The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

15 – The Blind Embrace of that Child

“You know where Tina’s birth mother is? Are you serious?”

“Do I seem like I’m lying?”

“… No.”

There was no motive to lie. Elysia wasn’t a corrupted person who would lie about sensitive matters.

“But how did you find out? It couldn’t have been easy to find…”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Why?”

“Because half of it is true and half of it is a lie.”

That’s right, Elysia was this kind of woman. Instead of spinning lies, she would rather honestly admit that she didn’t know.

The uneasy feeling inside couldn’t be erased. But with the honest answer, trust was somewhat restored.

“I’ll leave the decision to you. I only told you because I think it’s wrong to hide.”

“By the same logic, it’s wrong for me to hide it from Tina.”

“It’s different. You are Tina’s father, after all.”

Elysia led the conversation in a direction I hadn’t considered at all.

“Respecting a child’s freedom is a virtue. At the same time, maintaining a peaceful daily life is equally important. However, these two values can’t always coexist. Sometimes, you have to choose one.”

“Are you saying that if Tina meets her birth mother, the peaceful daily life will be shattered?”

“Well, it’s not just the cliffs by the seaside that erode over time.”

Elysia argued that people’s hearts are also prone to erosion.

Tina had been wandering for as long as I could remember, living like a beast for many years.

During this long period, it remained uncertain how her birth mother’s feelings had changed.

“Harte, you have the right to decide. After all, you are Tina’s parent, no one else.”

“And the virtuous lady who values her duty is also Tina’s parent.”

“… Are you suggesting we discuss it? Me and you?”

“What’s stopping us? Come over here, Elysia. Let’s sit down and discuss what’s best for the child as a couple.”

“…”

I patted the space next to me on the bed, inviting her to join. However, Elysia’s reaction seemed oddly static.

“Well… it’s a bit mismatched for you to sit here, isn’t it? We should probably change the bedding soon…”

“No!”

“Surprise, the kids might wake up.”

“No… I mean, no.”

After shouting, her voice gradually softened.

With her head deeply bowed, Elysia slowly approached and sat down right next to me, leaving a bit of space.

“Are you… seeing me as a noble lady who’s only satisfied with luxury, no matter what?”

“I know prejudice is bad… but honestly, yeah…”

“You know well. Prejudice. That’s right. I don’t care if I wear cheap fabric. Even if the place I sleep in is a straw-filled stable, it’s okay. Just… if there’s one thing, anything, I’ll be fine with it.”

“Just one thing?”

“Yes. If there’s just one thing, then I’ll be completely satisfied. Even if it’s not a bed, but the floor…”

Elysia’s sincerity was surprising. To think that a woman of high status in the Empire would have such humble thoughts.

The more he got to know her, the more he found her intriguing.

“Then can you tell me what that one thing is that you’re talking about? As your husband, I want to do my best for you, Elysia. I’ll definitely prepare it.”

“Pr-prepare? What…?”

“Anything! Anyway, it’s inside the orphanage, right? That’s true, isn’t it?”

“Well, yes…! Will you regret it?!”

“I don’t have any materialistic desires. If it’s something I have, I can give it all to you. If you doubt me, I’ll swear on my baptismal name.”

As a Holy Knight, he prided himself on his humble lifestyle.

It was true that after fleeing the temple, he had become consumed by greed and was on the verge of starving to death…

But as long as he could secure the bare minimum for survival, he could always return to a life devoted to the temple.

“Ha… How can someone say something like that without changing their expression… Are you sure you’re not a phoenix?”

“It’s impolite to say that. Even though it’s obvious, I’ve sworn to purity.”

There might have been a possibility of engaging in physical relationships if he were to fall in love with someone someday.

But now, he had become Elysia’s spouse, and they had agreed not to seek affection from each other.

If there were no significant turning points in his life, he would definitely end his life with a pure body.

“So, Elysia.”

I held hands with Elphesia sitting beside me, bowing my head and placing my forehead on the back of her hand.

Then, through a prayer filled with sanctity, I sincerely conveyed my feelings to her.

“If you desire, I willingly offer everything I have. As long as our faiths are protected, forever.”

Radiant sanctity flowed like calm waves.

The room was filled with golden crystals. The miraculous light surrounded us, imprinting a vow on the destiny of the two of us.

I met Elphesia’s eyes, like ruby gems.

Eyes are windows connecting hearts.

Reflecting her crimson gaze in my eyes, I concluded the final prayer.

“I will engrave the name of the deity given to me and make an enduring promise before the bestowal of divine grace.”

A golden ring in the shape of the number eight bound our joined wrists.

Gradually, the miraculous light completely permeated.

I smiled, hoping for Elphesia’s praise.

However, she scolded me, questioning my sanity.

“Harte, are you out of your mind?! Do you even know what it means to take an oath in the name of baptism?!”

“What does it mean?”

“That’s…!”

Elphesia probably wouldn’t know the details, right?

Anyway, it seemed like she wasn’t keen on knowing the specifics.

Elphesia simply averted her gaze with a guilty expression.

“Receiving the wife’s concerns to this extent, it seems like an empty vow. If I entertain wicked thoughts, how can I make such a face?”

“What’s wrong with my face!”

“Was it ever not a beautiful face as usual?”

“Well… um, huh…”

“hahahaha.”

Though I know it’s a bad idea, Elpisia still has a subtle resemblance to Urien.

Even while striving for a perfect appearance, poking her occasionally results in amusing reactions.

Really, I’m fortunate to have Elpisia as my companion.

She excels at everything, even maintaining frugal habits.

To make such a wry expression on the vow of baptism.

Even if she’s a woman I met through love, it’s questionable whether she’s as good a match as Elpisia.

Certainly, I was lucky.

“So, can you tell me now? What that one thing you need is.”

“… Fine. Since you’re close anyway.”

“That means…!”

“Well, what is it? ‘Means’? You think… ‘means’?”

I was foolish.

The answer is obvious.

The place where I lay my body, whether it’s a straw mat or the ground, doesn’t matter… obviously!

“It’s a pillow!”

“No!!!”

Is it wrong?

Elphicia used informal language. How far off track did she go to discard her usual way of speaking?

“I heard that everyone has an attachment pillow, so…”

“Even if it’s a trivial matter, if you misjudge the direction, you’ve seriously misjudged!”

“Ah, it’s a trivial matter?”

Although the answer was wrong, it might be good to go shopping for pillows together soon.

Meanwhile, Elphicia leaned on my shoulder as if all energy had drained from her.

“Never mind… Let’s finish the conversation we were having.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Elphicia’s center seemed to collapse, and her reddish-brown hair flowed smoothly over my hand like melted silk.

It was so soft and delicate that the tingling sensation was intriguing.

At the same time, a subtle scent of roses settled around.

It felt like the world was completely filled with Elphicia.

‘It’s strange…’

Somehow, this unfamiliar feeling felt oddly familiar.

Perhaps because I was now aware of the heartbeat that had quietly resumed.

The discomfort of the first day I met Elphicia once again surfaced.

◇

The profound conversation with Elphicia continued until the early dawn.

It was a difficult agenda to make a decision on easily.

Nevertheless, our consensus moved in the direction of respecting Tina’s opinion.

Immediately after finishing breakfast, I quietly initiated a conversation in Tina’s room.

“Tina.”

“Yes, Dad. What’s up?”

“What’s up? I never thought there would come a day when you wouldn’t mix words.”

“Recently, we’re always together, so it’s been a while since I talked to just you, Dad!”

Tina said that and hastily corrected herself.

“Oh, but it’s not that I don’t like being with Julian and Glen. It’s just that being alone with Dad like this is rare… hehehe.”

“And with Mom?”

“I’ve been with Mom a lot. It’s so nice when she reads me a book, but her voice is so beautiful that I end up just listening to the voice rather than the story.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah. At first, she seemed rough, and I was scared, but turns out she’s really kind, you know?”

“As Tina said, Elphesia is a good person. Really.”

Through our conversation last night, I clearly learned about her character.

Elphesia thought deeply about Tina’s future more than I expected, and I was deeply impressed.

Therefore, I decided to completely discard any prejudices about her being the villain or whatever in the original work.

Elphesia is a good family.

With such a strong conviction, I cautiously asked Tina a question.

“Tina.”

“What?”

“Just… just a hypothetical question.”

“Yes, Dad.”

“If you could go back to your real mother, what would you want to do? I mean… the mother who gave birth to you, not Alicia.”

Tina’s expression hardened.

Her once bright blue eyes were now hidden behind lowered eyelids, and her hands, which were once open, were now clenched into fists.

I waited for Tina’s answer.

“I… I…”

Afterwards, Tina repeated her answer to herself, her voice cracking.

“I… I want to… see her…”