The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

4 – The Ways of the World

On an ambitious night,

Yurian stayed up all night, admiring the stars embroidered outside the window. Although he was not usually prone to insomnia, the sight he had witnessed a while ago was so vivid that it was not easily forgotten.

The overwhelming feeling kept coming back, making drowsiness slip away.

“Was the director a human from the temple?”

He had never suspected it before.

Everyone Yurian knew from the temple side was devout and virtuous.

To put it simply, they had dignity. They were much nobler than the average aristocrats who boasted of their own nobility.

“I can’t believe it.”

Looking at it objectively, Harte was not a bad person. If anything, he judged that he had a kind personality.

But he was light.

There was a frivolous side to him, with vulgar words and actions that were far from dignified. He simply had the characteristics of a commoner thriving on the streets.

“So when Arvel, the palace steward, entrusted me to this place, I had doubts.”

Indeed, Arvel’s insight was remarkable.

No one could have guessed that Harte possessed such abilities.

Yurian vividly recalled the golden light imprinted in his mind.

“That was definitely divine.”

The miraculous power that only a handful of lives touched by the name of God – the power of miracles. That is what divinity is.

The congregation of the temple is so closed that even the royal family doesn’t know how many possess the baptismal name. However, it was speculated to be a handful at best.

Externally, the possessor of the baptismal name revealed is only the Pope, needless to say.

So, it was even more perplexing.

‘Leaving someone like the Director in the temple without any control…’

One thing was certain – Harte keeps the use of the sacred secret.

Probably the bare minimum line to avoid catching the temple’s eye.

To reveal that bare minimum line to oneself…

‘In a similar situation, even if it crosses the line, it’s acceptable to think that they protect us…’

Last night, there were only seven hunters at the place where the sacred was used. If any of them accidentally found consciousness, they would have surely been exposed. Yet, he cast aside hesitation.

Yurian was deeply impressed by that decision.

‘It’s only been a short time since we met. And the girl I first encountered. In the end, we are just at that level of relationship. The Director would have no loyalty to sacrifice for us.’

…Indeed, despite appearances, he seemed to be a true temple person at heart.

Regardless, encountering Harte was enough to make Yurian see humans differently.

“… Better than my father.”

Suddenly, such thoughts came to mind. If he had been by the side of such a person earlier, wouldn’t his current self be a bit different?

Yurian could never forgive the emperor of that era, who left his mother to die.

He was already ashamed to call him a father.

“Foolish…”

As dawn deepened, thoughts seemed to bounce to arrogant places.

Yurian gradually left his ideals behind and lay down on the bed, preparing for tomorrow.

The thick blanket was warm.

◇

A week had passed since rescuing the girl. The morning sun lazily penetrated through the glass window.

The girl, who had shown no signs of waking up, suddenly opened her eyes as if she had been awakened.

“Director! The girl has woken up!”

Urien, who had been by her side, ran to me and informed me. I abandoned my task of organizing supplies and followed Urien down the narrow corridor.

Creak!

I urgently swung open the wooden door.

There, on the bed in the small room, was the girl, sitting up.

Her disheveled pink hair was messy and her vacant blue eyes seemed dazed. It was as if she couldn’t shake off the lingering haze of a long dream.

I tapped the wall with my knuckles and knocked belatedly.

Only then did the girl turn her gaze towards us.

“Ah…”

Her cracked voice instantly transformed into a clear one.

“Ah…!”

Thump!

The girl quickly retreated, but the wall behind her blocked any escape.

And with that, it became a one-sided refusal.

“Don’t come…! No, please run away… Please… please…”

‘I had roughly anticipated this would happen…’

The posture of rejecting humans with her whole body seemed pitiful. Even though there was no longer a need for it…

I cautiously took steps forward, reassuring her.

“It’s okay now.”

“No, it’s not. I don’t know anything, and…”

“Pull yourself together and look at me. Still want to harm someone?”

“…”

The girl slowly blinked her narrow eyes and stared at me.

Soon, her expression gradually turned into astonishment, and tears, like morning dew, started to flow.

“It’s really… nothing…”

“Is that so?”

“Nothing at all… even when I see people…”

“Yeah, you’re perfectly fine.”

Even the brief enjoyment of the first peace encountered was short-lived.

A deep shadow fell on the girl’s face.

“What if it’s just for a moment…?”

“What? Being okay with seeing people?”

“… Yes.”

“Oh, what do I say again.”

I chuckled and gently stroked the girl’s head.

“It’s all in the name of ending things. Your symptoms will be cured in no time.”

“Really…? Are you Doctor?”

“Well, I’m also carrying that title.”

I was the one who protected the son of the Palace Guard from the curse of baldness. With this level, there’s no one to scoff at the title of Doctor.

“So, what’s the little girl’s name?”

Even though I already knew, I asked. And the girl replied as I knew.

“Tina… yes.”

“Okay, Tina. I’m called Hartera. And…”

I sent an implicit signal to Yuriann to come closer. Thus, a situation was created where the male and female leads of this world gathered in one place.

“This is Yuriann.”

“I’m Yuriann. Nice to meet you.”

“…Yeah.”

It seems Yuriann’s tough tone raised some caution. I lightly tapped Yuriann’s shoulder, giving a gentle hint.

“For this kid, you should speak more warmly to a girl of the same age.”

“Well, changing a lifelong habit in an instant is a difficult task. Let’s gradually work on it, Director.”

“That’s a valid point.”

I can’t express enough how grateful I am that this guy, who is about to become a Crown Prince, follows orders obediently. It’s a part where Yuriann’s open-mindedness secretly improves.

At that moment, Tina asked.

“Director…?”

“Oh, this is actually an orphanage.”

“Also, this person is the director of the orphanage.”

Yurian’s introduction made the girl squint her eyes.

“You weren’t a doctor, were you…?”

“Well, I am, among other things.”

“Ah…”

Tina nodded as if understanding.

As the silence lingered at an appropriate moment, I stood up and addressed the two kids.

“Let’s have a meal first. Since all three of us will eat here… Yurian, you play with Tina.”

“Got it, Director. Just avoid stimulating food for the newly awakened Tina, if possible.”

“Sure.”

Already taking on the role of caring for his own woman so delicately.

Concealing a satisfied smile at the pleasing sight, I left the room.

I secretly wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation full of whispers. Although as an adult, I had no room for such behavior, the temptation was undeniable.

‘The original work has intriguing sounds from the beginning.’

Whatever, it’s fine.

As long as the kids are happy.

At that moment, that was my vague thought.

◇

Mealtime passed peacefully.

Fortunately, Yurian and Tina ate without any pickiness, neatly putting the food into their small lips.

Both of them were so lively that just looking at them made my stomach feel full. Amidst this, Yurian occasionally glanced at me, seemingly aware of my discomfort, but…

In any case, it seems like Julian came too early, whether it’s adolescent delusion or middle school syndrome.

Now, after finishing a peaceful meal.

What should we do for the children’s health?

Jumping around, that’s what.

So…

“Juliaaan! I liiiiiike you! Let’s play a game!!!”

“Cough, w-what… a game…!”

“Tag!”

As Tina suggested with her bright opinion, the random game that Julian likes was decided to be tag.

“I’ve never really played tag before…? And I don’t even like it.”

“Ah… ahooo… then we don’t have to… since we shouldn’t force you to do something you don’t like… I-I just… I’ve never played with people before… so I envy those who play tag…”

It was when Tina sadly shook her head at Julian’s mean denial. Seizing the opportunity, I jeered at Julian.

“Youuu, trash.”

“…I’ll try to like it from now on.”

“Really? I’m excited!”

Tina clapped her hands together and jumped around. Who could possibly refuse the sight of a girl so innocently delighted?

“Then I’ll be the first to be ‘it’. I’ll count to ten and chase after you, got it? And of course, if you leave the daycare yard, you’re out. Try your best to run away.”

“Understood.”

“Yes!”

“Alright, then… one, two, three…”

10 seconds.

I sensed the children’s anticipation and finally finished the countdown.

“Let the game begin.”

At that moment.

With my mere ten-year-old legs, I touched Urien’s shoulder at an unattainable speed. Urien, who had been running away diligently, looked at me with a bewildered face.

“Heh, hahahahaha! Urien is it!”

“Tsk, this is unfair, Director! Is it okay for adults to invade the children’s game without any penalties?!”

“A lion doesn’t go all out to catch a rabbit. Maybe you, Urien, are the weakest among us. That’s how the world works.”

Honestly, it’s all just an excuse, but tormenting Urien is the most fun.

When I first saw him, I thought he was a boring guy, but surprisingly, there’s a satisfying taste to poking him.

It’s amusing to see a young child hiding their adult-like nature, and I enjoy exposing it.

“Uh…”

Look at that. A face that’s trying to act cute while clenching their fist. Yes, this is definitely a type of Yuyul.

Urien, who took on the role of the tagger, gave up his resistance and counted to ten.

And so, the second game of tag began.

“Yiik…”

“There, cheer up.”

Whish, whish!

I teased Urien with graceful movements that seemed like I was about to catch him. I could see the frustration in Urien’s eyes as he narrowly escaped multiple times.

“Did I tease him too much? If Urien becomes too fixated on me, it will be obvious that something’s up…”

I deliberately led Yuri into proximity with Tina. Upon doing so, Tina, feeling the imminent approach of the pursuer, innocently leaped around.

“Oh, Tina’s getting close?”

“…!”

Casually pretending, I made Tina aware of her position. Upon this, Yuri, judging that this perilous adult would absolutely not give Tina a second look, glanced towards Tina.

The distance between the two kids, let’s say about three steps.

Unexpectedly, Yuri changed direction towards Tina.

“Eek!”

Tina let out a new sound.

Thus, the fortunes of Yuri and Tina, who thought the pursuer had changed, intersected.

At least until the loud noise rang out.

Kwoong!

The ground shook.

The view was briefly obscured by the wind carrying dirt and dust.

The cause was simple.

Tina, sensing danger, urgently spun her foot.

Simply a long jump.

But it was executed using the external physical specs of a half-dragon to the fullest.

“hehehe…”

In the corner of the yard far from the pursuer, Tina laughed.

Yuri, in an instant, focused on the missed prey, and with a disappointed expression, locked eyes with me.

“What? Why?”

I shrugged innocently.

“I told you earlier, Yurian, that you would be the weakest among us.”

“W-Well, that’s possible. But then… isn’t this just simple torment?”

Yurian trembled all over. It seemed like he had realized his own weakness and was filled with despair.

Although he may become a cliché romance novel protagonist in the future… he is still too young.

But even if he acted pitifully, it was useless against me.

“Here it comes! Yurian is crying!!!”

“W-Weep…? I’m sorry, don’t cry…”

“I won’t cry!!!”

Yurian shouted loudly.

His face turned bright red, but there were no tears. However, it seemed like if I poked a little more, tears would well up.

This should be enough.

He must be sulking by now, so it was time to let go.

“I guess we should stop playing tag.”

Yurian liked wandering around busy streets.

Perhaps because it was the territory of a viscount, he felt safe, and he seemed to prefer the scenery where many people gathered.

“Hey guys, let’s go to the streets.”

“The streets?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow…”

The mere ability to stroll among people would be a blessing for Tina. A subtle sigh expressed her feelings.

“Yurian, too… Let’s stay in the streets until evening today. We can also have our meal there.”

“… It’s a promise.”

“Yeah. A promise.”

Only then did Yurian’s uneasy heart show signs of gradually calming down.

Indeed, kids are still kids.

Seeing this, the road ahead seemed quite long.

“I hope it continues to be this peaceful…”

Somehow, thick clouds were gathering beyond the mountain ridge.