

She couldn’t say that it’s because His Majesty looked lonely. 

A large hand stroked her hair gently.

“As long as you know that you can create light whenever you want, you can walk around without fearing the dark.”

Lilica quickly withdrew her feelings of sadness and spoke. 

“But I think I’ll be rather frightened if I’m alone. I’d be scared if Your Majesty weren’t with me right now. But, as His Majesty says — I think I’ll be able to move forward.” 

Although she’s scared, she’ll still take a step forward.

At Lilica’s words, Altheos paused and said.

“That’s not too bad either.”

He stopped and withdrew his hand.

“Then, that’s the end of today’s class. Your homework is the ancient language. Find out what Erhi means. It’s better for you to learn ancient language, since it’s necessary for magic. Then, next week around this time too.” 

They returned back to the room in an instant. The class was short and impactful.

Altheos spoke.

“Don’t tell anyone that you’re learning magic. Not to your mother either.”

“Yes.”

Lilica nodded deeply, and Altheos disappeared after tapping her on the forehead. 

He arrived in his own room. He strode past the door of the couple’s bedroom and entered the empress’ room.

The empress, who’d just returned from dinner, was getting undressed with the maids’ help.

“Leave us.”

At Altheos’s words, the maids quickly removed their hands and retreated quietly. 

Ludia spoke with a frown.

“It’s troublesome, why did you tell them to leave?”

“I can take it off for you.”

Ludia laughed dryly at his brazen words.

A ‘clink’ rang out when she took off her wedding ring and placed it on a silver tray. 

Altheos reached out and began untying the corset’s lacing.

The only sound that could be heard was of the friction of silk lacing rubbing against one another.

“What’s wrong?”

Ludia asked because the face that was reflected by the mirror didn’t look good.

Altheos leaned down and whispered in her ear.

“We aren’t in a relationship that’ll care about that.”

“Yes, we aren’t.”

Her white fingers brushed against his jawline and cheek. Their eyes met through the mirror.

She spoke.

“But still, I’m curious.”

Blue eyes stared straight at him. Ludia has always been like that. 

A stinging gaze

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“In what way?”

“That I’m a dragon.”

“No, I’m not.” 

“Why?”

“You won’t kill or hurt me.”

Ludia answered easily. Regardless of his humanity, he always kept his promises.

They’d signed a contract, so Ludia was quite safe.

“That much is enough?”

“What else is there that’s more important?”

The corset’s lacings fell to the floor silently.

After skillfully removing the corset, Ludia turned around in a white linen dress.

Altheos spoke venomously.

“For some people, that’s the biggest problem.”

Ludia nodded.

“There must be people like that. Of course. But why don’t you throw your disillusionment of humans away, become a human being and enjoy its benefits?”

“What?”

Ludia spoke nonchalantly.

“Eating something delicious, wearing something good. Sadness, pain, and suffering, but when you think about the presence of joy, tranquillity, and happiness, it would all pass by.”

She frowned after saying that. Ludia spoke with a wry smile.

“I know that this isn’t something I should be saying to you.”

It was a truth that she’d realised not too long ago. She looked at the dragon before her. 

A man that drags on with ancient wounds and doesn’t know how to express his own feelings. 

Ludia was well aware of the fact that she wasn’t a person that can give advice to such a person.

But she still spoke. 

‘It seems like I’m becoming like Lilica.’

She felt rather happy at that thought. 

She couldn’t figure out what Altheos was thinking as they were immersed in silence. 

After a while, he lowered his eyes and his long eyelashes formed shadows.

His model was surprisingly beautiful, perhaps because he was originally a dragon. It also surprised others. 

His exotic dark skin was just attractive, and it didn’t become a flaw. 

Ludia knew how perfect the naked skin underneath his shirt was. 

A statuesque, no perfect body without any excessive flesh appeared to be hard, but its texture was surprisingly warm, soft, and firm. 

His large hands wrapped around her thin waist.

Ludia held her breath for a short moment. She could feel his hot body temperature through the thin dress.

“Indeed.”

His voice became low and dense.

“I know one advantage of being a human.”